Villanova beats Marquette at buzzer

Villanova escaped Madison Square Garden on Wednesday with an unlikely one-point victory over Marquette, 76-75.

The Wildcats won the game on a dramatic Dwayne Anderson layup that beat the buzzer, but not before rolling around the rim for a few revolutions after time expired.

Villanova had led by 16 at the half before blowing that entire margin in the second period.

With the win, Villanova goes a long way in securing a top-3 seed in the NCAA tournament, and the increased likelihood of playing the first round in Philadelphia that goes with it. By stealing this game by one point, the Wildcats avoided being a part of the day's rampant carnage in the top-15 -- Clemson, Kansas, Oklahoma, Pitt, and UConn all lost. (Losing in six overtimes is still a loss, although it feels closer to a tie.)

Villanova now looks to have secured a 3-seed in the big dance, with a 2-seed within reach if the Wildcats keep winning.

No grades for this game, since I just got back from New York, and the Louisville game starts in 15 hours.

If you want to see what I thought of the game, check out the intermittent Tweeting sent in from my mobile phone during the game.

Congratulations to reader Mills for most closely predicting the final score.

Next up for the Wildcats is #1 conference seed Louisville in the first semifinal on Friday evening.

Villanova opens BET vs. Marquette

#10 Villanova (25-6) vs. #21 Marquette (24-8)
2:30 p.m., 12 March 2009 at Madison Square Garden

TV: ESPN

Line: Villanova - 2.5

Villanova will play its third game of the season against Marquette today when the two teams meet in the quarterfinals of the Big East championship tournament.

The Wildcats were seeded into the third round thanks to their top-four finish, while Marquette received just one bye. The Golden Eagles reached the quarterfinal round by demolishing St. John's on Wednesday.

The two teams split their season series, with Marquette winning in January and Villanova coming out on top in February. Both teams held serve at their respective home-courts.

Marquette is without its star point guard Dominic James, who had a history of burning the 'Cats these past four seasons.

Both teams are solidly in the NCAA tournament and are now playing for seeding. With a win, Villanova puts itself in prime position to earn a top-3 seed and a bus trip to Philadelphia for the first weekend of the NCAA tournament.

Take a look at the other five 'Nova blogs linked at right for their previews, and then come back into our comment section to predict the final score.

Marquette grades and Anderson update

Marquette 84
Villanova 102
(box score)

#10 Marquette: 20-4 (9-2 BE)
#13 Villanova: 20-4 (8-3 BE)

Villanova exploded for another 100-point game as the Wildcats won their sixth straight game last night with a decisive victory over #10 Marquette.

With the win, Villanova puts itself in great position to earn a top-4 seed in the Big East tournament, and the crucial double-bye that goes along with it.

If the Wildcats can get past West Virginia on the road tomorrow night, they will crack the top 10 in the rankings and will be on the inside track to get a protected seed in the NCAA tournament, and possibly play in Philadelphia's first-round site at the Wachovia Center.

The big negative from last night's victory was senior starting forward Dwayne Anderson's knee injury early in the second half.

Today, Anderson underwent a knee examination, and the diagnosis is a hyperextension and bone bruise in his left knee.

"This is good news," said Rob Good, Villanova's team orthropedic surgeon. "It's hard to say exactly how long Dwayne will be out for. He will be day-to-day as we monitor the soreness."

In a statement released today, Villanova head coach Jay Wright seemed relieved that the injury was not more serious:

We're very fortunate that this is a bone bruise. It is a painful injury but one that will have no affect [sic] on the structure of Dwayne's knee. We'll see how he progresses over the next few days and then make a determination about his availability on Friday.

It looks like Anderson will probably miss tomorrow's game at West Virginia, and then be on track to play thereafter.

With the win over Marquette, Villanova moves to 20 victories on the season. Congratulations to reader "Geesus" for most closely predicting the game's final score.

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

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 35 min)

  Reynolds put in 27 points on very good 10-17 shooting, including 5-11 from the three. It was so refreshing to see Reynolds free to play the two guard, where he is by far most effective. The move to the two, with Fisher handling the point, also allowed Reynolds to play 35 minutes without getting tired, and with only one foul. I cannot emphasize enough how much more effective Villanova's offense is with both Fisher and Reynolds on the court at the same time, and I feel like Villanova's emphatic win over Marquette justified my position. Would Wright have stumbled into this plan without the injuries of Clark and Anderson that allowed Fisher to take over the point? We might never know. Let's just hope he sticks with it. Reynolds added 4 rebounds and 1 assist, and did not commit any turnovers. His only weak spot was a random 2-5 performance from the foul line, but that does not tarnish his excellent game.
  Grade: A




• Dante Cunningham (S, 33 min)

  With all the fireworks in the back-court, Cunningham had a quiet 15 points on good 7-12 shooting. He cut his turnovers to 3 (from 7, last game), and added 1 block and 1 steal. Cunningham does not seem to be crashing the boards as much as he once did, as he had just 4 rebounds in 33 minutes. Making Cunningham the third option on the offense is devastatingly effective, as the perimeter threats free up the mid-range for Dante.
  Grade: B




• Corey Fisher (32 min)

  Fisher was able to come into the game twice "before his time," due to injuries to Shane Clark and Dwayne Anderson. Fisher's 32 minutes at the point guard, quite simply, won the game for Villanova. Fisher's able and energetic handling of the ball freed Reynolds to do what he does best, which is score from the perimeter. Fisher scored 21 points on 6-10 shooting, including a scorching 4-5 from behind the arc. He was also 5-7 from the foul line. Fisher handled the ball well, dishing out 4 assists and committing only 3 turnovers against the best perimeter defensive team in the nation. Fisher has emerged as the team's most important player. He will probably start at West Virginia, with Anderson likely out, but if Jay Wright has any basketball sense at all, Fisher will start every game, barring injury, for the rest of his Villanova career.
  Grade: A
  
  

• Reggie Redding (S, 27 min)

  Redding struggled greatly against the more talented and athletic Marquette perimeter. He was 0-4 from the field, including 0-3 from the three, and shot a bad 2-4 from the foul line. He led the team in turnovers, with 4. Two bright spots were his good rebounding, with 6, and passing, with 6 assists. The much-vaunted Redding defense was not all that effective, as Jerel McNeal lit up the scoreboard with 23 points. Redding will likely rebound with a better performance against less talented back-courts.
  Grade: C-
  
  

• Shane Clark (S, 26 min)

  Clark played the game of his life against Marquette, following up the previous game of his life against Syracuse. Clark scored 16 points and was a perfect 6-6 from the field, including 3-3 from the three, though I have to mention one of those threes was on a ridiculously lucky bounce. He was 1-2 from the foul line. Clark grabbed 7 rebounds, leading the team, dished out 3 assists, and added 1 block. He turned the ball over just 1 time. Clark will have to keep this up with the probable loss of Anderson for at least one game.
  Grade: A
  
  

• Corey Stokes (21 min)

  Stokes was hounded by the nation's best defender in Jerel McNeal for much of the night, but he still managed to play a decent game. He shot 2-5 from the field, but did not attempt a three-pointer. He rounded out his line with 4 rebounds, an excellent 5 assists, and 0 turnovers. Look for Stokes to get move involved against West Virginia.
  Grade: B




• Dwayne Anderson (S, 13 min)

  Anderson started out the game on fire, scoring several early buckets. He was 4-6 from the field, including 1-2 from the three, to score 10 points in just 13 minutes of play. He grabbed 3 rebounds and committed no turnovers before leaving the game with an injured knee. He will likely miss the WVU game and will be day-to-day after that.
  Grade: B





• Antonio Pena (11 min)

  Pena turned in an efficient performance in his limited action. I want to see Pena get more minutes, and he probably will, considering Anderson's injury. Pena scored 5 points on 2-3 shooting. He grabbed 3 rebounds, blocked 1 shot, and passed for 1 assist.
  Grade: B




• Incomplete grades: Frank Tchuisi (1 min), Jason Colenda (1 min).



• Did not play: Russell Wooten (CD), Maurice Sutton (RS).

'Nova wins big, Anderson hurt

[Click here for the full recap and player grades]

Villanova soundly beat an excellent Marquette team tonight, 102-84. The Wildcats were on fire on offense, especially in a scorching, 52-point second half.

Starting senior forward Dwayne Anderson left the game at the start of the second after sustaining what appeared to be a knee injury. There are rumors of a knee hyper-extension, but no official word yet. Will update the site with Dwayne Anderson details and the Marquette player grades for tomorrow.

Update: Reports are now saying it was a knee sprain. No word on severity.

Second Update: It was only a hyperextension. Good news.

Marquette live blog

Live blog for Marquette tonight

#13 Villanova (19-4) vs. #10 Marquette (20-3)
7:30 p.m., 10 February 2009 at the Pavilion

TV: ESPN2

Line: Villanova -4.5

Join Let's Go Nova for a live blog tonight at 7:30 p.m.

You know the drill. Bring your sarcastic nicknames, biting commentary, and a bowl of popcorn for one of the biggest live blogs of the season.

The Wildcats face #10 Marquette tonight in a rematch of a Villanova loss on New Year's Day. Villanova hasn't beaten the Golden Eagles since 2006, as Marquette guards Jerel McNeal, Dominic James, and Wesley Matthews have enjoyed three straight victories over the Wildcats.

Marquette comes into the Pavilion with 20 wins already on the year, and will be a very dangerous opponent despite the momentum of the Wildcats' five-game win streak. The Golden Eagles are also fresh off an upset loss in Tampa, so motivation should not be an issue.

Kenpom projects a 6-point Villanova win, giving the Wildcats a 71 percent of victory. You may predict the final score of the game in the comment thread below.

I Bleed Blue and White, VUHoops, VBTN, and Nova News all have previews for this major contest. Villanova Viewpoint has recently resumed updating, and it runs a preview article as well.

For Marquette, don't forget Cracked Sidewalks, one of the best college basketball blogs in the nation.

Marquette downs 'Nova in league opener

Marquette wins, 79-72, in Villanova's second failed test of the season. Villanova falls to 0-1 in league play, and remains without a quality win on the year.

Hopefully, I will have this post updated with a full recap and player grades by Friday night soon. Until then, check out the archive of my intermittent Twittering of thoughts and observations during the game.

'Cats open Big East at Marquette

#15 Villanova (12-1) at Marquette (11-2)
2:30 p.m., 1 January at the Bradley Center.

TV: ESPN

Line: TBD

Villanova opens the new year with the start of conference play against a talented Marquette team in Milwaukee on Thursday.

The Wildcats face one of the best backcourts in the conference, and will be hard-pressed to contain Dominic James, Jerel McNeal, and Wesley Matthews. McNeal, in particular, is one of the best perimeter players in the nation, and will be a first-round NBA pick.

Villanova comes in as the ranked team (#15 in the AP), while Marquette just missed out on a top-25 ranking this week. Villanova, however, is not the clear-cut favorite: KenPom's model predicts a one-point Villanova loss, and a 46 percent chance of victory.

The game will be a much-needed test for a Villanova team that is 12-0 against weak teams and 0-1 against Texas. Marquette will be an excellent barometer for both the team's overall level of play and the Wildcats' perimeter defense.

Marquette is 11-2 and will present a tough out at home. Last year, Marquette's Tom Crean put on a coaching clinic as his Eagles defeated the 'Cats 85-75. This year, Crean is at Indiana, but Marquette is still well coached.

I Bleed Blue and White and VUHoops are early with their game previews. Check back later with VBTN and Nova News.

For Marquette, take a look at Cracked Sidewalks, one of the best college basketball blogs in the nation.

Predict tonight's final score in the comment section below. The winner will be honored in bold print in the game recap.

'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.

'Cats collapse at #16 Marquette

Villanova 67
#16 Marquette 80

• box score
• ESPN highlights (Flash required)

#16 Marquette: 20-7 (21-7, 9-5 BE)
Villanova: 17-9 (18-9, 6-7 BE, 4-0 B5)

Next game: vs. Rutgers , 02/24 @The Pavilion.

The wheels came off today in Milwaukee as Villanova failed miserably in its attempt to upend the #16 Marquette Golden Eagles. Most of the team did not show up to play tonight, and the one player who did come to win did not get much help from his teammates.

It's not like Marquette was unbeatable. On the contrary, this was a very winnable game for Villanova. Indeed, mid-way through the first half the 'Cats managed to amass a nine-point lead. It was all downhill from there, however, as Marquette hungrily evened the score and took a double-figure lead of its own, this time for keeps.

The Wildcats and their perimeter-oriented game did match up poorly with Marquette, which has two NBA guards and perhaps the best backcourt in the country after UCLA. The Golden Eagles' ability to penetrate and swoop to the basket gave the 'Cats defensive fits. More important, Marquette's quicker perimeter players shut down the Villanova offense to the point that Scottie Reynolds had no help whatsoever. It is only a slight exaggeration to say that on some possessions, Reynolds was playing one-on-five out there.

If this team is even going to make the NCAA Tournament, someone, anyone, is going to have to give Reynolds a little help on offense. Sumpter has been scoring fairly well, but disappears at the end of the game. Cunningham has not been himself since he fell ill last month. Clark seems content to launch threes when he could be slashing to the rim. Nardi is playing like a freshman. Redding still hasn't found his shot. Sheridan is Sheridan.

So who does that leave? Unfortunately there is no easy answer. The 'Cats could focus on working the ball into Cunningham and getting Clark to add more than one dimension to his offensive game. When it comes down to it, though, Nardi and Sumpter are going to have to step up to the plate here to save their senior season. Do they have it in them? Time will tell.

The Wildcats have three regular-season games left, and they must win at least two of those to make the NCAA tournament, barring an unlikely deep run at Madison Square Garden. That much, everyone agrees.

Some fans say that all three games are must-win for the 'Cats to arrive in New York without facing a play-in game, but I do not think the situation is that dire.

On the strength of the team's RPI (currently 16) and its SOS (4!), this team gets into the dance with wins against Syracuse and Rutgers, regardless of how it fares in the Big East Tournament. That is the bottom line, as I see it. Losing to either Syracuse or heaven-forbid Rutgers means the 'Cats will have to win at least one game in the BET, depending on what happened in Storrs on Feb. 28.

Of course, Villanova could make the debate easy by just winning all three games, after which almost everyone will agree they are a lock for the NCAAs, come what may at MSG.

Onto the player grades, which tonight are not for the faint of heart. As always, click "READ MORE" below for player performance grades and analysis.

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 37 min)

  After the game, Marquette coach Tom Crean said "if there's a better freshman guard in the country, I'm not sure who it is." Crean is absolutely right. Reynolds dominated this game as much as one can dominate in such a bad team loss. He dropped 25 points on a backcourt often praised for its stingy defense. He was 7-15 from the floor and 5-10 from the three. His free throw shooting was, as usual, excellent, at 6-7. He pulled in 4 rebounds, 1 less than the team lead, and co-led the team in assists and steals with 2 each. He did have 5 turnovers, but can anyone blame him? He was basically alone out there in his effort to, you know, win the game. Reynolds is a special talent and is perhaps the only bright spot to come out of this game. If you like to read only positive player reviews, stop here, because it gets kind of ugly.
  Grade: A-




• Shane Clark (S, 32 min)

  Clark was active tonight, and played moderately well on defense aside from an incredibly dumb foul on a three-point shooter. He co-led the team in boards with 5, and in steals and assists with 2. He also had a block to go with his 2 turnovers. Where he was insufficient was on the offensive end. You can't play 32 minutes at the 3 and score just 5 points, especially when everyone but the point guard is missing in action. Clark absolutely loves to shoot threes from the corner, but he needs to add more dimensions and depth to his game. What happened to the jaw-dropping slashing athlete out of high school? We have seen flashes, but Clark needs to focus.
  Grade: D+
  
  

• Reggie Redding (30 min)

  Jay Wright was forced to run Reggie for 30 minutes due to Mike Nardi's complete meltdown, and for the most part it was not pretty. On the one hand, Reggie plays with passion. He is on top of every loose ball, and he is a very good defender. He had 2 steals, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist along with 2 turnovers. If there were a grade for every aspect of the game aside from offense, it would be an A-. Unfortunately for Redding, offense is half the game. Redding did not score tonight in 30 minutes, shooting 0-4 including 0-3 from the three. The one three he did make -- a would-have-been huge shot late to cut the lead from 6 to 3 -- was nullified by a traveling call as Redding shuffled his feet before shooting. Redding is a player and he will improve his offense, I am sure. But we sure could use it soon.
  Grade: D+




• Curtis Sumpter (S, 27 min)

  Sumpter got his 14 points tonight but was nowhere to be found in the clutch. Once again, he had a wide-open three that would have been huge had it fell, but he could not get the shot to drop. It may well be that Sumpter is a fantastic player for only the first 35 minutes, because I cannot really recall a game these past 5 years when he came up big in crunch time. Sumpter shot 3-8 from the field and 0-2 from the three. He co-led the team in rebounds with 5. He also had 2 assists and turnovers each. Let's hope Sumpter starts stepping up a little more in these last three games.
  Grade: C-




• Mike Nardi (S, 22 min)

  I want to preface this review by saying that I am a huge Mike Nardi fan. Ever since I saw his first minutes on the Pavilion floor, a fun, jaw-dropping performance in a scrimmage at Hoops Mania during Mike's freshman year, Nardi has been one of my favorite players. That said, this was one of the worst games I have ever seen from him. Mike not only made freshman-type mistakes with the ball and on defense, as we have seen from him before; tonight Nardi did not look like himself at all. He was listless and lackadaisical on both ends of the floor, an unusual sight for the often-fiery Nardi. The performance culminated in a lazy, lofted crosscourt pass that was diverted by Marquette. After that, Jay Wright correctly pulled Nardi from the game and he rode the bench for most its remainder. It is only his hitting two big threes with five minutes left in an attempt to get the 'Cats back in the game that saved him from the dreaded "F" grade outright. By that point, however, it was too little, too late. If Mike cannot get his game back on track for the end of the season, Villanova may again be forced to turn elsewhere for those minutes.
  Grade: D-/F




• Dante Cunningham (20 min)

  Dante only got 20 minutes of playing time and again did not start. Why? It's not as if Clark and Sheridan are blowing everyone away. Add me to the growing chorus of fans asking for Dante to be inserted back into the starting lineup. Cunningham played decently tonight. He scored 8 points on 2-5 shooting, and was 4-6 from the foul line. He grabbed just two rebounds, however. He had 1 turnover, assist, and steal each. We need Dante to get back to his role as the primary option in the paint.
  Grade: C-




• Will Sheridan (S, 19 min)

  Sheridan played poorly in general, and made a lot of bad mistakes with the ball and on fouls. Sheridan handled the ball tonight about as much as I did, and still managed to commit 2 turnovers. He scored 4 points on 1-4 shooting. His defense was nothing to write home about, but he did have 2 blocks and a steal. The offense was at best nonexistent and at worst counterproductive.
  Grade: D-




• Bilal Benn (13 min)

  Benn played 13 minutes tonight and didn't do much of anything. Aside from adding 3 rebounds, including one nice high-flying board, you'd hardly know he played in the game. Benn scored 1 point from the foul line and took no shots. His defense was, as usual, his strongest point, but in 13 minutes he needs to have some offensive impact.
  Grade: D+





• Incomplete grades:
  Casiem Drummond (<1 min)



• Did not play:
  Dwayne Anderson (CD), Frank Tchuisi (CD), Ross Condon (CD), Andrew Ott (RS), Antonio Pena (RS).

Carnage in the top 25

It was a rough night to be a top 25 team in college basketball. Of the nine teams in the top 25 that played tonight, six lost. Five of the eight top-25 games tonight ended in upsets.

#11 Duke fell in Atlanta to unranked Georgia Tech, 63-74. It was the Blue Devils' second straight loss.

#10 Oklahoma State was annihilated by #6 Kansas, 57-87. Though this was not an upset per se, the wide margin of victory and sheer dominance exercised by the Jayhawks certainly came as a shock to the Cowboys.

#12 Butler, the darling mid-major du jour, was beaten in overtime by the relatively unknown Illinois-Chicago.

#20 Tennessee lost a nail-biter to intrastate rival Vanderbilt, 81-82. The Volunteers had come into Nashville with a 9-game win streak intact.

#22 UConn was exposed by a very good, but unranked, Marquette team. The Golden Eagles went into Storrs and ended the Huskies' 31-game home win streak in their 73-69 win.

Finally, #25 Maryland, everyone's favorite sleeper pick in the ACC, was embarrassed at home by conference foe Miami.

#7 Pitt, #6 Kansas, and #1 UNC managed to win their games, though Carolina trailed for a while against the unranked Virginia Cavaliers. Pitt beat a DePaul team that had been flying high after its win over Villanova.

In Big East action not previously mentioned, Louisville blew out South Florida, and upcoming Villanova-foe Syracuse beat Rutgers in Jersey.

Just another Wednesday in the wacky world of college basketball.