"Nova Notebook" gives offseason insight

The Villanova media relations czar Mike Sheridan is back this offseason with his much-loved public relations column, Nova Notebook.

Nova Notebook gives Villanova fans an insider's view of the program, typically profiling a selected player with behind-the-scenes stories and quotes.

So far this spring, the column has offered features on Scottie Reynolds, Corey Stokes, the new Wildcat Taylor King, and the former guard Mike Nardi.

Sheridan is a very good writer and skillfully captures the essence of "Villanova basketball." Although his office has steadfastly refused to grant this Web site a press pass for each of the last two seasons, we maintain hope that 2008-2009 will finally be the year LetsGoNova.com makes it into press row.

The Nova Notebook column is published periodically in the summer, but assumes a weekly schedule in the fall as the run-up to the basketball season grows shorter.

The first Nova Notebook column ever was published on August 30, 2002, and chronicled the former Villanova guard Gary Buchanan's trip to Michael Jordan's basketball camp.

Reynolds: Right now, I'm coming back

Villanova fans received some excellent news this morning in the form of a Sporting News article about star freshman guard Scottie Reynolds.

In the article, Reynolds is quoted saying he has not even considered making the early jump to the NBA yet. Scottie also says he never talked about the NBA with his family or with Villanova coach Jay Wright.

Says Scottie:

Right now, I'm coming back. I'm not even thinking about it. Of course there are the questions, but right now I'm not thinking about it. I'm ready to take on a new challenge for next year.

While Reynolds could choose to go pro at any time, this statement really lowers the odds that Scottie will forgo his remaining college eligibility this spring.

The article also reveals that Villanova senior Curtis Sumpter will undergo medical testing to determine how reliable his knees are before the NBA Draft, and that senior Mike Nardi has applied for dual citizenship in Italy to play professionally there next year.

Nardi said good to go for tonight

According to Shannon Ryan of the Phildelphia Inquirer, Villanova coach Jay Wright said his starting guard Mike Nardi is almost completely healthy and will be a major factor in tonight's first-round NCAA game against #8 Kentucky.

Wright was confident that Nardi's 2-week-long struggle with a left-ankle sprain and a calf-muscle strain will no longer trouble the senior guard:

I think he is close to 100 percent. He practiced and looked very good. We look at it like we got our guy back.

Wright also said that Nardi's return allows freshman guard Reggie Redding to add crucial depth in the backcourt for the grueling tournament run.

Jay Wright on Jody Mac

Villanova coach Jay Wright appeared on the Jody Mac show last night on the WPEN radio network. Wright and Mac discussed Villanova basketball and the NCAA Tournament in the 13-minute interview.

The full interview is available as an MP3 to listen or to download.

Coach Wright shared his thoughts on the injury status of Mike Nardi, the game-plan against Kentucky, and his general approach to the NCAA Tournament.

Wright said he remains hopeful on Nardi's status and was confident he would be "good to go" on Friday. He also repeated his much-invoked mantra of treating the NCAA Tournament as a series of two-game mini-tournaments, to be approached one at a time.

Nardi suffers injury setback

Villanova guard Mike Nardi was forced to leave practice on Tuesday after re-injuring his sprained left ankle, according to the Associated Press.

Villanova coach Jay Wright said Nardi tweaked his hurt ankle in practice Monday. Though Nardi said he felt better at the start of Tuesday's practice, he was quickly forced to take the sideline.

It is unclear if Nardi will participate in practice on Wednesday. The senior from Linden, N.J, is also suffering from a strained left calf muscle.

"It's not drastic," said Wright, "but it's not where we want it to be."

Nardi is still expected to be available to play in Villanova's first round NCAA game against Kentucky in Chicago on Friday night, but it is doubtful he will be at his peak effectiveness.

Villanova is not the only Big East team struggling with injuries before the start of the tournament. Marquette's Jerel McNeal is definitely out for the first weekend of the tournament with an injured thumb on his shooting hand. The speedy sophomore guard is arguably the Golden Eagles' best player.

Nardi hurting but hopeful

The Associated Press pens a long piece about the status of Mike Nardi today.

According to the report, Nardi is still in a lot of pain, but is optimistic about playing in the NCAA Tournament. The senior guard had missed most of Villanova's two games in the Big East Tournament last week in New York.

The story begins somewhat dramatically:

Mike Nardi plays with a brace on one ankle, tape on the other, at less than full speed, and unable to make cuts. In the Big East tournament, he was in agony.

Other than that, Nardi is fine.

After missing practice on Sunday, Nardi underwent a bone scan for his injured left ankle on Monday morning. No further damage was revealed, but the ankle is still sprained. He also still has a strained left calf muscle.

Nardi was able to practice today. Coach Jay Wright and Nardi both remain hopeful Mike will be ready to go against Kentucky on Friday. Villanova was given the latest possible game in round one, which gives Nardi as much time as possible to heal.

According to Nardi:

I think I've rested it enough. I can't change the way it feels. [...] I want to have an impact on this team and hopefully we can do some damage.

Villanova's first-round NCAA game against #8 Kentucky tips off at 9:40 p.m. Villanova time on Friday night.

Injury update

Villanova guard Reggie Redding, who started in place of injured Mike Nardi in Wednesday's opening-round Big East game against DePaul, was himself injured in that game with a mildly sprained ankle. Redding should be able to play Thursday's noon game against the top-seeded Georgetown Hoyas.

Nardi was only able to go a few minutes in Wednesday's game on his strained left calf. He is expected to be limited but available for Thursday's contest. Nardi will likely see more time against the Hoyas than he did on Wednesday, according to Villanova coach Jay Wright.

Sixth man Shane Clark is also suffering from leg pain but will play Thursday.

The New York Times has further information regarding the Villanova injury situation in its college basketball blog.

Nardi 'feeling better,' expects to play

According to an article published today in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Villanova senior started Mike Nardi expects to play in tomorrow afternoon's game against DePaul in the first round of New York's Big East Tournament.

Though he was unable to practice on Monday, Nardi told the Inquirer he was "feeling better" two days after straining his left calf muscle in Villanova's win against Syracuse at the Wachovia Center Saturday.

Sumpter, Reynolds win All-Big-East honors

Villanova's Curtis Sumpter was named a member of the All-Big-East first team, and freshman Scottie Reynolds earned second-team all-conference honors in the annual end-of-season awards selected by the league's head coaches.

The full rosters are available on the Big East Web site.

Reynolds also was selected as a member of the Big East All-Rookie Team. Along with Connecticut's Jerome Dyson and Seton Hall's Eugene Harvey, Reynolds was one of just three unanimous selections to the 11-member rookie team.

Villanova senior Mike Nardi earned an All-Big-East Honorable Mention nod.

Conference player of the year and rookie of the year awards are expected to be announced tomorrow.