FINAL FOUR 'NOVA EDGES PITT IN CLASSIC

Villanova 78
Pittsburgh 76
(box score)

[See end of post for video highlights.]

Villanova defeated the top-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers tonight in Boston to earn a trip to the Final Four after one of the greatest, most epic, and most nerveracking games in Wildcat history.

It was fitting that a game featuring a ridiculous 10 ties, 15 lead changes, and 66 AP photos would come down to two last-second shots -- one rimming in, and one bouncing just high off the backboard after time expired.

Facing a tied score and a possible overtime with the Wildcats in severe foul trouble, Villanova guard Scottie Reynolds dribbled nearly the length of the floor to put in the winning floater with half a second left. The play will no doubt go down in Villanova and NCAA tournament history as one of the greatest winning baskets ever.

Reynolds's brilliant shot put the Wildcats ahead, 78-76, which was the final score after Levance Fields's desperation heave from 65+ feet bounced just errant off the backboard, way, way too close for comfort.

Although the entire game was an instant classic, the last few minutes were especially amazing. With a little over three minutes to go, Villanova trailed by four points, and Pittsburgh had the ball. Chances of a comeback seemed slim.

Dwayne Anderson, though, had different ideas, as he stole the ball and put in a crucial and-one layup -- and hit the foul shot. That play itself should be considered one of the most clutch sequences in Villanova history.

Then, up by two points with 13 seconds left in the game, Villanova called timeout before attempting to inbound the ball on its own baseline. Instead of simply inbounding the ball safely and shooting free throws to put the game out of reach (Villanova had made an astounding 22 of 23 fouls shots), Villanova and Reggie Redding executed one of the most boneheaded plays in NCAA tournament history.

Redding attempted to hit Dante Cunningham for the "home-run" play, throwing the ball almost 90 feet and nearly out of bounds. Not only did the play turn the ball over, it did not run much time off the clock.

I don't know if that was the play drawn up by Jay Wright in the timeout, but it seems likely it was, given Cunningham's home-run trajectory -- and Redding's eagerness to roll the dice. You cannot fault Jay Wright too much, however, as it was a good coaching job to even have the team in position at the end to potentially put the game away.

The inbounds play, in my mind, ranked right up there with Chris Webber calling timeout with none remaining in the 1993 championship game. Had Villanova lost this game, it would have been in the parthenon of all-time NCAA tournament errors. Thankfully, that did not happen.

Villanova proceeded to foul Levance Fields on the ensuing Pitt possession with just over five seconds remaining, which was nearly as bad a decision as Redding's inbounds throw.

After Fields calmly sank two free throws, the prospect of overtime looked grim for the 'Cats, who were beset by front-court foul trouble.

But then Scottie Reynolds made a play that will be included in NCAA tournament highlight reels for decades to come, and the rest is history.

Villanova advances to its first Final Four since the 1985 NCAA championship.

All in all, Villanova's last-second win over Pitt concluded one of the greatest basketball games in recent memory. I would argue that it topped this year's six-overtime thriller between Syracuse and Connecticut in the Big East tournament, simply because the game meant so much more and ended much more closely.

Personally, I have never rooted so hard for a sporting event in my life. It will be difficult to ever top this game for young Villanova fans -- but the Wildcats have the chance to do just that next weekend.

Right now, though, the win stands for me and many other young Villanova alumni as the greatest basketball game ever seen. The game, of course, triggered racous celebration on Villanova's campus (video).

Congratulations to reader "JohnnyB1" for most closely predicting the final score.

Villanova awaits the winner of Sunday's North Carolina-Oklahoma regional semifinal. I like the Oklahoma match-up much better for the Wildcats, so I'll be a Sooner fan tomorrow.

"READ MORE" below for player performance grades and analysis, followed by the embedded video highlights and links to other recaps.

• Reggie Redding (S, 36 min)

  Redding's solid 36 minutes risked being overshadowed by his foolish inbounds with 13 seconds left. Luckily, Villanova won the game, so Redding's effort can be properly appreciated. Redding shot 2-6 from the field to score 5 points. He was the only Wildcat to miss a free throw, shooting 1-2 in the game's closing minute. He co-led the team in rebounds with 6. Redding added 4 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, and a team-high 3 blocks. His overall defense was excellent. Redding is the heart and soul of a surging Final Four team. No top grade, because of the end-game sequence and small offensive impact, but Redding's tenacious defense earns him an above-average rating.
  Grade: B-





• Scottie Reynolds (S, 33 min)

  Reynolds hit the game-winning shot in one the great finishes of NCAA tournament history. As Jay Wright said after the game, they will be replaying that basket when Reynolds is 40 years old. Reynolds's clutch play is even more amazing when viewed through the lens of his mediocre shooting night. Scottie shot 4-11 overall, and 0-3 from the three, and the team still won. Reynolds definitely seems bothered by his sore right wrist. Hopefully the full week's rest between now and the national semifinal will allow the wrist issue to fade away. Reynolds was perfect tonight from the foul line, a cool 7-7. He did not handle the ball very well, committing 4 turnovers, but of course he handled it well when it counted. Even though he shot 4-11 with 4 turnovers, no steals, and 1 assist, how can I not give Reynolds an excellent grade after one of the biggest shots in NCAA tournament history?
  Grade: A-




• Dante Cunningham (S, 30 min)

  Cunningham picked up two fouls with over 8 minutes remaining in the first half. I emphatically diagree with the decision to sit him the rest of the half -- this was for a Final Four, after all, and you have to trust your senior not to commit an additional foul before halftime. As such, Villanova's arguably most important player was limited to just 30 minutes. Cunningham was not able to stop Blair, who scored 20 on 9-9 shooting, but he did manage to score 14 points of his own on decent 6-11 shooting. Cunningham pulled in a lower-than-usual 5 rebounds, and added 2 assists, 2 turnovers, and 1 steal. Whether Villanova next faces UNC and Tyler Hansborough or OU and Blake Griffin, Cunningham's next assignment will be the toughest and most important one of his career.
  Grade: B-




• Dwayne Anderson (S, 28 min)

  Despite how good Dante Cunningham has been the last three years, Dwayne Anderson is the senior I will miss the most next year. His play in the NCAA tournament run has been astounding. Tonight he was easily the player of the game, and he made play after play to keep Villanova competitive. As mentioned, what's lost in Reynold's game-winner was how crucial a play Anderson's steal and three-point play was. Anderson shot a good 5-10 tonight, inlcuding 2-6 from the three and a very nice 5-5 from the foul line. He grabbed a team-high 6 rebounds. He also led the team in steals, with 4 of the 6 Wildcat picks overall. It was an amazing performance, and Villanova will miss Anderson's hustle, athleticism, decision-making, and resourcefullness next season.
  Grade: A




• Shane Clark (S, 26 min)

  I've got to hand it to Clark. He has been much-criticized in this space in his career, but he saved us tonight. Clark scored in the first half when no one else seemed able. He shot a good 4-7 overall, including an amazing 3-4 from the three. He notched 4 rebounds and committed just 1 turnover. Excellent hustle play from Clark, whose late-season emergence has been one of the bigger reasons for Villanova's improvement.
  Grade: B+
  
  

• Corey Stokes (23 min)

  As predicted in the Duke recap, Stokes improved his shooting considerably against Pitt in the second game in the arena. Here is hoping that he will have the chance to play two games in Detroit's Ford Field stadium. Tonight, Stokes shot an excellent 3-4, including 1-2 from the three. He showed he could put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. Stokes added 2 rebounds, 1 turnover, and 1 block. I still think Wright subs Stokes in and out too frequently for him to develop an optimal rhythm. Stokes, though, will need to be a reliable scorer in the next game if Villanova hopes to advance to the national championship.
  Grade: B
  
  

• Corey Fisher 18 min)

  Fisher only received 18 minutes tonight, but they were 18 huge minutes, and he was on the floor when it counted at the end. Earlier in the game, Fisher initiated one of the most entertaining plays I have ever seen. He dove to the floor for a loose ball and tipped it behind his body to a trailing Reggie Redding, who proceeded to make a fantastic pass to Reynolds in the corner. Reynolds pump-faked, getting his defender airborne, before driving baseline to make a very nice reverse layup. Without Fisher's extraordinary hustle, Villanova would not have had those two points. Fisher shot poorly again tonight, just 1-7. But where he really shined was on the foul line, where he was a perfect 7-7, including a pair of ultra-clutch late-game trips. He added 4 big rebounds for a 6-foot guard, and handled the ball reasonably well, dishing for 2 assists while committing 2 turnovers.
  Grade: B+
  
  

• Antonio Pena (6 min)

  Pena contributed 6 decent minutes, and while he did not have any impact on the box score, he absorbed two personal fouls that would have disqualified any of Villanova's other frontcourt players.
  Grade: C
  
  

• Incomplete grades: None.



• Did not play: Frank Tchuisi (CD), Jason Colenda (CD), Maurice Sutton (RS), Russell Wooten (CD).

Video highlights:



Other recaps:

• Rush The Court
• Villanova Viewpoint
• Nova News
• Zagsblog

I am sure VBTN, VUhoops, and IBBW will have their recaps up soon, as well.

'Nova destroys Duke on way to Elite 8

Villanova 77
Duke 54
(box score)

#11 Villanova: 29-7
#6 Duke: 30-7

Villanova put together another excellent 40 minutes of basketball on Thursday to absolutely dismantle the 2nd-seeded Duke Blue Devils in Boston.

Villanova head coach Jay Wright thoroughly out-foxed the much-celebrated Coach K, whose Blue Devils had no answer for Villanova's high-pressure defense.

The Wildcats advance to the Elite Eight to face the top-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers, with a Final Four berth on the line.

Villanova-Pitt will tip at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday.

Villanova overcame a slow start out of the locker room on Thursday to score 11 straight points after falling behind 5-0. The Wildcats took a three-point lead into halftime before totally dominating the second period by a margin of 20.

Villanova used its superior athleticism to generate a tremendous pressure defense and an edge on the boards. The Wildcats out-rebounded Duke by a tally of 49-34.

Villanova's manic defense held Duke's Gerald Henderson, a future NBA player, to a dismal 1-14 shooting. Blue Devil forward Jon Scheyer shot nearly as poorly, going 3-18.

On the offensive end, Villanova focused on shooting efficient shots with good looks. Forwards Dwayne Anderson, Dante Cunningham, and Shane Clark followed all misses with reckless abandon, helping the 'Cats pull in 13 offensive rebounds and put in a bunch of follow-up buckets.

Villanova once again played hard and crisp basketball for the entirety of the game, as the Wildcats had done against UCLA. After the game, Jay Wright attributed this consistency to an improving team.

Congratulations to reader "Pena Power" for most closely predicting the final score.

Villanova advances to the regional finals on Saturday for a game against top-seeded Pittsburgh. The winner of that game, of course, earns a trip to Detroit and the Final Four.

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

• Dante Cunningham (S, 33 min)

  Cunningham was the best post player in the game by far, and luckily for the Wildcats he asserted himself as such. Dante shot a decent 5-13 from the field and a good 4-6 from the foul line to score 14 points. He led the 'Cats in rebounds, with 11, and blocked 1 shot. He committed just 1 turnover, which is excellent. He had 1 steal that led to a very nice fast break dunk.
  Grade: A-




• Reggie Redding (S, 32 min)

  Player of the game -- and it's not even close. Redding was a force on defense. His help defense was so perfect, I took to watching him on every possession, just to appreciate how well he moved within the flow of the pressure D. He played efficiently on offense, shooting 4-7 to score 11 points. He added a helpful 9 rebounds, and led the team in assists with 4. He blocked 2 shots, stole 1 ball, and committed 2 turnovers. All-around outstanding play, but truly special on defense. Villanova will need a similar effort from Redding on Saturday to get past Pitt.
  Grade: A





• Scottie Reynolds (S, 32 min)

  Reynolds, plagued by minor wrist pain, finally got going a bit in the scoring department. Though he shot a mediocre 5-15, he was a perfect 4-4 from the line, and hit 2 of his 6 threes to lead the team with 16 points. Reynolds added 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 turnovers, and 2 key steals. He made good decisions with the ball, and played well on defense. His 6 three-point attempts were all good shots, and 2 more of them could have easily fell. Villanova will need Reynolds to score against Pitt, especially since Blair might limit the Wildcats' interior offense.
  Grade: B+





• Dwayne Anderson (S, 26 min)

  Anderson plays so hard and with so much passion. He always seems to be in the right spot for a tip, a follow, a lay-up, or a fast-break. Against Duke, he shot an efficient 4-8 from the field despite missing badly on his 2 three-point attempts. He grabbed 7 rebounds, passed for 2 assists, and turned the ball over just once. Anderson has developed from a practice player for Villanova into a real asset, an athletic weapon that can hardly be defended against. Along with Fisher, Anderson has become my favorite Wildcat to watch play.
  Grade: A-





• Corey Fisher (24 min)

  Fisher managed to have a very positive impact on this game despite struggling a bit offensively. He shot a bad 1-6, including 0-3 from the three, but most of those were very good shots. He was 4-6 from the foul line. He added 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and handled the ball very well, committing just 2 turnovers. (No, I am not going to count that low-class ball-grab by Nolan Smith as the last 3 seconds ticked off the clock as a turnover.) Fisher's one basket came on a beautiful dribble drive with a nice pump fake at the end. Villanova is going to need Fisher to shoot better next time in Boston, but Fisher played well today despite the poor shooting percentage. His defense was so good I was surprised to see he only had 1 steal -- he likely caused several more turnovers with his pesky pressure.
  Grade: B-
  
  

• Shane Clark (S, 22 min)

  Clark had some great moves in this game. He shot 3-5 to score 7 points. Clark grabbed 5 boards and notched 1 brilliant assist on a fantastic interior pass. The box score credits him with 0 turnovers, but he did actually make a turnover when a perfect Scottie Reynolds pass sailed through his hands. This has been a regular occurrence this year -- perhaps Villanova can spend a little more time on the passing drills with Clark before Saturday? Still, a very solid game from Clark.
  Grade: B
  
  

• Corey Stokes (21 min)

  Stokes looked good handling the ball today, despite the 3 listed turnovers. He shot 2-7 from the field and 1-4 from the three. He was perfect from the line at 2-2. He pulled in 4 rebounds, and added an assist and a block. Not the most explosive game from Stokes, but he played 21 solid minutes, including good defense. Look for Stokes to heat it up from the three at the next opportunity. A very unscientific "pattern" would seem to indicate that Stokes shoots much better the second game in an arena.
  Grade: B-
  
  
  

• Antonio Pena (8 min)

  Pena was only in for 8 minutes but played very well. He shot 1-1 on a very nice dunk, and was a perfect 2-2 from the foul line as well. He added 3 rebounds in his limited time, and committed no turnovers and no fouls. Can't ask for much more than that in 8 minutes.
  Grade: B+
  
  

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



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

REDEMPTION? 'Nova upsets Pitt in big win

Pittsburgh 57
Villanova 67
(box score)

#3 Pittsburgh: 18-2 (6-2 BE)
#21 Villanova: 16-4 (4-3 BE)

Eighteen-thousand people braved pouring rain, gusty winds, mountains of dirty slush, and a jam-packed parking lot to witness the final college basketball game at the Philadelphia Spectrum. The building was loud and hot and full of fans hoping for an upset.

They weren't disappointed.

Villanova defeated cross-state rival #3 Pittsburgh, beating its highest ranked opponent since Randy Foye, Kyle Lowry, and Allan Ray took down #1 UConn across the street three years ago.

But in many ways, it was bigger than that for these Wildcats. Without a "quality win" in twenty games, Villanova needed this victory less as an exclamation point than as a main entry on its resume. With one month remaining in the regular season, this win will go a long way in bolstering the Wildcats' NCAA tournament chances.

Villanova improves to 1-4 against ranked teams on the year, with plenty more opportunities against top-25 opponents remaining in the Big East season.

After Jay Wright's trademark sloppy start to the game, the Wildcats trailed by 10 points early and faced an uphill battle against a Pittsburgh team built to sit on a lead and yield nothing. Wright, however, made the proper adjustments, and Villanova outscored the Panthers by 20 from that point forward. I have to commend Wright, especially, for sticking with his pressure defense that forced the 17 Panther turnovers that were the keys to the victory.

As a come-from-behind win against the third-ranked team in the nation, this game answered some lingering questions about the Wildcats. Could they finish out a game? Could they overcome the adversity of a slow start against a legitimate team? Could this team possibly survive past the first weekend of the NCAA tournament?

Yes, yes, and yes.

The win was not perfect, and there were some concerns from the game. Villanova missed far too many free throws, including front-ends of crucial single-bonus attempts. How Wright hasn't been able to maintain Villanova's previous success with free-throw shooting is beyond me, especially since there are no new players in the rotation this year.

Villanova also committed two ill-advised fouls under the three-minute mark when the Panthers were trying to claw their way back into the game. The fouls didn't come back to haunt the Wildcats this time, but they have to be more careful in future close games.

Finally, Jay Wright seems steadfastly opposed to playing Corey Fisher and Scottie Reynolds at the same time, which is a real shame, since they are the two best players on the team. The benefits of playing Fisher and Reynolds together have been chronicled ad nauseam in this space, but I cannot emphasize it enough: this team will win more games if Wright allows the two ball-handling guards to work together.

Troubling bits aside, this was a huge win for the Wildcats, who are now in the driver's seat for an NCAA bid.

Next up for Villanova is a home date with Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon. The Bearcats are fresh off their own gigantic win over Georgetown.

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

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

• Dwayne Anderson (S, 35 min)

  Anderson led the team in minutes and generally played well. He was active all over the court, but only managed to make 2 shots on 7 attempts. The good news is that both of those shots were huge threes. Anderson had 2 steals, 2 assists, 2 turnovers, and 4 rebounds, doing a little bit of everything. I would prefer to see Anderson come off the bench, but he has earned his way into the first six regardless.
  Grade: B-




• Dante Cunningham (S, 34 min)

  Cunningham got back to his bread-and-butter of efficient scoring and energetic defense, and the result was the toppling of the #3 team in the nation. Cunningham shot a good 6-10, and did not take many unwise outside jumpers. Cunningham played largely mistake-free, committing zero fouls and zero turnovers. He finished with 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 1 steal. Aside from the bad performance from the foul line (3-6), it was one of the best games of the season for Dante Cunningham.
  Grade: A-




• Reggie Redding (S, 34 min)

  Redding exploded tonight, unveiling an offensive game long held in potential. What's more, he did it in the judicious fashion that has made Redding a mainstay in the rotation. Redding led the 'Cats in scoring with 18 points on excellent 4-6 shooting, and he was a perfect 10-10 from the foul line. Redding also managed to co-lead the teams in rebounds, with 7, and steals, with 2. He finished with 2 turnovers, 1 block, and 2 assists. Redding's smart brand of basketball and good perimeter defense justifies his spot in the starting lineup.
  Grade: A
  
  
  

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 24 min)

  Reynolds played just 24 minutes tonight, but he did have 4 fouls. Looking at his line in the box score (3-11 shooting, 10 points), it would be easy to miss the impact each of those three field goals made. Reynolds buried two absolutely momentous three-pointers, shifting the flow of the game. He also led the team in assists, with 3, and added 2 steals, a block, and 2 turnovers. Reynolds needs to see more minutes, regardless of fouls, and it is imperative that Wright allows him to play the two-guard alongside Fisher more often.
  Grade: B




• Corey Stokes (24 min)

  Stokes played a quiet 24 minutes. I had to double-check the box score to see if 24 minutes were indeed correct. Stokes is still trying to find his way in the offense. He shot 2-3 to score 6 points, but once against proved he cannot create off the dribble. As I have said again and again, Stokes needs to work on moving without the ball to get himself open threes, where he is pretty much automatic.
  Grade: C+




• Corey Fisher (18 min)

  It is a travesty that Corey Fisher is not seeing more minutes. Fisher needs to start in the backcourt alongside Reynolds, and he needs to play the majority of his minutes with Reynolds instead of spelling him. Fisher's line in the box score is deceptively mediocre. He was 3-5 from the field and 2-4 from the foul line, scoring 9. He led the team with 4 turnovers, and added 1 steal and 1 assist. But that really wasn't the story. The team, and the offense in particular, just plays better with Fisher in there. His excellent ballhandling ability allows the offense to get into rhythm in the half-court much more quickly than normal. Fisher also seems to have a habit of making the first pass that leads to an assist or an easy bucket. Finally, he plays with the kind of energy, creativity, and abandon that is missing from these Wildcats when he is on the bench. In the past two seasons, Jay Wright seems terrified to leave two 6-footers out there simultaneously, which is richly ironic considering Wright achieved his greatest success and coach of the year honors with a 4-guard lineup. Wright's Villanova may no longer be Guard U (Wright seems now to prefer Swingman U), but that doesn't exempt the coach from his responsibility to field the best possible lineup. Clearly, that lineup includes Fisher.
  Grade: B-
  
  

• Shane Clark (17 min)

  Clark got extended time tonight thanks to his excellent crashing of the boards, particularly on the offensive end. Clark finished with 7 rebounds, 4 on offense. The problem, though, was that once he got those rebounds, he often had little idea of what to do with the ball, which killed a few possessions. Clark did not score, missing his only shot from the field and both of his free-throw attempts. Clark played with a lot of tenacity tonight, but I would still like to see his minutes restricted to the single digits, as his liability to the offense is too great.
  Grade: C
  
  

• Antonio Pena (S, 14 min)

  Pena started the game but wound up with just 14 minutes. I can't say I disagree with that decision much. Instead of playing Pena for 14 and Clark for 17, I would have played Pena for about 20 and Clark for 10. But Villanova won the game anyway, so it's moot. Pena shot 1-3 from the field and managed to grab just 1 rebound. Pena is a rare character in that he is a streaky big man. Unlike most forwards whose offensive games are largely plug-and-play, Pena seems to need to get into a rhythm to really get going. Pena added 2 assists, 1 turnover, and zero blocks or steals. Pena is a versatile, athletic player, not a stiff, and should improve.
  Grade: C-





• Incomplete grades: None.
  
  
  
• Did not play: Frank Tchuisi (CD), Jason Colenda (CD), Maurice Sutton (CD - RS?), Russell Wooten (CD).

'Nova looks for first good win v. Pitt tonight

#21 Villanova (15-4) vs. #3 Pittsburgh (18-1)
7 p.m., 28 January 2009 at the Wachovia Spectrum

TV: ESPNU (Justin.tv likely will have the online stream of the game.)

Line: Villanova +3.5

Villanova returns to action tonight with a Wachovia Spectrum game against third-ranked Pittsburgh. The Wildcats are still looking for their first quality win on the season, and the Panthers would certainly qualify.

I will be attending the game, so if you'd like to read my live updates from my mobile phone, refresh this site and keep your eye on the top right sidebar.

Pitt is an intimidating opponent. Pittsburgh is 18-1 on the year, with its only loss coming to a red-hot Louisville team in Kentucky. Since then, the Panthers have won two straight, completely demolishing Syracuse and West Virginia in the last nine days.

Villanova has been struggling, notching a 3-3 record over the past six games. The Wildcats have been able to pick up wins against the basement dwellers South Florida, Seton Hall, and St. John's, but have not won a game against anyone likely to make the NCAA tournament all season.

VBTN, the new IBBW, VUhoops, and Nova News (all linked at right) also run previews for the game. Evan Dorey of Collegehoopsnet pens a nice, long analysis of the game from a non-partisan viewpoint.

Kenpom gives 'Nova a 38 percent chance to win tonight, predicting a 3-point loss to the Panthers. Oddsmakers have installed Pitt as the 3.5-point favorite.

Try to predict the final score of the game in the comment thread below. If anyone guesses the exact score of the game, I will stop criticizing Jay Wright for one week, at his or her request.

Grant rides pine as 'Nova drops 3rd straight

Pittsburgh 69
Villanova 57
(box score)
(ESPN video highlights)

#21 Pittsburgh: 17-4 (5-3 BE)
Villanova: 13-6 (3-5 BE, 3-0 B5)

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

For an instant, six minutes into the second half, it seemed like Villanova was poised to finally get things back on track.

It seemed that perhaps Jay Wright had addressed the fans' growing concerns. After all, slumping junior Shane Clark did not appear in the starting lineup, and only received three minutes of playing time.

Sure, stellar freshman Malcolm Grant was still pinned to the bench, but at least Villanova had overcome its customary first-half deficit to take a 38-37 lead over the #21 Pitt Panthers, in Pittsburgh no less.

The hope was short-lived.

Villanova fans watched as the team fell apart before their eyes. Over the next 8.5 minutes, the Panthers outscored the Wildcats by a ridiculous 19-3 margin.

The Wildcats could not score. The Wildcats could not defend. And still, Malcolm Grant, arguably among the team's best scorers and defenders, languished on the bench.

Watching the game at a neighborhood watering hole (thanks, Comcast!), I sent the following text message to a friend, when the 'Cats trailed by seven and showed no signs of getting back in the game:

Can't wait till we get down 15, so Grant can legally come in.

It was supposed to be a joke, but it turned out prescient. Indeed, Jay Wright finally pulled the trigger on Grant the instant Villanova fell down by 15.

This is becoming a disturbing trend.

Let's play a hypothetical. Say your team is struggling to score in the second half of a crucial conference road game. Say you had a one-point lead, but watched it turn into a five-point deficit, and then a 10-point margin.

As the clock ticked down, under 10 minutes to play, and then under eight, would you sub in a player who torched your current opponents for 22 points, and led your team to victory against them just three weeks ago?

Apparently for Jay Wright, the answer is no. Wright did not turn to Grant until the 'Cats were down the full 15 and under five minutes to play.

Though it was by then far too late to make a difference in the game's outcome, Grant promptly drained a three pointer that gave Villanova fans just enough false hope to let the loss sting a bit extra.

Grant wound up playing just four minutes in each half, and the Wildcats were (yet again) blown out for their third straight loss. Villanova had not lost three straight in nearly four years.

The 'Cats have lost four of their last six, and are now in the preposterous danger of missing their own conference tournament after being nationally ranked for much of the season.

This site's drumbeat will continue: why is Malcolm Grant not getting minutes?

We exhausted all the familiar theories last time, and most of us remained unconvinced.

Tonight, LetsGoNova.com contributor NovaFan09 posted in a comment thread that he'd heard Grant was secretly injured after the Cincinnati game on Jan. 12.

A fan on Villanova's Rivals message board said he knew Grant had been injured at Cincinnati, but that the injury was no longer an issue and did not affect him for recent games.

This seems to make sense. After all, the DePaul rematch was just four days after Cincinnati, and Grant played 22 minutes in that game. Grant also looked just fine last week at Rutgers when he scored 17 points in just over two minutes, notching 18 minutes on the night.

After considering that evidence, and just by simply watching Grant run up and down the court, it seems unlikely Malcolm is bothered by a health problem.

Even so, if Grant is indeed saddled by a secret injury, Villanova should release it to the public, as it has with center Casiem Drummond.

At least that might quiet the cacophony of fan outrage over Grant's lack of playing time, a cauldron of concern that nearly spilled into outright fan mutiny this weekend, when students chanted for Grant's insertion into the Notre Dame game on Saturday.

Barring an unknown and unlikely disciplinary issue, the only other option, it would seem, is that Wright simply believes the team plays better with Grant on the bench.

The numbers, however, say otherwise.

In the last three losses, Villanova was outscored by a margin of 239-205, an average of 11.33 points per game. In those three games, Grant has played a total of 36 minutes. In those 36 minutes, Grant shot 9-19 from the field and scored 34 points.

Not bad for a single box score, but unfortunately for the 'Cats, those numbers were spread across three losses where Grant saw a paltry 12 minutes per game, on average.

Compare Grant's numbers to those of his freshman teammate, Corey Stokes. In the last three losses, Stokes played a total of 70 minutes. During that time, Stokes shot 7-22 to score 20 points.

You could argue that Wright played Stokes twice as much as Grant in that stretch for defense, or for chemistry, or for height, or because Stokes's horoscopes were more promising, or for any reason you'd like. The fact is, Villanova was blown out the past three games, so it hasn't worked.

I am not even saying that Stokes deserved fewer minutes. Stokes appears to be progressing, and 23 minutes per game seems reasonable, if not a little on the high side.

But at this time, right now, Stokes is nowhere nearly as skilled as Malcolm Grant in any facet of college basketball, and Grant should be getting double Stokes's minutes, not half.

Need some more numbers? Let's take a look at Grant's minutes in Villanova's eight conference games:

• Depaul: 15 min. LOSS


• Pittsburgh: 27 min. WIN


• Cincinnati: 8 min. LOSS


• DePaul: 22 min. WIN


• Syracuse: 10 min. WIN


• Rutgers: 18 min. LOSS


• Notre Dame: 10 min. LOSS


• Pittsburgh: 8 min. LOSS

Now, I am no statistician, but even I can see a pattern in those numbers. In Villanova's three conference wins, Grant has averaged 19.67 minutes per game. In the five losses, his minutes drop down to 11.8.

In fact, Malcolm has played 59 minutes total in all of Villanova's wins and all of Villanova's losses. The problem is, there are five losses and only three wins.

I am actually being conservative, too, by keeping this analysis inside conference play. If you look at the entire season, as was pointed out on a message board, Villanova is 7-0 when Grant plays at least 19 minutes, and is 6-6 when he does not.

If you'd like, you can even forget all of the statistics. Forget the numbers. Just look at how Grant has played. He single handedly pulled out miracles at home against LSU and Pittsburgh, and nearly completed the hat trick with his furious barrage at Rutgers.

It's pretty clear that while this Villanova team needs to improve in several areas, one of the biggest is for Malcoln Grant to see more minutes.

O.K., this signals an ends to tonight's Grant Rant, the longest yet. I reserve the right to be even longer winded should Villanova lose another game with Malcolm on the bench.

Congratulations to reader "Matadorm83" for most closely predicting the game's final score.

Next up for Villanova is a home rematch against the Syracuse Orange at the Wachovia Center on Saturday.

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

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 36 min)

  Reynolds looked to be back in form tonight, playing a spectacular game in the loss. Scottie scored a game-high 26 on good 9-15 shooting, including a decent 3-7 from the three. The one weakness in his offensive game tonight was a shaky 5-8 performance from the foul line, 62.5 percent. Reynolds led the team in assists, with 4. He was also good for 6 rebounds, second-best on the team. He committed 4 turnovers and had 1 steal. If Reynolds can keep up his hot hand on offense, the 'Cats might be able to break their losing streak against Syracuse.
  Grade: A-
  
  

• Antonio Pena (S, 34 min)

  Pena has really emerged this season and now seems to be the Wildcats' best player underneath. He notched the minimum double-double tonight, leading the team in rebounds, with 10. Pena scored his 10 points on terrible 4-15 shooting, however. That is not a typo: he was 4-15 from the field, as a forward. His dominance of the glass is encouraging, and Pena usually shoots far better. He has been one of t he few bright spots for the 'Cats during this losing streak.
  Grade: C+
  
  
  

• Corey Fisher (S, 27 min)

  Fisher really could not find the basket tonight. He shot 2-10 from the field, including 0-3 from three-point land. Fisher could use a boost from the three lately, as his shot is better than recent results. Fisher finished with 4 points, 2 assists, 4 turnovers, and 2 steals. He did show some stretches of spectacular ball-handling, and his future looks bright on the Main Line.
  Grade: C-
  
  
  

• Dwayne Anderson (23 min)

  Anderson was given 23 minutes of court time after a lackluster performance against Notre Dame, and he really didn't deviate from that result tonight. Anderson scored 4 points on 2-5 shooting, and was 0-2 from the foul line. What's worse, his trip to the line was at a crucial junction, and neither free throw was even close. He rounded out his line with 3 boards, and 1 each of steals, turnovers, and blocks. It is a little disconcerting to see Anderson play 23 minutes at the wing and notch 0 assists.
  Grade: C-
  
  

• Corey Stokes (22 min)

  Stokes missed tonight. A lot. He missed from short, and he missed from long. He missed while he was covered too closely to even shoot, and he missed when he was wide open. Stokes was 0-5 from the field, and 0-3 from the three. He scored no points in 22 long minutes. He had 2 rebounds, an assist, a turnover, and a steal. The only thing saving the grade from an F is that he didn't shoot more, and he kept turnovers down. I may be being too kind, however, since Stokes was hopeless on offense.
  Grade: D-
  
  

• Dante Cunningham (S, 22 min)

  Cunningham was ineffective tonight. It seems like the junior is regressing this year after a breakout season during his sophomore campaign. Dante scored 2 points on 1-3 shooting, and was a ghost down low, grabbing just 3 rebounds. He had no turnovers, no assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. Dante has got to get back to his early-season form, especially on the glass, if 'Nova is to break out of this slump.
  Grade: D-
  
  

• Reggie Redding (18 min)

  Redding got the starting nod tonight and put in a typically solid but not spectacular performance. He shot a good 3-6 from the field to score 6 points. He did not grab any rebounds, which is unusual for the tall, athletic Redding. He rounded out the night with 2 assists, 1 turnover, and 1 steal.
  Grade: C-
  
  

• Malcolm Grant (8 min)

  Grant needs to get more minutes. Period. Tonight he was 1-2 from the field to score 3 points in just 8 minutes of play, 4 per half. Why Jay Wright plays such an energetic, streaky guard in such a fractured manner is beyond me. Grant also found time to grab 1 rebound and make 1 spectacular assist. He had 1 turnover, but made up for it on the same play when he took a charge on the resultant fast break. I'll say it again: more minutes for Malcolm.
  Grade: B
  
  
  

• Casiem Drummond (7 min)

  Drummond returned to the Wildcat lineup after missing long stretches this year with an injured ankle. He did not look solid in his return. Drummond shot 1-2 from the field to score 2 points, and did not come up with any rebounds in his 7 minutes. He also picked up 3 quick fouls. Clearly Drummond is not all the way back from his injury and needs to work himself into his rhythm.
  Grade: D, with a grain of rehabilitation salt
  
  

• Incomplete grades: Shane Clark (3 min).



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

'Nova looks to end skid at Pitt rematch

@

Villanova Wildcats (13-5, 3-4 BE) at
#21 Pittsburgh Panthers (16-4, 4-3 BE)

Date: Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Location: Petersen Events Center (Pittsburgh, PA)
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Television: ESPNU

Pittsburgh coverage: Pitt Blather || Post-Gazette

Official game notes (PDF): Villanova.com

Villanova returns to action Wednesday night looking to snap its two-game losing streak. The 'Cats will travel across Pennsylvania for a rematch with the Pittsburgh Panthers. In the last meeting this season between these two teams on Jan. 6, Villanova edged Pitt 64-63 at the Pavilion.

After a slight identity crisis immediately following the loss of Levance Fields and Mike Cook, the Panthers have gelled together as of late, putting together a 4-3 conference record, despite a surprising loss to Rutgers.

In the last Villanova-Pitt game, it took another dose of Malcolm Grant heroics for 'Nova to come out with a victory. Grant, who went off for 22 points, was once again the catalyst for a Villanova comeback. In what has been an issue all season long, Villanova played flat for most of the game, shooting 34 percent from the field.

Defensively, 'Nova was out-rebounded 43-31, but did force the Panthers into committing 22 turnovers. Not only is this game a must-win from a record standpoint; the 'Cats must also win to revive the disappointed fan base and avoid a mental slump in a crucial stretch of the season.

Keys to the game

Contain Young and Blair: If the Notre Dame game was any indication of how sorely missed Casiem Drummond is, one must look no further than the stat line Luke Harangody put up: 25 points and 10 rebounds on 8-14 shooting, including 9-13 from the line. In Villanova's one-point victory over Pitt, DeJuan Blair dominated the 'Cats inside to the tune of 12 points and 15 rebounds, while Sam Young added an easy 16 points. Villanova cannot afford to have Pena and Cunningham in as much foul trouble as they were in against ND if they are to have any chance of keeping the two Pitt forwards from putting the game away.

Collapse on their guards: Villanova must harass Pitt's ballhandlers and force them to make bad passes. Last meeting, Villanova scored 28 points off 22 Pitt turnovers, and every basket was critical in a one point victory.

Make Pitt keep up: Jamie Dixon's squad did a tremendous job of melting the game clock while methodically slowing the pace of the entire game down last time. Villanova thrives when playing at a faster pace. Villanova's forwards have to execute quick outlet passes to the guards, who in turn must beat the slow defending Pitt guards off of the dribble.

X-factor

Dante Cunningham: Dante did not put up his usually solid numbers against Notre Dame, partly because he was in foul trouble most of the night. If Cunningham plays within himself on offense by not forcing shots and allowing the game come to him, he should be good for double-digit points. Defensively, he and the rest of the frontcourt must put a body on Pitt down low.

Final thoughts

This Pitt team is going to give Villanova everything it can handle.

Remember to add your own insights in the comments section below, and to predict the final score in our ongoing contest.

Villanova edges #13 Pitt

Villanova 64
Pittsburgh 63
(box score)
(ESPN video highlights)

#13 Pittsburgh: 12-2 (0-1 BE)
#16 Villanova: 11-2 (1-1 BE, 3-0 B5)

Next game: at Cincinnati, 01/12 at Fifth Third Arena.

Malcolm Grant pulled another win out of his magical hat on Sunday as Villanova topped the 13th-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers by a single point.

In a game where the pace seemed to favor the methodical Panthers, Grant exploded for 22 points, more than 34 percent of the Wildcats' total output despite playing just 13.5 percent of the team's minutes.

The Wildcats struggled to score in general, shooting less than 34 percent from the field. Despite shooting a much lower percentage than Pitt and scoring five fewer field goals, the Wildcats were able to grind out a victory. Villanova was also out-rebounded 43-31.

Villanova committed just 10 turnovers while forcing the Panthers into 22. Villanova also shot 11 more free throws than Pittsburgh, scoring 10 more points at the stripe.


With the win, Villanova likely salvaged its place in the top 25 polls after losing at unranked DePaul earlier this week.

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

Next up for Villanova are the Cincinnati Bearcats Saturday night in Ohio.

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

• Dante Cunningham (S, 32 min)

  Cunningham was back to his usual ways this afternoon, cleaning up on the glass and staking claim to the post on the defensive end. Cunningham led the team in rebounds, with 9, but did not do much offensively. He scored 6 points on 1-4 shooting, but did sink 4 of 4 free throws, including the two clutch foul shots that tied and won the game at the very end. Cunningham led the team in turnovers, which is becoming a little but too common lately, but also picked up 2 steals and blocked a shot.
  Grade: B
  
  

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 31 min)

  Villanova fans are so used to Scottie Reynolds shouldering so much of the scoring load that a game where he doesn't score may seem, at first glance, like a huge letdown. In some ways, they are right: Reynolds struggled early and often this afternoon on the offensive end. Scottie managed to score just 4 points, shooting 1-6 from the field and 0-5 from the three. In other ways, however, Reynolds played a solid game. Realizing early on, perhaps, that his shot was not going down, Reynolds did not jack up unnecessary field goal attempts. Reynolds shot just 6 times, and focused instead on ball handling and passing. Reynolds led the team in assists, with 4, and committed just 1 turnover, though it was at a crucial juncture of the game. On the other hand, it was Reynolds who made the winning pass into the post to Cunningham when the 'Cats trailed by 1 points on their last possession. Reynolds was also solid on defense. Obviously it will be better for the Wildcats once Reynolds (inevitably) rebounds, but it's hard to complain about the team's undisputed leader after a win over the 13th-ranked team in the country.
  Grade: C
  
  

• Reggie Redding (S, 30 min)

  Redding, like many of his teammates, shot terribly today. Redding scored 4 points on 1-8 shooting. He had 2 assists and committed 2 turnovers. Where he excelled, however, was on defense, as he led the team in steals with 4. Redding contributed 30 solid minutes, but didn't do anything altogether spectacular.
  Grade: C
  
  

• Malcolm Grant (27 min)

  By season's end, how many games is Malcolm Grant going to single-handidly win for Villanova? As silly as it is to describe a victory in a team sport like basketball as single-handed, it was applicable in the Wachovia Center against LSU, and it is applicable today. Malcolm Grant absolutely exploded against the Panthers, scoring a career-high 22 points. He sparked two separate 10-0 Wildcat runs that kept Villanova in the game, and accounted for all the team's points for long stretches of the game. Grant may be the best three-point shooter on a team loaded with long-range talent, and I'd never thought I'd type this, but he may be as good or better than Scottie Reynolds at creating his shot off the dribble. Some people are already anointing Grant as the team's best player, which I think is a tad premature, but he undisputedly is in the top two. Grant shot 6-12 tonight, including 4-7 from the three. The rest of the Wildcats were 2-15 from beyond the arc. Grant also was an excellent 6-7 from the foul line.
  
  It is a great comfort to know that no matter how much the Wildcats are struggling, no matter how adverse the situation, Malcolm Grant will be there with his unmatched competitiveness, energy, and offensive firepower. Grant's performance will spark great debates about his potential as a starter; indeed, Grant played so well at the end of the first half that Jay Wright deviated from his usual practice of opening the second period with tip-time starters come hell or highwater to go with Grant. As far as I am concerned, I don't care if Grant starts or comes off the bench as the Big East's best sixth man, as long as he consistently is getting around 30 minutes per game. Though Grant led the team to victory tonight, he was unable to be on the floor in the closing moments with cramps in his legs. He looked all right walking around after the game, however, much to the relief of Wildcat fans.
  Grade: A
  
  

• Antonio Pena (21 min)

  Pena continues to improve by leaps and bounds, becoming more comfortable on the offensive end as conference play progresses. On a day when most of the Wildcats couldn't hit the broad side of the Pavilion, Pena shot well, 5-8, to score 12 points, second best on the team. He pulled down 4 rebounds and displayed his athleticism in picking up 3 steals. He handled the ball well, committing no turnovers. In my opinion, it is time for Pena to crack the starting lineup.
  Grade: B+
  
  

• Corey Fisher (S, 20 min)

  Fisher could not seem to get it going today. He only saw 20 minutes of playing time, and couldn't really find his stroke on the offense. Fisher shot 2-8 to score just 4 points and notched just 1 assist. His 2 steals nullified his 2 turnovers. One of these games, Fisher, Reynolds, and Grant are all going to be on their games at the same time, and I pity the team who tasked with defending that backcourt triumvirate. Today, however, Fisher played a below-average game.
  Grade: C-
  
  

• Shane Clark (S, 19 min)

  Clark continues to be ineffective on both ends of the court. Tonight's offensive showing was so ugly that ESPN's Sportscenter used clips of two Clark shots in the first half to illustrate the Wildcats' inability to shoot the ball. Clark scored 7 points on 3-8 shooting. He grabbed 3 rebounds, but did not notch an assist, block, or steal. He did not commit any turnovers, but did foul out of the game. Clark remains a vital part of the Wildcat rotation, but I think the time is right to give the redshirt freshman Antonio Pena the starting job at small forward.
  Grade: D+
  
  

• Dwayne Anderson (15 min)

  Anderson couldn't get much of anything going tonight, but he did play solid on both ends of the floor for 15 minutes. He scored 5 points on 1-4 shooting and grabbed 2 rebounds. He did not make any major mistakes, committing no turnovers or egregious defensive lapses, but did seem to lack offensive firepower in a game where it was sorely needed.
  Grade: C-
  
  
  

• Incomplete grades: Corey Stokes (5 min)



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

'Cats face Pitt in Big East home opener

vs.

#16 Villanova Wildcats (10-2, 0-1 BE) vs.
#13 Pittsburgh Panthers (12-1, 0-0 BE)

Date: Sunday, January 6, 2008
Location: The Pavilion (Villanova, PA)
Time: 12:00 p.m. EST
Television: WPHL (Greater Philadelphia region only)

Pittsburgh Coverage: Pitt Blather || Post-Gazette


The Pittsburgh Panthers, regarded as one of the nation's top teams and predicted by many to make a deep tournament run this year, visit Villanova's campus for a highly anticipated matchup between two Big East powerhouses.

Like many teams across the country and especially in the Big East, injuries have plagued the Panthers as of late, threatening to ruin their plans for a deep postseason run. Pitt opened the season 11-0, which included an instant classic win over Duke in overtime at Madison Square Garden, 65-64. Since then, 6'6" senior forward and outright team leader Mike Cook was lost for the season with a knee injury. In addition, Junior point guard Levance Fields, who sent Duke home with his last second 3-pointer, broke his left foot in an 80-55 Dayton loss, sidelining him for 8-12 weeks.

Because of the injuries, coach Jamie Dixon has been forced to juggle his lineup. Hot shooting senior Ronald Ramon has slid into the starting point position, replacing Fields. Role player Keith Benjamin has found significant minutes at shooting guard, scoring 20 points en route to defeating Lafayette. Even freshman Gilbert Brown and junior Ty Biggs have helped at Cook's old forward position.

While the Panthers may not have the firepower they once had at the beginning of the season, Pitt clearly has enough depth at these positions to keep them competitive in the conference. This team is much different than the one 'Nova has faced in the past, with Aaron Gray now on the Chicago Bulls. Still, the Drummond-less frontcourt will have a tough time against Sam Young (17.6ppg, 7.3rpm) and DeJuan Blair (11.6, 9.2), in addition to Biggs. Perhaps Jay Wright may start another big in Antonio Pena to help contend on the glass. I expect the 'Nova guards to contend well and bounce back against Pitt's, playing much better as a unit than against DePaul. An interesting subplot will be to see how the players react versus a well rested opponent after the tough road loss in Illinois.

Keys to the Game

Defense, Defense, Defense This 'key' for Villanova will remain at the top of the list until the Wildcats can prove that they are able to stop opponents from scoring at will. The freshmen must realize that unlike high school, where defense is primarily man-to-man, the college game and Jay Wright's defense in particular is more dependent on help and trap defense. Too many times in the DePaul game multiple defenders jumped to the ball on fastbreaks, leaving trailing Demons wide open. There is no doubt the 'Cats can create havoc with their pesky guards. However, if 'Nova fails to correct its streaky defensive play it could be another long night for 'Nova Nation.

Play a full 40 minutes As the announcers noted, Villanova came out flat at the beginning of the DePaul game. In what looked like an effort to make up for the early lack of intensity, 'Nova changed gears and lost focus, committing turnovers and forcing shots. The 'Cats must be consistent in minutes 1 through 40 and show the same effort on both ends of the court.

Control In a span of eight possessions against DePaul, 'Nova forced six missed shots and turned the ball over two times, resulting in zero points. Not only were there numerous travel calls on players beginning their dribble, but the usually effective passing of the guards was erratic and at times too errant for bigger players to receive on the box. The offense needs to tighten up their passing and execution against Pitt. I'm not saying that they have to abandon their transition game completely, but there is a distinct difference between out of control and quick play. Pitt, allowing only 62 ppg, is an experienced defensive team that Villanova will have to find a way to penetrate.

X-Factors

Shane Clark Nowhere to be found in the DePaul game, as he managed only 4 points in 26 minutes, Clark has been ineffective as of late. Shane started the season strong, leading the team in points scored in several early-season games. For this team to be effective Clark must be more assertive on offense and not pass up uncontested threes on the wing or 15 foot jumpers from the elbows.

Corey Stokes/Dwayne Anderson To be honest, I was happy to see Anderson's hustle and determination not go unnoticed by the coaching staff, who granted him a starting spot in the lineup. Unfortunately, his limited playing time led for him to commit too many fouls in limited action. Stokes, who has the skills, needs confidence to be effective at the collegiate level. Unfortunately, the first 11 games of the season, not conference play, is the place to build confidence. Here is to hoping that one of these players steps up and makes some contributions.

Pavilion Crowd Because of winter break, the full student body will not be in attendance for this game. It is important that 'Nova win this game, not only because of its NCAA tournament seeding implications, but because the 'Cats cannot afford to fall to 0-2 in the Big East. The student section in particular needs to act as a sixth man and garner support for the starting five. In addition, a few "On Your Feet" chants from the students will ensure the rest of the paying crowd will get into the game as well.

As always, send in your predictions and comments for the game vs. Pitt for a chance to have your name mentioned in an upcoming post.

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.