The short-lived 'Nova Knicks' group may not be playing together at Madison Square Garden, but they'll still be on basketball fans' screens together in March -- as actors. For a few short months in 2024, the New York Knicks roster featured no less than four players that had previously played together with the Villanova Wildcats -- Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Donte DiVincenzo. Each of them spent their college careers on the Main Line, with all four members of the quartet overlapping on the Wildcats' 2016-17 squad.

The Knicks' trade for Karl-Anthony Towns in October 2024 sent DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves, seemingly breaking up the group again for good -- a reality a new AT&T commercial for March Madness is poking fun at.

'Staying close with your college besties?' the advert's narrator intones as DiVincenzo awkwardly stares down Brunson, Hart, and Bridges in a stadium tunnel. 'Not guaranteed.'

'I wish we played together, forever,' DiVincenzo thinks, as a memory of the group celebrating his birthday flashes by.

DiVincenzo starts to walk away, but Brunson tosses him a Villanova visor cap. His old teammate puts on the hat and smiles, as the narrator notes: 'a connection means something.'

The commercial finishes with a clip of Brunson and DiVincenzo -- among other Wildcats -- celebrating in Villanova's 71-59 2018 Elite Eight win over Texas Tech.

The Wildcats missed the men's NCAA Tournament this season, but will play the Colorado Buffaloes in the newly-minted 'College Basketball Crown' on April 1.

This commercial not only highlights the deep bonds formed during their college years but also serves as a reminder of the enduring connections that transcend professional leagues and trades. It's a touching tribute to the camaraderie and shared history that these players continue to cherish, even as their paths diverge in the NBA.