tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211690942024-02-20T03:39:39.879-05:00Villanova ViewpointThis web log is dedicated to chronicling the fortunes of the Villanova Wildcats basketball team, as they seek success in the Philadelphia Big Five, the Big East Conference, and during March Madness. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.comBlogger406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-90084552251108837992011-02-05T16:46:00.003-05:002011-02-05T17:47:45.303-05:00#12 Villanova Mashes Mountaineers, 66-50, And Triumph Over Bob HugginsTo the Wildcat faithful-<br />
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#12 Villanova - in a tailspin heading into the contest at the quasi-home floor of the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia - did something highly unexpected on Saturday afternoon. They had surprisingly little trouble in breezing past a shorthanded, but accomplished, West Virginia squad. I take particular happiness in any victory over the loathsome Bob Huggins, also. (As well as the memories of last season's overtime loss to them.)<br />
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It's been an unusual two weeks for the Villanova Wildcats. Two Saturdays ago, they heavily squeezed the Orangemen at the Carrier Dome, in their best game of the season. Since then, they were upset by Providence in that traditional house of horrors, the Providence Civic Center/Dunkin' Donuts Center. They lost narrowly to a good Georgetown team in South Philly. And after dominating the first half against Marquette on Wednesday, they let the contest get surprisingly close down the stretch at the Pavilion, eking out a five-point win.<br />
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None of this evidence pointed to the likelihood of any win over West Virginia, let alone a lopsided one. The Wildcats weren't going to be at the cozy Pavilion. Instead, they would once more be in South Philly, on a wintry mix of a day, in which the building wasn't particularly full. The trend line had been down.<br />
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The only solace heading in, was the turmoil in the Mountaineers' program. In January, one Mountaineer had ostentatiously stormed off the court during a game over a dispute about playing time. Moreover, their best player, Casey Mitchell - the Big East's sixth-leading scorer - had been suspended by Huggins for the last three games. It was unclear at today's bright and early noon-time tip (yet another reason for the smaller crowd), whether Mitchell would even play. WVU had, ironically, won two of its last three contests without him Maybe Huggins considered them better off without Mitchell.<br />
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(This all breeds yet another question - what exactly do you have to do to receive a three-game suspension from Huggins, of all people - a coach who notoriously had a 0% graduation rate when he was at Cincinnati?)<br />
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The Mitchell drama was a major storyline throughout the day. He didn't start, and that was viewed as further evidence that he was still in Huggins's doghouse. Then, with Villanova having the lead late in the first half, Huggins suddenly sent Mitchell in. It didn't help.<br />
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For all the difference that Mitchell made, Huggins might as well have left him in Morgantown (or at least decided to continue his exile for one more game...) Ultimately, in 13 minutes, Mitchell failed to score, missing three shots, committing two turnovers and a foul, with a pair of rebounds.<br />
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Full story coming...<br />
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Go Wildcats!Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-58094792410779077982011-01-22T15:46:00.007-05:002011-01-23T19:37:16.906-05:00#7 Wildcats Puree #3 Orangemen, 83-72, in One of the Greatest Wins of the Jay Wright Era<div style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;">To the Wildcat faithful-</span></div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Saturday at high noon, the #7 Wildcats delivered an incredible victory, in what can only be described as one of the greatest wins of the <b>Jay Wright</b> era on the Main Line. Wright continued Villanova's remarkable success at the Carrier Dome, guiding the team to a stunning, 83-72 victory over the #3 Syracuse Orangemen. (I know it's not <b><i>officially</i></b> the Orangemen any longer. I will continue to use the term, nonetheless...)</span></div><br />
<div style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Maalik Wayns</b> led the way for the Wildcats, scoring<b> 21 points </b>on 6-11 shooting<b>, 3-7 f</b>rom behind the arc, and perfection from the foul line, on half a dozen attempts. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Corey Fisher</b> and <b>Corey Stokes</b> also contributed <b>16 points</b> apiece. Fisher was <b>4-8 </b>from the floor<b>, </b><b>3-4 </b>from beyond the arc, and also dealt seven assists against four turnovers. As for Stokes - the <b>Bayonne Bomber</b> was <b>5-12</b> from the floor, and was also <b>4-11 </b>from three-point range.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Also reaching double figures for Villanova was <b>Antonio Pena</b>, who quietly added <b>10 points</b> and <b>seven rebounds</b> - I was hoping that he'd bring in yet another double-double. And uncharacteristically, Pena also added <b>four assists</b>. To get four assists from a power forward, is a testament to Pena's improved passing ability and the quality of the Villanova offensive system.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Syracuse's trademark, traditional 2-3 zone, dovetailed well with a solid strategy - prevent Villanova from running a halfcourt offense designed to get the ball inside to <b>Mouphtaou Yarou</b>. The Orangemen succeeded in doing so, with the result being that Mouph was rendered almost a non-factor. Despite not committing a personal foul, the sophomore center saw only <b>25</b> minutes, scoring seven points on <b>3-7</b> shooting and collecting four rebounds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">One bench player contributed significantly, as well. <b>Maurice Sutton</b> - just two games removed from serving a one-game suspension for violation of a team rule - saw a surprisingly high <b>15 </b>minutes, with five rebounds, and two blocks. <b>Dominic Cheek</b> and <b>Isaiah Armwood </b>saw comparatively little action - combining for 19 minutes, five points, and four rebounds. <b>(James Bell</b> didn't see any time.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Wildcats ran their record to <b>17-2</b> overall, and are poised to jump significantly in Monday's AP poll.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was anticipated that the game might break the record for the largest on-campus crowd to see a college basketball game. It joined the top three (also Villanova/Syracuse clashes), but ended up as only the second-highest, finishing slightly lower than Villanova's humiliating defeat at the Carrier Dome last season. </span><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-size: small;">Keys To the Villanova Victory</span></b></u><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Clutch Free Throw Shooting. </b> The surprisingly large 11-point margin of victory, was sustained by Villanova's incredible performance at the foul line. The Wildcats, of course, lead the Big East in free throw percentage, but even by lofty Villanova standards, it was outstanding - the Wildcats made 22 of their 24 attempts, for <b>91.7%</b> accuracy (<b>Gary Buchanan</b>-esque, for those of you who remember....)</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Accurate Sharpshooting. </b>Villanova made 50% of its field goal attempts against a very tough Syracuse defense, including 45.8% from beyond the arc. The Wildcats were red-hot out of the gate, and as a result, were able to maintain a substantial, steady lead throughout the entire contest.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Staying Out of Foul Trouble. </b> With the Wildcats having such a short bench, and with a tendency to sink into foul trouble, it was a non-issue. Incredibly, Villanova committed only 10 fouls in the entire game, of which Cheek, a bench player, committed three. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Speaking of fouls - this was something odd and noteworthy - </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">On the last possession of the first half, Villanova was set to inbound the ball with 4.9 seconds to play, under its own basket. Syracuse had committed only four fouls, and the one-and-one doesn't begin until the seventh foul of the half. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Jim Boeheim</b> decided that he was better off having one of his starters, Scoop Jardine, commit two deliberate fouls, to make it difficult for Villanova to exploit the 4.9 seconds on the final possession. He is a Hall of Fame coach, with a national championship, but with all due respect to Boeheim, I <i><b>disagreed completely </b></i>with his strategy. I was more than happy - as I suspect Wright was - to accept the loss of a 4.9 second possession, in exchange for two cheap fouls on one of their starters. And the further irony - the Wildcats <b><i>still</i></b> almost scored at the buzzer, with a shot clanging off the rim, on their third attempt after the two fouls.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I would have found it more understandable, if Boeheim had sent in a couple of reserves to commit the fouls. (He did, after all, have an entire bench available - he could have just as easily sent in two end-of-the-bench players to commit them.) But why one of his starters? </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>This Victory in Historical Context</b></u></span><br />
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This was the first time Villanova had defeated a team ranked this high on the road, since the memorable 1995 victory at Connecticut, on a team featuring Kerry Kittles, Jason Lawson, Alvin Williams, Eric Eberz, Chuck Kornegay and others.... (We won't draw the parallel to that team's ultimate fate in the NCAA tournament, though - the triple-overtime-loss to #14-seed Old Dominion in the first round.)<br />
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</u><br />
<u><b><span style="font-size: small;">Next Up For the Wildcats</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A trip to lowly Providence is on tap for Wednesday, but Providence has traditionally been a very difficult place for Villanova to win, which we'll discuss further later in the week. But if Villanova plays the way they did on Saturday, the Friars shouldn't be too much to handle...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Go Wildcats!</span></b></div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
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</div></div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-18972768964329210612011-01-15T16:13:00.004-05:002011-01-16T09:10:37.475-05:00#7 Wildcats Top Terrapins With 19-0 2nd Half Run, Overcome 12 Point Deficit<div style="color: #073763;"><b>To the Wildcat faithful-</b></div><div style="color: #073763;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #073763;">The <b>#7 Villanova Wildcats </b>- in what we have to acknowledge was an extremely entertaining game, although frightening halfway through the second half - used an incredible 19-0 run in the second half to best a black-jerseyed Maryland Terrapins squad, 74-66, at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia.</div><div style="color: #073763;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #073763;">Despite the close geographical proximity of the two schools, it was only their fifth meeting ever, and the return game from Villanova's trip to Maryland last season. Maryland was noteworthy in two aspects of Villanova basketball history. The Terrapins were the third team Villanova vanquished, on its way to the 1985 national championship, in the Sweet 16. And the following season, they were also the first opponent to ever take the floor at the then-new Pavilion, on campus.</div><div style="color: #073763;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #073763;">I'll have some more extended thoughts on today's victory... in the meantime-</div><div style="color: #073763;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #073763;">Go Wildcats!<br />
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Update- full story: </div><div style="color: #073763;"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Saturday’s victory over Maryland was one of the oddest games in recent Villanova history. The Wildcats trailed by as many as 12 points in the second half, before their 19-0 run quelled Maryland’s upset bid.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Villanova’s inability to get to the foul line, particularly in the first half, was one reason why Maryland was able to take a 36-33 halftime lead, en route to the aforementioned 12 point advantage. The Wildcats, who average well over 20 free throw attempts per contest, had a grand total of three attempts in the first half. Moreover, when the Wildcats do get there, they make a high percentage of the shots. Our shooting percentage is tops in the Big East and among the best, nationally.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">This was good strategy, on the part of Maryland coach – and Collingswood, NJ, native – <b>Gary Williams</b>, who developed a love of basketball, partially due to his frequent attendance of Palestra doubleheaders. Although he ultimately played at Maryland, graduating in 1968 (in addition to his 22 years and the 2002 national championship in College Park), Williams originally wanted to play for Penn - which was a national powerhouse at the time.</span><br />
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<span style="color: navy;">But back to Saturday's game. Williams recognized that this was a critical part of our offense, and the Terrrapins were clearly instructed not to commit fouls, if possible. Villanova makes too many free throws for that strategy to be effective. (And Maryland had its own weakness in that area – Maryland entered the contest, ranked 306<sup>th</sup> in Division I, in terms of free throw percentage.) And Villanova, as a result, barely got to the foul line, during the first half.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Ironically, the issue with fouls came from Villanova’s end. <b>Mouphtaou Yarou </b>was saddled with foul trouble for the entire contest. From purely a shooting perspective, Mouph had his worst game of the season. He missed all six of his field goal attempts, finishing with just three points from the foul line. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Villanova’s initial plays in the first half were run well, designed to get Mouph shots in the paint. I believe that had he not gotten into foul trouble, Jay Wright would have continued to run the offense through him, but here’s what happened…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">After missing two shots underneath, Mouph committed two quick fouls. The second one was particularly egregious. Mouph missed a shot in the post, and then decided – as a way of overcompensating – to foul Maryland’s guard from behind, out on the perimeter. This was a terrible decision on Mouph’s part, as it took him out of the game. He was immediately yanked, and logged only five minutes in the first half.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Mouph would then compound his error, by committing his third foul, immediately after play resumed in the second half. He would ultimately play only 23 minutes, before fouling out in the last two minutes. He did have an outstanding game on the glass, pulling in a dozen rebounds – a great total even if he had played the entire game, but particularly valuable in light of the relative lack of minutes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Ordinarily, he wouldn’t have played that much in the second half, given his three fouls in the first 21 minutes. But Maryland was ahead for much of the second half, and Wright had no choice but to leave him out there.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">As it turned out, Mouph’s foul trouble was particularly problematic, since Wright had decided prior to the contest that <b>Maurice Sutton</b> – the player who invariably replaces Mouph if he gets in foul trouble – would be serving a single-game suspension, for violating a team rule. So Wright had Mouph in foul trouble and Sutton, unavailable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Villanova’s personnel problems were further compounded when <b>Dominic Cheek</b> sprained his knee in the first half, and didn’t return for the second. Cheek played only four first-half minutes, did not score, and added two rebounds.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">As a result, this was a game, where a shorthanded Villanova team really needed some punch in the paint – and fortunately, <b>Antonio Pena</b> had a great day. Pena played all but one minute of the game, and turned in a double-double – 14 points on 7-12 shooting, along with 10 rebounds.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Other Wildcats also had fine days on offense.<b> Maalik Wayns</b> led the way for Villanova, with <b>22 points</b> on <b>7-10</b> shooting from the field and 7-9 shooting from the foul line – in all, a superb performance, particularly in only 29 minutes. <b>Corey Fisher</b> played all but three minutes, finishing with <b>17 points</b> on <b>7-15</b> shooting overall and <b>5-6</b> from three-point range, plus five assists. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">It was a subpar game from <b>Corey Stokes</b>, who struggled from the floor. He finished with nine points on <b>4-14</b> shooting, and made just one of his seven attempts from three-point range.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Coming off the bench, <b>Isaiah Armwood</b> had a monster game on the glass, grabbing <b>13 rebounds</b> (including five on the offensive end) in just 22 minutes. <b>James Bell</b> saw 10 minutes, scoring three points to go with one offensive rebound, and one assist.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">As a team, the Wildcats did their usual fine conversion rate from the line, connecting on 15 of their 20 attempts <b>(75%)</b>. Although Villanova obviously had no control over this, the Terrapins also had their usual dreadful performance from the foul line – <b>10-18 (57%)</b>.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: navy;">The CBS Broadcast – Verne Lundquist and Clark Kellogg Were Great</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">I was particularly happy to learn that <b>Verne Lundquist</b> and <b>Clark Kellogg</b> would be calling the game for CBS. Kellogg had his share of Kelloggisms, including a compliment to Gregory after a dunk, that he had been “coming strong and coming correct” to the hoop. (Hopefully, we’ll make it to the Final Four again, and have Kellogg doing the analysis of the Wildcats, once more…)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Lundquist accurately noted the aforementioned, unexpected role that Maryland has played in Villanova basketball history. But even better, CBS showed a clip from the 1985 Sweet 16 victory, in which you could see young <b>Rollie Massimino</b>, young <b>Steve Lappas</b>, and most surprisingly – young Lundquist! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Lundquist himself noted, in a wry, self-deprecating way - “I had hair back then.” He added that although he did not call the Villanova/Maryland game in Birmingham, Alabama, he did in fact call the second Sweet 16 game, that took place immediately after it, on that court in Birmingham, over a quarter-century ago.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: navy;">Maryland</span></b><b><span style="color: navy;"> Traditions – “Fear the Turtle” and Testudo, Uniforms with Four Colors</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">I have friends with Maryland ties, and their enthusiasm for the Terrapins (known colloquially as the <b>Terps</b>) knows no bounds.<span> </span>I must say that although he didn’t make the trip north on Saturday, that <b>Testudo</b> – the formal name for the Terrapin mascot, a giant turtle – is indubitably one of the coolest mascots in all of college basketball.<span> </span>As much as I love the Wildcat, the only downside to the nickname is that it’s so commonplace, throughout Division I.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: navy;">“Fear the Turtle”</span></b><span style="color: navy;"> is the Maryland slogan.<span> </span>Back in the day, when Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles entered the pop-culture scene, their <b>“Turtle Power”</b> slogan was also appropriated by the Maryland faithful.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Although, as a general rule, we don’t like black jerseys unless it’s actually the school’s colors – like Providence – Maryland’s black jerseys actually are in keeping with the state’s colors, so we liked them.<span> </span>Maryland has the coolest flag of any state in the Union – you’ve undoubtedly seen it – the one in which two quadrants are red and white, and the other two black and gold with a checkerboard design.<span> </span>If you looked carefully yesterday, the uniforms were black and gold, but with red numbers.<span> </span>Usually, the Maryland uniforms are red and white, with black and gold trim…</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: navy;">One Final Observation</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">When Villanova was trailing in the second half, the guards rolled the ball up the floor, in order to save a couple of seconds, due to the rule that the clock won’t start until the ball is touched.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Now, this makes some sense, if you’re behind during the last three minutes. But they did this with over eight minutes to go (yes, eight minutes)! I don’t think that I’d ever seen a team do that with so much time remaining (I disagree with the tactic, as you can tell!) Fortunately, that was the only possession on which they tried it.</span></div><br />
<b>Next Up For the Wildcats</b><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: navy;">Villanova has little time to celebrate the victory, as they must make the dreaded trip up to <b>#10 Connecticut</b>, for Monday night’s contest, with the hated Huskies… Until then-</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: navy;">Go Wildcats!</span></b></div></div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-18270340985130562010-12-08T14:45:00.000-05:002010-12-08T14:45:14.200-05:00Villanova / Penn Rivalry History - Updated For 2010 - Wildcats @ Quakers<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>To the Villanova Wildcat faithful-</b></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tonight, <b>Wednesday, December 8, 2010</b>, at the storied <b>Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania</b>, the <b>Pennsylvania Quakers</b> will clash with the Wildcats, for the <b>58th</b> time. <br />
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When <b>Jay Wright</b> first arrived on the Main Line as head coach, for the <b>2001-02</b> season, the Wildcats <i><b>lost</b></i> to Penn, during both of his first two seasons at the helm. But things sure have changed since <b>December 2002</b>. Tonight, Wright and the Wildcats will try to achieve their <i><b>eighth</b></i> straight victory, over their City Series rivals.</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The All-Time Series Since 1922</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The 2000s </b></span><b> </b><br />
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<b>November 16, 2009 - </b><i>Pavilion </i>- #5 Villanova 103, Penn 65<br />
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The Villanova / Penn series is played in November, for the first time. The #5 Wildcats demolish the Quakers - and notably, Wright calls no timeouts, during the <b><i>entire</i></b> game. Afterwards, he remarks that he can recall no previous game as a head coach, whether at Villanova or at Hofstra, in which he did not call a <b><i>single</i></b> timeout.<br />
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Also noteworthy is the fact that the Wildcats' <b>103 points</b> mark a record for either team in series history; neither team had ever reached the century mark against the other. <br />
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<b>December 1, 2008 - </b><i>Palestra </i>- #17 Villanova 69, Penn 47<b> </b><br />
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<b>December 1, 2007 </b>- <i>Pavilion</i> - Villanova 87, Penn 61</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>December 2, 2006 </b>- <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 99, Penn 89 (double overtime)<br />
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<b>December 13, 2005 </b>- <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 62, Penn 55<br />
<br />
<b>December 31, 2004</b> - <i>Pavilion</i> - Villanova 74, Penn 64<br />
<br />
<b>December 9, 2003 </b>- <i>Palestra</i> (Big Five Classic) - Villanova 73, Penn 63<br />
<br />
<b>December 10, 2002</b> - <i>Wachovia Center</i> - Penn 72, Villanova 58<br />
<br />
<b>December 5, 2001 </b>- <i>Palestra</i> - Penn 75, Villanova 74 (overtime)<br />
<br />
<b>February 6, 2001</b> - <i>Wachovia Center</i> - Villanova 80, Penn 51<br />
<br />
<b>January 9, 2000</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 67, Penn 65<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The 1990s</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>February 23, 1999</b> - <i>Pavilion</i>- Villanova 74, Penn 63</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>1997-98 </b>- <i>No game</i>, as Villanova was playing its four City Series opponents only every other year, two each season<br />
<br />
<b>December 10, 1996</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 89, Penn 62<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>1995-96</b> - <i>No game</i>, see above<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>February 22, 1995</b> -<i> Pavilion</i> - Villanova 78, Penn 74<b> </b><br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>1993-94</b> - <i>No game</i>, see above<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>December 15, 1992</b> - <i>Old Spectrum</i> - Penn 71, Villanova 59<br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>1991-92 </b>- <i>No game</i>, see above. This marked the first season since 1955-56, that the teams hadn't clashed - a 36-year tradition broken. <br />
<br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>December 3, 1990</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 82, Penn 62<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The 1980s </b></span><br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>December 4, 1989</b> - <i>Pavilion</i> - Villanova 75, Penn 46<br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>December 6, 1988</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Penn 71, Villanova 70 <br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>December 2, 1987</b> - <i>Pavilion</i> - Villanova 84, Penn 55<br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>January 27, 1986</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 68, Penn 64<br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>December 15, 1984</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 80, Penn 67<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>February 21, 1984</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 65, Penn 51<b> </b><br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>December 11, 1982</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Penn 84, Villanova 80<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>December 12, 1981 </b>- <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 75, Penn 61<br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>January 17, 1981 </b>-<i> Palestra -</i> Villanova 68, Penn 55<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>January 19, 1980 </b>- <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 65, Penn 51<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The 1970s </b></span><br />
<br />
<b>February 13, 1979</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 89, Penn 80<br />
<br />
<b>December 10, 1977</b> -<i> Palestra</i> - Villanova 69, Penn 68<br />
<br />
<b>December 18, 1976</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 83, Penn 66<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>January 24, 1975</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 69, Penn 67<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>December 14, 1974</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Penn 90, Villanova 80<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>January 23, 1974</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Penn 83, Villanova 61<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>January 17, 1973</b>- <i>Palestra</i> - Penn 77, Villanova 69<br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>March 16, 1972</b> - NCAA Tournament - Penn 78, Villanova 67<i><b> </b></i><br />
<br />
<b>January 19, 1972</b><i> - Palestra - Penn 74, Villanova 64<b> </b></i><br />
<br />
<b>March 20, 1971</b> - <i>NCAA Tournament, Raleigh, North Carolina, Elite Eight</i> - Villanova 90, Penn 47<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>January 23, 1971</b> - <i>Palestra </i>- Penn 78, Villanova 70<br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The 1960s</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>December 20, 1969 </b>- <i>Palestra</i> - Penn 59, Villanova 55 <br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>January 15, 1969</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Penn 32, Villanova 30<br />
<br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>January 17, 1968</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 75, Penn 45<br />
<br />
<b>December 30, 1967</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 45, Penn 44<br />
<br />
<b>January 25, 1967</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 71, Penn 54<br />
<br />
<b>December 22, 1965</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Penn 73, Villanova 60 <br />
<br />
<b>January 27, 1965</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 75 , Penn 46<br />
<br />
<b>December 26, 1964 </b>-<i> Palestra</i> - Villanova 52, Penn 47 (overtime) <br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>January 25, 1963 </b>- <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 72, Penn 48<br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
<b>March 11, 1961</b> - <i> Palestra</i> - Penn 82, Villanova 80<br />
<br />
<b>January 18, 1961</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Penn 63, Villanova 62<br />
<br />
<b>January 23, 1960</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 71, Penn 58<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The 1950s </b></span><br />
<br />
<b>January 3, 1959</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 93, Penn 63<br />
<br />
<b>February 19, 1958</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 73, Penn 61<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>January 16, 1957</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 63, Penn 47<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>February 8, 1956</b> - <i>Palestra</i> - Villanova 89, Penn 74<br />
<br />
Prior to the formation of the Big Five, in time for the 1955-56 season, Villanova and Pennsylvania had played just <b><i>once</i></b>, surprisingly (?!?).<br />
<br />
On <b>January 7, 1922</b> - in just Villanova's second season of organized, intercollegiate play, in fact - the host Quakers (this was pre-Palestra, in fact - stopped Villanova, 27-23. The teams then didn't play for another 34 years, despite the close proximity...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Go Wildcats! </span><br />
<br />
<b>E-mail - villanova.viewpoint@yahoo.com </b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-47471920056163034432010-12-03T17:42:00.001-05:002010-12-03T17:48:39.982-05:00The Holy War - Villanova / St. Joseph's - An Updated Preview For December 2010<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">To the Wildcat faithful-<span style="color: #000066;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #000066;">Villanova leads the all-time series, <b>43-24</b>. As members of the Big Five, the margin is considerably narrower: <b>32-23</b>. Villanova had won eleven of the twelve meetings since the first game took place in 1921, until the formation of the Big Five in the <b>1955-56</b> season. 'Nova has done well in recent years, winning nine of the last dozen contests. Most of the SJU victories came during the 1950s and 1960s; Villanova is 27-12 over the last three decades or so.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #000066;">This year, as well as the last two years, have marked a departure from the previous scheduling in February. The telecast had often been featured on ESPN and ESPN2; the ESPN networks had featured the Holy War as part of their "Rivalry Week" series in that month. </span></span><span style="color: #073763;">This year, it will air on ESPNU, during December.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #000066;"><b>The Origin of the Series, Prior to the Formation of the Big Five</b><br />
</span><br />
</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Villanova played SJU (then St. Joseph's College) twice, during the Wildcats' first ever season on the hardwood, which took place during the 1920-21 school year. The first contest took place on January 15, 1921, on the Main Line, with 'Nova winning 31-22. In the return game, Villanova completed the sweep by prevailing 24-14. The teams clashed often during the 1920s, but after the 1930 game, the series lay dormant for a long time. In the ensuing quarter-century, the only meeting was in 1939. As to why two proximate Catholic schools would go so long without meeting - can't figure it out.<br />
<br />
But when the Big Five got rolling, it was SJU's turn to dominate the series. The Hawks won the first six City Series games and ten of the first twelve. The two schools had the honor of clashing in the first-ever Big Five contest at the Palestra, on December 14, 1955- St. Joe's won, 83-70. Surprisingly, the public did not seem all that interested in the game, as a paltry 2,636 spectators showed up for the historic inaugural. Villanova was ordinary that year, finishing at 14-12, but St. Joe's went 25-6 and reached the NIT semifinals.<br />
<br />
The lack of interest is even more surprising, in light of the fact that starting with the 1958 game, <i>every single</i> VU/SJU game attracted a sellout or near-sellout crowd at the Palestra, with the high attendance continuous for all games since then, regardless of venue. The attendance for the 1957 game climbed to 5,659, but then the Palestra was packed to the rafters for Villanova/St. Joe's.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #000066;">Some Memorable Games in the Series (Villanova victories in <span style="color: #3366ff;">light blue</span>, St. Joseph's victories in <span style="color: #cc0000;">crimson</span>)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">February 12, 1958</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">Villanova loses to St. Joe's, 86-82, in overtime, after failing to hold a 17 point lead.</span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">January 28, 1961<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">St. Joe's was a powerhouse, and would finish with a 25-5 record under</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Jack Ramsay</span></span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">, a deep NCAA tournament run, and a City Series sweep. In the last season for legendary coach Alexander Severance, Villanova would finish winless in City Series play and with a dismal 11-13 record. But the Wildcats nearly pulled off a huge upset, losing only 64-63.<br />
</span><br />
</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">March 3, 1962<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">New coach Jack Kraft leads the Wildcats to their first-ever City Series victory over the Hawks, prevailing 66-59. The victory gives Villanova its first City Series sweep, with Hubie White leading the way with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Both teams went on to the NCAA tournament, in an era when the tournament field was very small.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">February 20, 1965</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">This was the most titanic clash in Holy War history, as in no other year have both schools simultaneously posted such gaudy records. St. Joe's would finish at 26-3, with a 4-0 City Series sweep, and reach the NCAA tournament. Villanova would finish at 23-5 and reach the NIT semifinals. And when they met head-to-head, there was a bizarre incident - a bomb scare at the Palestra. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">According to a perhaps legendary tale, radio broadcaster</span> Les Keiter </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">refused to go off the air during the threat, announcing his intention to stay there all night if necessary. It turned out to be a false alarm, and the Hawks won, 69-62.<br />
</span><br />
</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">January 16, 1966<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">In one of the most written about Big Five finishes, Hawk substitute</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Steve Donches</span> </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">connects on a 29-footer at the buzzer to give SJU a 71-69 victory.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">January 11, 1969</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">The legendary Wildcat center Howard Porter turns in one of his most incredible performances, scoring 36 points and grabbing 26 rebounds to help Villanova blow out St. Joe's, 87-62. The 25 point margin was Villanova's most lopsided victory in the series to that point. The performance helps propel Porter to a share of the Geasey Award (the Big Five MVP) with La Salle's</span> <span style="color: #000066;">Ken Durrett</span>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">February 20, 1971/March 13, 1971</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">In Villanova's second-greatest season, the Porter-led Wildcats will go 23-6 and reach the NCAA championship game before bowing to</span> <span style="color: #ffcc00;">John Wooden's</span> <span style="color: #3366ff;">UCLA dynasty. But en route, they meet St. Joe's twice in one season, for the first time since 1923. In the City Series game, Villanova triumphs 63-55, although Hawks center</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Mike Bantom</span> </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">outplays Porter.<br />
<br />
The schools would meet again at the Palestra, in the first round of the NCAA tournament (the only time, before or since, the Holy War has extended to postseason play). 'Nova won in a rout, 93-75.<br />
<br />
January 27, 1973<br />
<br />
In Kraft's final season, Villanova scuffled to a rare losing record at 11-14. St. Joe's went 22-6 and to the NCAA tournament. But the Wildcats shocked the heavily favored Hawks, 79-72, with 43 points coming from Tom Ingelsby- the Geasey winner - and Ed Hastings.<br />
<br />
February 22, 1975<br />
<br />
Rollie Massimino wins his first game against the Hawks: Larry and Keith Herron each score 19 points in Villanova's 71-67 victory. The attraction of the rivalry was quite evident at this point. Villanova and St. Joe's finished with disastrous 9-18 and 8-17 records, respectively. La Salle and Penn had fantastic seasons, in contrast. But Villanova/St. Joe's drew 9,233 fans, the 3rd-highest total of the ten City Series contests. (Penn/Villanova and Penn/La Salle were the only others to draw more than 7,300).<br />
<br />
February 19, 1977<br />
<br />
The first City Series game away from the Palestra, as the Villanova/St. Joe's game goes to the Spectrum, to accommodate more fans for both schools. The Wildcats win 92-78, in front of 12,138 fans.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">February 23, 1980</span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">For the first time, the Wildcats and Hawks meet while both squads are 3-0 in City Series play. In front of a sold-out Palestra, the Hawks came away with a narrow 60-59 victory to give St. Joe's its first City Series title since 1968.<br />
<br />
February 22, 1983<br />
<br />
In the second Spectrum game in the series, a record throng of 18,060 witnesses a 70-62 Wildcat victory, the most to ever witness a Holy War.<br />
<br />
February 19, 1985<br />
<br />
It was the <i>annus mirabilis</i> (in Latin, the "year of miracles") on the Main Line. And perhaps the basketball gods' first sign of favor took place at the Spectrum, in the Holy War.<br />
<br />
Villanova entered the game having lost three in a row, while the Hawks had won nine straight. Villanova was 3-0 in City Series play, but SJU was 1-1 and could pursue a share of the Big Five title with a victory over the 'Cats. 'Nova started the game on a 9-2 run, but by halftime the Hawks had overtaken them, 22-19. St. Joe's led 30-23 with 14:18 to go, before 'Nova rallied. Ed Pinckney connected on two free throws to draw the Wildcats even at 44 with 3:08 to play. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><br />
It seems odd to write this today, in the era of the shot clock, but SJU nearly succeeded in holding the ball for <i>three minutes</i> to take the last shot. Dwayne McClain rebounded the errant St. Joe's shot with only four seconds to go. On the inbounds play, McClain hit a 18-footer and was fouled. By converting the three-point play, McClain gave Villanova a 47-44 victory- and the outright Big Five title for the first time since 1967.<br />
<br />
McClain's 18 points and Harold Pressley's 14 points paced 'Nova, as they each went 7-11 from the floor. </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Rodney Blake</span> </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">led the Hawks with 14 points and 10 rebounds.<br />
<br />
February 19, 1987<br />
<br />
"Daddy Mass" had the chance to win his 300th game against the Hawks. It took double overtime at the Palestra, but the Wildcats finally delivered an 88-87 victory. (Once a perennial fixture at the Palestra, it would be the last Holy War at the basketball cathedral for over seven years, until December 1994).<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">December 12, 1988</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">The Hawks soar into the Pavilion for the first time ever, facing a powerful Wildcat squad that would reach the Elite Eight come March. But the heavy-underdog Hawks pull off a 53-52 upset over Doug West, Mark Plansky and Tom Greis, thanks to a 15-foot bank shot by the obscure</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">"Pick" Brown</span>. </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">(Villanova finished the season at 24-13, the Hawks at 15-14.)<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">December 18, 1994</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">The Holy War, now taking place every other year due to Villanova's 1991-99 withdrawal from the full round-robin, returns to the Palestra for the first time in over six years. #22 Villanova - at the apex of the Kerry Kittles era - is a heavy favorite over a small, slow St. Joe's squad. (The Hawks hadn't reached postseason play since 1986.) </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">But</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Dmitri Domani</span> <span style="color: #3366ff;">hits two key free throws down the stretch, to give St. Joe's a 60-57 upset victory. Kittles graduates as the first Wildcat superstar since the <i>1950s</i>, to never beat St. Joe's (albeit with only two opportunities, rather than four).</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Although nobody knew it at the time, it would be the last Holy War for SJU coach</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">John Griffin</span>, <span style="color: #3366ff;">who also had been a Hawk player; he resigned at the end of the season, and was replaced by one of his longtime assistants,</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Phil Martelli. </span><span style="color: #3366ff;">However</span></span> <span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">,</span> St. Joe's would not defeat Villanova again, for another decade.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #3366ff;">December 23, 1996</span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: times new roman;">At Christmas time, Villanova coach Steve Lappas, as well as stars Alvin Williams and Jason Lawson, finally defeat St. Joe's. The #10 Wildcats had only one disadvantage - the absence of freshman sensation Tim Thomas, sidelined with an injury. After struggling in the first half, the Wildcats go on a 24-3 run in the second half to win easily, 81-65. (There is a huge Pavilion crowd of 6,672, including a healthy number of Hawk partisans able to obtain tickets, with the VU students on break.)<br />
<br />
The victory looks more significant in light of subsequent events than it seemed at the time. St. Joe's - which hadn't been to the NCAA tournament in over a decade - went on to a highly unexpected 26-7 season and Sweet 16 appearance. However, at the time, the 'Nova victory was considered routine, given the Wildcats' vast advantages in talent (even with Thomas out).<br />
<br />
December 1, 1998 - </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Palestra<br />
<br />
The Wildcats make it two in a row over the Hawks, 61-49, thanks to 15 points each from seniors Howard Brown and Rafal Bigus. Brown punctuates the game with several acrobatic feats, including a highly memorable tip dunk.<br />
<br />
February 17, 2000 - Pavilion<br />
<br />
This was the first Holy War to take place, after the joyous announcement during the previous off-season, that Villanova would resume participation in the full-round robin, starting with the 1999-2000 season. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">The Wildcats had been absent from the round-robin, beginning with the 1991-92 season, an eight-year absence.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Marvin O'Connor</span>, </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">who transferred from 'Nova to St. Joe's after his freshman season of 1997-98, takes on his former teammates for the first time. (Intra-Big Five transfers are rare.) O'Connor leads the Hawks with 20 points, but on only 8-24 shooting. Gary Buchanan singlehandedly gives the Wildcats a hard-fought, 68-61 victory, with a 24 point outburst.<br />
<br />
December 11, 2000<br />
<br />
The Holy War returns to the Palestra. St. Joe's comes close to its long-denied victory over the Wildcats, leading 39-32 at intermission. O'Connor dazzles with 32 points on 11-17 shooting to lead the Hawks. But 'Nova rallies in the second half to come away with a hard-fought, thrilling 78-75 victory. Michael Bradley has a field day in the paint, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Reggie Bryant and Aaron Matthews add 13 for the 'Cats.<br />
<br />
February 2002 - Pavilion<br />
<br />
In the first Holy War under Jay Wright, Villanova eviscerated SJU at the Pavilion, 102-73, the <i>largest margin</i> of victory for either side in the then-81 year history of the series. Gary Buchanan led the way with 28 points, including a career-high seven three-pointers.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">February 2003</span> - <span style="color: #cc0000;">Palestra</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">Martelli had been the most successful coach at SJU since</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Jack Ramsay</span></span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">, having won Atlantic 10 titles and reached a Sweet 16 in 1997. He defeated Villanova for the first time in six tries, as the Hawks humiliated the 'Cats, 92-75, at the Palestra. Incredibly, the 17-point final margin does <i>not </i>accurately reflect, how lopsided the game actually was.<br />
<br />
During the first eight minutes, the Wildcats committed 15 turnovers and scored three baskets. The Hawks started the contest on a 40-9 run - and the 17-point deficit was actually the closest Villanova drew after that, during the entire game. (One particularly zealous Hawk partisan actually had the opening run immortalized on his Pennsylvania license plate: "SJ40-VU9".)<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Jameer Nelson</span><span style="color: #3366ff;"> had 30 points to lead the Hawks.</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Delonte West</span>, </span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">who had been the lead story entering the game, after media reports surfaced regarding an altercation he had allegedly had with the SJU trainer, did not start as a result. But playing 26 minutes, he scored 25 points.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">February 2004</span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">The #3 Hawks entered the Pavilion soaring as high as they ever have, bringing an unblemished 18-0 mark into the game; they would eventually garner a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament and reach the Elite Eight. However, the Wildcats substantially improved upon the sorry spectacle of the previous year. The overmatched Wildcats fought admirably before finally falling, 74-67.<br />
<br />
Nelson and West combined for 45 points, but Mike Nardi led the Wildcat counterattack with 16 points and five assists. A three-pointer from Andreas Bloch cut the Hawk lead to 54-50, with less than nine minutes to play, before what had to have been one of the largest crowds in Pavilion history. But that was as close as 'Nova came to an upset.<br />
<br />
February 2005<br />
<br />
By a remarkable twist of fate, Super Bowl XXXIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots is scheduled for the previous day. And so Holy War LXII is relegated to the back burner. Lost amidst the avalanche of Super Bowl coverage, it was the probably the <i>least</i> hyped battle between the two schools since the formation of the Big Five.<br />
<br />
VU was enjoying its first great year, under Jay Wright, and entered the contest with a #22 ranking. SJU was coming off a remarkable season in which they were undefeated until the Atlantic 10 tournament and ranked #1 for a week. The Hawks had reached the Elite Eight (moreover, coming within a Jameer Nelson shot of reaching the Final Four), and with both teams enjoying a renaissance, it should have had the makings of a fantastic contest.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;"> However, the melancholia of the crowd (for both teams) was too much to overcome. The Patriots' vanquishing of the Eagles, on the previous evening, cast a funereal pall over the proceedings, like a vast, billowing fog through which no other sporting event could shine.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">And as it turned out, the game wasn't all that good, anyway. The Wildcats were never challenged in a slow, foul-marred game, which they won, 67-52. Jason Fraser had arguably the finest game of his star-crossed career, coming off the bench to score 14 points, grab 14 rebounds and block two shots, despite being hampered by a heavily bandaged hand and playing only 29 minutes. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">The Hawks'</span><span style="color: #3366ff;"> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Pat Carroll</span>, a superb outside shooter, would miss his first 13 shots, as SJU had mustered only 20 points with less than 14 minutes to play.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">Finally, the Hawks' band would play, during garbage time, a mournful version of "Fly, Eagles, Fly", accurately reflecting what was on the mind of the Palestra crowd...</span><span style="color: #3366ff;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: times new roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">February 7, 2006 - Palestra</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: times new roman;">It was the 50th Anniversary of the creation of the Big Five. And as fate would have it, both teams entered the sold-out, packed-beyond-capacity Palestra, with perfect 3-0 City Series marks: the winner would take the 50th Big Five title. This represented only the fourth time in the Big Five's half-century history, that two schools would enter a City Series contest, with both having 3-0 records.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Times New Roman;">And despite a terrible first half, Villanova ended up withe the chance to savor another City Series sweep. Despite the unavailability of a tonsillitis-stricken Mike Nardi, the #4 Wildcats were heavy favorites over the Hawks. And so there was much astonishment in the venerable building, when St. Joseph's dominated the first half. Villanova was trailing by double-digits, 34-22, at halftime.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Times New Roman;">But Villanova rallied to defeat the Hawks, 71-58, for the second year in a row, capturing the City Series crown. "Nova annihilated SJU after intermission, winning the second half by more than doubling up the Hawks, 49-24. The Wildcats shot a stunning 68% in the second half, after scuffling to an anemic 30% in the first half. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;">Kyle Lowry</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">, playing in his second (and since he ultimately left early for the NBA, final) contest with SJU, scored 25 points, including 17 in the second-half counterattack, which featured a 21-3 Wildcats run. The gifted senior backcourt of </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Allan Ray</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> and </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Randy Foye</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> also contributed 14 points apiece. For </span><span style="color: #990000;">SJU</span></span><span style="color: #990000;">,</span></span><span style="color: #990000;"> </span></span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Chet Stachitas</span> had 19 points, with <span style="color: #cc0000;">Abdulai Jalloh</span><span style="color: #990000;"> adding 15 points and </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Dwayne Lee</span><span style="color: #990000;"> recording 11 points.</span><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Times New Roman;">February 6, 2007 - Pavilion</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Times New Roman;">Villanova 56, St. Joseph's 39 </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="http://villanovaviewpoint.blogspot.com/2007/02/villanova-holds-sju-to-lowest-holy-war.html">The Hawks are held to their lowest Holy War total in 68 years, as Villanova completes a City Series sweep - read my full game story here</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Times New Roman;">February 4, 2008 - Palestra<span style="color: #990000;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: #990000;">St. Joseph's 77, Villanova 55</span></span> <span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Times New Roman;"> <span style="color: #990000;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;"><span style="color: #990000;">St. Joseph's prevents Villanova from sweeping the City Series, with a 77-55 victory. Pat Calathes and Rob Ferguson each score 20 points to lead the Hawks, while Darrin Govens adds 16; <span style="color: #0b5394;">Dante Cunningham and Scottie Reynolds score a dozen points apiece, for the Wildcats.</span></span> </span><br />
<b><br />
<span style="color: #3366ff;">December 11, 2008 - Pavilion </span></b><br />
<b><br />
</b></span> <br />
<div style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>#12 Villanova 59, St. Joseph's 56 </b></span> </div><div style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> </div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The Wildcats rally from a 35-26 halftime deficit against the underdog Hawks, triumphing 59-56. Reynolds scores 18 points, including the winning free throws with 4.8 seconds to play, to cap the comeback.</span> </span> <span style="color: #990000;">Govens has 18 points to lead the Hawks.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">December 9, 2009 - The Palestra</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">#3 Villanova 97, Saint Joseph's 89</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Wildcats entered the game with a perfect 8-0 record, and held off a surprisingly spirited effort from an overmatched Hawks squad, which had limped into the contest at 3-5. The Wildcats' lead at halftime was just 41-38, and it would have gone down as one of the greatest upsets in Holy War history had the Hawks managed to topple the third-ranked team in the land.</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, Scottie Reynolds' 22 points paced the Wildcats, as the senior - facing the Hawks for the final time - also grabbed half a dozen caroms. For the Hawks, Idris Hilliard led the way with 22 points and seven rebounds.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Another chapter written, tonight, at the Pavilion...</span></span><b> </b></span>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-2996718410336030432010-11-17T17:17:00.001-05:002010-11-17T17:23:19.047-05:00#6 Wildcats Maul Marist in NIT Tip-Off First Round, 84-47, At Pavilion<div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">The #6 Wildcats had no trouble getting past a hopelessly overmatched Marist Red Foxes squad, <b>84-47</b>, at the Pavilion on Tuesday night. No fewer than five Wildcats made it into double figures, by the final buzzer. </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Villanova was paced by its youthful backcourt of <b>Maalik Wayns</b> and <b>Dominic Cheek</b>. Wayns finished with 17 points on 6-11 shooting, and seven rebounds, the latter being a remarkable number for a point guard. Cheek came off the bench to add 15 points on 6-10 shooting, great numbers for a player who logged only 22 minutes.<br />
<br />
Villanova held a 36-24 advantage at intermission, as Marist had stayed within reasonable striking distance, but the Wildcats really pulled away in the second half, scoring 48 additional points en route to a 39-point blowout victory. The entire team played fine defense, as Marist mustered only 47 points - in other words, Villanova's 48 second-half points alone, would have been enough for a 48-47 victory. (This undoubtedly would have made for a far more exciting contest, though, if the Wildcats had trailed 47-0 at halftime and rallied to win.)<br />
<br />
The Wildcats made it 2-0 on the young season, and although this was not a surprising outcome, the final numbers look like what they should for a Top 10 team at home against a low-major opponent. So while we can't read too much into it, there's reason for optimism.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Next Up for the Wildcats</b><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"></div><div style="color: #351c75;">There is only a brief respite, before facing the Boston University Terriers in the next round of the preseason NIT at the Pavilion, at 8:00 PM this evening. Unfortunately, the game won't be televised...</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Go Wildcats!</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><i><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Reactions? Comments? Just leave one in the box below... All comments will be answered...</span></b></i>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-43560213423763073502010-11-13T10:55:00.016-05:002010-11-17T18:03:44.496-05:00#6 Wildcats Top Wright's Alma Mater, Bucknell, In Season Opener<div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">The #6 Wildcats - ranked in the top 10 to start the season - launched the 2010-11 season with a victory over Bucknell, 68-52, at the Pavilion. The Bison of Bucknell - one of my favorite nicknames in all of college basketball - put up a gallant effort against <b>Jay Wright</b>'s powerhouse squad, but there was no upset to be had.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Rarely has a season opened in such warm weather in Philadelphia, either. This season opener was earlier than normal, and with unseasonably balmy temperatures around here, it doesn't really feel quite like time for basketball yet, even Villanova basketball with a preseason ranking in the Top 10.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"> </div><div style="color: #351c75;"> Bucknell is chiefly notable as the<b><i> alma mater</i></b> of Jay Wright. Wright played four seasons at Bucknell, graduating in <b>1982</b>. As Wright once put it, "I grew up a Villanova fan. And I wanted to play for Villanova and <b>Rollie Massimino</b>. But I wasn't good enough! So I played at Bucknell." Little did he know, back then, of course, that he'd be at the helm of his favorite team for a decade...</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Next Up For the Wildcats</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Villanova will now participate in the 2010 NIT Season Tip-Off, the more elaborate name for what was once simply known as the Pre-season NIT. Their first battle is against the Marist Red Foxes, on Tuesday, November 16 at the Pavilion.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Go Wildcats!</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">Comments? Questions? Just Leave Them in the Box Below - All Will Be Answered...</span>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-85542813809872228882010-04-06T11:35:00.009-04:002010-04-06T13:47:23.292-04:00One Shining Moment Montage 2008 CBS - Identifying the Shots, Frame by FrameTo the Wildcat faithful-<br />
<br />
I had previously noted the presence of various Wildcats in the classic CBS "One Shining Moment" montage... and the thought occurred to me, that it might be interesting to do it for the entire song. I have tremendous respect for CBS's NCAA tournament coverage... Obviously, what you see below is not perfect, but it's the best that I can do at the moment...<br />
<br />
<b>From 2008 - "One Shining Moment" - recorded by Luther Vandross - about 3 minutes, 8 seconds:</b><br />
<br />
Ball bouncing along the <b>NCAA</b> logo on court<br />
<b>Tennessee</b> dog mascot<br />
<b>North Carolina</b> fans<br />
<b>Texas </b>cheerleaders<br />
<b>Baylor Bear </b>and cheerleaders<br />
<b>Indiana </b>fans dancing<br />
What I believe is the<b> UCLA </b>band playing instruments - blue and yellow tie-dyed shirts<br />
<b>Notre Dame </b>Leprechaun doing somersaults and bowing to the crowd<br />
Little kid from Pitt cheering <br />
Two little kids in stands, dancing for Arkansas<br />
Butler cheerleaders blowing kisses<br />
Duke Blue Devil and cheerleaders<br />
Tiger mascot, can't tell who though<br />
Texas A&M band percussion section<br />
Blue and white cheerleaders doing backflips - may be Duke, but can't conclusively tell<br />
Xavier players<br />
Hands on ball<br />
Arkansas Razorback flag being carried<br />
Blue-clad pep band<br />
Players in a circle - can't identify team - may have been Duke or possibly Pitt<br />
Another team in a circle - red warmups<br />
Player's face<br />
Tip-off Villanova/Kansas, I believe, Sweet 16 <br />
Another tip-off, player in an orange jersey<br />
Players running - a North Carolina game, since some of the sneakers were light blue, some were red; most likely this was the Elite Eight win over Louisville, whose colors are red and white. Although it could be Washington State in the Sweet 16, since their color is crimson<br />
Davidson - Stephon Curry<br />
Somebody dunking - can't tell yet<br />
Blue and gold player running into scorer's table, trying to corral a loose ball<br />
Kansas Jayhawk going out of bounds to save a ball (can tell by the Jayhawk on the side of the shorts)<br />
Western Kentucky player stopping to shoot<br />
Carolina Tar Heel shooting three-pointer<br />
Player in white uniform with maroon trim shooting<br />
Three-pointer going down<br />
Jim Phelan, coach of Mt. Saint Mary's - "all these years"<br />
Two opposing players diving for a ball<br />
Another guy diving for a ball<br />
Butler player scooping up a loose ball while white-jerseyed opponent slides out of bounds under the basket; appears to be Tennessee. Those teams did play that year - in the second round, UT won won 76-71...<br />
Texas A&M #32 getting pumped<br />
Georgetown (at least a gray jerseyed player, dunking, his number is just too small to conclusively identify - against a team with black and gold jerseys - I believe this was UMBC, which has those colors; that was a #2/#15 game in the first round<br />
Texas #5 dunking <br />
Red and black clad cheerleader with back to the camera - I think this was a Davidson cheerleader<br />
Oklahoma #11 <br />
UMBC Retriever clapping<br />
Red-jerseyed player diving <br />
West Virginia cheerleaders and Mountaineer with musket, pumping fist<br />
Two fans with orange hats with an "L"<br />
Guy with the basketball glasses<br />
Ball in slow motion rolling in - "frozen in time"<br />
Orange and white jerseyed players embracing - I think that I can see a "T" for Tennessee, or Texas<br />
Glum player in dark jersey<br />
UConn player #12 being helped off court by teammates - #34 on left and can't tell on right<br />
UConn player looking disgusted, pushing arm over head <br />
Angry coach in a game with red and white jerseys<br />
Washington State cheerleader winking / "in the blinking of an eye"<br />
Backboard Dartronic clock counting down, 0:00:03-02-01-00 / "that moment's gone"<br />
Drake #5 with hands behind head, looking dejected, after the #5 seed lost to #12 Western Kentucky, in first round, 101-99<br />
Purdue player in dark jersey, looking dejected on bench<br />
Kansas State players in dark jerseys looking dejected - can't quite find double-digit number on left player, right player wearing #1 - they were a #11 seed, lost to #3 Wisconsin in second round<br />
Agitated UCLA coach Ben Howland<br />
One teammate consoling another - wearing gold uniforms with green trim on bench, one guy with a towel over his head with his head covering face<br />
Belmont player - appears to be #2 - walking off floor with teammate after Belmont - the #15 seed - lost to #2 Duke in first round, 71-70, in Washington, DC<br />
Red jersey black trim player being hugged by coach<br />
Kansas #3 jersey shooting over Villanova Wildcat, as #25 dunks on him<br />
Memphis #1 cheering, with Memphis cheerleaders in background<br />
Cheerleader - gold and black<br />
Three Marquette Golden Eagles in white jerseys on bench - middle player is #41 - right player is #5, can't tell for sure - #10 giving someone a kiss. This was their victory in the #6/#11 game against Kentucky, the only game in which Marquette was the higher seed; they lost in the second round.<br />
Blue clad cheerleader<br />
George Mason mascot - big green thing - with guy in a white suit, dancing<br />
Southern California cheerleaders <br />
Xavier player in white headband<br />
Xavier player in white jersey, saying "One Shining Moment" for the camera, after game ends, and pulling up Xavier jersey; #3 seed Xavier had three white-jerseyed wins, before losing to UCLA in Elite Eight<br />
Memphis players linking arms and swaying on the bench<br />
Davidson #23 pumping fist for camera - as Georgetown #4 walks slowly behind him <br />
Davidson #2 and #30 doing body jump and bump<br />
Woman lifting arms in celebration<br />
Three-pointer shot against UConn, from angle behind basket<br />
Dark-jerseyed players celebrating, pouring off the bench <br />
North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough dunking, from angle directly overhead the basket <br />
Coach - apparently Kansas coach Bill Self - looking frustrated and hitting floor<br />
White-jerseyed Texas Longhorn trying to engage crowd by gesturing arms <br />
Arizona Wildcat #0 blue jersey pumping fist, opponent running behind him<br />
West Virginia Mountaineer player in blue jersey looking somber <br />
Memphis Tiger player exulting with raised arms <br />
Three-pointer from corner good<br />
Three-pointer from opposite corner good - #11 Xavier in white jersey<br />
Davidson's Stephon Curry driving to basket, getting an "and one" call, apparently against Wisconsin, whom they played in the Sweet 16, as the opponents seem to have white jerseys with red trim and no name on back<br />
Curry celebrating and looking to heaven <br />
Shot of Stanford against Marquette, with Stanford scoring on floater that rattles in<br />
Marquette players in dark jerseys on bench looking dejected; this was during their 82-81 loss in the second round to #3 Stanford, in overtime<br />
Stanford #11 exulting, wtih Marquette #12 in background<br />
Western Kentucky #1 lining up to take three-pointer from right side - he drains it, and starts celebrating, as teammate grabs him by his jersey<br />
UCLA #0 in white jersey dunking on breakaway<br />
2:14 West Virginia #43 on bench, covering his face with his dark jersey<br />
Texas A&M dark jersey sitting on floor in fetal position; the #9 Aggies lost to the #1 seed, the UCLA Bruins, in the second round, 52-51.<br />
Cal State-Fullerton players on bench; the #14 seed lost to #3 Wisconsin in the first round.<br />
Rameses, the North Carolina ram mascot<br />
A Memphis player, I think...<br />
Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt clapping<br />
Memphis #23 showing his jersey <br />
Memphis #3 making a spectacular dunk<br />
Kansas introductions<br />
Kansas dunking over Scottie Reynolds, from under-the-basket inbounds play<br />
Jayhawk mascot giving OK sign to camera<br />
Memphis #5 dunk<br />
Memphis player shouting<br />
Then-Memphis coach John Calipari yelling, during game with UCLA<br />
Kansas #15 pumping<br />
Kansas #24 yelling (Sascha Kaun, I believe)<br />
Jump ball between Kansas and Memphis in title game - #5 for Memphis - Dizier?<br />
Flashbulbs popping throughout crowd<br />
Memphis #22 layup, guarded by Kansas #15 - "and one"<br />
Kansas #15 shooting three-pointer<br />
Kansas #5 dunking, on lob from #15<br />
Kansas #4 exulting<br />
Bill Self with both arms and up and index fingers extended<br />
Kansas #10 and redhaired guy celebrating<br />
Chalmers/#15 hugging someone while wearing title hat<br />
Jayhawks encircled, bouncing<br />
Chalmers extending jersey as confetti falls from the proverbial rafters, then arms raised<br />
Jayhawks gathered around, holding NCAA Tournament Championship Trophy over heads<br />
<br />
<b><br />
E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com</b>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-69433298247394504752010-04-01T11:57:00.002-04:002010-04-01T12:08:38.830-04:0025th Anniversary of Villanova over Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament Championship Game - Lexington, Kentucky<div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;">To the Wildcat faithful-</span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Today is the anniversary of the most important day in the history of not just Villanova basketball, but arguably Villanova University as a whole. A quarter of a century ago, today, the Wildcats stunned the nation by upsetting Georgetown, 66-64... Villanova was a #8 seed, the lowest seed to ever win the title under the current format, adopted in 1985 - its inaugural year.</span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was stunning to observers at the time, but even more so in the light of history. No other seed that low has done it in the 25 subsequent tournaments, including this one, in which the two lowest seeds remaining are a pair of #5s, in Butler and Michigan State.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">With us in the Final Four last season, I had written the following piece for last season's April Fool's Day. I think that as we emerge from the wreckage of this year's so promising, and then profoundly disappointing ending, I think that it might be a good idea to revisit the greatest moment in the Villanova Wildcats program, before or since... I've revised and updated it for this season...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Last season, to put myself in the proper perspective for April Fool's Day, 2009, I re-watched the outstanding HBO documentary, <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Perfect Upset</span>, to immerse myself in the atmosphere of the stunning <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Villanova</span><br />
<br />
Simply put,<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> The Perfect Upset</span> is outstanding. I <span style="font-style: italic;">highly</span> recommend it, for anyone who wants to dive deeply not only into the game itself, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Villanova's</span> entire NCAA tournament run, as well as the social atmosphere and upheavals that were convulsing American life and society in the 1980s.<br />
<br />
I had previously seen it, but of course, it has particular resonance in light of the highly unexpected Final Four run by the 2009 Wildcats... here are some observations, on the game that took place two dozen years ago...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Villanova</span> - as a #8 seed - winning the NCAA tournament in 1985, is probably the second-greatest upset in the history of North American sports. </span><br />
<br />
(The only one that I believe is clearly greater, was the U.S. hockey team capturing the gold medal against the Soviet Union in 1980.) Nor does that primarily stem from my being a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Villanova</span> alumnus and fan. For sports enthusiasts of any partisan stripe, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Villanova</span>/Georgetown is a magnificent story, enormously entertaining, filled with unique, memorable, flamboyant characters, richly textured, with a thrilling plot and spectacular ending. It's so great that no fiction writer could ever have contrived it.<br />
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No other team seeded that low has ever come close to repeating the feat. Granted, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Villanova</span> is not the lowest seed to advance to the Final Four - George Mason in 2006, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">LSU</span> two decades earlier -<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?page=bracket090227" style="font-weight: bold;">both made it as #11 seeds</a>. But neither won a game in the Final Four. And even if they had, they would not have to face an opponent as formidable as the 1985 Georgetown <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hoyas</span>.<br />
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Perhaps the most astonishing element of the story of the 1985 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Villanova</span> Wildcats, is the fact that the entire story is<span style="font-style: italic;"> true and genuine</span>. One interviewee in <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Perfect Upset</span> notes that "you can't script the stuff," and he's absolutely right. (His line parallels the slogan Fox Sports used once for its October baseball coverage - "You Can't Script October".)<br />
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All of the following classic dramatic elements were present:</span> victory over Georgetown, 24 years ago, today... It is but one of the greatest ironies that it took place on April Fool's Day....<br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">The metaphor of <span style="font-weight: bold;">David vs. Goliath</span>;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Clear villains in <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Thompson</span> and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Hoyas</span>;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Clear heroes in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rollie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Massimino</span></span> and the Wildcats;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Not one, but <span style="font-style: italic;">two</span> ailing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Villanova</span> fixtures - the first being <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jake Nevin</span> (who features prominently in <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Perfect Upset</span>) and also <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alexander Severance</span>, the founding father of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Villanova</span> basketball, who died during the Final Four but before the championship game (surprisingly, his passing is not mentioned during <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">The Perfect Upset</span>)...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A small, private, academically prominent school winning the national championship;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The first time that school had<span style="font-style: italic;"> ever</span> won the national championship;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">An astoundingly high level of play in the game itself - shooting 78.6% from the floor (22/28 overall), including 9/10 in the second half;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">the end of an era - it was the last tournament without a shot clock;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">the beginning of an era - it was the first year of the 64-team field.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;">That's only a partial list... Had Hollywood come up with a script for a basketball film, that incorporated all of the above elements, it clearly would have been rejected, as too unrealistic and sentimental - the audience would be unable to suspend its disbelief for a story like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Villanova's</span>.<br />
<br />
But truth is indeed stranger than fiction, and the story really did take place according to the legend. It's all true...<br />
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If you haven't seen the outstanding1986 film <span style="font-style: italic;">Hoosiers</span> (or if you haven't seen it recently), you really should go see it. Although its story stems from the true tale of a high school team in 1950s Indiana, the parallels between its plot and the saga of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Villanova</span> Wildcats of 1985 are unmistakable. (I speculate that the script had probably already been written before the 1985 tournament, but it's possible that elements of it might have slipped in.) When telling the story of the 1985 Wildcats to those who are not familiar with it, it's often illustrative to liken it to <span style="font-style: italic;">Hoosiers</span>.. (spoiler alert: don't keep reading, if you haven't seen it...)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;">Worth noting: The climax of <i>Hoosiers</i>, when the Hickory team coached by Gene Hackman upsets the powerhouse in the Indiana state title game, and in which he dramtically illustrates that the court's dimensions are the same size as back in Hickory, was filmed at the home venue of Butler University - which, as we all know, is located in Indianapolis, the site of this year's Final Four. 25 years after Villanova's upset, and 24 years after the release of Hoosiers. Amazing...</span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another aspect to keep in mind, is the distortion of retrospection. We all know the happy ending, about the eventual <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Villanova</span> victory. In order to truly appreciate the stunning nature, though, we have to put ourselves in the frame of mind of those players, coaches, reporters, broadcasters, fans, etc., who were watching the events as they unfolded. It has to be remembered how improbable it was that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Villanova</span> had even reached the Final Four, let alone winning the entire tournament. Moreover, it had been highly improbable, that the Wildcats even reached the Sweet 16, having to play #9 Dayton on its home floor, and then top seed Michigan in the second round.<br />
<br />
And as great as this year's team has been - and even if it does capture <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Villanova's</span> second national crown - it can never match 1985. This year's team is a #3 seed, that had the further advantage of playing two rounds at home. And while North Carolina and either <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">UConn</span>/Michigan State are fine teams, they are not the juggernauts that the 1985 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Hoyas</span> were.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Villanova's 1985 championship is too difficult of an act to follow. </span><br />
<br />
In the 24 tournaments since then (including this one), no lower seed has won the championship, or reached the title game. In 2006, as I (along with virtually all of America) rooted for George Mason to further shock the world by winning the national championship, I recognized that there would be one downside to the miracle - it would partially eclipse <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Villanova's</span> feat. George Mason was an even bigger underdog, from a far less prominent conference, with a lower seed.<br />
<br />
But of course, I was pulling for them, because it would have been a great feat on behalf of all the little schools in America, those who don't have the good fortune to play in power conferences or in great facilities or frequently on television. It would have underscored <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Villanova's</span> triumph, not replaced it.<br />
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Although the 1985 team's accomplishment was certainly fully recognized at the time, the legend has only grown in the last two dozen years. As the big public schools, concentrated in the power conferences, continue to gobble up national titles, Final Four appearances, (and most alarmingly) an even greater share of NCAA tournament invitations, the achievement of the 1985 Wildcats has only glimmered that much brighter. Every year that goes by, without the miraculous event being repeated, simply adds to its luster.<br />
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So those are my thoughts on this April Fool's Day...<br />
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In the meantime...<br />
You can also take a look at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Villanova</span> blogs included in Various Viewpoints</span> on the right sidebar, for their takes...<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
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There are two ways you can contact <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Villanova</span> Viewpoint.</span> One is by commenting on this blog. Comments are encouraged. Also, you can e-mail <span style="font-weight: bold;">villanova.viewpoint@yahoo.com</span> </span></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Go Wildcats!</b></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>E-mail: villanova.viewpoint@yahoo.com</b></span></div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-68267852540338453742010-03-29T17:42:00.000-04:002010-03-29T17:42:05.359-04:00Villanova Season Review in Comments Threat in Previous Post<div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">I wanted to call everyone's attention to the fact that we have an excellent comment thread, on the St. Mary's recap below, in which we discuss at length the various factors, that led to the Wildcats' subpar performance down the stretch, in the Big East tournament, and in the NCAA tournament. Commenter Seamus and two anonymous commenters have been contributing, big time... so please look at the comment thread not on this post, but the game recap of St. Mary's...</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Go Wildcats!</span></b>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-26550272265568272162010-03-20T16:01:00.048-04:002010-03-23T09:37:16.397-04:00Gael and Farewell: #10 Saint Mary's Stuns #2 Wildcats in NCAA 2nd Round, 75-68<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6VB3ivOznI/AAAAAAAAAYE/k8btSAD1ajo/s1600-h/2010_March_19_V_V_SaintMarysGaels_NCAA_2nd_round.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6VB3ivOznI/AAAAAAAAAYE/k8btSAD1ajo/s200/2010_March_19_V_V_SaintMarysGaels_NCAA_2nd_round.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Gael and Farewell, to the 2009-10 Season.</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">The Gaels of Saint Mary's ended the 90th season of Villanova basketball on Saturday afternoon, as the #10 seed shocked the second-seeded Wildcats, 75-68, in the first game of the second round of the NCAA tournament, in Providence, Rhode Island.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">For Villanova, which started the season 20-1, the loss was the culmination of a series of setbacks, which began in February. The Wildcats, residents of the Top 5 nationally for most of the season, lost in their opening game of the Big East tournament, and required overtime to defeat a gallant, #15 Robert Morris squad on Thursday. The subpar play continued today, as the listless Wildcats fell, in a stunning upset. After winning all but one of their first 21 games, Villanova ended the season by dropping seven of their 11 last contests. The Wildcats wound up with a record of 25-8, far lower than what would have been anticipated at the 20-1 mark.<br />
<br />
For the Wildcats, accustomed to making deep NCAA runs under <b>Jay Wright</b>, it was an unsettling ending, to what once seemed such a promising season.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Obviously, we'll have many opportunities, to figure out just what went wrong down the stretch. But in the meantime, congratulations to both Robert Morris, who came up just a little short, and to Saint Mary's, which did not. And good luck to the Gaels, the rest of the way. They were the better team today, facing a team far more talent-laden and deeper than their own...<br />
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<b>UPDATE:</b><br />
<br />
<b>So, <i>just</i> what went wrong? </b><br />
<br />
Looking at the numbers:<br />
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Certainly, <b>Scottie Reynolds</b>'s final game as a Wildcat, turned out to be one that - as much as both we and he will remember his career - both we and he will like to forget. His shot simply didn't make the trip up to Providence, in either the win over Robert Morris and this loss to Saint Mary's.<br />
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Against Saint Mary's, Reynolds finished with just eight points, on 2-11 shooting from the floor, and 1-3 from three-point range. The eight points represented his lowest total since January 20 - it was the first time he hadn't reached double figures, since that victory against Rutgers. Against Robert Morris, Reynolds still managed to score 20 points, because he got to the foul line often, <i>and</i> made those trips count - he was 15-16 from the line. On Saturday, in contrast, he was just 3-3, from the line.<br />
<br />
What proved fatal to the Wildcats' tournament dreams, was the fact that <b>Corey Fisher </b>also had an atrocious scoring game: 3-13 from the floor, 1-3 from beyond the arc, 2-2 from the line - and just nine points. Villanova could absorb simultaneous bad games from Reynolds and Fisher on Thursday, and still escape in overtime; however, they couldn't pull it off for the second time, in three games.<br />
<br />
In Villanova's 33 games this season, there were only six occasions, when Fisher had <i>not </i>scored in double figures. And before the NCAA tournament, it had happened only once, since January 2. But two of the six were over the last three days. The Wildcats couldn't overcome the deficit of offensive firepower, from its two most reliable scorers. <br />
<br />
<b>Corey Stokes </b>tried to carry the standard for the Villanova cause. The <b>Bayonne Bomber</b>, playing his final game as a junior, led the team with 15 points on 5-9 shooting, including 3-6 from three-point range, and also added five rebounds, three of them on the offensive end. It was one of his finest games of the season. Down the stretch, with the exception of the Robert Morris game, Stokes had been firing well, a rare bright spot during the team's swoon in its final five games...<br />
<br />
Off the bench, freshman <b>Maalik Wayns</b> provided a huge offensive spark. Other than Stokes, Wayns was the only Wildcat to reach double figures, with 10 points on 5-9 shooting, plus three rebounds and three assists, in just 18 minutes of action. It was the first time Wayns had reached double figures, since the victory over Notre Dame on January 27. With the loss of two guards in Reynolds and <b>Reggie Redding</b>, Wayns will likely see a great deal more playing time, next season.<br />
<br />
Speaking of Redding, his final game as a Wildcat was characteristic of his four years at Villanova - modest scoring, decent all-around numbers and effective defense. While he shot just 2-7 from the floor and scored just five points, he collected four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, in 26 minutes.<br />
<br />
One mystery was what happened to <b>Antonio Pena</b>, in the NCAA tournament. No injury or disciplinary issue was made public, and he was not in foul trouble in either game. But he played a total of 21 minutes in both games, after serving as Villanova's most reliable inside option all season. He didn't even <i>start</i>, against Saint Mary's.<br />
<br />
Against Robert Morris, Pena did not score in nine minutes; on Saturday against Saint Mary's, he played a dozen minutes, and was effective, coming off the bench. The redshirt junior was 4-6 from the floor, scoring nine points and garnering two rebounds.<br />
<br />
Pena's playing time, instead, went to <b>Mouphtaou Yarou</b>, who really emerged as a vital inside force down the stretch. After being the lead Wildcat scorer against Robert Morris, Mouph was inserted into the starting lineup against Saint Mary's. He logged 17 minutes, but was just 1-4 from the floor and 2-2 from the line, scoring four points. He did pull down four rebounds, three on the offensive end.<br />
<br />
<b>Isaiah Armwood </b>did not play against Marquette in the Big East tournament, or in either game during the NCAA tournament. This key freshman defender, who had been a key cog in the rotation, throughout the season, did not see the floor at all.<br />
<br />
<b>Dominic Cheek</b> saw some of Armwood's time, playing 19 minutes. The freshman really brought it on the glass, with seven rebounds, to go with five points.<br />
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<b>Taylor King</b>, after an offensive outburst against Robert Morris (10 points), did not have the same impact: in his nine minutes: three points, one rebound, and one steal.<br />
<br />
Finally, rounding out the rotation, <b>Maurice Sutton</b> saw eight minutes, in which he did not score, had one rebound, and one turnover.<br />
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One of the great ironies was that despite the fact that the individual Wildcats' numbers were so undistinguished, was the fact that a couple of the team statistics actually looked pretty good. The Wildcats were a perfect 11-11 from the foul line. They committed just seven turnovers. Both teams, coincidentally, were 7-19 (32.8%) from beyond the arc. Saint Mary's won the rebounding battle by just one board, 32-31.<br />
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For Saint Mary's, of course, the big gun was <b>Omar Samhan</b>. Villanova simply had no answer for him in the paint. Simply put, Samhan had one of the best games that any Villanova opponent has ever had in the NCAA tournament: 32 points in 32 minutes, on 13-16 shooting, seven rebounds, and a pair of blocks. (If he hadn't picked up three fouls, he might have done even better.)<br />
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There were two other standouts for the Gaels, both of whom played all 40 minutes. One was <b>Mickey McConnell</b>, who scored 15 points on 3-6 shooting, including 3-6 from beyond the arc, had three assists and no turnovers. The other was <b>Matthew Dellavedova</b>, who scored 14 points on 4-11 shooting, was 2-5 from three-point range, 4-4 from the line, and had four rebounds and two assists.<br />
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I continue to add content... please check back for updates...<br />
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</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Go Wildcats!</span></b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #351c75;">E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com</span></div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-63272802118933879122010-03-19T16:59:00.003-04:002010-03-20T09:33:54.983-04:00Comprehensive Villanova / St. Mary's Preview, Part 2 - #2 seed vs #10 seed - NCAA 2nd Round - The Gaels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6RoqwJKMdI/AAAAAAAAAX8/SClIRhbWbtU/s1600-h/2010_March_19_V_V_SaintMarysGaels_NCAA_2nd_round.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6RoqwJKMdI/AAAAAAAAAX8/SClIRhbWbtU/s200/2010_March_19_V_V_SaintMarysGaels_NCAA_2nd_round.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">In Part 2, I'm going to analyze the Gaels' players as individuals, and speculate about what we might expect Saturday afternoon, with <b>Verne Lundquist</b> and <b>Bill Raftery</b> calling the game for CBS. You can read <a href="http://villanovaviewpoint.blogspot.com/2010/03/comprehensive-villanova-st-marys.html">Part 1 of the Villanova / Saint Mary's Preview by clicking here.</a></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Before I begin, one historical note: this will be the third meeting, all-time, between Villanova and Saint Mary's. The two teams, from opposite coasts, played a home-and-home series in the early 1990s. On December 12, 1992 (the first year under the helm of <b>Steve Lappas,</b> the predecessor of <b>Jay Wright</b>), Villanova lost in overtime, to the host Gaels, 65-64. The following year, at the Pavilion, Villanova won 89-78, on December 18, 1993; that team would go on to win the NIT.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Another note: When St. Mary's triumphed over Richmond, 80-71, it was quite a milestone for the Gaels; it was the school's first NCAA tournament victory since 1959. The team had made the tournament five previous times since that year, but had always fallen short in the first round.<br />
<br />
That single NCAA victory had come on March 14 of that year, against Idaho State, 80-71. There were only 23 teams in the field, and Saint Mary's reached the Elite Eight due to that victory. But it took another half-century for Saint Mary's to triumph once more in the NCAA tournament. <br />
<br />
Here's what Wright told the Saint Mary's Sports Information Office, on the Gaels:<br />
<blockquote><span style="font-family: Cambria,serif; font-size: small;">“You just can’t go, they look like a team you could just go get and guard them one-on-one and these guys shouldn’t go by you, but you can’t play them that way. They’re so good, they’re so quick, even though they don’t look quick. They’re really ball quick, meaning they catch and pass quickly, and make decisions quickly. Their handles are quick and they get low on their drives. We’re going to have to adjust to their personnel. A couple of guys are great off the dribble, a couple guys are great shooters and passers.”</span></blockquote></div><div style="color: #351c75;">Certainly, having watched the first-round victory that Saint Mary's had little trouble achieving against #7 Richmond, the obvious distinction with this team is the prolific number of Australians, who have headed to another hemisphere, to play for Saint Mary's. There are three Australians in the starting lineup, and five on the overall roster.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"></div><div style="color: #351c75;">That having been said, the biggest problem facing Wright and the Wildcats, hails from far closer than Down Under: the Californian <b>Omar Samhan</b>. At 6-11, the redshirt senior had a magnificent performance against Richmond: 29 points on 11-16 shooting, and a dozen rebounds, in only 28 minutes of action. Samhan was the main reason why Saint Mary's obliterated Richmond on the glass, 40-17.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Samhan, a Wooden Award finalist, enters the game averaging 21.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3 blocks per contest. For Villanova, the combination of <b>Antonio Pena</b>, <b>Maurice Sutton</b>, and <b>Mouphtaou Yarou</b> will need to prevent Samham from wreaking his customary swath of destruction through the paint.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Saint Mary's is not a particularly deep team, if coach <b>Randy Bennett</b>'s rotation against Richmond is any indication. The five Gael starters played all but 21 of the 200 minutes;<b> in fact, Mickey McConnell </b>and <b>Matthew Dellavedova</b> played all 40 minutes. The other two starters, <b>Clint Steidl</b> and <b>Ben Allen</b>, played <b>Beau Levesque</b> saw 13 minutes; <b>Jordan Page</b>, a half-dozen; <b>Mitchell Young</b>, two minutes. In their 21 minutes, they combined to score just five points, all from Levesque. </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">I will be continuing to add content, up until game time, so please check back...</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">I'll have a full recap after the game.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Go Wildcats!</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com </b></div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-18864611652604986352010-03-19T16:57:00.004-04:002010-03-20T09:26:12.139-04:00Comprehensive Villanova / St. Mary's Preview, Part 1 - #2 seed vs. #10 seed - 1:05 PM, CBS, Saturday<div style="color: #351c75;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6Ren2_eWvI/AAAAAAAAAX0/JxzpESg3qHY/s1600-h/2010_March_19_V_V_SaintMarysGaels_NCAA_2nd_round.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6Ren2_eWvI/AAAAAAAAAX0/JxzpESg3qHY/s200/2010_March_19_V_V_SaintMarysGaels_NCAA_2nd_round.png" width="200" /></a></div>To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">This is <b>Part 1</b> of a comprehensive, detailed preview of the second-seeded Wildcats' upcoming game with the #10 seed, Saint Mary's, who with surprising ease - solidly defeated #7 Richmond, in the second half of yesterday's first-round doubleheader in Providence, Rhode Island. <br />
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You can read <a href="http://villanovaviewpoint.blogspot.com/2010/03/comprehensive-villanova-st-marys_20.html"><b>Part 2 </b>of the <b>Villanova / Saint Mary's Preview</b> by clicking here.</a></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>The Viewpoint on the Saint Mary's Gaels - 2009-10 Season Analysis</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">Saint Mary's finished with a record of 11-3 in the West Coast Conference (WCC), and entered the NCAA tournament with a record of 26-5, to which they have now added a first-round victory over Richmond.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">For a school from the mid-major WCC, Saint Mary's RPI and strength-of-schedule are tremendous: a 35 ranking, with a 120 SOS. In games against NCAA tournament qualifiers, they went 4-3: they lost two out of three against Gonzaga, wins over New Mexico State, San Diego State, and Utah State, and a loss to Vanderbilt.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Saint Mary's opened the season with the pair of aforementioned wins over New Mexico State and San Diego State, as well as the aforementioned loss toVanderbilt, by just two points. The Gaels then ripped off seven consecutive wins: Cal Poly/San Luis Obispo, the non-Division I California Maritime, @ San Jose State, @ Utah State, @ Pac-10 member Oregon, Portland State, and Pacific.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">So Saint Mary's entered the Diamond Head Classic Christmastime holiday tournament in Honolulu, with a 9-1 record, with the only loss being to Vanderbilt. They extended the streak to nine, with a victory over Northeastern. The streak was snapped in the semifinals, against Pac-10 member USC, but the Gaels captured third place by defeating the host, Hawaii. Saint Mary's was now 11-2.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The Gaels then hosted their own holiday tournament, on their home floor in Moraga, CA - the Shamrock Office Solutions Classic; the hosts won by defeating Binghamton and Howard by lopsided margins. Accordingly, Saint Mary's ended calendar 2009 with a bang: a 13-2 record, with the only losses coming against major-conference competition in Vanderbilt and USC.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Saint Mary's West Coast Conference Schedule </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The Gaels tipped off 2010 with a pair of road WCC wins, @ Santa Clara and @ San Francisco. Saint Mary's hosted the perennial powerhouse Gonzaga, ranked #14 at the time, but lost, 89-82. The Gaels rebounded from the loss, with another half-dozen wins: Portland, San Diego, @ Pepperdine, @ Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Heading into the rematch with then-#11 Gonzaga, this time in Spokane, the Gaels were sporting a 21-3 mark overall, 8-1 WCC. But this time, it wasn't as close: the Zags humbled the Gaels by 19 points on February 11. Two days later, Saint Mary's then stumbled @ Portland, falling in overtime; it was the only time this season they endured back-to-back losses, dropping them to 21-5 overall, 8-3 WCC.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">But after that Friday the 13th loss @ Portland, Saint Mary's has gone undefeated. They swept their three remaining WCC opponents: @ San Diego, Pepperdine, and Loyola Marymount, finishing the regular season 24-5 overall, 11-3 WCC. It was good enough for second place in the eight-team WCC; Gonzaga won the regular season title, with a 12-2 mark. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">This second-place finish was important, as in 2003, the WCC changed its format to give the top two seeds a double bye, #3 and #4 a single bye, and have #5 play #8 and #6 play #7 in the first round. As a result, Saint Mary's needed only two wins on the neutral court in Las Vegas, to capture the WCC automatic bid. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The Gaels faced #3 Portland for the third time, and won the rubber match easily, 69-55. And in another showdown with top-seeded Gonzaga, the proverbial third time was in fact the charm: the Gaels pummeled then-#14 Gonzaga, 81-62.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">It is probable that given its tournament profile, Saint Mary's would have received an at-large bid, even without the 19-point victory over Gonzaga in the WCC title contest. But no mid-major feels safe on Selection Sunday without one, and the Gaels undoubtedly celebrated in style. The strong performance against the mighty Zags, likely influenced the Selection Committee in giving the Gaels a #10 seed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">In <b>Part 2</b>, I'll break down the Gaels and speculate as to what we might expect:</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Go Wildcats!</span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com</b></span>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-32929261884055516902010-03-19T00:53:00.001-04:002010-03-19T01:16:43.120-04:00#2 Wildcats Face #10 St. Mary's at 1:05 PM Saturday in NCAA 2nd Round on CBS<div style="color: #351c75;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6MIEX1aKbI/AAAAAAAAAXs/W4COj86MEf4/s1600-h/2010_March_19_V_V_SaintMarysGaels_NCAA_2nd_round.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6MIEX1aKbI/AAAAAAAAAXs/W4COj86MEf4/s200/2010_March_19_V_V_SaintMarysGaels_NCAA_2nd_round.png" width="200" /></a></div>To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">At the conclusion of the wild first day and night of NCAA tournament action, CBS announced that the second-round game in Providence, Rhode Island, between the #2 Villanova Wildcats, and the #10 St. Mary's Gaels, would take place at 1:05 PM on Saturday afternoon. It will not only be the first game of the day, but it also will be seen by the <i>entire</i> nation, as no other second-round games are scheduled for that time window.<br />
<br />
I will have a comprehensive preview of Villanova / St. Mary's up, as soon as possible. Please be patient and check back for updates.<br />
<br />
<b>Go Wildcats!</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com</b></div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-37935649137875729642010-03-18T15:22:00.014-04:002010-03-19T02:20:59.135-04:00#2 Wildcats Survive Heart-Stopping Upset Bid By #15 Robert Morris in OT, 73-70; Villanova Rallies From Eight Down With Under 4 Minutes to Play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6MGNsCrH7I/AAAAAAAAAXk/x9YDL3zW-aA/s1600-h/2010_C_March_17_V_V_NCAA_tournament_218px-Robert_Morris_Colonials.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6MGNsCrH7I/AAAAAAAAAXk/x9YDL3zW-aA/s200/2010_C_March_17_V_V_NCAA_tournament_218px-Robert_Morris_Colonials.svg.png" width="174" /></a></div><div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-<br />
<br />
The headline says it all. More to come...</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">UPDATE: <i> </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><i>What you see below is not the <b>entire</b> game story, as I still have to go back and look at the tape one more time, to chronicle the thrilling Villanova comeback in the last 3:57 of regulation, as well as their ability to hold off the counterattack by Robert Morris in overtime. So, please enjoy the story you see below, and check back for more content on one of the most remarkable (although not in a positive sense) Villanova NCAA tournament victories.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Today's game marked the <b>31st </b>appearance by Villanova in the NCAA tournament, and its <b>49th </b>victory (against 30 losses). In this particular case, it's worthwhile to consider what would have happened, if the Wildcats had lost, rather than if they had won.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">In 1995, #3 Villanova - with a nucleus of <b>Kerry Kittles</b> (the school's all-time leading scorer), <b>Jason Lawson</b>, <b>Alvin Williams</b>, <b>Eric Eberz</b>, and <b>Jonathan Haynes</b>, entered the tournament as the hottest team in the nation, the first - and thus far, <i>only </i>- Wildcats squad, to ever win the Big East tournament. But the entire ride came crashing down in the first round, against #14 Old Dominion, in triple overtime.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">It might seem unusual, to consider the parallels between 1995 and 2010, 15 years apart. But the historical consequences of that loss to Old Dominion lasted a very long time - a decade, in fact. The regime of <b>Steve Lappas</b>, <b>Jay Wright</b>'s predecessor, <i>never</i> fully recovered, from the debacle. (Which is remarkable, given that Lappas-coached teams subsequently reached the tournament in 1996 (a #3 seed), 1997 (a #4 seed), and 1999 (a #8 seed).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">But ultimately, while at Villanova, Lappas went just 2-4 in the NCAA tournament, and the albatross of the Old Dominion fiasco was something that he could never shake. Nor did it help, that all four of the losses came while wearing the white jerseys of the higher-seeded team.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Villanova's program did not fully recover from the defeat for ten years - when Jay Wright's third team reached the Sweet 16, eventually losing to North Carolina in a heartbreaker in that round in Syracuse.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">It did not go unnoticed, by me, that in this year's tournament, Old Dominion just <i>happened </i>to be playing - and pulling an upset, in fact - at the same time Villanova was locked in its battle with a tenacious, gutty, and gallant Robert Morris squad. Was this a sign from the basketball gods?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Would the 2009-10 season - with its promising, magical 20-1 start - be remembered, primarily, for how it <i>ended</i>? An appalling slump to end the regular season, a single loss in the Big East tournament, and becoming just the fifth #2 seed - <i>ever</i> - to lose to a #15 seed, in the NCAA tournament? Entering play today, #15 seeds were 4-96 all-time against #2s, since the current format began in 1985. No #2 seed had fallen since 2001.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Fortunately, all of these questions are merely of historical, speculative interest. Villanova - somehow - managed to rally from a 55-47 deficit, with 3:57 to play, force overtime, and outlast Robert Morris, 73-70. CBS analyst Bill Raftery put it best: "Robert Morris only lost on the scoreboard." It was the inaugural meeting between the two Pennsylvania schools - and I would seriously doubt if Villanova will be scheduling Robert Morris any time in the foreseeable future.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Raft was entirely correct, as he often is. The Wildcats did not even come close, to deserving to win this game this afternoon. The basketball gods cruelly tantalized the Colonials, and every player and every member of the Robert Morris coaching staff will wonder, for the rest of their lives, how they managed to let that advantage slip away, in the final 3:57. In a Providence venue, where they had the majority of the crowd rooting for them as the underdog... (and which, although they were probably not aware of this, Villanova had historically struggled against the Friars...)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Perhaps the most egregious misplay from Villanova, was when <b>Corey Fisher </b>attempted to inbound a ball from underneath the basket, and trying to throw it toward the corner, turned the ball over, when he misfired the ball in that diretion, and the ball itself fell wide left of the line. (As in not even close; it didn't even hit the line.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Or perhaps it was when <b>Reggie Redding</b>, with Villanova trying to protect a lead at the end of overtime, inexplicably passed up a certain, absolutely guaranteed layup (no Colonial was within a mile of him), in favor of dribbling the ball for an extra second and a half, in order to be sent to the free throw line, to convert the two points that he could have just laid in without any trouble whatsoever. (And he then missed one of the two free throws, giving Robert Morris a chance to force another OT, by keeping it a one-possession game at 73-70.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I do believe, however, that in sports, it is inevitable that you have to win games, that you don't deserve to win. The nation really <i>should</i> be reading about the remarkable upsets in Providence, about how #15 Robert Morris will be taking on #10 St. Mary's on Saturday. But fortunately for us Villanova folk, we get to keep playing. And the bottom line is that under the single-elimination format, all that matters is that we won today (on the scoreboard, or by luck, at least - as opposed to execution, shooting accuracy, rebounding, and the like.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Perhaps the one silver lining is that we probably can't play any worse, against St. Mary's.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The day had gotten off to a highly inauspicious start, when the noon KYW-3 news and the CBS <b><i>Road to the Final Four</i></b> both led with the story about how Fisher and <b>Scottie Reynolds</b> would not start due to what Wright termed "a teaching point". Reynolds was inserted into the game less than four minutes in, and Fisher appeared soon after. Apparently, according to Raftery and <b>Verne Lundquist</b>, they hadn't read or absorbed a scouting report of Robert Morris, in accordance with team rules. (After seeing the Wildcats' performance today, I can totally envision the accuracy of the charges.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Granted, it probably did not really damage the Wildcats, today. Fisher and Reynolds don't play anywhere near every minute, anyhow; the four minutes they sat out were more than made up for by the extra energy they had later. But it was still a distraction, and it's very disconcerting when two of your most experienced players aren't fully prepared for NCAA tournament play.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Reynolds had one of the worst shooting days of his career: 2-15 from the floor, and 1-8 from beyond the arc.. Ironically, he made up for it by draining 15-16 from the line, finishing with 20 points (off the bench), leading the Wildcats. He now needs 29 points to tie Kittles as the school's all-time leading scorer, but he's fortunate that he has additional games in which to draw closer to the mark.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">But the big story was <b>Mouphtaou Yarou</b>. Mouph came up big, with a stellar performance, easily the best of his young Villanova career. Mouph was unstoppable in his 26 minutes: 17 points on 5-6 shooting, 7-7 from the line, eight rebounds, a pair of assists, and three blocks. He was clearly the most valuable Wildcat, today.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The Wildcats also received a big boost from King, who seemed to be back to his old self: 10 points in just 15 minutes off the bench. </span><br />
<div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">I will have a full preview of the second-round game against St. Mary's, up as soon as possible.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Go Wildcats!</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><b><span style="color: #351c75;">E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com</span></b>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-6180020451419378192010-03-18T12:18:00.003-04:002010-03-19T00:00:49.284-04:00CBS: Reynolds, Fisher Not to Start Today Due to What Wright Describes As A Minor Teaching Point<div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Both KYW-3 and <b>Greg Gumbel</b> on CBS's national <b><i>Road to the Final Four</i></b>, announced a few minutes ago that both <b>Scottie Reynolds</b> and<b> Corey Fisher</b> will not start in today's game, due to what <b>Jay Wright</b> described as a "minor teaching point." This is of great concern, particularly in light of the fact that <b>Taylor King</b>'s benching was also described with the same euphemism.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">However, they have not been benched. <i><b>The Road to the Final Four</b></i> reported that they will both play, and enter the game at some indeterminate point in the first half...</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">UPDATE: Reynolds entered at 16:07, Fisher at the under-16 timeout.<br />
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</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Please check back for developments...</div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-24783894551779846242010-03-18T00:03:00.004-04:002010-03-18T10:29:54.630-04:00The Ultimate #2 Villanova / #15 Robert Morris Preview, NCAA Tournament, First Round, South Regional, Providence, RI - Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6G_6gTKWLI/AAAAAAAAAXc/lMuI3Rwh1zk/s1600-h/2010_C_March_17_V_V_NCAA_tournament_218px-Robert_Morris_Colonials.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6G_6gTKWLI/AAAAAAAAAXc/lMuI3Rwh1zk/s320/2010_C_March_17_V_V_NCAA_tournament_218px-Robert_Morris_Colonials.svg.png" /></a></div><div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">In <b>Part 2</b> <b>of the Robert Morris Preview</b>, I'm going to break down the Robert Morris Colonials, and what we may be able to expect in the game today. You can read <a href="http://villanovaviewpoint.blogspot.com/2010/03/ultimate-2-villanova-15-robert-morris.html"><b>Part 1 of the Robert Morris Preview by clicking here.</b></a></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">The game will tip off at <b>12:30 PM</b>, as we have the honor of being one of the first games of the tournament to get things under way. I was pleased to learn that calling the game for CBS, from the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence, RI, will be <b>Verne Lundquist</b> and<b> Bill Raftery</b>. (<i>"Send it in!</i>") </div><div style="color: #351c75;"></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>The Philadelphia Connections</b><br />
<br />
There are a surprisingly large number of connections, between Greater Philadelphia, and the Robert Morris Colonials. Chief among them:</div><ul><li><span style="color: #351c75;">Head coach <b>Mike Rice</b>, although from Pittsburgh, was an assistant coach from 2004-06 at St. Joseph's University, under <b>Phil Martelli</b>.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">One of Martelli's sons, <b>Jimmy</b>, is now in his third season as an assistant to Rice, after playing for Dickinson from 2001-05. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Assistant coach <b>Andrew Toole</b> played three seasons at the University of Pennsylvania, under <b>Fran Dunphy</b>, now the coach at Temple.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #351c75;">Sophomore guard <b>Velton Jones</b> is from Philadelphia, having played at soon-to-be-closed North Catholic High School, in Northeast Philadelphia. </span></li>
<li style="color: #351c75;">Sophomore forward <b>Russell Johnson</b> is from Chester, PA, having played at Chester High.</li>
<li style="color: #351c75;">Junior guard <b>Khalif Foster</b> is from Philadelphia, having played at the Academy of the New Church in Montgomery County.</li>
<li style="color: #351c75;"> Freshman forward <b>Lijah Thompson</b> is also from Philadelphia, having played at Monsignor Bonner in Drexel Hill, PA.</li>
<li style="color: #351c75;">Senior forward <b>Dallas Green</b> - although from Indianapolis, IN - shares his name with the legendary Philadelphia Phillies manager who led the team to its first world championship back in 1980 (well before the Colonial player was even born). </li>
</ul><div style="color: #351c75;">With so many Philadelphia ties on the coaching staff, it's easy to see how Philadelphia players represent a disproportionate share of the recruited players. I actually had written this section, before I saw this piece by <a href="http://www.thenovablog.com/2010/3/16/1376756/villanova-very-familiar-with">jhulax22 of The Nova Blog.... but check out their version on the many Philadelphia connections...</a></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>The Robert Morris Colonials Starters, in Order of My Perception of Their Importance</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b># 4 Karon Abraham, 5-9, Freshman, Combo Guard, But Primarily Shooting Guard</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;">Robert Morris returned three starters from the team that won last year's NEC tournament championship and went to the NCAA tournament. </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Accordingly, prior to the season, Rice was not anticipating that a 5-9 freshman such as Abraham, would be leading the Colonials in the following categories:</div><ul style="color: #351c75;"><li>points/game (13.4);</li>
<li>field goal attempts (294);</li>
<li> three-point field goals (80), attempts (181), and percentage (44.2%)</li>
<li> free throws (122), free throw attempts (143) and percentage (85.3% - and in this latter category, he leads the NEC).</li>
</ul><div style="color: #351c75;">But Abraham has done so. Compare the numbers above, with the official quote Rice gave on Abraham, in the Robert Morris media guide:</div><blockquote><div style="color: #351c75;"><i>"Physically, Karon is ready to come in and play right away because of how quick and athletic he is and because he'll bring a change of pace. He'll come off the bench and provide an instant spark. He'll play a little bit at point guard, but mostly he'll see time at the two guard. He really has the ability to create his own shot because of his speed. He can be isolated on the wing and create a high percentage shot for himself. He needs to be a sponge and continue to improve, but I think he could be successful in our program."</i></div></blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Rice was prophetic: Abraham has been more than successful in the Robert Morris program. Instead of the sixth man, coming off the bench for offensive sparks, he's arguably the best player on the team. Of the team's 34 games, Abraham has started 23, and he's second on the team in minutes with 26.6/game. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Abraham's accolades include a unanimous selection as <b>NEC Rookie of the Year</b>, and was <b>MVP</b> of the NEC tournament. During Robert Morris's run through the tournament, Abraham averaged 17.7 points, shot 54.5% from the floor, and 50% (8-16) from three-point range. In the championship against top-seeded Quinnipiac, Abraham scored 16 points to lead the Colonials to victory, with four rebounds and three steals (the four rebounds are particularly good for a 5-9 player)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">After Robert Morris got off to a 4-7 start, Rice inserted Abraham into the starting lineup for the first time. Since then, the Colonials have gone 19-4. Although the 4-7 record was against tougher, non-NEC competition, for the most part, the sudden soaring was not a coincidence.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>How Jay Wright Will React:</b> Senior <b>Reggie Redding</b>, who at 6-3 has a considerable height and experience advantage, usually draws the assignment of guarding the opponent's best player. Let's expect to see him on #4. Also, due to Abraham's size, he could be guarded by Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher, or even Maalik Wayns. Wright may decide to just use waves of fresh defenders on Abraham.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b># 2 Mezie Nwigwe (6-4 Senior) - Shooting Guard</b>. <i>(Pronounced Mez-e-A new-WIG-way)</i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Nwigwe is a savvy senior, and a stout defender - he was named <b>NEC Defensive Player of the Year</b>, and is second on the team in steals with 44. His role will be to stop Reynolds and Corey Fisher from filling it up from the outside. He averages 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds/game, and can hoist a three every once in a while (19-55, 34.5%). At 74.3%, he is a superb free throw shooter. (He actually is very similar to Redding.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Nwigwe came off the bench for his first three seasons at Robert Morris, but has started all but one game this year, averaging 26.7 minutes/game. According to the media guide:</span><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;"><i>Scoring guard with the ability to take the ball to the basket in a variety of ways... Also has the ability to knock down the mid-range and long jumpers... Arguably the most physically-gifted athlete on the Robert Morris roster...Became a playmaker... consistently finding the open man.</i></span></blockquote><b><span style="color: #351c75;"># 1 Rob Robinson (6-8 Senior) - Power Forward - 9.9 points, 5.5 rebounds per game, 22 blocks</span></b><span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Robinson has started every game this season, and is Rice's main option in the paint. Robinson has been named All-NEC second team for the second straight season, and was named to the NEC All-Tournament Team as a junior. (As a junior college transfer, he has been at Robert Morris for just two seasons.) He's the team's top rebounder, and second-leading scorer. However, he has two considerable weaknesses: foul trouble and the foul line.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Robinson committed 106 fouls in the 33 games in which he played, over 3.2 per contest, and he plays just 26.2 minutes/game, probably for that reason. He's fouled out of seven games. In addition, he is a dreadful free throw shooter - he made just 38.7% of his attempts. This is a significant decline from his junior year, when he shot 50%. With <b>Mouphtaou Yarou</b> and <b>Maurice Sutton </b>each bringing five fouls to the table, Robinson may be fouled a lot. But primarily, the task of neutralizing him will fall to <b>Antonio Pena</b>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The Robert Morris media guide on Robinson:</span><br />
<i><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span></i><br />
<blockquote><i><span style="color: #351c75;">Length continually poses problems for opponents in the paint... Possesses an uncanny ability to block shots... Extremely active on the glass on both ends of the floor... One of the most magnificent dunkers in school history... A natural scorer with his back to the basket and a solid passer for his position.</span></i></blockquote><b style="color: #351c75;"># 3 Velton Jones (6-0 Redshirt Freshman), Point Guard, 8.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 97 assists, 81 turnovers, 50 steals.</b><span style="color: #351c75;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Jones has started 29 games this season at the point, averaging 24.8 minutes/game, while leading the team in assists and steals. For a point guard, he is a poor free throw shooter, making just 58.3% of his attempts. He is also an inaccurate perimeter shooter, converting just 27.9% of his triples. Villanova will likely leave him uncovered beyond the arc, and dare him to start dropping threes. A partial qualifier, he practiced with the team last season but could not participate in games, retaining four years of eligibility.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">The Robert Morris media guide quotes Rice, describing the Philadelphian:</span><br />
<blockquote><i><span style="color: #351c75;">"The one thing we've lacked we have in Velton Jones, and that's a pure point guard who penetrates to pass... Velton is an aggressive penetrator who has an ability to create shots for others..." </span></i></blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">In his player profile, the media guide states further that Jones <i>"is not afraid to take the open shot"</i>, which may account for the poor three-point shooting percentage.<b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>#24 Dallas Green (6-8 Senior) Forward - 6.5 points, 4.9 rebounds per game.</b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Green heated up in the NEC tournament, averaging 10 points and 4.3 rebounds, in the three Robert Morris victories.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Rice describes Green, thus:</span><br />
<blockquote><i><span style="color: #351c75;">"Dallas is the ultimate glue guy. He's really comfortable with the role he plays. He knows where to get his shots and where to get his rebounds. He's a guy who understands how we want to play basketball at both ends of the floor, and he's a big reason why we've been successful the last two years [now three years]. Dallas thrives in his role, and he does so in a very efficient manner."</span></i></blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Off the bench, Rice has some options: 6-6 redshirt freshman forward<b> Russell Johnson</b> (the Chester native); 6-3 junior guard <b>Gary Wallace</b>, and 6-8 senior forward <b>Josiah Whitehead</b>. It appears that Robert Morris largely uses an eight-man rotation.<b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>How Villanova Could Lose to Robert Morris</b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">It's no secret that the Wildcats stumbled badly down the stretch. Of course, Villanova is bigger, deeper, and more talented than Robert Morris. The Wildcats are comparable to Big East rivals Syracuse and Pitt, both of which crushed the Colonials on their home floors. But this isn't the Pavilion; this is a neutral court in Providence, Rhode Island, and while there will be some of the 'Nova Nation there, there will also be a lot of the crowd rooting for the #15 seed. (The Wildcats do have the advantage of being familiar with the Dunkin' Donuts Center, the home of Big East rival Providence.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Robert Morris takes a lot of free throws, and if the Wildcats continue to foul recklessly, and give the Colonials many opportunities for free points, they could stay in it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">In addition, Rice preaches defense above all else. Robert Morris averages 68.5 points/game, while giving up 65.7; the Wildcats average 82.5 points/game, while yielding 72.9 points. Robert Morris, like most underdogs, will try to shorten the game, hold the ball for long possessions, and try to get fouled. In contrast, Villanova will try to press and trap, get baskets in transition, and try to get a big lead early. (Robert Morris has not come back from any deficit larger than 10 points, all season; if Villanova can take a commanding lead in the first half, it may deflate morale.)<br />
</span><br />
<div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>I continue to add this to this preview, so please check back for more content...</b><br />
<br />
<b>Don't forget to fill out your brackets, before the deadline closes this morning. </b><br />
<br />
<b>Go Wildcats!</b><br />
<br />
<b>E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com </b><br />
<b> </b></div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-65561252589447365652010-03-17T10:11:00.013-04:002010-03-18T03:48:46.251-04:00The Ultimate #2 Villanova / #15 Robert Morris Preview, NCAA Tournament, First Round, South Regional, Providence, RI - Part 1<div style="color: #351c75;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6ENOdENBFI/AAAAAAAAAXM/bRUBAsFS09E/s1600-h/2010_C_March_17_V_V_NCAA_tournament_218px-Robert_Morris_Colonials.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6ENOdENBFI/AAAAAAAAAXM/bRUBAsFS09E/s320/2010_C_March_17_V_V_NCAA_tournament_218px-Robert_Morris_Colonials.svg.png" /></a></div>To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">This is Part 1 of what I am striving to create - the <b>Ultimate #2 Villanova / #15 Robert Morris Preview, NCAA Tournament, First Round, South Regional, Providence, Rhode Island</b>. You can read <a href="http://villanovaviewpoint.blogspot.com/2010/03/ultimate-2-villanova-15-robert-morris_18.html"><b>Part 2 of the Robert Morris Preview here</b></a>. </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">The <b>Villanova Wildcats</b> enter the game with a record of <b>24-7</b>, having received an at-large bid, out of the Big East. The <b>Robert Morris Colonials </b>arrive with a record of 23-11, having received the automatic bid, as the tournament champions of the <b>Northeast Conference (NEC)</b>.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Part 1 - The Viewpoint on the Robert Morris Colonials </span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">History vs. Villanova - </span></b><span style="color: #351c75;">This is the first time the schools have ever met. </span><b><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">NCAA Tournament History - </span></b><span style="color: #351c75;">Robert Morris is making its <b>seventh</b> NCAA tournament appearance. Previously, the Colonials received NCAA bids (with seeds in parentheses) in <b>1982 (#12)</b>, <b>1983 (#12)</b></span><b><span style="color: #351c75;">, 1989 (#16), 1990 (#15), 1992 (#16), and 2009 (#15). (Note: </span></b><span style="color: #351c75;">prior to the expansion to 64 teams, the lowest possible seed was a <b>#12</b>, which they received in both 1982 and 1983.)</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">After a <b>17-year hiatus</b>, the Colonials returned to the NCAA tournament last season, but were defeated by #2 <b>Michigan State</b> (the eventual national runner-up), 77-62. 2010 marks the second consecutive Robert Morris appearance in the NCAA tournament, and as was the case last year, the Colonials were seeded #15.</span><br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Despite half a dozen previous appearances, Robert Morris has only won a <i>single</i> NCAA tournament game, giving them a <b>1-6</b> record in tournament play. Moreover, the Colonials have never defeated an opponent, other than another low seed. The sole victory came back in 1983 - two years before the tournament expanded to <b>64</b> teams, in which Villanova - of course - won the championship! In 1983, </span><span style="color: #351c75;">the Colonials defeated <b>Georgia Southern</b> in the opening round (the "play-in" game, in which Georgia Southern was another #12).</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #351c75;"><b>2009-10 Season</b> - <b>23-11 overall, 15-3 NEC</b> (tied for first place, with Quinnipiac, in a conference with a dozen teams). </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">The Colonials shared the regular-season title with Quinnipiac, as they both finished <b>15-3</b>. However, Quinnipiac received the top seed in the NEC tournament, by virtue of its victory over Robert Morris, in their sole regular-season meeting, on February 20. Thus, Robert Morris received the #2 seed.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">However, the two regular-season co-champions met in the NEC tournament final, and Robert Morris avenged its February defeat. On March 10, the Colonials won a nail-biter, 52-50, over their rival, and claimed the automatic bid. The seven NCAA automatic bids are a NEC record, for any member school.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
<b>Analysis of 2009-10 Schedule and Results</b><br />
<br />
<b>November 2009</b><br />
<br />
This season did not get off to a good start for Robert Morris. They began the season 1-4, and the only opponent against whom they were hopelessly overmatched, was Syracuse. In the Colonials' season opener, the Orange, ranked #25 at the time, annihilated them, 100-60, at the Carrier Dome, on November 11 (Veterans' Day).<br />
<br />
However, Robert Morris also lost @ Penn State by 19 points, before playing in the <b>Coaches vs. Cancer Classic</b> in Albany, New York. They lost to Detroit Mercy by 12, crushed Alcorn State, 107-76, and then lost to the host, Albany, by 5. By the end of November, they were just 1-4.<br />
<br />
<b>December 2009</b><br />
<br />
After an initial improvement, the Colonials began to sink back into the mire. They defeated Mount St. Mary's and Wagner, by single-digit margins - and so were back to 3-4. But Robert Morris then lost three of its next four - @ Duquesne (a cross-town rival in Pittsburgh), @ Cleveland State, and two home games to Appalachian State and Kent State. At Christmas, Robert Morris was just 4-7.<br />
It is likely, that after a 4-7 start, that Colonials fans were not particularly optimistic about their likelihood of returning to the NCAA tournament.<br />
<br />
But then, the ship was righted. In its final game of 2009, Robert Morris won @ Youngstown State, 72-67. In January, they closed out their nonconference schedule, with a pair of home victories, both narrow, over NCAA tournament-bound teams: Ohio University (by two points) and Morgan State. So, Robert Morris entered NEC play with a 7-7 mark. </div><div style="color: #351c75;"></div><div style="color: #351c75;"></div><div style="color: #351c75;"></div><div style="color: #351c75;"></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
<b>January/February 2010- NEC Schedule (plus Pittsburgh)</b><br />
<br />
The NEC opener was a setback, losing @ Long Island by 10. But after that opening loss, Robert Morris took off like a rocket. The Colonials, after starting 7-8 overall, ripped off nine consecutive victories in NEC play, as their record soared to 9-1 NEC, 16-8 overall. They swept home-and-homes with St. Francis (NY), St. Francis (PA), Fairleigh Dickinson, and Monmouth. And they also avenged the loss @ Long Island, by defeating the Blackbirds at home, 66-58. (<i>Note</i>: #4 Villanova defeated #13 Long Island, the NEC champions, in the first round of the 1997 NCAA tournament, in Winston-Salem, NC - Wake Forest was the host.)<br />
<br />
Robert Morris's nine-game overall winning streak was snapped by a game at another cross-town rival, then-#25 Pittsburgh, and the host Panthers pulverized them, 77-53. But they shrugged off the loss well enough, winning three more NEC contests: @ Central Connecticut State, @ Bryant, and visiting Sacred Heart. Their record was now 12-1 NEC, 19-9 overall.<br />
<br />
The big showdown game was their sole meeting with Quinnipiac, the other power. Despite the fact that the game was at Robert Morris, the visiting Bobcats won 87-79, and took the lead for the regular-season title. Robert Morris's final two were @ Wagner (a win) and @ Mount St. Mary's (a loss). They wound up 15-3 in the NEC, regular-season co-champions, and 20-11 overall.<br />
<br />
<b>March 2010</b><br />
<br />
The NEC tournament was one of the first to get under way, back on March 4. The #2-seeded Colonials had received a bye, and prevailed over #7 Central Connecticut State in the quarterfinals. They had no trouble with #3 Mount St. Mary's in their third meeting of the year, breezing 80-62. So it was another showdown with Quinnipiac, for the NEC championship and the automatic bid. And Quinnipiac had the right to host the game, as the top seed. But the Colonials edged the Bobcats, 52-50, to return to the NCAA tournament for the second straight season.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>So what does their 23-11 overall record, 129 RPI rank, regular-season NEC co-championship, and NEC tournament championship tell us about Robert Morris?</b><br />
<br />
According to the outstanding site, CollegeRPI.com, Robert Morris had a final RPI rank of <b>129</b>. (To put that in context, Villanova had a RPI rank of <b>11</b>.) Their strength-of-schedule ranked just 258. However, to put that in context, Quinnipiac - which played in the same conference with a virtually identical record, both in conference play and overall - had a strength-of-schedule of 324, and an RPI of 147.<br />
<br />
By the standards of whom a NEC team has the chance to play, Robert Morris actually had a pretty tough nonconference schedule. (Please bear in mind that little schools only get to play big schools when they agree to play on the road, or on the neutral court of a holiday tournament.)<br />
<br />
They had games @ two Big East powers, Syracuse and Pittsburgh; they had a loss @ Penn State, albeit a terrible team, in the Big Ten. They had home victories against Ohio University, which qualified for the tournament as a #14 seed, and Morgan State, a #15 seed. They have a good home loss against Kent State: although the Golden Flashes did not qualify for the NCAA tournament, they were a bubble team with a RPI of 47 and a 22-9 record.<br />
<br />
However, as is the case with all low-major teams, there are some wins on their schedule that are of no value whatsoever. (This was not Robert Morris's fault, as they have to play all their conference opponents, obviously.) They had a 10-point win @ Bryant, which ranked 346 out of 347 teams in Division I, and which finished the season, 1-29. (The Colonials only won this game by 10, too.)<br />
<br />
They own two wins over Wagner, which was 331 in RPI and 5-26 overall. The home game against Wagner was actually close - Robert Morris won by just three points! They did better in the game @ Wagner, winning by 21.<br />
<br />
They have two wins over Central Connecticut State (309 RPI, 12-18): one on the road and one at home in the NEC tournament. Both wins were in the high single digits. The first win was by just nine points, the second by just eight.<br />
<br />
The Coaches vs. Cancer tournament brought them a win over Alcorn State, which was just a shade above Bryant - a RPI of 344 and a 2-29 record. However, Robert Morris at least won that game by 31 points.<br />
<br />
Robert Morris swept St. Francis (NY) (294 RPI, 11-18 overall). In the game @ St. Francis (NY), the Colonials won by just four points; however, in the home contest, the Colonials won easily, by 18.<br />
<br />
Let's consider the other St. Francis - St. Francis (PA), which are both in the NEC. In an interesting arrangement, they played each other twice in three days - February 4 and 6. On February 4, @ St. Francis (PA), the Red Flashes (287, 11-19 overall) lost by just nine; two days later, @ Robert Morris, it was a dozen-point victory for the Colonials.<br />
<br />
Robert Morris played Fairleigh Dickinson (270 RPI, 11-21 overall) twice in seven days: the home game was actually pretty close, with the Black Knights falling by just seven. The game @ FDU was a 15-point victory for the Colonials. <br />
<br />
Out of conference, Robert Morris had a narrow victory @ Youngstown State (271 RPI, 6-22 overall). <br />
<br />
Albany (300 RPI, 7-25 overall) was the host of Coaches vs. Cancer. On December 22, Robert Morris lost to them by five. <br />
<br />
So, here's my analysis of what this schedule and results tell us...<br />
<br />
When Robert Morris played elite teams - which they did only twice - they were crushed, by both Syracuse and Pittsburgh, on the road. This is to be expected; NEC vs. Big East isn't a fair fight, especially on the Big East team's home court. However, although Kent State isn't a Big East-caliber team, the victory over them was a big coup, though.<br />
<br />
What's intriguing to me, is how well the Colonials did, against teams that were roughly equivalent to them, and were fairly evenly matched: neutral court loss to Detroit Mercy (167); win @ Cleveland State (165), loss @ cross-town rival Duquesne (114), and road loss to Penn State (194 RPI, 11-20 overall).<br />
<br />
Penn State is sort of an anomaly, as even though Robert Morris had a far superior record and RPI, it was still NEC vs. Big Ten, and it was on the road. The fact that it was a 19-point loss, however, is surprising.<br />
<br />
This concludes <b>Part 1</b>. Next up - <b>Part 2 - Breaking Down the Robert Morris Colonials...</b><br />
<br />
<b>Go Wildcats! </b><br />
<br />
<b>E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com</b></div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-23147605275857469372010-03-15T14:30:00.000-04:002010-03-15T14:30:29.318-04:00Congratulations To The Nova Blog, Formerly Known As I Bleed Blue and White<div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">I would like to take this opportunity, to offer belated congratulations, to the bloggers who have now taken the fine blog,<a href="http://www.ibleedblueandwhite.com/"> <b>I Bleed Blue and White</b></a>, to a new level. Now known as <b><a href="http://www.thenovablog.com/">The Nova Blog</a>,</b> they have now joined SB Nation, a network of extraordinarily high-quality blogs. As many of you know, I've exchanged preview information with SB Nation bloggers for Georgetown, West Virginia, and Syracuse this season - and the content from all of them is top-notch.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"> </div><div style="color: #351c75;"> Accordingly, I've now changed the right sidebar, having removed I Bleed Blue and White, and changed the URL to the new SB Nation one, <a href="http://www.thenovablog.com/"><b>The Nova Blog</b></a>. I particularly like the Wildcat logo in the top left corner.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Best of all, they have decided to join SB Nation in March, just in time for the tournament.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">So, I'd really like to encourage all of you to go take a look at their new cyber-digs at SB Nation. There are a lot of bells and whistles on a SB Nation blog; you'll want to explore it for a while.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">I'll be adding content, regularly throughout the week, as I prepare for Robert Morris on Thursday, so please keep checking back for updates...</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"> So go take a look at <a href="http://www.thenovablog.com/"><b>The Nova Blog</b></a> - you'll find it well worth your while.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"> <b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"> <b>Go Wildcats!</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b><br />
</b></div><b><span style="color: #351c75;">E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com</span></b>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-37073544696793405022010-03-14T23:04:00.003-04:002010-03-17T13:12:44.878-04:00#2 Wildcats Vs #15 Robert Morris - NCAA 1st Round - Providence, Rhode Island, 12:30 PM Thursday<div style="color: #351c75;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6ENglhE0fI/AAAAAAAAAXU/3A4veXMh0VI/s1600-h/2010_C_March_17_V_V_NCAA_tournament_218px-Robert_Morris_Colonials.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S6ENglhE0fI/AAAAAAAAAXU/3A4veXMh0VI/s320/2010_C_March_17_V_V_NCAA_tournament_218px-Robert_Morris_Colonials.svg.png" /></a></div>To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">The Wildcats received an unexpectedly strong vote of confidence, from the Selection Committee on Sunday. Despite staggering down the stretch, Villanova warranted a #2 seed, higher than anticipated. I had been bracing for a #4; I felt that we would get - and deserved - a #3; I was astonished when all of the 3s and 4s had been issued, and it thus became apparent that we had the only high seed left, the #2 in the Midwest Region in Providence, RI. (Yes, I know the geography under the "pod" system doesn't make sense.)</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Villanova will be facing Robert Morris on Thursday, with tip time to be announced.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
Check back for more...<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Monday Morning UPDATE: </b> Tip time has been announced for <b>12:30 PM</b> on Thursday afternoon. This means that of the 32 first-round games, we will be among the first three. Part of the fun will be the fact that if we win, we can relax then, and enjoy the other 29 first-round games on Thursday and Friday, knowing that we'll be playing again on Saturday... </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Go Wildcats!</span></b></span>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-37824017950629327632010-03-11T17:37:00.014-05:002010-03-11T20:52:22.997-05:00Reeling #4 Wildcats Upset By #5 Marquette in Big East Tournament Quarterfinals, 80-76 - The Disaster Scenario Has Now Taken Place<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S5lwAX1E47I/AAAAAAAAAXE/QilsP2CvWpM/s1600-h/2010AJan04200px-Marquette_Golden_Eagles.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S5lwAX1E47I/AAAAAAAAAXE/QilsP2CvWpM/s320/2010AJan04200px-Marquette_Golden_Eagles.svg.png" /></a></div><div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-<b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">The basketball gods had cursed Marquette, with the Golden Eagles dropping their last three games to Villanova, by a total of five points, including in the quarterfinal of last year's Big East tournament, on <b>Dwayne Anderson</b>'s heroic, just-rolling-in, lay-up...</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Well, those gods finally decided to even things out a bit - and gave Marquette a chance to settle the score. The Golden Eagles won a nailbiter, <b>80-76</b>, to advance to the semifinals of the Big East tournament on Friday night, against eighth-seeded Georgetown. While Marquette probably was assured of an NCAA bid, even before today, the victory over Villanova (the #10 team, nationally), extinguished any doubts.<br />
<br />
But there are now plenty of doubts, for Villanova and<b> Jay Wright</b>. The question is how to pick up the pieces of a once-promising season, that is disintegrating before the horrified eyes of the Villanova community. As difficult as it is to believe today, the Wildcats were <b>20-1</b>, at one point. However, they are now <b>24-7</b>, having lost six of their last 10. It also marks the fourth defeat for the Wildcats, in their last six games.<br />
<br />
This was the first time in <i>seven years</i>, that Villanova had lost its first game in the Big East tournament. All-time, the Wildcats are now <b>31-29</b> in Big East tournament play.<br />
<br />
<b>Looking at the Box Score</b><br />
<br />
<b>Corey Stokes</b> finished with a team-high <b>22 points</b>. The <b>Bayonne Bomber</b> really brought his game to new heights, shooting out the lights at Madison Square Garden. Stokes was 8-9 from the floor, including an unconscious 6-7 from three-point range, turning in his finest game of the season.<br />
<br />
He matched career-highs in three categories - the 22 points, six triples, and eight field goals.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Corey Fisher</b> also played well, finishing with 16 points on 5-10 shooting, and six assists, despite playing in foul trouble.<br />
<br />
<b>Antonio Pena </b>did his usual strong job in the paint, as the redshirt junior ended up with 14 points on 6-7 shooting, plus half a dozen rebounds, in just 27 minutes of action.<br />
<br />
<b>Mouphtaou Yarou </b>continues to develop into a great post option. Starting once more, Mouph brought quality defense to the floor today, and added four points and four rebounds in just 15 minutes. <br />
<br />
<b>Scottie Reynolds </b>- playing in Madison Square Garden for the last time, in Villanova blue and white - had a rough day. He wound up with only 10 points, on 4-10 shooting.<br />
<br />
<b>Taylor King</b> returned to action today, after a one-game hiatus against West Virginia on Saturday. However, he made only a cameo appearance, as he played just two minutes, committing one turnover and one foul.<br />
<br />
Missing in action today was freshman <b>Isaiah Armwood</b>, the outstanding freshman defender, and I can't help thinking that we could have used his defensive skills out on the perimeter today. But he never reached the floor. There was no mention of an injury, or if he is in Wright's doghouse. So that will remain a mystery, for the time being.<br />
<br />
So <i>why</i> did Villanova lose today?<br />
<br />
Two number leap out - perimeter defense, and turnovers. Villanova did very well at avoiding the persistent foul trouble that so plagues the team. However, the Wildcats forced only eight Marquette turnovers today, while committing 14 miscues.<br />
<br />
The other was the porous defense around the arc. Villanova did quite well today from three-point range (9-17 - 52.9%). But Marquette was unbelievable (11-18, 61.1%). And in a game decided by four points, that was the difference.<br />
<br />
It was particularly galling because although the game was tied at halftime, 30-30, Villanova had opened a seven-point lead at one point in the second half. But the lead kept changing, and despite a triple from Stokes to knot the score at 70-70 with under two minutes to play, <b>Lazar Hayward </b>answered with a triple of his own, making the Marquette lead 73-70 - and in retrospect, that was the play that decided the game...<br />
<br />
Among the many potential ramifications of today's defeat, is that the legendary <b>Kerry Kittles (1992-1996)</b> is likely to remain Villanova's all-time leading scorer, with <b>2,243 </b>points. Reynolds - the school's all-time second-leading scorer -entered play today with <b>2,184</b> points, <b>59</b> behind Kittles.<br />
<br />
However, there were two setbacks today, to his quest to overturn the record. One was the fact that he finished below his daily average, with just 10 points. The other, was that in order to score the 60 points he needs to pass Kittles, it would have helped enormously to have had three Big East tournament games. Instead of having potentially three games in which he could have scored 50 points, total, his grand total for the entire Big East tournament was 10.<br />
<br />
So, for Reynolds to get the record, he would need to score 49 points in the NCAA tournament. Certainly, that's feasible; if Villanova were to reach the Sweet 16 - thus playing three games - he'd need to average just over 16 points/game to make it. Unfortunately, the way the team is playing now, I'm not particularly optimistic, about the prospects of the Wildcats making it to the second weekend. <br />
<br />
<b>The Consequences of This Loss, For NCAA Seeding Implications </b><br />
<br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">I speculate that Villanova might be lucky to get a #4 seed, at this point. The NCAA Selection Committee places great emphasis, on play down the stretch and in conference tournaments. This scenario has now become a disaster:<br />
<ul><li>The Wildcats had lost three of their last five regular-season games.</li>
<li>After falling from a #2 seed to the #4 seed on the last day of the regular season, they still benefited from a double-bye.</li>
<li>And after the double-bye, they <i>still</i> lost, to a lower-seed in Marquette, that had played yesterday, and which Villanova had already swept in the regular season (albeit by narrow margins).</li>
<li>And so, they now enter the NCAA tournament selection process, with four losses in their last six games. </li>
</ul><b>Next Up for the Wildcats</b><br />
<br />
We await Selection Sunday... Prior to the big announcement, I'll have a highly inaccurate, speculative guess about where the Wildcats will be seeded, their opponent(s), and location(s).<br />
<ul></ul></div><span style="color: #351c75;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Go Wildcats!</span> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com </b> </span>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-35383323244173470002010-03-11T11:53:00.003-05:002010-03-11T12:05:26.979-05:00#4 seed - #10 AP Villanova vs. #5 Marquette - Preview - Big East Tournament Cyberinterview with Outstanding Marquette Blog, Cracked Sidewalks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S5kczA51yEI/AAAAAAAAAW8/o9sWU2EzTcQ/s1600-h/2010AJan04200px-Marquette_Golden_Eagles.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S5kczA51yEI/AAAAAAAAAW8/o9sWU2EzTcQ/s200/2010AJan04200px-Marquette_Golden_Eagles.svg.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">I'd like to thank <b>Kevin Buckley</b> of the outstanding Marquette blog, <a href="http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/"><b>Cracked Sidewalks</b></a>, for cranking out this set of questions-and-answers, not only on short notice, but because the Golden Eagles (unlike the Wildcats) had to play in the second round yesterday, in which they ousted St. John's... <b>Cracked Sidewalks </b>is <i>the </i>definitive authority on Marquette basketball...</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Here is our cyber-interview:</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><i>1) Villanova beat Marquette twice already, in both cases, by just two points. And this is the increasingly rare time when two Big East teams are facing each other for the third time. How does that impact the Marquette approach to the game?</i> </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">1. Tough to give you anything but the typical platitude answer here: Coach Buzz, as a young coach, has learned from our last 3 games with Villanova. Truly, they've all been tight games that, had a shot fallen here or there, the games could have tipped the other direction. I would envision a similar game today.<i> </i><br />
<br />
<i>2) Not to bring up an unpleasant subject, but there was, of course, that quarterfinal from last year, when you had that heartbreaking loss, on Dwayne Anderson's shot at the buzzer. (The one upside for you, though, was that later than evening, Syracuse ended up outlasting UConn in six overtimes, so our game got wiped right off the headlines and the lead story on <b>SportsCenter</b>...) So it's been three consecutive narrow losses to Villanova (and after you had beaten us three consecutive times...)</i></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
What sort of impact do you think that has on the Marquette staff and players? </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">2. Marquette is a team built on heartbreaking losses. Villanova has handed us 3 in the last 12 months, but if you were to ask any Warrior fan, the last year has been replete with heartbreakers. Losing to Missouri in the NCAAs in a tight game, losing to FSU by 1 after having a 17 point lead. Losing @WVU by 1, @DePaul (double ouch) by 1, ND in OT on Senior Night. Add in 3 tight Villanova losses, and MU faithful have been kicked in the nuts 8 times in 12 months.<br />
<br />
So you ask what impact the 3 losses you hung on us will have? Not much. Even with our 3 OT victories this year, tight games make MU fans think "here we go again."</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><i>3) What's the biggest change in Marquette's team, since we played twice, back in January? As you remember, we were the first and third games on your Big East schedule, and the more recent of the two was all the way back on January 9. I'm sure a lot has happened, since then? What sort of changes should Villanova fans expect from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268326044_5">Marquette</span>?</i></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Our rotation has probably gotten tighter since January. Even with the addition of Junior Cadougan, who didn't play the first half of the season, we typically play 7 guys exclusively, with small minutes from Cadougan and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268326044_0">Erik Williams</span>, both of whom were expected to play more at the beginning of the year, but the guys in front of them are simply better and they only get in for short breathers or when foul trouble occurs.<br />
<br />
Changed since January .. MU was picked to finish 12th in the Big East. (I pegged them for 5 Big East wins.) Now it's Big East Tournament time, they finished 5th in the Big East, won 6 straight on the road, and are a lock for the NCAAs. They've been through 4 OT games (winning 3) and 10 of their last 12. They have far more confidence, and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268326044_1" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer;">mental toughness</span> since January, and have the wins to prove it.<br />
<br />
We don't have the 5th most talented team in the Big East, but MU has done more with less throughout the season. Should be a good game! </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Thanks once more to Kevin Buckley, and <a href="http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/"><b>Cracked Sidewalks</b></a> - go take a look at their site- it's well worth it...</div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">Go Wildcats!</span></b></span><br />
<div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><span style="color: #351c75;">E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-(at)-yahoo-dot-com</span>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-42003055323933862302010-03-06T16:04:00.010-05:002010-03-08T09:40:30.105-05:00#9 Wildcats Fall In OT Heartbreaker to #10 West Virginia, 68-66, After Losing 14-Point Lead: Reynolds' Game-Winner At the Buzzer Hits the Rim<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S5LDvtP-ZLI/AAAAAAAAAW0/E73uaM4DcIk/s1600-h/2010_B_Feb_08_Wikimedia_167px-West_Virginia_Flying_WV_logo.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WM8_w6bLDbc/S5LDvtP-ZLI/AAAAAAAAAW0/E73uaM4DcIk/s320/2010_B_Feb_08_Wikimedia_167px-West_Virginia_Flying_WV_logo.svg.png" /></a></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b><i> </i></b></div><div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">The #9 Wildcats - playing in their metropolitan Philadelphia finale - lost a heartbreaker to #10 West Virginia, 68-66, at the Wachovia Center. It was one of the most painful losses of the <b>Jay Wright</b> era, as the Wildcats yielded only 16 points in the first half, and seemed to be well in control, with a 14-point second-half lead. <b> Corey Stokes</b> and <b>Corey Fisher</b> both tied the game with dramatic three-pointers, Stokes in regulation and Fisher in overtime. But <b>Scottie Reynolds</b> - playing in front of a uniformly pro-Villanova crowd for the final time - missed what would have been the game-winning shot at the buzzer at the end of overtime. </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
<b>UPDATE:</b> On Saturday afternoon, Reynolds launched the final shot he will ever take in metropolitan Philadelphia, at least while wearing the blue and white of Villanova. Had this shot, taken as time ran out in overtime, fallen, it would have been the perfect capstone, to his many stellar performances in front of pro-Wildcat crowds over the past four seasons.<br />
<br />
He took the shot from the near corner (from a CBS television angle), and thus directly across the court, from his Wildcat teammates. And when he released it, I certainly thought it was headed in. The other Wildcats did, as well, as you can see from the replay. As did most of the people in the Wachovia Center. Yet another heroic buzzer-beater from Reynolds, in a high-profile game.<br />
<br />
Well, the basketball gods giveth, and they taketh away. Whatever magic they provided in last year's Elite Eight against Pittsburgh, when The Shot bounced in to propel Villanova to its first Final Four in 24 years,. it wasn't forthcoming, yesterday afternoon. Reynolds's shot was just a little bit long, and clanged off the rim. <br />
<br />
The miss meant that West Virginia - coupled with Pitt's eventual win over Rutgers later in the afternoon - meant that the Mountaineers, Panthers, and Wildcats are caught in a three-way logjam for second place in the Big East standings, at 13-5. The Big East tiebreaker rules stipulate that for resolving this tie, a "mini-conference" of Villanova, West Virginia and Pitt is considered. Under this formula, Pitt claimed the runner-up spot, with West Virginia taking the #3 seed.<br />
<br />
And so, in the span of one week, the Wildcats have gone from playing Syracuse, with the hopes of winning the Big East regular-season title, to the #4 seed, barely claiming a double-bye. After starting the season 20-1, the Wildcats are really struggling down the stretch. They are now 24-6, having lost four of their last six games. Not where they wanted to be, come March.<br />
<br />
Villanova will almost certainly be gone from the Top 10 in Monday's poll, and deservedly so. We used to dream about a #1 seed, for which this loss has extinguished any flickering hopes. Even capturing the Big East tournament championship on Saturday, probably wouldn't put Villanova back onto the #1 line. If the season were to end today, the Wildcats would be fortunate to garner even a #3 seed. Our strength-of-schedule, though respectable, isn't high enough to warrant anything higher. Only some good wins in New York, over top-flight opponents, could change that dynamic.<br />
<br />
This was a very painful loss. The Wildcats had a great deal to play for; a chance to win for the final time in front of their own partisans; a chance to add another victory over a top 10 opponent; a chance to take the #2 seed in the conference tournament, and thus draw weaker opponents. And they had this game well under control.<br />
<br />
The Wildcat defense yielded only a paltry 16 points to a high-powered opponent in the Mountaineers, their worst half of the season. They had a 13-point lead at halftime, and a 14-point lead in the second half...<br />
<br />
Four Wildcats wound up in double figures. Reynolds led the team with 17 points, but did so on just 5-16 shooting, including an anemic 1-9 from three-point range. Fisher added a dozen points, while Stokes - returning to his early-season form as the <b>Bayonne Bomber</b> - went 3-6 from beyond the arc, finishing with 11 points, off the bench. Reggie Redding finished with 10 points, while guarding West Virginia star <b>Da'Sean Butler</b>. Nonetheless, Butler hit what would prove to be the game-winning shot, in the final seconds of overtime, just before Reynolds' bomb from the corner hit the rim. <br />
<br />
A notable absence was that of<b> Taylor King</b>. I noticed, near the end of the first half, that he hadn't yet entered the game, and speculated that either he was in Wright<b>'</b>s doghouse, or that he was injured, especially because he was sitting at the far end of the bench. Neither of the CBS announcers noted his absence, most likely because unlike (for example, Jay Bilas or Bill Raftery) they hadn't done any of our games this year, and didn't notice that we were missing a player out of our rotation (albeit one whose playing time has been declining...)<br />
<br />
Resolving the mystery, <b>David Cassilo</b> of <a href="http://villanovansports.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/quick-recap-west-virginia-68-villanova-66-ot/"><i><b>The Villanovan Sports Blog</b></i> reported after the game that Wright told the media that King didn't play because of a "teaching point</a>".<br />
<br />
Certainly, it was regrettable that King committed this offense, prior to this particular game, because the Wildcats could have surely used him, in an overtime loss by two points to a powerful opponent...<br />
<br />
<b>Next Up for the Wildcats - The Big East Tournament - Quarterfinal Game on Thursday, vs. Marquette, Connecticut, or St. John's</b><br />
<br />
The Wildcats - having now been reduced to the #4 seed -will now play one of three potential opponents: #5 Marquette, #12 Connecticut, or #13 St. John's. Marquette enjoys a single bye, and will play the winner of Tuesday's matchup between the Huskies and Red Storm, on Wednesday afternoon. In turn, the Wildcats will face the winner of Wednesday's contest, on Thursday aftenoon, officially at 2 PM (although in practice, it will more likely be around 2:30, as the first game of any Big East tournament doubleheader rarely concludes early enough for a 2 PM start of the second game).<br />
<br />
Please check back for more news, as the Wildcats' adventure into March Madness begins... <br />
<br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Go Wildcats!</b><br />
<br />
<b>E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com (same e-mail address as you've been using...) </b></div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-675218731471593102010-03-03T11:55:00.017-05:002010-03-04T10:58:54.831-05:00#9 Wildcats Survive Senior Night in Cincinnati, Block Bearcats' Late Rally, 77-73<div style="color: #351c75;">To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">The Wildcats - demoted to <b>#9</b> nationally, in Monday's AP poll - were able to hold off a late rally from Cincinnati, on the Bearcats' observation of Senior Night, and (fortunately) emerge with a victory. Although it was unpleasantly exciting down the stretch, Villanova held a modest lead throughout, and the four-point final margin is somewhat misleading...</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">The Wildcats were able to bounce back from the disastrous loss at now-#1 Syracuse, on Saturday night (the Orange, by the way, officially clinched the regular-season title, and the top seed in Madison Square Garden that accompanies it). Villanova -which had lost three of its last four, entering last night's game - improved its record to <b>13-4 Big East,</b> <b>22-5 overall</b>; Cincinnati fell to<b> 7-10 Big East, 16-13 overall. </b>It was the Wildcats' penultimate regular-season contest, as the season finale is against West Virginia at the Wachovia Center, at high noon on Saturday.<br />
<br />
The Bearcats are almost certain to miss the NCAA tournament, for the fifth straight season, as coach <b>Mick Cronin</b> gallantly rebuilds the program after the disastrous end of the regime of <b>Bob Huggins</b>, his predecessor (now the coach at his alma mater, West Virginia.) They have to win the Big East tournament, which will be a tall order, since the Bearcats have yet to win a Big East tournament game, since they joined the conference.<br />
<br />
Another puzzling aspect of last night's game, was the fact that Cincinnati was wearing red jerseys, even though they were the home team and the Wildcats were wearing the dark blue road jerseys. I speculate that they must keep white ones to use, in case an opponent has red or some variation (burgundy, crimson, etc.) on it, but it only seems logical to wear white (or in Georgetown's case, gray), when you're at home. Perhaps it was a Senior Night decision...<br />
<br />
The Wildcats relied on a highly diversified scoring attack last night, as half a dozen Wildcats reached double figures. <b>Scottie Reynolds</b>, playing in his final regular-season road game, led the way with 17 points. In an extreme variation of his usual pattern, he had no points at halftime, racking up all 17 after intermission. <b>Reggie Redding</b>, likewise, in his final game on the road, led the team in minutes with 33, throwing in 11 points and four rebounds.<br />
<br />
The most pleasant surprise was the return to form of the <b>Bayonne Bomber</b>, <b>Corey Stokes</b>. Stokes, who had been struggling with his marksmanship, dropped 14 points in 25 minutes, coming off the bench. He was 5-9 overall, 3-6 from beyond the arc. <br />
<br />
Three Wildcats added 10 points apiece - <b>Corey Fisher</b>, <b>Antonio Pena</b>, and most impressively, <b>Mouphtaou Yarou</b>. Fisher only played 21 minutes, less than usual. Pena also added seven rebounds, continuing to deliver in the paint.<br />
<br />
Yarou, who has been thriving over the last two games, looks better and better as an additional post option, on a team that sorely needs one, particularly if Pena sinks into foul trouble. Mouph logged 25 minutes, and his playing time has significantly increased. And he had a high-impact 25: 4-5 shooting, plus 2-4 from the line. As his offense develops, he could be our secret weapon in the NCAA Tournament.<br />
<br />
Looking at the team statistics, two numbers leap out. One is Villanova's perimeter accuracy: 10-21, a superb 47.1%. When the threes are dropping, the Wildcats' offense is hard to shut down, and in a four-point victory, that was one of major reasons for the triumph.<br />
<br />
However, there was also another factor - Villanova drastically cut down on its opponent's opportunities for free points at the line. Cincinnati shot only 21 free throws, making 14; the Wildcats, in contrast, took 35 free throws, converting 25. In the recent skid, the Wildcats had provided too many uncontested points for their opponents. And so, shooting significantly more free throws than the opponent is a highly auspicious sign for the rest of March...<br />
<br />
Cincinnati kept the game a battle for a while, and the score was knotted at 31 at intermission. The Wildcats began to pull away, probably due to the fresh waves coming off the bench, and had built a commanding 16-point lead, 64-48, with less than seven minutes to play. The Bearcats launched a furious counterattack, and the last four minutes were interminable for a Villanova fan who wanted to see a victory secured. Cincinnati crawled all the way back to 75-73 with 3.7 seconds to play. (The most egregious problem at crunch time, was a turnover by Stokes on an inbounds play, where the pass simply went through his hands, akin to an NFL wide receiver taking his eye off a pass a moment too soon.)<br />
<br />
<b>Big East Tournament Seeding Implications </b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">We also now have assured ourselves of one of the four precious "double byes" - meaning that we go straight to the Thursday night quarterfinal. Since the #2 seed plays at 7 PM and the #3 seed at 9 PM (although, <i>de facto</i>, around 9:30 PM), and we by definition will end up no better than second, and no worse than third, our first Big East tournament game will be Thursday night.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the victory may not have cemented Villanova's grip on the regular-season runner-up spot, and the #2 seed that goes with it. Villanova is at 13-4, alone in second place, with a rematch with 12-5 West Virginia in the season finale on Saturday. If the Wildcats win, they are assured of second place, obviously. If the Wildcats lose, however, we may still be assured of second place...</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">If I'm reading the Big East tiebreaker rules correctly (and I may not), we would win a tiebreaker against West Virginia, under the following criteria:<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Head-to-head</b> - split (since we're assuming a loss to them on Saturday);<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Head-to-head against all other teams, beginning with Syracuse, and going down the standings, until one team gains an advantage.</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
<b> </b>That having been said, West Virginia's split with 4th-place Pitt - against our lone loss to the Panthers - does not give the Mountaineers the higher seed. The rule stipulates that if one team or the other could match the total, if there is an uneven number, it doesn't count. So if West Virginia had swept Pitt, against our loss, the Mountaineers would get the tiebreaker. </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">Likewise, we have two wins over Marquette, they have only one - but since West Virginia could have matched it with another win, it doesn't count.</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">So you have to go all the way down to Notre Dame, which both teams played only once - and we won; West Virginia lost. </div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b>Go Wildcats!</b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b> </b></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><b> </b></div><b><span style="color: #351c75;">E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com (I present it this way, to cut down on spam; it's the same e-mail address you've been using...)</span></b>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21169094.post-56629776925579952232010-02-28T00:32:00.021-05:002010-02-28T11:14:36.489-05:00#4 Syracuse Obliterates #7 Villanova, 95-77, As Saturday Night Showdown Snuffed Out Early<div style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>This is the placeholder article, please check back for updates...</b></i><br />
<br />
For a helpful, Syracuse-centric perspective on the game - and one written with the euphoria of victory, I'd highly recommend the tremendous Syracuse SB Nation blog,<b> <a href="http://www.nunesmagician.com/">Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician</a>.</b>... I had exchanged a question-and-answer set with its publisher, <b>Sean Keeley</b>, and his insights were very helpful, as I prepared for the game... so check out Troy Nunes - it's well worth it...<br />
<br />
To the Wildcat faithful-</div><div style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #351c75;">It was a wild weekend in college basketball, with the #1 and #2 teams (Kansas and Kentucky, respectively) falling, before the Wildcats even emerged, to take their first shootaround at the Carrier Dome. Undoubtedly, this scenario was wandering throughout the thoughts of every Villanova fan: "<i>If we win tonight, we'll move up a couple of spots."</i><br />
<br />
Naturally, there's going to be a lot of speculation, as to who will take over the top spot on Monday. Tonight's game offered this clear - albeit, highly unpleasant - certainty, on that question - it <i>won't </i>be the Wildcats...<br />
<br />
The #4 Syracuse Orange - backed by the largest on-campus crowd ever to see a college basketball game, 34,616 fans, some of whom could not even remotely see the court - clobbered the #7 Wildcats tonight, 95-77. The disaster marks the third defeat in the last four games for Villanova - after starting the season 20-1. The Wildcats have also lost four of their last seven contests. <br />
<br />
Villanova might consider itself fortunate, to even stay in the Top 10 after this loss, one which was highly conspicuous nationally, due to the game taking place in prime time, and with extensive hype and publicity about the size of the crowd.<br />
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The <b>Ghosts of Syracuse Past </b>were there, in profusion: <b>The Dome Ranger</b> (described on the ESPN broadcast, as an individual who once regularly roamed the sidelines of Syracuse football games back in the 1980s, but rarely seen since), <b>Derrick Coleman</b> (who had a less-than-stellar run in Philadelphia with the 76ers, back in the day), <b>Billy Owens</b>, and <b>John Wallace</b>, to name but a few. And, of course, the old standby, <b>Otto the Orange</b>, who could been seen gallivanting on the concourse, just above the court, throughout the contest.<br />
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The Dome Ranger appeared in an orange Syracuse football jersey with #44 on it, along with an orange cowboy hat and a blue mask for the school colors, and was cheered lustily by the throngs of spectators, as he ran onto the court, prior to tip-off.<br />
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Another reason for the surprising loss (or at least the uncompetitive final margin of the loss) was Villanova's strong record at the Carrier Dome, all-time. Even with this dreadful loss in the books, Villanova is 13-14 all-time in the building, and has won three of its last five visits there.<br />
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The only real bright spot for the Wildcats tonight was the performance of freshman <b>Mouphtaou Yarou</b>. Mouph was in the starting lineup for the first time since November, prior to his contraction of hepatitis, which had sidelined him for several weeks. And Mouph delivered, big-time, for <b>Jay Wright</b>, on a night when many of the more reliable players did not.<br />
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Mouph set a career-high with 13 points on 6-8 shooting, grabbing eight rebounds, plus a pair of blocks (and a pair of assists!) - and he did it all in just 22 minutes... Considering that against Pitt on Sunday, he played only a single minute, it was a remarkable performance. I had noticed that Mouph received considerable minutes in the victory over South Florida on Wednesday; clearly, Wright thought that he'd need Mouph against the formidable Syracuse frontcourt (and they were quite formidable tonight). So, enormous props to Mouph.<br />
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<b>Scottie Reynolds</b> had a solid game: 16 points, on 6-14 shooting, including 4-8 from beyond the arc. As did <b>Antonio Pena</b> - 13 points, half a dozen rebounds, a blocked shot, and three steals...<b> Corey Fisher </b>had a hot start, scoring 10 points in the first half of the first half, but then cooled off. He would finish with 14 points, but do so on just 3-12 shooting, including missing all five of his three-point attempts. But he made a lot of plays (six assists against one turnover), plus five rebounds and two steals. <br />
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<b>Taylor King </b>saw 17 minutes, and was a rebounding machine, coming up with eight boards. But his shot was highly erratic: he finished with six points on just 2-7 shooting (all from three-point range), including two air balls.<br />
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The irony being, that if we had been told, prior to the game, that Pena and Mouph, out of the "five" spot, would combine to score 26 points on 11-16 shooting, with 14 rebounds and three blocks, all of us would have been very confident of either victory, or an extremely narrow loss. Instead, we had a lopsided loss. The rest of the Wildcats really struggled, this evening... <br />
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It's hard to believe that the Wildcats not only were ahead in this game, but actually held a significant lead for much of the first half, as much as nine points, in fact - in a game in which Villanova subsequently trailed by 10 points at halftime, and that it ultimately lost by 18 points. <br />
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<b>NCAA Seeding Implications - This Loss Was A Complete Disaster </b><br />
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Our hopes of a #1 seed come Selection Sunday, were <i>gravely</i> damaged (and perhaps extinguished) by this defeat. A couple of weeks ago, when the Wildcats were 20-1, Villanova seemed very well-positioned, to emerge from the high holy day of the hoops year, brandishing one of those coveted top seeds. Now, at 23-5, 12-4 Big East, it's far less likely.<br />
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I would go as far as to say that the only way (now) that we end up with one, is to sweep the last two regular season games (Cincinnati and West Virginia), and - at minimum - reach the final of the Big East tournament (and preferably, win it). If we reach the final, we'd have a negligible chance, but if we win it, a good chance, particularly if all the victories are over decent teams. It would also help, if some more teams in the Top 10 started to lose more frequently.<br />
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The only good news on that front today, was the aforementioned fact that both Kansas and Kentucky also lost. It won't take as much to pull a #1 seed now, so we're still in the hunt, but Wright has to get this ship turned around somehow. Three losses in four games, after a 20-1 start...time to get things back in order, and quickly...<br />
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<i><b>This is the placeholder article, please check back for updates...</b></i> <br />
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<b>Go Wildcats! </b><br />
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<b>E-mail: villanova.viewpoint-at-yahoo-dot-com</b></div>Villanova Viewpoint Publisherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626480031009448915noreply@blogger.com2