Let's Go Nova will return Nov. 5

Sorry, everyone, for the lack of updates these past few weeks.

Let's Go Nova has spent the last three weeks obsessively refreshing FiveThirtyEight.com about 20 times an hour.

We'll be back with Villanova basketball coverage on Nov. 5, just in time to preview the exhibition against Northwood at the Spectrum the next day.

Feel free to use this thread for your comments till then.

Just six days till the season tips off!

New highlight video showcases last season

The Villanova basketball highlight honcho Sean Donovan is back with his biggest and baddest video yet. Named "Runnin' Wild" for its musical track, Sean's new video chronicles the entire 2007-2008 season, from the pre-conference games to the NCAA tournament.

There is only one way to watch this monster: in 720p HD. (Warning! 166 mb). On that version, the video is so pristine you can see individuals react to Dante Cunningham's game-winning put-back against LSU.

You can also watch the highlight video in the embedded YouTube player below.

Malcolm Grant: the Let's Go Nova interview

Malcolm Grant remains a popular player in Nova Nation even after his decision to transfer to Miami this spring.

After Grant's heroics on the basketball court last winter, questions about his benching and transfer have lingered to this day in the Villanova fan community.

Grant agreed to answer a series of questions for Let's Go Nova about his decision to attend Villanova, his season on the basketball court, his playing-time issues, and his transfer to Miami.

Grant's answers in this interview are overwhelmingly positive. There are clearly no hard feelings, and he remains a part of the Villanova basketball family. It's great to see Grant remain positive as he switches gears in his basketball career.

One of the biggest revelations below is Grant's confirmation that his benching had nothing to do with injuries, academics, or disciplinary reasons. Instead, says Grant, it was purely a basketball decision by Jay Wright.

Based on this offensive efficiency analysis by GreyCat showing Grant was by far the best offensive player of the four freshmen, I can only conclude that Wright's decision was flat-out wrong.

But that's water under the bridge. Villanova eventually found success, and Malcolm has found a welcoming new home at Miami and the ACC.

"Read more" below for the full interview. Thanks to Malcolm taking the time to participate and for his thoughtful answers

LGN: You prepped for a year to attend Villanova. What was it about the program and school that led you to wait a year to enroll rather than to play somewhere else immediately?

MG: I went to prep school because I was excited about the year 'Nova just had with Randy and those guys, so when I saw what I was becoming a part of, it was worth the wait.

LGN: Your performance in the 21-point comeback against LSU cemented your status as a Villanova fan favorite. When you checked into the game before the 8-minute timeout, what was on your mind? Trailing by 15 with under three minutes to play, did you still believe the team could come back? And was that last-second shot really a pass to Dante Cunningham to win the game, as others have speculated?

MG: Actually, when I checked in I said to myself we have nothing to lose, I'm going all out, and thanks to God I was able to have a spectacular performance. And no, the last shot wasn't a pass to Dante, actually I was fouled (smiling) but all joking aside, it was a great followup by Dante.

LGN: Did your mid-season benching have anything to do with injuries, academics, disciplinary reasons, or was it just a decision made by Jay Wright?

MG: My mid-season benching had nothing to do with injuries, academics. Nothing of that nature. It was a decision that Coach Wright made and he felt it was best for the team.

LGN: What was the catalyst that turned the team around, from its mid-winter struggles to its place on the NCAA bubble in March?

MG: I think it was when we had a meeting and everybody admitted their frustrations, and we were asked to sacrifice for the better of the team until the end of the season.

LGN: On Selection Sunday, how sure were you and your teammates that Villanova would make the field of 65? Was it a shock to be selected, or were you confident?

MG: I was confident, as well as others. I think some of the older guys were nervous that we weren't going to make it, but we proved we belonged once we started playing.

LGN: How did it feel to go to the Sweet Sixteen as a freshman? Were you thrilled just to be there, or were you a little disappointed you were not allowed to contribute more on the court, especially considering that without your performance in the LSU game, Villanova would have been in the NIT?

MG: It was a great experience to advance to the Sweet Sixteen as a freshman. I will never forget it. Just seeing that crowd and that arena and the media was crazy. [laughs].

LGN: After the season, you decided to transfer to Miami. Was playing time the only reason you left, or were there other disagreements? Did the coaching staff try to convince you to stay, or was it mutually agreed?

MG: The only reason I transferred was because of playing time, nothing else. I still love Villanova and the team and the coaching staff.

LGN: How do you like Miami so far? Do you think the ACC will be more suited to your run-and-gun style? How do you plan to keep focused as you wait another year to gain eligibility?

MG: I love Miami. It's beautiful down here -- really, really hot, and I have to get used to it, but other than that it's beautiful. I love it. I think the ACC will be a great fit for me. I can't wait to play again and show the world that I'm more than just a scorer. I'm going to work extremely hard, as I'm doing right now, so I'm really excited to get back out there.

LGN: Are you still in touch with any of the players or staff at Villanova? Will you follow the Wildcats' season?

MG: Yes, I still talk to almost everyone, except for a few. But I speak with Antonio a lot. Dwayne a.k.a. Weezy F [laughs], Reggie a.k.a. Double R, Shane, and some others. I still speak with the staff. Congrats to my man BG! [Ed. note: Villanova assistant coach Brett Gunning took a job with the Rockets.] Coach West e-mails me to check on me, and I saw Coach Chambers at an AAU tournament. So yeah, I stay in touch.

LGN: What are you goals for your career at Miami and beyond?

MG: My goals for Miami is to transform this school into a consistent elite team. I want to hopefully win a national championship and God willing, play in the NBA one day.

I just want to say thanks for the interview. I still love 'Nova to death. I will be rooting for you guys. All my friends, I love you guys. All the alumni and my teachers, I love y'all too. Peace!

LGN: Thank you, Malcolm.

Numbers prove Grant best of four freshmen

I know this post will bring out the "enough with Malcolm Grant" haters, but it's summer, news is slow, and Greycat of Villanova by the Numbers just posted his analysis of the four Wildcat freshmen and their progression throughout last season.

The numbers show what we've known around here all year: Malcolm Grant was the best performer of his much-touted freshman class, and it wasn't even close.

Greycat's chart shows the Pomeroy offensive efficiency rating for each of the four Villanova freshmen for each game of the season. The numbers do not take defense into account, but before you justify Grant's latter-season disappearance on defense, remember that Grant was at least as good a defender as Corey Fisher, and that is being quite generous to Fisher.

Grant showed a consistent level of offensive performance once conference play kicked in, maintaining a large separation above the other three freshmen. Corey Stokes improved his game greatly, while Fisher and Pena seemed to decline offensively as the season wore on.

We may never know the true story behind Grant's fall from grace, so I can't beat up Jay Wright about it more than I already have all season, but Greycat's chart serves as a stark reminder of how good Grant was, how much the team will miss him, and what a waste it was that Coach Wright could not keep him in a Wildcat uniform, for whatever reason.

Grant is on his way to Miami, and the Hurricanes will be Let's Go Nova's second-favorite college team in 2009-2010.

As for the three remaining freshmen, now rising sophomores, Corey Stokes is clearly a bright spot. If he continues his offensive development at the pace he improved last season, he could be a star in the Big East. Fisher and Pena need to work on being more consistent offensively, but we didn't need the chart to tell us that.

Keep on eye on the three sophomores and their offensive development in 2008-2009. And look for Malcolm Grant to crack the all-ACC squad the year after that.

Kansas wins national title

The Kansas Jayhawks are the national champions after defeating the Memphis Tigers tonight in overtime. Kansas overcame a 9-point deficit in the final two minutes of regulation to complete one of the most dramatic comebacks in Final Four history.

On Memphis's side, it was an epic collapse. The Tigers had numerous opportunities to seal the game, but could not make free throws in crunch time. Memphis also was unable to even foul Kansas on the Jayhawks' last possession in regulation, when Kansas trailed by 3 with 10 seconds to go.

The Jayhawks' win means that Villanova has lost to the eventual national champions in three of the last four NCAA tournaments: North Carolina in the Sweet 16 in 2005, Florida in the Elite 8 in 2006, and Kansas in this year's Sweet 16.

As far as I could see, Villanova only made two appearances in this year's "One Shining Moment" highlight montage, with both clips showing the Wildcats allowing Kansas dunks via alley-oop.

Questions from a Kansas fan

Cory over at Rock Chalk Talk e-mailed me this week with a list of questions about this year's Villanova team and my take on the game.

(Also see NovaFan09's keys to the Villanova-Kansas game.)

Below is a transcript of the questions and answers, with Cory's questions in the blockquotes and my responses in normal text. I sent Cory a list of questions about Kansas, which I hope to also publish before the game.

1. Going into Selection Sunday, you guys were certainly on the bubble. In fact, I actually had you guys as my last team out, putting in Arizona State instead. So, on Selection Sunday did you expect to get into the Dance, or were you on the edge of your seat all day long waiting for the news?

We actually held a week-long bubble vigil on the site. After several important games went our way, I was fairly certain that with a split in the two Sunday title games (SEC and B10), Villanova would be in. We got the split and got one of the last spots in. It certainly was a little close for comfort, but personally I was fairly confident going into the selection show, if only because I spent most of the week prior analyzing the bubble to a degree far beyond even the traditional sports media

2. Scottie Reynolds is clearly the star of the Villanova Wildcats, but who else should Jayhawk fans watch out for?

Freshman guards Corey Fisher (#10) and Corey Stokes (#24) could each go off. Fisher is a penetrating point guard who loves to get to the rim, while Stokes is a jump shooter. I would also suggest junior Dante Cunningham (#33), Villanova's best interior player, but Kansas's dominating front line should keep him in check. If Villanova gets down big time, you might watch out for freshman guard Malcolm Grant (#3). Grant single-handedly won Villanova the LSU game in December, which was one of the biggest comebacks in college basketball history.

3. What is the Wildcats' biggest strength as a team? In other words, if the Wildcats pull off the upset Friday night and beat KU, it will be because of...what?

Guard play and defense are by far the team's best attributes. The only way Villanova beats the Jayhawks is if at least two guards explode and the Wildcats play good shut-down defense. Villanova cannot compete with Kansas's big men, but I like the Wildcats' chances if the game is a shootout between the guards.

4. On the same thread as #3; What is the Wildcats' biggest weakness?

The two biggest weaknesses for Villanova are interior offense and scoring droughts. When the guards are not hitting their jumpshots or dribble drives, the team can go long stretches without scoring, as there is little to no interior offense to speak of. Lately, fouls have also been troublesome for the Wildcats.

5. Entering the season, and for much of the non-conference portion of the schedule, you guys were ranked and were fully expected to make the tournament. However, after your five-game losing streak, most expected you to be left out on Selection Sunday, and even if you snuck in to bow out in the first round. Given the high expectations entering the season, as well as the mid-year struggle, would you consider this season a success now that you are in the Sweet 16? Or did you expect to get this far all season long?

Looking at teams like Duke, Clemson, USC, and Vanderbilt, it's pretty clear to me that any time you make it to the Sweet 16, it is a success. To take it a step further, most fans considered the season successful when we made the NCAA Tournament, especially considering the mid-season struggles. Villanova has no seniors, so everyone should be coming back next year. Four straight NCAA trips and three Sweet 16s in the past four years sets the stage nicely for further postseason contention down the line. I can understand that for a team ranked all year in the top 5, like Kansas this year and Villanova in 2006, a Sweet 16 exit would be a bit troublesome, but this year for the Wildcats, we are happy to just be there.

6. How does the loss of Casiem Drummond, who broke his right ankle on Sunday and will be out for the season, affect Villanova?

The only real effect Drummond's injury has will be the front-court depth in terms of fouls to give. Drummond looked great early in the year before sustaining a stress fracture in December. With Drummond gone for the Kansas game, Villanova will have 5 fewer fouls to give in the frontcourt, but he was not a part of our recent rotation.

7. One last question: What do you see happening on Friday night?

The most likely outcome is a Kansas win, of course. If both teams play to their talent level, Kansas should win. But Villanova is one of the strongest 12-seeds in tournament history, and has the talent to run with anyone in the country. If 'Nova's guards get hot and the threes are falling, an upset would not be out of the question.

'Nova hopes to upset top-seed Kansas in Sweet 16

vs.

12-seed Villanova Wildcats (22-12) vs.

1-seed Kansas Jayhawks (33-3)

Date: Friday, March 28, 2008
Location: Detroit, Michigan (Ford Field)
Time: Approx. 9:40 p.m. EDT
Television: CBS

Kansas coverage: PhogBlog | Rock Chalk Talk

In mid-January, who would have thought that the Villanova Wildcats would have a chance to upset a 1-seed in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament? That will exactly be the case on Friday, when the Wildcats square off with the Kansas Jayhawks at 9:40 p.m. in the Midwest Regional semifinals.

Kansas started the season by winning 20 straight games and cruised to another Big 12 Conference title by going 13-3 in its division. The Jayhawks' three losses on the year came in February, when the Kansas fell to Kansas State, Texas, and Oklahoma State by a combined 13 points. One could conceivably make the argument that Kansas flirted with going undefeated more so than Memphis, as the Jayhawks faced stiffer competition all season.

Make no mistake about it, head coach Bill Self has built a loaded roster, with talented former McDonald’s All-Americans top to bottom.The Jayhawks led the nation in regular-season scoring margin, at more than 21 points per game. Additionally, Kansas led the Big 12 in offense and several key defensive categories, including blocks, steals, and defensive field percentage. Simply put, the Jayhawks don't just beat you, they blow you out.

Kansas essentially wears down opponents by exercising its athleticism and depth to the fullest by regularly rotating nine or ten men each game. In the first two NCAA Tournament games, Kansas pummeled Portland State and UNLV by 24 and 19 points, respectively.

Touting nearly five double-digit scorers, Kansas is led by sophomore forward Darrell Arthur (13.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg). Joining him in the frontcourt are senior Darnell Jackson (11.5, 6.7) and senior Sasha Kaun. In the backcourt, junior Brandon Rush, who tested the NBA draft last spring before tearing his ACL, averages 13.0 ppg. Mario Chalmers, who shoots nearly 48 percent from downtown, chips in 12.6 points and 4.5 assists per game. Not to be overlooked, sophomore Sherron Collins puts in just under 10 points per game and is an electric spark off Bill Self’s bench. Any one of these players, who all average under 30 minutes per game, can be the star, and it will be important that all players are accounted for and not forgotten, as all are lethal in their offense.

Keys to the game

Containing Jayhawk frontcourt: ‘Nova is severely undersized in the frontcourt, both in height and athleticism. While ‘Nova has contained the likes of Georgetown, UConn, and Clemson down low, the Jayhawks’ big men as a group are much deeper and talented. Villanova will try to seal off the passing lanes and make Kansas’ guards make shots from the outside, much in the same way ‘Nova contained Clemson in the second half.

Contest three-pointers: To be honest, Villanova has definitely benefited from its tournament opponents missing open three-point shots. Chalmers and Brandon rush both shoot over 44 percent from beyond the arc, so even though Villanova will be denying the post, the guards must contest shots on the wings from these two Jayhawks.

Ball control: Kansas pressures the ball the full length of the court. Scottie Reynolds is still Villanova’s best ball handler, but Fisher has more than proved his worth the past two games. Mario Chalmers and Russell Robinson both average more than two steals per game, so limiting turnovers will be a big part of competing in this game.

‘Nova supporting cast: We know Reynolds can get the job done, but who else will provide the added punch to knock the Jayhawks out? Stokes needs to light it up and Pena and Cunningham must add some points and offensive rebounds inside.

X-factors

Shane Clark: I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Clark’s intangibles (leadership, seniority) and some timely rebounding will help ‘Nova immensely. Either that, or his poor dribbling and blown defensive rotations will cause Kansas to have a field day. With Self using basically his entire roster, there is no way the ‘Cats can keep pace without doing the same, especially with Drummond out for good. It is this reason why Clark and the rest of Jay Wright’s bench will be so important come Friday.

Coaching: Will another one of Bill Self’s teams self-destruct in the tournament? Will Jay Wright finally have his young team believing in themselves? We will all find out by midnight on Saturday.

Ford Field: ‘Nova teams traditionally have trouble shooting the three in football and baseball stadiums that have been converted to basketball arenas for NCAA games. Because this team relies so much on its outside game, let us hope this game does not turn into 2006’s version of the Minneapolis Metrodome (Florida defeat).

NASA computer picks Villanova to win championship

According to an article on the Serious Sports News Network, a supercomputer constructed by NASA predicted in November that Villanova would win the national championship:

Barry, as the supercomputer is affectionately known around NASA headquarters, was constructed in late 2007 with the sole purpose of determining the outcome of the 2008 tournament. While the exact cost of Barry remains classified, estimates of the machine’s price tag range between two and three billion dollars.

“We were pretty nervous back in November when we flipped Barry on for the first time and saw ‘VILLANOV’ on Barry’s old-timey, all caps, eight-letter-maximum LED readout,” said Dr. Michael D. Griffin, chief of America’s space agency.

In case you couldn't tell, the above article is satire, but it's good to see Villanova get some press as a Cinderella.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, fiction turned into reality this week when Villanova fulfilled to the letter the exact "best-case scenario" proposed by ESPN's Pat Forde, the best writer in all of college basketball:

Best Case: Last at-large team in the Dance justifies its inclusion by stunning Clemson, then takes advantage of upset in the bracket to face No. 13 seed Siena in the second round. Suddenly Nova has won two games and has advanced to the Sweet 16, and everybody remembers why they loved Jay Wright so much when his team won 30 games in 2006.

Those eerily-prophetic words were published on March 19, and, strangely, the only thing to correct in the entire statement is that Villanova won 28 games in 2006, not 30.

Finally, an excellent straight piece about Villanova's surprise visit to the Sweet 16 runs today in Sports Illustrated, and is worth a read.

You may also check out the automatically generated news feeds at the top of this site. It's a big week for Villanova in the media.

'Nova bests Siena to reach Sweet 16

Villanova defeated the 13-seed Siena, 82-74, to win its four-team bracket in Tampa and advance to the round of 16 next weekend.

The Wildcats will face the top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks in Detroit on Friday night. 

[Update] The game will tip at 9:40 p.m. (Eastern time), which is the same local time in Detroit.

This is the third time in the last four years that Villanova has reached the Sweet 16 or better.

I will have a comprehensive recap and analysis of both the Clemson and Siena games for this week.

Villanova faces Siena in NCAA round two

vs.

12-seed Villanova Wildcats (21-12) vs.

13-seed Siena Saints (23-10)

Date: Sunday, March 23, 2008
Location: Tampa, Florida (St. Pete Times Forum)
Time: 12:10 p.m. EDT
Television: CBS

While Villanova no doubt had its fans' hearts pounding throughout the night Saturday, Siena took a different route in its upset win over Vanderbuilt, routing the Commodores 83-62 in a game that was never close.

Villanova must continue its stellar second-half perimeter defense in order to win this match-up with the MAAC Conference champions on Easter Sunday, as the Saints are an extremely up-tempo team that uses its athleticism to a distinct advantage.

Siena should not be taken lightly. The Saints have faced several NCAA tournament teams this season, beating Stanford at home, Boise State on the road, and demolishing MAAC favorite (and supposed tournament auto-bid) Rider in the conference championship. In addition, the Saints played hotly-contested games with St. Joe's and Patriot League powerhouse Holy Cross.

The Saints match up well with Villanova's style of play, as they present a trio of lethal guards ,starting with leading scorer Edwin Ubiles (17.3 ppg). The sophomore shoots 43 percent from the arc, and scored 11 points against Vanderbuilt. Guard Kenny Hasbrouck, who averages 16 ppg and shoots nearly 40 percent from the three, dumped 30 points on the Commodores and was the game's leading scorer. Sophomore Alex Franklin scores 15 points and grabs 7.9 rebounds per game, a respectable number for a 6-5 forward. Ronald Moore (8.8 ppg) is an extremely quick guard, and he has to be excited to be facing Villanova, a school just an exit off the Blue Route from his home in Conshohocken, Penn. Finally, Tay Fisher, a generously listed 5-9 guard, is the only senior in the Saints' rotation. A tremendous shooter, Fisher converts 45 percent of his threes, going 6-6 from downtown against Vandy and 6-10 against Rider.


Keys to the game

Perimeter defense: Watching the Clemson game was like witnessing two completely different games for Villanova. In the second half, the team came out extremely energized and basically nullified any perimeter game the Tigers possessed. Against Siena, Dante and Pena must continue to rotate to the top of the key, sealing off any perpendicular driving lanes where guards like to kick the ball out. In addition, rebounding against this smaller team should be emphasized, not taken for granted, limiting second-chance points.

Get hot early: 'Nova Nation can not stomach another second half comeback. Because of its Cinderella status, the longer Siena stays in the game, the more the Saints will believe that they deserve to play with the big guys. Let's stop this team from advancing any further by building a quick lead and holding it for good.

Go down low: Feed the big men on the block. What Villanova lacks in height in terms of a true center and power forward doesn't necessarily translate into a lack of effectiveness. Villanova forwards are more than capable in the post, and if they play well, demanding double teams, it is just an easy kick-out away from finding an open three.

Control Siena's pace: Siena has the athleticism to run with anybody, but sometimes has trouble playing in a half-court game. If Jay Wright can control the speed of the game and not let this turn into a shootout, Siena will have to make every offensive trip count. I believe this is the most important aspect of the game, where a little three-quarters press can make all the difference between going home and continuing to dance.

X-factors

Exhaustion: The 'Cats expelled a lot of effort to beat Clemson, and Reynolds looked physically drained at the end of the game. Jay needs to motivate this team to continue to play "Villanova Basketball."

Reggie Redding: If Siena finds a way to build a lead, look for Jay Wright to call on Redding to defend the Saints' top shooter at that time.


You may predict the final score and describe your own keys to the game in the comment section below.

Keys to the game: tournament edition

vs.

Villanova Wildcats (20-12) vs.
#22 Clemson Tigers (24-9)

Date: Friday, March 21, 2008
Location: Tampa, Florida
Time: 9:50 p.m. EDT
Television: CBS


Keys to the game

Ball control: Coach Oliver Purnell employs a 10-man rotation with an emphasis on the full-court press. The effectiveness of this press, when it works, was seen in the ACC championship game against North Carolina, when the Tar Heel guards were pestered all afternoon in the backcourt. Right now, Scottie Reynolds is Villanova’s best ball handler, but when he becomes double and triple-teamed, Corey Fisher will have to step up and limit his turnovers for ‘Nova to be successful.

Clemson’s starting upperclassman guards are 6-foot-5 and 6-3, so it makes sense for Villanova to start its longer lineup, with Corey Stokes at the 2 and Reynolds at the point. Limit the turnovers and easy transition baskets for the Tigers, and Villanova will have more than a shot to come out on top.

Defense: This is the key to stopping Clemson’s full-court press. If Villanova can rebound on defense and stop the Tigers from scoring, Villanova will not have to inbound the ball and, as a result, Clemson will be unable to set up its press set. Jay Wright must use his substitutions wisely, because Clemson's press wears on guards' legs. With quick rotations, this exhaustion will not translate to poor defensive efforts. Keep the Tigers under 70 points and we have a shot.

Free throws: The Tigers shot 62.3 percent for the season, last in the ACC. Clemson’s guards Rivers and Hammonds shoot 67.7 percent and 45.9 percent from the stripe, respectively. Similarly, the starting big men Mays and Booker shoot under 60% collectively. Villanova as a team shoots 72.3 percent. Simply put, if the Wildcats are forced to foul around the rim, they must foul hard. Statistically speaking, Clemson is much less damaging when attempting to make two free throws at a time rather than trying to complete a three point play, in which the basket has already counted.

X-factors

'Nova PGs: As Scottie goes, so does Villanova. A dominating performance by the sophomore guard can propel 'Nova into the next round, and possibly beyond. In addition, Corey Fisher needs to be more consistent with the ball in his hands and not force bad passes inside. Limiting turnovers and taking quality shots are a must.

Corey Stokes: His hot shooting will demand attention, allowing for Reynolds to hopefully slip past the defense.

Remember to comment and participate in our contest to predict the final score. I would not be surprised with the outcome of this game either way, but I predict that Clemson may be riding a bit too high after its recent success at the end of their regular season, giving the 'Cats just enough of an edge to pull out a victory.

Meet the Clemson Tigers

#22 Clemson Tigers
Atlantic Coast Conference
24-9 Overall Record (10-6 ACC)
Head Coach: Oliver Purnell (94-67 at Clemson)
Clemson, South Carolina


Villanova faces the #5-seeded Clemson Tigers in Tampa, Fla. on Friday night. The tipoff is set for 9:50 p.m. Villanova fans may be relatively unfamiliar with out-of-conference opponents, so an informal introduction of Clemson is below.

In 2007-2008, Clemson was 10-6 in ACC play. Despite three losses to UNC, Clemson twice extended the games into overtime, in addition to almost upsetting the top-ranked Tar Heels in the ACC championship game one week ago.

Clemson has built quite an impressive resume that boasts key wins over several NCAA tournament teams. The Tigers started the season off strong, going 12-1 in out-of-conference play. Wins included an 84-82 victory over tournament-bound Mississippi State, and a 61-58 win over Purdue. Within the ACC, Clemson split the home-and-away series with 2-seeded Duke and 7-seeded Miami, in addition to defeating NIT 1-seed Virginia Tech.

Key Players

K.C. Rivers
#1 G-F, 6-6 Junior
14.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 41.0% 3-point

Rivers leads the team in points per game, and averages nearly 2 steals per game. An athletic guard/forward, Rivers plays an essential role in Coach Purnell's press defense, and has the ability to light it up beyond the arc.


Cliff Hammonds
#25 G, 6-3 Senior
11.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.0 apg

Hammonds is a hard-working player who has averaged double figures in scoring in each of his four seasons at Clemson. Like Rivers, Hammonds also averages 1.9 steals per game. His in-you-face style of defense wears on opposing guards to the point of exhaustion. He has shown leadership by playing with a hand fracture that will require surgery at season's end.

Trevor Booker
#35 C/F, 6-7 Sophomore
11.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.9 bpg

One of the "bookends" of Clemson's imposing front line, the 240 lb. Booker is a force down low. Only 6-7 as a center, he plays much bigger than his height suggests. Has an improving mid-range game that complements his post play. He rebounds extremely well on the offensive end, but has trouble with free throws.

James Mays
#40 F, 6-9 Senior
10.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg

The team's vocal leader along with Hammonds, Mays is the point man in the Tigers' press who defends the inbounding pass. For 13 games, Mays wore a hand brace that tied his last three fingers together for a broken bone in his left hand. Since then, Mays has regularly scored in double figures, but has a tendency to miss easy layups, as seen in the UNC game.

Terrence Oglesby
#22 G, 6-2 Freshman
10.5 ppg, 41.4% 3-point

A sharpshooter from beyond the arc, the "Tennessee Rifleman" is a prototypical guard in the mold of Drew Neitzel and Mike Nardi. He is something of a liability on defense, as he was substituted possession-by-possession in the closing minutes of Clemson's ACC tournament games.


As a team, Clemson averages just under 80 points and 10 steals per game. This is a talented team with a lot of experience and should present a formidable matchup for Villanova.

Check back Friday afternoon for Villanova Keys to the Game and X-factors. Let's go 'Nova!

Anderson sprains ankle

According to Joe Juliano of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the starting junior Dwayne Anderson sprained his ankle in practice on Monday and is listed as "day-to-day."

Many Villanova fans have credited the swingman Anderson's insertion into the starting lineup with the Wildcats' resurgence in the second half of the season.

This injury does not sound all that serious, but it would be a huge blow to the 'Cats if Anderson were sidelined for their first round game against the 5-seeded Clemson Tigers on Friday night.

Fortunately for Villanova, Anderson still has more than two full days to heal, as the Wildcats do not tip off until 9:50 p.m. Friday night.

New 'Nova highlight reel in time for tourney

Just in time for the NCAA tournament, the Villanova highlight video kingpin Sean Donovan is back with a new montage of the 2007-2008 Wildcat season.

In the new video, Donovan makes extensive use of stop-motion and fast-forward special effects, like a master craftsman honing his wares to ever-higher summits of technical achievement.

The video is set to Sum 41's "Underclass Hero," an appropriate choice for the 2008 Wildcats, who do not have a senior on their roster. It should also be noted that the band's front man, Deryck Whibley -- AKA the luckiest man on earth -- is married to Avril Lavigne.

You can watch the video in embedded YouTube player below, or download the large version, a 129 megabyte WMV file. I highly recommend the large version, as the quality is excellent.

'Nova stays alive with USF win

Villanova 72
South Florida 59
(box score)

Villanova: 18-11 (8-9 BE, 3-1 B5)
South Florida: 12-18 (3-14 BE)

Next game: at Providence, 03/08 at the Dunkin Donuts Center.

Villanova kept its hopes alive for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament tonight with an ugly win over Big-East basement dweller South Florida.

The Wildcats basically outclassed USF, who nonetheless put on a game effort to keep it close in the second half. The game was not pretty to watch for Wildcat fans, who saw Villanova play sloppy basketball that certainly would not have cut it against a decent opponent.

A loss to the Bulls would have almost certainly eliminated the 'Cats from the at-large bubble. With the win, Villanova gets a chance to finish at the all-important .500 mark in conference play with a victory over the slumping Providence Friars on Saturday in the season finale.

Jay Wright continued his confusing substitution patterns, valuing size over scoring and speed. After two losses where the rotation played a huge factor, I have given up trying to explain or even understand Wright's personnel decisions.

The game nearly got away from the Wildcats in the second half, with the Bulls cutting Villanova's lead to single digits midway through the period. Villanova heated up and finally put away the scrappy South Florida team.

Congratulations to reader Sean Don for most closely predicting the game's final score.

Next up for the Wildcats is the regular-season finale against Providence in Rhode Island this weekend. It's a must-win game for Villanova to remain in at-large consideration.

On to the player grades. "READ MORE" below for player performance grades and analysis.

• Dwayne Anderson (S, 31 min)

  Anderson played a solid 31 minutes tonight. He shot well from the field, 3-5, including 1-2 from beyond the arc to score 7 points. He grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the team. He had 1 assist, and did not turn the ball over. Anderson's emergence has been a huge help to the team this year.
  Grade: B+




• Scottie Reynolds (S, 28 min)

  Reynolds followed up a poor offensive game against the Cardinals with a quietly effective performance tonight against the Bulls. He shot 2-6 from the field, but reached the hoop efficiently, and shot 5-7 from the foul line to finish with 9 points. He grabbed 2 rebounds and dished out 1 assist. His 4 turnovers were largely offset by his team-high 4 steals.
  Grade: B




• Corey Fisher (S, 23 min)

  Fisher returned to the court today after Jay Wright sat him for most of the Lousiville game for disciplinary reasons. I hope Wright proved his point to Fisher, who reportedly was late to the pre-game shoot-around at Freedom Hall, because Wright's decision likely cost the Wildcats the game. Fisher looked a little sloppy tonight, turning the ball over 4 times. He scored 6 points on 2-6 shooting, and dished out 3 assists. Fisher needs to turn it on, especially on the offensive end, if the 'Cats are going to make a run in Madison Square Garden next week.
  Grade: C-




• Shane Clark (22 min)

  Well, Clark has proven one thing beyond all doubt: he can score against sub-par competition. Clark looks like a superstar against non-conference cupcakes and programs like USF, which was invited to the Big East for football. Clark seems to struggle against actual basketball teams, however. Tonight, Clark played well. He shot 7-11 from the field to score a team-high 15 points. He also grabbed 7 rebounds and dished out an assist. We hope Clark can continue his good play through Providence and the BET, but given past results this year, it seems unlikely.
  Grade: B+




• Corey Stokes (22 min)

  Stokes seems to have cooled off after a few weeks of excellent shooting. Tonight the McDonald's All-American shot just 2-9 from the floor, including an atrocious 0-5 from the three-point line. He did sink 3-3 free throws to finish with 7 points. Stokes can be one of the Wildcats' biggest weapons if his shot is working.
  Grade: D




• Dante Cunningham (S, 19 min)

  Cunningham shot a perfect 4-4 from the field, and threw down a few monster dunks. He generally looked strong in the post, so it's surprising to see that he finished with just 3 rebounds. He missed both his free throws, which thankfully were not crucial to the game's outcome.
  Grade: B-




• Antonio Pena (S, 18 min)

  Pena played well on the offensive end, scoring 10 points on 3-8 shooting from the field and 4-5 shooting from the line. He handled the ball poorly, however, committing 4 turnovers. Pena grabbed 4 rebounds and added 1 block.
  Grade: B-




• Reggie Redding (16 min)

  Redding played solid basketball, handling the ball well and committing no turnovers. He made the only shot he took, and sank 1-2 free throws to score 3 points. He grabbed 3 rebounds and had 3 assists. He added 2 blocks and 2 steals on defense.
  Grade: B




• Casiem Drummond (12 min)

  Drummond returned to action tonight after missing several crucial games with a foot injury. Casiem looked fairly good against South Florida, who admittedly is not the toughest competition. Drummond shot just 1-4 from the field, but shot well from the foul line to go 4-6. He also grabbed 7 rebounds in his limited action. Drummond did get into foul trouble and spent most of the game on the bench, but it was good to see him back on the court for the Wildcats.
  Grade: C+




• Malcolm Grant (6 min)

  It's almost insulting the way Jay Wright is using Malcolm Grant this season. Wildcat fans should be glad that Grant has the patience to tolerate Wright's bumbling substitution patterns, but perhaps patience is one of Grant's virtues. Grant did, after all, prep for a year just for the opportunity to sit on the bench and watch lesser players be subbed in ahead of him all game. Grant saw mainly garbage-time action tonight, despite playing very well against Louisville. Maybe people disagree with me on this issue, but watching Villanova basketball games this year has become a whole lot less enjoyable knowing a talent like Grant is languishing on the bench. I am sure Villanova will get down by a sufficient number of points in one of its Big East Tournament games that we will see Grant again this year.
  Grade: Incomplete




• Frank Tchuisi (3 min)

  It was good to see Frank get some playing time, but he remains the rawest of projects. Tchuisi is valuable as a practice player, but his basketball skills have yet to develop.
  Grade: Incomplete




• Did not play: Jason Colenda (CD)

'Cats lose control in sloppy defeat to MU

Marquette 85
Villanova 75
(box score)

#21 Marquette: 21-6 (11-5 BE)
Villanova: 17-10 (7-8 BE, 3-1 B5)

Next game: at Louisville, 03/02 at Freedom Hall.


Villanova might still be turning the ball over, even now, in the darkened and empty Wachovia Center, even after the Wildcats fumbled away their NCAA Tournament hopes like so many aborted possessions in the loss to Marquette last night.

So much for "Guard U," the term sports pundits have used since 2004 to describe Villanova's supposed excellence at recruiting, developing, and deploying dangerous backcourts. So much for "Villanova Basketball," the political slogan Jay Wright's been preaching since 2002 for taking care of the ball, playing aggressive defense, and playing a cerebral game.

Villanova's guards were humiliated last night by a real backcourt, coached by someone who knows how to maximize advantages and play to his team's strengths, in stark contrast to the tactical tomfoolery from the Wildcats' bench.

Marquette was led by a pair of NBA-caliber guards, supported by a few other talented backcourt dwellers off the bench. These guards actually got into the game, instead of languishing on the sideline while their coach trotted out a series of hoepless swingmen who couldn't score in an empty gym -- all in the name of "size" and "defense." Imagine that!

It's too bad that Villanova didn't have a tough, quick guard with a great handle and a phenomenal shot to relieve the two Wildcat point guards exhausted by two difficult games in three days and a relentless Marquette pressure defense. Apparently, that was not an option last night for Jay Wright. He preferred to stick with "size" and "defense" while Villanova struggled to even inbound the ball without turning it over.

So, what did size and defense get Villanova last night? An opponent who lit up the scoreboard for 85 points in regulation and forced 23 crippling turnovers. An opponent led by a 5'10'' guard, the smallest guy in the gym, who scored 25 points, and stole the ball 6 times. A lot of good size does you when your opponent is putting in uncontested layups.

What stings most about this loss is not that it takes Villanova out of the driver's seat for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. It's not that the loss drops Villanova to below .500 -- again -- in conference play. What is most infuriating about this loss was that the game was winnable. Villanova has the talent to play with the likes of Marquette.

What it has not had, what it may never have, is the execution. Tom Crean put on a coaching clinic in Philadelphia last night. I hope Jay Wright was taking notes. Forget about the differences on offense, where Marquette consistently created good looks for itself while Villanova flailed about and struggled just to maintain possession of the ball for the first 20 seconds of each trip down the floor. Look at the differences on defense.

When Villanova had the ball, which was not too often and often for not too long, Marquette unleashed a relentless pressure defense the entire length of the court. Nothing came easy for Villanova after an Eagles' basket, be it bringing the ball up the court or setting up an offensive set or -- heaven forbid -- getting a good, open shot. After a Wildcat basket, however, Villanova retreated, tail between legs, to a conservative zone defense. Marquette was often able to advance the ball to halfcourt with a single pass from the inbounds baseline.

Dominic James was hardly ever required to handle the ball, leaving him free to roam the perimeter and shoot three-point daggers into the heart of the Wildcats. There was hardly any Villanova pressure to defuse in the backcourt. The Wildcats got lured into a furious, fast-paced game, and then played as conservatively and as tentatively as possible against a team that was running full motor to press every advantage and exploit every edge.

Let's talk about halftime adjustments. With the Wildcats leading by seven at the break, Marquette needed to make some changes. The Golden Eagles went on to outscore Villanova by 17 in the second half. Tom Crean managed the game and his rotation with a level of mastery we won't see in the state of Pennsylvania again this year.

The loss last night has severe implications for Villanova's NCAA Tournament resume. The conventional wisdom is that the team needs 21 wins to receive an at-large bid, including at least one more marquee victory. With the Wildcats now at 17-10, a three-game sweep of Louisville, USF, and Providence, plus a victory in the Big East Tournament would probably mean an invitation for VIllanova. With a win at Freedom Hall on Sunday looking less likely by the moment, however, Villanova may have to make a deep run in the BET to have any chance to dance.

Congratulations to an anonymous reader for most closely predicting the game's final score.

Next up for the Wildcats is a must-win game against Louisville, arguably the best team in the Big East in maybe the most difficult arena in the league for visitors, as well.

On to the player grades. "READ MORE" below for player performance grades and analysis.

• Dante Cunningham (S, 33 min)

  Cunningham took turning over the ball to an art form last night. He racked up 6 turnovers from the forward position, always an achievement. He did shoot the ball well, 6-8, scoring 13, and he led the team in rebounds, with 11. But my goodness, 6 turnovers? Remove Cunningham's turnovers and his line -- 13 points, 6-8 shooting, 11 boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks, and 1 assist -- looks phenomenal. But Cunningham could not take care of the basketball, and turnovers were why the Wildcats lost.
  Grade: B-
  
  
  

• Antonio Pena (S, 33 min)

  Pena was all kinds of sloppy with the ball last night. His 8 points came on 2-6 shooting, including a perfect 4-4 from the foul line. His 3 assists and 4 rebounds were overshadowed by his 5 turnovers. He needs to focus on making better decisions passing the ball.
  Grade: C
  
  

• Corey Fisher (S, 33 min)

  Fisher looked great passing the ball last night, racking up 8 assists. He again struggled shooting the ball, going 5-15. He missed all 3 of his attempts from beyond the arc. Fisher had 2 good steals, but turned the ball over 4 times. Fisher did a great job of getting to the rim, but often could not finish. If he could practice better shot selection, make his layups, and take care of the ball, we are looking at a great Big East point guard. His penetration and passing are already up to snuff.
  Grade: C+
  
  

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 31 min)

  It was a difficult game for Reynolds, who had to deal with the unending pressure from Marquette all night. Reynolds did lead the team in scoring, on plausible 4-11 shooting, and was perfect from the foul line at 5-5. He struggled from the three, shooting just 1-5. He passed for 3 assists and had 1 steal. The big problem was his 6 turnovers. Reynolds needs to start taking better care of the ball, and it would be nice if he had some help from his teammates in that area.
  Grade: C+
  
  

• Dwayne Anderson (S, 28 min)

  Anderson played well, but he did not assume much of a role on offense, either. He scored 8 points on 4-7 shooting, but missed all 3 of his three-point attempts. He did manage to grab 8 boards and was a force in transition. He turned the ball over just once, but did not handle the ball much, either.
  Grade: B
  
  
  

• Corey Stokes (25 min)

  Stokes may have been the player of the game for Villanova, not for his 13 points on efficient 4-6 shooting, but because he only turned the ball over once in 25 minutes. Stokes is now a competent offensive contributor, but needs to involve himself more in passing. Last night he did not notch a single assist. Stokes also seems to be making a habit of disappearing after halftime. He scored 11 of his 13 points in the first half, mirroring other recent performances.
  Grade: B
  
  

• Reggie Redding (13 min)

  Redding's earned his part in the rotation for perimeter defense. Dominic James, however, scored 25 points. Redding is a decent defender, but I am not sure if his defense is worth the complete sacrifice the team makes on offense with Redding out there. Redding actually played one of his better games from the offensive end, scoring 6 points on 2-3 shooting. He had 1 steal and no turnovers.
  Grade: C-
  
  

• Shane Clark (4 min)

  Clark made a nice three-point play in transition. His other shot, a clean look at a three, was not even close. He picked up a steal, but his defense was slow and ineffective. Clark also cannot handle the ball at all. Clark may be among the worst dribblers in the Big East. Suffice it to say that I do not think subbing in Clark was the answer in a game when Villanova turned it over with the regularity of a Rolex. To his credit, Clark did not have any turnovers himself.
  Grade: D+
  
  

• Did not play: Malcolm Grant (CD), Casiem Drummond (foot), Jason Colenda (CD), Frank Tchuisi (CD)

'Cats face Marquette in Big Monday battle

vs.

Villanova Wildcats (17-9, 7-7 BE) vs.
#21 Marquette Golden Eagles (20-6, 10-5 BE)

Date: Monday, February 25, 2008
Location: Wachovia Center (Philadelphia, PA)
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Television: ESPN

Official 'Nova coverage: Game notes (PDF)
Marquette coverage: Cracked Sidewalks

Villanova, having recently climbed back to .500 in conference play, welcomes another top-25 team into town Monday when the 'Cats battle Marquette at the Wachovia Center.

Winners of four straight, Marquette is surging as of late after playing uninspired basketball for nearly a month. Guards Jerel McNeal and Dominic James pace the offense for the Golden Eagles, as both players average more than 13 points per game. Forward Lazar Hayward (13.4, 6.2) and Wesley Matthews (11.0, 4.3) both contribute to an extremely balanced offensive attack that accumulates close to 77 points per game.

Defensively, Marquette allows 63.5 points per game, due in large part to pesky guards and a swarming team defense on which coach Tom Crean has prided himself over the years. It is up to the 'Nova coaching staff to let the 'Cats know that they have been playing well of late, but to not let their recent success get to their heads. This Marquette team is as dangerous, if not more dangerous than the Huskies.

Keys to the game

Pressure James: Marquette's leading ball handler, James had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 7-to-1 in his last 3 games before the Rutgers match-up on Saturday. Keeping consistent pressure on James and forcing him into mistakes will disrupt the flow of the entire Golden Eagles offense.

Ride the hot hand: Stokes has got his confidence back, and we are finally seeing what all the offseason hype was about. Get "Strokes" the ball, and let him fire away.

Defensive intensity: Villanova's suffocating defense in the first 15 minutes of the UConn game gave the Wildcats a big enough cushion to withstand the inevitable Connecticut second-half run. Villanova has been winning games because of its defense which, in turn, creates offense. I would like to see 'Nova players front up Marquette's big men on defensive switches, limiting the post play of forwards like Hayward.

X-factor

'Nova guards: The 'Cats will be matched up against a veteran backcourt, with McNeal and James both being juniors. While all of the 'Nova guards are underclassmen, they have the ability to raise their maturity and play like leaders themselves. If 'Nova can either stop James and McNeal defensively, or have their way with them when on offense, Villanova will come out a winner.

You may comment on the keys to the game and predict the game's final score in the comments section below.

'Nova back on bubble with win over UConn

Villanova 67
Connecticut 65
(box score)

#13 Connecticut: 21-6 (10-4 BE)
Villanova: 17-9 (7-7 BE, 3-1 B5)

Next game: vs. Marquette, 02/25 at the Wachovia Center.


Villanova took a huge step towards an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament on Saturday with a win over the 13th-ranked UConn Huskies.

UConn had won 10 straight games before running into the hungry Wildcats who have been fighting for their at-large lives since cracking a five-game losing streak earlier this month.

Villanova has now won four of its last five games, its only loss coming at Georgetown on a poorly regarded foul call with one-tenth of a second left on the clock.

Villanova's win also moves the Wildcats to .500 in conference play, and mostly solidifies the team's appearance in the Big East Tournament next month in New York.

The Wildcats used a high-energy attack on both ends of the ball to down the Huskies. Villanova had 13 points off turnovers compared to UConn's 8, and scored 9 fast-break points while allowing no run-out points for the Huskies.

Villanova also enjoyed a 20-3 advantage in bench points, mostly thanks to the efforts of the freshman Corey Stokes, who seems like he has finally found his shooting touch.

Be sure to check out the quantitative recap of the game posted at Villanova by the Numbers. Head over to Nova News for a UConn-Villanova top-ten list.

The students at "I Bleed Blue and White" have also posted some brief thoughts on the game.

A mostly-full Wachovia Center seemed to greatly aid the Wildcats on Saturday, especially in tough moments. This should help dispel any arguments that big-time games be moved on campus. In my opinion, the Wachovia Center provides an excellent homecourt advantage and lends a "big game" atmosphere to the proceedings.

It will be interesting to see if Monday night's game can attract as significant a crowd as the 'Cats look to solidify its NCAA resume vs. Marquette.

Congratulations to an anonymous reader for most closely predicting the game's final score.

Next up for the Wildcats is another game at the Wachovia Center against the Marquette Golden Eagles. A win would put Villanova on the inside track for an at-large NCAA bid even with a loss in Freedom Hall next weekend.

On to the player grades. "READ MORE" below for player performance grades and analysis.

• Dante Cunningham (S, 39 min)

  Cunningham played one of his best defensive games of the year. He banged down low with Hasheem Thabeet all game and held his own. Cunningham scored 9 points on 4-11 shooting and pulle din 5 rebounds. His defense, again, was the real story, as he patrolled the paint and helped hold the Huskies to just 24 points in the key. Cunningham also came up with a ridiculous 5 steals to lead the team.
  Grade: B+
  
  

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 35 min)

  Just like he did in last year's win over Uconn, Reynolds put the team on his back and refused to lose the game. Reynolds scored 18 points Saturday on 7-14 shooting, including 4 huge three pointers on 8 attempts. Reynolds also scored the last field goal for the 'Cats, a crucial layup over Thabeet to put the 'Cats ahead by four with 39 seconds left. Reynolds also co-led the team in assists on Saturday, with 4. He added 2 rebounds and had just 2 turnovers despite shouldering point duties for much of the game.
  Grade: A-
  
  

• Antonio Pena (S, 31 min)

  Pena played 31 hard minutes on Saturday, battling with UConn's big men on both ends of the court. He had a break-out moment in the second period where he scored a layup and a dunk on two straight possessions. Pena finished with 10 points on 5-12 shooting. He grabbed 5 boards, dished out 1 assist, and committed 2 turnovers.
  Grade: B-
  
  

• Corey Stokes (29 min)

  Stokes had a huge first half, stroking 4 three-pointers, before cooling down in the second. He shot 7-12 overall, including 4-7 from the three, and missed his only free-throw attempt. He had 1 rebound and 1 block, and did not notch any steals, assists, or turnovers. It was a solid game from Stokes, and it appears the McDonald's All American is now a legitimate threat from the three-point line.
  Grade: B+
  
  
  

• Dwayne Anderson (S, 27 min)

  Anderson 's insertion into the staring lineup has provided a huge boost to the 'Cats in terms of hustle, energy, and rebounding. Anderson, playing the wing, once again led the team in rebounds on Saturday, with 7. His threat as a scorer seems to vary by game; on Saturday he was just 2-4 from the field and a poor 1-3 from the foul line. He handled the ball very well, passing for 2 assists and committing 0 turnovers. He also played arguably the best defense of the game, grabbing 3 steals and showing lateral quickness on the perimeter.
  Grade: B+
  
  

• Corey Fisher (S, 18 min)

  Fisher's shooting woes continue. He was 1-6 from the field and 3-4 from the line on Saturday. His passing, however, was once again brilliant. Fisher racked up 4 assists in just 18 minutes, and looked fantastic running the fast break. If he can just find his shooting stroke and tweak his shot selection, Fisher will develop into one of the Big East's best point guards. Fisher handled the ball reasonably well, but did commit 2 turnovers.
  Grade: B-
  
  

• Reggie Redding (13 min)

  Redding was brought in to defense UConn's guards, primarily Big-East player of the year contender AJ Price. Redding did a reasonably good job on Price, but I don't agree with Wright that it was necessary to sub him in on every defensive possession in crunch time. Sure, it works out well when there is a stoppage of play every trip down the court, but I can't help but wonder whether or not that strategy will backfire in future close games when Wright cannot sub Reynolds or another offensive thread back in before the 'Cats get the ball. Redding has been fairly hopeless on offense lately. On Saturday, he was 0-3 from the field for no points. He did handle the ball well, dishing out 2 assists and committing 1 turnover, a controversial 5-second violation. His defense was good.
  Grade: C+
  
  

• Shane Clark (7 min)

  Clark sank a pair of free throws but again played poorly in his 7 minutes of court time. I don't know why Clark has seemingly regressed so thoroughly. Clark may indeed be suffering from fatigue, and if so, we wish him a speedy recovery. In any event, Clark's defense has suffered this year, and he is something of a liability on the court in recent outings.
  Grade: D
  
  

• Malcolm Grant (1 min)

  Despite a Philadelphia Inquirer article ostensibly "debunking" all rumors about Malcolm Grant's lack of playing time, I am nowhere near convinced that size considerations are the only factor. Grant is simply too good to sit the entire game, size be damned. Fisher and Grant are about the same size; even if you assume that there are only 20 minutes for the "small guard" in the 200 minutes of game time, should the split really be 18-1 in Fisher's favor? And that's assuming that a bigger lineup is necessarily better. There continue to be times, even during this win streak, that the offense sputters and simply cannot score. At those times, Malcolm Grant would be a welcome presence out there, and I simply do not understand why Jay Wright has come to such a different conclusion.
  Grade: Incomplete
  
  

• Did not play: Casiem Drummond (foot), Jason Colenda (CD), Frank Tchuisi (CD).

'Cats look to cool down Huskies

vs.

Villanova Wildcats (16-9, 6-7 BE) vs.
#13 Connecticut Huskies (21-5, 10-3 BE)

Date: Saturday, February 23, 2008
Location: Wachovia Center (Philadelphia, PA)
Time: 12:00 p.m. EST
Television: ESPN

Official 'Nova coverage: Official Site
UConn coverage: UConn blog (excellent blog by UConn beat writer)

Villanova welcomes the nation's hottest team to the Wachovia Center Saturday, as the 13th-ranked Connecticut Huskies travel to Philadelphia to take on the streaking Wildcats for a matinée matchup.

Losers of three of their first six conference games, the Huskies have ripped off 10 straight victories and now stand at 10-3 in the Big East, just a half-game back of Georgetown and Louisville.

Like Villanova, Connecticut doesn't carry a senior on the roster. The maturity of their underclassmen, however, has increased tenfold from a year ago. Anchoring an imposing frontline is likely the Big East's most improved player, Hasheem Thabeet. The 7'3" sophomore not only chips in 10.3 ppg and 7.9 rpg, but leads the conference in blocked shots with 115, a 4.4 per-game average. Jeff Adrien (14.4 ppg and 9.2 rpg) and Stanley Robinson solidify the frontcourt for UConn, which as a team averagea 42.5 rebounds each game.

A.J. Price has put behind his off-court issues and has put it together this season. The reigning Big East player of the week, Price averaged 24.5 points and 8 assists last week in wins versus Notre Dame and South Florida. In light of Jerome Dyson's alcohol-related suspension, Craig Austrie has proven to be a valuable replacement.

Keys to the game

Emphasize rebounding: UConn is an extremely efficient rebounding team. Villanova, despite its size, is a very good rebounding team, as well. To win this game and halt the Huskies, 'Nova needs to clean up the glass. This assignment starts with Cunningham, Pena, and, to an extent, Dwayne Anderson.

Penetrate: Villanova's guards can not be afraid to take it to the rim. Two of the better dribble-drive penetrators in the Big East, Fisher and Reynolds, should take it to Thabeet and get him in foul trouble early. Remember last year when Scottie went off for 40 points. It was his effective penetration that made defenders play a step off of him, allowing for Scottie to drain open threes, as well.

Start hot: Getting off to a fast start will be of the utmost importance. Wednesday night, 'Nova took WVU out of the game from the get go. If 'Nova can start strong this game and build a quick lead, it may go a long way into getting into UConn's head.

X-factor

Wachovia crowd: Nothing compares to the Pavilion, where the 'Cats are undefeated on the season. Unfortunately, Villanova tends to choose revenue over home-court advantage when it comes to scheduling primetime matchups, with the majority of them being played out at the Wach. While the crowd acts as a sixth man for 'Nova at the Pavilion, it has essentially been taken out of games this year at the Wachovia Center. Blame it on the size of the arena or what have you, but something is not right. 'Nova fans need to get loud and keep the noise high all game to help guide the 'Cats to victory.

Remember to predict the final score and post your own thoughts on what should be a great match-up.

'Nova cruises past WVU

Villanova 78
West Virginia 56
(box score)

West Virginia: 18-8 (7-6 BE)
Villanova: 16-9 (6-7 BE, 3-1 B5)

Next game: vs. Connecticut, 02/23 at the Wachovia Center.


Villanova used a stifling defense paired with efficient shooting to blow out the West Virginia Mountaineers tonight in the Pavilion.

It was the second straight win for the Wildcats, who have won three of their last four contests after a disastrous five-game losing streak.

The win puts Villanova "on the bubble of the bubble of the bubble," before the Wildcats face three consecutive top-25 teams in Connecticut, Marquette, and Louisville.

Win two of those three, and take care of business against USF, and all of a sudden the Wildcats are on the bubble of the bubble.

One or two wins in Madison Square Garden would then place Villanova on the good side of the final bubble, the one for the NCAA Tournament.

Enough talk about bubbles, though. We are getting ahead of ourselves.

Villanova played an excellent game tonight at the Pavilion, and used season-best performances from Corey Stokes and Dwayne Anderson to put away the Mountaineers.

The Wildcat defense allowed the Mountaineers just a 35.6 percent shooting performance. West Virginia shot an atrocious 2-20 from the three, but several of those were missed open looks. If the Mountaineers could have drained those shots, the game would have been closer.

For more thoughts on the game, see the transcript of the live blog.

Congratulations to reader "Ja" for most closely predicting the game's final score.

Next up for the Wildcats is arguably the biggest game of the year, a home battle at the Wachovia Center against the UConn Huskies. Connecticut, winners of 10 straight, is the hottest teams in the Big East.

A win for the 13th-ranked Huskies would help them crack the top 10; a victory for Villanova would be the best entry on any NCAA resume the Wildcats would put forward next month.

On to the player grades. "READ MORE" below for player performance grades and analysis.

• Dwayne Anderson (S, 31 min)

  Anderson lit it up tonight in the first half. Dwayne notched the best scoring game of the season, sinking 5 of 7 three pointers to score 17 points, all in the first period. Anderson also played an excellent defensive game, coming up with a team-high 4 steals. He grabbed 3 rebounds, and had 2 assists, 1 block, and 1 turnover. Anderson showed excellent hustle, and proved he could knock down open shots. He still seems to have some difficulty creating shots for himself, but if Villanova can get this kind of performance from Anderson consistently, the future looks bright.
  Grade: A-




• Dante Cunningham (S, 22 min)

  Cunningham didn't dominate the paint, but he held his own. Dante shot an excellent 4-6 from the field to score 8 points, but he only managed to pick up 3 rebounds. He had 2 big blocks, 1 steal, and 1 turnover. It was a good game for Cunningham, but his rebounding could improve.
  Grade: B-




• Antonio Pena (S, 26 min)

  Pena just missed the double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing a team-high 9 boards. He shot well, 3-5 from the field, and was a perfect 4-4 from the foul line. Pena dished out 3 assists, and had 1 turnover, block, and steal each. Pena's rebounding performance was excellent, and his inside presence seems to grow each game.
  Grade: B+





• Corey Fisher (S, 26 min)

  Fisher looked like a great point guard tonight despite shooting just 2-8 from the field. Fisher missed all 3 of his three point attempts, but was a perfect 5-5 from the stripe to finish with 9 points. He led the team in assists, with 6, and handled the ball reasonably well, turning the ball over 2 times. He still seems to have some problems with shot selection, and he is definitely better running in transition or taking the ball on breakdowns than on set plays, but Fisher is developing into a tough Big East point guard.
  Grade: B




• Corey Stokes (21 min)

  Stokes followed up a good performance against the Red Storm with another good game tonight. He scored a career-high 16 points on 5-12 shooting, including 3-8 from the three. Stokes has definitely improved his three-point shot recently in the season. Corey added 5 rebounds from the wing-guard position, and had 1 assist and no turnovers.
  Grade: B+





• Scottie Reynolds (S, 18 min)

  Reynolds struggled with early foul trouble and was held scoreless before heating up for 9 points in the second period. Reynolds only took 4 shots, making 2 of them, both three pointers. He shot well from the free-throw line, going 3-4. He had 1 turnover and did not notch a rebound, steal, or assist. It was definitely a below-average game for Reynolds, but it was good to see him get going in the second half. Reynolds will need to do more than this to defeat the surging UConn Huskies on Saturday; it's a good thing he dropped 40 on them the last times the two teams met, a year ago in Connecticut.
  Grade: C-




• Malcolm Grant (14 min)

  Despite baseless rumors to the contrary on the Interwebs, Malcolm Grant was dressed and ready to play for the Wildcats. While the announcers spewed the latest company line about Grant being relegated to the bench for size considerations, avid followers of the program know there has to be more to the story, though we may never find out exactly what. Grant did not play altogether well in his 14 minutes. He shot 0-2 from the field, and had 2 turnovers. The good news is that he looked good handling the ball otherwise, dishing out 2 nice assists. I'd like to see Grant get a more extended run so he can get into a scoring groove; maybe Connecticut will be his break-out game like it was for Reynolds last year.
  Grade: D+





• Shane Clark (14 min)

  Clark didn't look spectacular, but played one of his better games recently. The announcers mentioned that he'd been tested for mononucleosis in an effort to explain his mysterious fatigue. Clark did look less lethargic in the first half, and his offensive performance was a tad better than his past few debacles. Clark scored 4 points on 1-3 shooting, and dished out a respectable pair of assists. He also was able to get his hands on 3 rebounds. That said, he looked weak with the ball, and still cannot handle the ball with any efficiency. Clark committed 1 official turnover, but his 2 missed shots were so weak they were practically turnovers themselves. Clark's defense looked a step slow, as well. Still, his 14 minutes were a small step forward for the struggling junior captain, and hopefully he can continue to make progress.
  Grade: C-





• Reggie Redding (13 min)

  Redding managed 1 steal, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 missed shot, and 2 turnovers in a practically invisible run of 13 minutes. His defense was decent, however, and Redding is a noticeably better defender than many of Villanova's scoring guards. One just wishes that Redding could be a factor on offense, at least once.
  Grade: D+




• Casiem Drummond (10 min)

  Drummond had two big buckets on perfect 2-2 shooting, but was just 1-3 from the foul line. He only was able to grab 1 rebound in his 10 minutes. He also committed 2 turnovers. Drummond's ankle was said to be hurting, so you have to take this performance with a grain of salt/
  Grade: D+




• Incomplete grades: Jason Colenda (3 min), Frank Tchuisi (2 min)



• Did not play: None.