Iowa-game grades

Villanova 89
Iowa 60

Villanova: 2-1 (0-0)
Next game: Navy, 11/25 @ the Pavilion.

Sorry these grades are late. But better late than never.

Villanova secured third place in the Paradise Jam tournament Monday night with a convincing 89-60 blowout win against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

In a stark departure from the loss against Xavier, Jay Wright showcased the team's depth against Iowa, going eight deep in the rotation, and playing 12 players when all was said and done.

Onto the grades:

• Curtis Sumpter (30 min)

  It seemed Curtis could do no wrong in this game. Sumpter was on fire against the Hawkeyes, scoring 26 and shooting 7-10 from the field, including 4-6 from the three-point line. He also sank 8-10 free throws and had two swats. Grade: A




• Dante Cunningham (30 min)

  Dante had a great game in the post, which is quickly becoming his undisputed domain. Cunningham shot 50 percent from the field (4-8), and totaled 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Villanova's playmakers are finding that Dante is a convenient target in the lane to finish off a nifty sequence. Grade: B+




• Mike Nardi (26 min)

  Nardi looked active in the backcourt, and was stroking it nicely from behind the three-point line (4-7). Several of those threes were of the "dagger" variety, as well. Mike also provided a critical scoring burst early in the game when the 'Cats had not yet pulled away: 13 of his 16 points were in the first half. He had a bit of trouble with turnovers, committing 4, but otherwise it was a fantastic performance. Grade: B+




• Scottie Reynolds (25 min)

  Reynolds again looked good running the point, but I wish he could start contributing more offensively. Against Iowa, he was limited to only 1 point on 0-2 shooting. Still, his defense was great, and he committed no turnovers despite handling the ball for much of the game. He also led the team in assists, with 4, and had a sweet-looking block that cost Iowa a sure 2 points. Grade: B




• Will Sheridan (16 min)

  The rumor is that Will has been suffering from an undisclosed flu-like illness. Let'sGoNova.com wishes Bump the speediest of recoveries if he is indeed sick. Sheridan did not make much of an impact against Iowa, scoring just 2 points and pulling down 0 rebounds in 16 minutes of play. It was only when Jay subbed out Will that the team was able to assert itself defensively to create turnovers and transition offense. Grade: D+ (Or Incomplete if Will was sick.)




• Dwayne Anderson (22 min)

  The sophomore sensation is proving himself to be a viable scoring option for the 'Cats this year. Dwayne went off for 18 this time, stroking 4 three-pointers in 10 attempts. Dwayne looks like a streak-shooter: when he gets hot, watch out. He also co-led the team in rebounds, with 5. Grade: B+




• Shane Clark (17 min)

  Shane had a solid all-around game. Clark scored 6 points on two three-pointers, and also had 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and a team-high 2 steals. Shane's wingspan allows him to play bigger than he stands, and it showed last night against the Big-Ten's Iowa. Grade: B
  
  

• Bilal Benn (18 min)

  Benn is a defense-first player, so his contributions may not be reflected in the box score. Bilal is an excellent practitioner of Villanova Basketball, and may be the toughest guy on the team. Grade: B-
  
  

• Frank Tchuisi (2 min)

  Frank only played for two minutes, so his grade is incomplete, but I wanted to give Frank his own paragraph for getting the first 2 points of his Villanova career. Congratulations!




• Incomplete grades:
  Casiem Drummond (8 min), Reggie Redding (5 min), Ross Condon (1 min).



• Did not play:
  Andrew Ott (RS), Antonio Pena (RS)

'Nova-Iowa live thread

Villanova is now playing Iowa in the Paradise Jam third-place game. For those of you who do not have FCSN TV, here is a link to a live radio stream: WHO-radio

[update 8:14 p.m.] Villanova 90 Villanova 89, Iowa 60. Final. Villanova improves to 2-1 (0-0) for the year. Full recap and player grades coming later tonight.

[update 8:30 p.m.] Ross Condon's three was ruled a 2. Villanova 89, Iowa 60.

In-game updates are below the fold.

[update 8:11 p.m.] Great game for the 'Cats. Box score is here. Full recap with player grades coming later tonight.

[update 8:09 p.m.] Ross Condon for THREE! Ross hit a three-pointer with three ticks left. Villanova wins 90-60, FINAL.

[update 8:07 p.m.] Frank T. scores!! Tchuisi just hit a layup to put 'Nova up 85-57 with 90 seconds to play.

[update 7:55 p.m.] Sumpter finally exits the game, finishing with 26 points on 7-10 shooting. Benn and Redding are now in.

[update 7:53 p.m.] Sumpter just got fouled hard. Why is he still in?! We are up 74-48 with 5:11 to play.

[update 7:48 p.m.] Iowa radio announcers: "Paradise is when you have a defense like Villanova." 'Cats up 70-45 off another Anderson three-pointer. 13 threes for the 'Cats. 6:55 to play.

[update 7:40 p.m.] Reynolds threaded an great pass down low to Dante, who missed it at first, and then put his own rebound back in. Count that as a "ghost assist" for Scottie. Sumpter also just hit two more 3-pt FG, he has 24 on the game, on 7-9 shooting. Nova up 27, 67-40, with 8:50 to play.

[update 7:32 p.m.] It's raining threes in the Virgin Islands. Dwayne Anderson just hit his second 3-pt FG, giving Villanova 10 threes and a 57-32 lead with 12:30 left in the game.

[update 7:30 p.m.] Villanova has forced another 5 turnovers early in the second half. Iowa now has 18 TOs on the game. Shane Clark just hit a huge three, putting Nova up 54-30.

[update 7:26 p.m.] Dwayne Anderson fed a sweet pass down low to Dante for a layup, putting Villanova up 50-28 at the 16-minute TV timeout.

[update 7:24 p.m.] Nardi hit a three and Cunningham had a fast-break lay-up off an Iowa turnover to put 'Nova up 20, 46-26.

[update 7:22 p.m.] 'Cats look a little cold coming out of the locker room. After two minutes of second half play, Villanova only has two turnovers and one foul.

[update 7:18 p.m.] On the floor for the 'Cats to start the second half: Sumpter, Sheridan, Reynolds, Nardi, and Cunningham.

[update 7:15 p.m.] The Wildcats' stifling defense forced 13 turnovers in the first half. Excellent. Second half is about to start.

[update 7:05 p.m.] A look at some stats at the half. Curtis Sumpter leads the Wildcats with 15 points, going an excellent 4-6 from the field. Mike Nardi has 13 points already, shooting 5-11, including 3-6 from the three. Dwayne Anderson has 7 points on 2-6 shooting. Clark and Cunningham each have 3 points. Benn and Drummond also have been in the game.

[update 7:01 p.m.] Villanova leads 41-24 at the half. The 'Cats have hit 7 three-pointers. The three-quarter-court press has proved devastatingly effective, forcing several Iowa turnovers and allowing the 'Cats to run a little bit. The team looks good right now. Hope they can keep it up in the second half.

[update 6:53 p.m.] Villanova just doubled up the Hawkeyes, 34-17, and are on a 31 to 8 run. (Or a 19 to 2 run). Nardi's fast-break three-pointer just forced an Iowa timeout with 2:26 left.

[update 6:49 p.m.] The 'Cats are playing great defense. Dante Cunningham just had a huge swat of an Adam Haluska would-be dunk, and then Villanova forced the Hawkeyes into a shot-clock violation. Still 29-17.

[update 6:47 p.m.] The run continues. Dwayne Anderson hit two free throws and a three-pointer to put the 'Cats up 29-17 with 5:30 to play.

[update 6:44 p.m.] Villanova is on a little run. Nardi hit 2 threes and Shane Clark hit a three. 'Nova is up 24-17 with 7 minutes to play in the half.

[update 6:33 p.m.] Sumpter just scored 7 straight points to put us up 2 with 10 minutes to play in the half.

[update 6:27 p.m.] Slow start for 'Nova... down 10-5 at the 12-minute mark. We are 2-10 from the field, and have given Iowa 9 free throws already.