Villanova completes Syracuse sweep

Villanova 89
Syracuse 86
(box score)

#12 Villanova: 22-5 (10-4 BE)
#24 Syracuse: 19-8 (7-7 BE)


Well, it came down to the wire, but Villanova earned its best road victory of the season with a three-point win at Syracuse.

The Orange, aided by a mini-collapse by Villanova, came back from down seven with half a minute remaining to hoist an open look at what would have been the game-tying three in the closing seconds.

Johnny Flynn's shot, however, found the rim, and Villanova finally came away with a solid victory on the road.

I still don't like Wright's decision to play the Coreys so lightly (24 for Fisher, 13 for Stokes), and his weird offense-defense substitution at the end of the game. Does Wright realize that if he yanks both point guards for a crucial defensive possession, and Syracuse scores anyway, he has to face a press without any ballhandlers? Was his plan to burn timeouts every time? I don't get it.

Wright's offense-defense substituting nearly cost Villanova the game. The Wildcats were up a nearly insurmountable seven points with 36 seconds left. Wright's lack of preparation for the Syracuse press, and his inexplicable reliance on poor ballhandlers and free throw shooters could have been disastrous.

Syracuse pulled to within two points on defense, and ended the game down three on offense, with three looks at the tie. If the game had gone to overtime, the momentum was with the Orange.

Despite the troubling last-minute lapse by the 'Cats, the game was the latest victory in Villanova's hot streak. The Wildcats have won eight of their last nine games and improve to #10 in the nation.

The Big East is loaded at the top end, with a ridiculous five teams in the top ten.

The win keeps Villanova in the driver's seat for a three-seed in the NCAA tournament. Earning a top-three seed would greatly increase the Wildcats' chances of playing their first two rounds in Philadelphia, although it also depends on where other top seeds are slated to play.

As the season draws to a close, we are more and more concerned with bracketology. Looking at the top-ten ranked teams in the AP, Villanova appears to have a decent shot at Philadelphia, but only if the Wildcats are able to win out the rest of their games and remain in the top ten.

One possible scenario for 16 pod captains:

Team	Site
Pittsburgh	Dayton
Connecticut	Philadelphia
Oklahoma	Kansas City
UNC	Greensboro
Memphis	Kansas City
Louisville	Dayton
Duke	Greensboro
Marquette	Minneapolis
Michigan State	Minneapolis
Villanova	Philadelphia
Missouri	Boise
Clemson	Miami
Wake	Miami
Kansas	Boise
Arizona St.	Portland
Gonzaga	Portland

Remember, only two "pod captains" (top seeds) can play in each first-round site. The NCAA tries to keep 1-4 seeds close to home, and tries to make sure that these protected seeds don't play any opponent too close to its home court in the first round. That is why it's unlikely for Villanova to play in Philadelphia unless it is as a top seed.

It would be better for Villanova for Missouri to lose, because if the Tigers earn their way to a Kansas City first round, Memphis might have to go to Greensboro, bumping Duke to Philadelphia or Miami.

A Wake Forest hot streak would also bode ill for Villanova's Philadelphia chances, although the Deacons and the Blue Devils could just swap sites.

Also, keep an eye on a scorching Kansas team, and surging Florida State, both of whom could take up crucial spots in Kansas City and Miami, respectively.

But it's too early to worry about all the possible permutations.

The bottom line is that if Villanova keeps winning, the chances are very good Wildcats fans will get to watch their team in a very familiar Wachovia Center.

Congratulations to reader "Sean Don" 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, 36 min)

  Love, love, love Dwayne Anderson's game, especially when the shots are falling. I criticized him last time for going 0-4 from the three, but I am thrilled that he kept shooting when they were going in at Syracuse. Anderson shot a decent 8-14 from the field, including a hot 4-6 from the three to score a team-high 22. He had 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 turnovers, and 1 steal. I like when he is involved in the offense, especially in the running game. Keep it up.
  Grade: A-




• Dante Cunningham (S, 34 min)

  It's an unpopular opinion, but I think Cunningham is hurting the team with all his poor shots. Despite what the announcers say, Cunningham is simply not a good jump-shooter. Yes, he can hit the open 15-footer, but take that out to 17 feet, or put a man on him, and he can't find the bottom of the net. I miss the days when Cunningham's line would read something like 6-8 shooting and 10 rebounds. Nowadays, Sunday's 5-14 is business as usual for Cunningham, who for some reason has assumed a role at the center of the offense. On an unrelated note, the Syracuse game was the first time (at least that I've noticed) that Cunningham was listed in the official box score as a center, not a forward. I don't know what that's all about, because Dante is a textbook college four. Cunningham scored 12 points on his hideous 14 shots. He did well on the boards, leading the team in rebounding with 12. He also passed the ball very well, with 6 assists, and cut down on his recent penchant for turnovers, committing 2. He had 0 blocks and steals. Good all around game for Dante, except with all the bad shots.
  Grade: B-




• Reggie Redding (S, 34 min)

  A monster game for Redding, doing the things he does best -- defense and passing. Six steals! Seven assists! And he shot a judicious 3-5 from the field. He was also 5-6 from the foul line, but he missed the most crucial free throw of the game at the very end, which would have put Villanova up by four instead of three. The offense definitely suffers with him out there sometimes, but with 6 steals and 7 assists, he earned his 34 minutes on both ends of the floor Sunday.
  Grade: B+




• Shane Clark (S, 31 min)

  Clark bounced back from his recent slump with a good game, at least offensively. He shot 6-8 from the field, and pulled in 5 rebounds on the offensive glass, to finish with 15 points and 8 rebounds total. I am still not sold -- at all -- on the defense. Sometimes it's like playing 5 on 4 on defense, with how slow he is to rotate or contest an outside shooter. And I can't remember how many times I've seen Clark just let a penetrator go right past him to the basket. That said, credit where credit is due for a nice hustle game. Clark is at his best with put-backs and follow-ups. I don't like to see him take jump-shots (his two misses were jump-shots that weren't even close), but more power to him on glass cleanup duty.
  Grade: B
  
  

• Corey Fisher (24 min)

  Five minutes more than last time and still 10 minutes too few. It's clear, now, that Fisher is by far Villanova's best player. Would anyone disagree? So why are there always five or more players with more time than him? Even against Syracuse, four players played nine-plus more minutes than Fisher, even though Fisher was the best player on the court. It makes zero sense to me. Against 'Cuse, Fisher continued his hot shooting, going 5-6 from the field, 1-1 from the three, and 5-7 from the foul line. When you shoot 5-6 from the field as a guard, it probably means you should be taking more shots. Fisher finished with 16 points, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, and 3 rebounds. Imagine what he could have done with 10 more minutes.
  Grade: A
  
  

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 23 min)

  I don't agree with just 23 minutes for Reynolds, but Wright doesn't like to play Scottie and Fisher together, which is a mistake on his part. Reynolds shot 4-9 to score 10 points, but was cold from the three (1-5) and the line (1-3). He had way too many turnovers (5), including two really disastrous turnovers in the game's final minute. It was a sub-par game from Reynolds, who needs to move to the two guard if this team is going to make any kind of tournament run. You read it here first. Scottie is an All=American talent from the two, but his proficiency at the one is less than desirable.
  Grade: C-




• Corey Stokes (13 min)

  Is it just me, or does Jay Wright often seem to yank out Stokes after any missed shot? (Steeling myself for many profane "it's just you" comments...) Stokes, a rhythm shooter if there ever were one, needs to be left out there to warm up. How can Wright not see this? It would be obvious to the laziest assistant in grammar school intramurals. Just 13 minutes for Stokes after his monster game against RU? I don't get it. Against 'Cuse, Stokes scored just 3 points on 1-4 shooting. He grabbed 3 rebounds, and had 1 block and 2 turnovers.
  Grade: C-




• Antonio Pena (5 min)

  I really don't think Pena is so bad that he has played himself completely out of the rotation. Has Pena regressed this much from when he was starting every game? If so, why has Wright allowed that? Or was Pena never good enough to start? Either way, it's baffling and unusual for a former every-game starter to be seeing so little time.
  Grade: Incomplete





• Incomplete grades: Antonio Pena (5 min), Frank Tchuisi (0+ min).



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

Villanova heads to Syracuse for rematch

#12 Villanova (21-5) at #24 Syracuse (19-7)
1:00 p.m., 22 February 2009 at the Carrier Dome

TV: CBS

Line: Syracuse -2.5

If you didn't get a chance to read the Rutgers grades, which were recently posted, check them out here.

Villanova travels north to the Carrier Dome for a rematch today with a dangerous Syracuse team.

The Wildcats demolished the Orange two weeks ago at the Wachovia Center, and Syracuse will be looking to take revenge.

Syracuse is inching its way off the NCAA bubble and probably should be in at this point. The Orange are fresh off an overtime win against Georgetown last weekend, for a rare 8-day layoff in February.

KenPom predicts a 1-point Villanova win, with a 55 percent chance for a Villanova victory. That's a tad more optimistic for the Wildcats' chances than the sportsbooks have it, with most favoring the Orange by two-and-half points.

Check out the other four Villanova blogs linked at right for their more timely previews than this one.

Also, take your best shot at dethroning the reigning champion Mills by guessing the game's final score in the comments below.

Villanova rolls over Syracuse

Syracuse 85
Villanova 102
(box score)
(highlights)

#20 Syracuse: 18-6 (6-5 BE)
#17 Villanova: 19-4 (7-3 BE)

Villanova extended its winning streak to five games on Saturday with a solid victory over the #20 Syracuse Orange. The Wildcats add another quality win to their resume, and can now aim for higher seeds in both the NCAA and Big East tournaments.

Villanova overcame foul trouble throughout the game with an offensive explosion. The Wildcats, led by Dante Cunningham and an emergent Corey Fisher, jetted to 53 first-half points on their way to a 102-point output. Unlike its last game against Providence, Villanova also avoided any late-game collapse, and outscored Syracuse in both periods.

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

Next up for the Wildcats is a home remtach against #8 Marquette, a team Villanova has struggled with greatly in recent years. The talented Golden Eagles will be an excellent test for the surging Wildcats.

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

• Dante Cunningham (S, 35 min)

  Cunningham had a monster game, tying his career high with 31 points on excellent 12-15 shooting. He was 7-12 at the foul line, which could be improved a bit. He missed a double-double by 1 rebound, grabbing all 9 on the defensive end. He blocked 1 shot, grabbed 2 steals, and passed for 3 assists. The only thing preventing an "A" grade for Cunningham was his sloppy ball-handling: Cunningham committed a whopping 7 turnovers. While that figure is mitigated somewhat by the high number of possessions in the game, it's still way too many, especially for a power forward. Otherwise, an insanely good game by Cunningham.
  Grade: B+




• Shane Clark (S, 27 min)

  Clark played one of his best games as a Wildcat on Saturday. He put in 14 points on good 6-9 shooting, but remained ineffective from the foul line (2-4) and the three (0-2). Historically, Clark shoots among the lowest three-point percentages on the team, and really shouldn't be taking those shots. Clark led the team in rebounds, with 10, including 7 offensive boards, his speciality. He dished out 3 assists, notched 2 blocks, and committed 1 turnover. I still don't agree that Clark should be starting, but Wright seems loyal to his seniors, and Clark played a solid game. Let's hope he can keep it up.
  Grade: B+
  
  

• Corey Stokes (27 min)

  Stokes looked more aggressive on the offensive end, and reached the foul line 8 times, making 7. He scored 16 points overall, shooting 3-9 from the field. Aside from attempts nullified by fouls, Stokes only tried one two-point shot, and all his points came from behind the line or the arc. He had a great rebounding game, grabbing 8. He notched 3 assists and 3 turnovers.
  Grade: B+




• Reggie Redding (S, 26 min)

  The most important thing about Redding's performance Saturday is that he got over his turnover woes from the last game. Redding scored 8 points on good 3-5 shooting, including a wild, step-back NBA three that came out of nowhere. He rounded out his line with 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 turnover.
  Grade: B-
  
  
  

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 26 min)

  Reynolds struggled with foul trouble but still managed to score 10 points, albeit on 3-11 shooting. He finished with 3 assists and 1 steal, and handled the ball well, committing just 1 turnover.
  Grade: B-




• Dwayne Anderson (S, 26 min)

  Anderson also was plagued by early fouls. One positive from recent games is that Anderson is taking more initiative to score. On Saturday, Anderson scored 7 on 3-6 shooting, with nearly all good shot attempts. He had a well-rounded line with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, and 2 turnovers.
  Grade: B




• Corey Fisher (23 min)

  Fisher played an electrifying game, with excellent pressure defense and perfect ballhandling. Fisher makes his teammates better and gives the offense a dynamic flow. The fact that Wright still won't start Fisher and play him more minutes remains a baffling and frustrating mystery to me. Fisher scored 14 points on 5-9 shooting, but missed all 3 three-point attempts. He grabbed 4 rebounds, not bad for a 6-foot point guard in half a game. He dished out a team-high 6 assists, many of which were dazzling plays that would have been inaccessible to any other Wildcat. He co-led the team with 3 steals, leading to valuable fast breaks. Most important, however, was that in 23 minutes of handling the point, Fisher turned it over zero times. Not once. Get Fisher more minutes -- he should be leading the team in minutes. Get Fisher in the starting lineup -- it would set the tone for the offense the entire game. And most of all, get Fisher in there with Reynolds more often -- it would free Reynolds to play the 2, and give the 'Cats excellent ballhandling and scoring threats on the perimeter. This will be especially important against Marquette and its three all-conference guards.
  Grade: A
  
  

• Antonio Pena (9 min)

  Pena was very quiet, but I still think he deserves more than a paltry 9 minutes. He did, however, get in foul trouble early, which explains most of it. He scored 2 points, had 3 rebounds, and committed 1 turnover in his limited action.
  Grade: C-




• Incomplete grades: Frank Tchuisi (1 min), Jason Colenda (0+ min), Russell Wooten (0+ min).



• Did not play: Maurice Sutton (RS).

Villanova faces 'Cuse in ranked showdown

#17 Villanova (18-4) vs. #20 Syracuse (18-5)
12 p.m., 7 February 2009 at the Wachovia Center

TV: ESPN

Line: Villanova -5.5

The Wildcats play one of their bigger games of the year today at a noon showdown with the #20 Syracuse Orange. Aside from being another test against a tough ranked team, the game has huge Big East Tournament seeding and bye implications.

Kempom predicts a 7-point Villanova victory, and places the Wildcats' chances for a win at 76 percent.

Check out the other four Villanova blogs linked at right for their previews.

You may try to predict the game's final score in the comments below.

'Cats trounce 'Cuse to reach top-seed Hoyas

vs.

Villanova Wildcats (20-11, 10-9 BE) vs.
#9 Georgetown Hoyas (25-4, 15-3 BE)

Date: Thursday, March 13, 2008
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
Time: 12:00 p.m. EST
Television: ESPN

Georgetown coverage: Van Buren Boys || Hoya Saxa

Following Villanova’s exciting win against Syracuse, the Wildcats return to action Wednesday at noon to face regular-season conference champion Georgetown. The last time these two teams met, the outcome of the game was marred with one of the worst foul calls in recent memory, as Corey Stokes was called for knocking Jonathan Wallace out of bounds with one tenth of a second remaining.

While it is definitely helpful that the ‘Cats have beaten another bubble team in Syracuse, ‘Nova fans have been salivating for the opportunity to face the Hoyas again. If the selection committee can look favorably at Villanova’s misfortune against the Hoyas last meeting, combined with a solid performance (win or lose) on Thursday, I feel that Villanova will have its name called on Selection Sunday.

Georgetown is led by Roy Hibbert, fueled by the stoic and stable guards Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp, and has considerable contributions from freshman Austin Freeman and sophomore forward DaJuan Summers. Through and through, Georgetown is bigger and more experienced at nearly every position.

Keys to the game

Contain Hibbert: The Hoyas use Roy Hibbert in the same way the San Antonio Spurs employ Tim Duncan: the offense runs through the center position. Hibbert essentially acts as a second point guard for the Hoyas, because nearly every offensive possession starts with Hibbert getting the ball down low and either kicking it out to his guards or creating his own offense. While Jay Wright's in-game planning has been under attack recently, there is no denying that he can stop Hibbert, as 'Nova has harassed Hibbert in several meetings throughout his career.

Limit GU offensive sets: Under Coach John Thompson III, the Hoyas run a very deliberate offense. In order to beat Georgetown, Villanova must limit the amount of time the Hoyas are in their offensive sets. While the 'Cats had their own trouble on offense last meeting, Villanova no doubt gave the Hoyas problems of their own, and only by a miraculous foul call was Georgetown able to come away victorious.

Protect the ball: If Villanova is able to limit the Hoyas' offense, the game then comes down to Villanova's offensive capabilities. Limiting turnovers and taking quality shots are just some of the things the 'Nova coaching staff must emphasize throughout the game. Hopefully the hot shooting of Anderson, Reynolds, and Stokes will continue for another day.

X-factors

Frontcourt: Hibbert and Patrick Ewing Jr. make up one of the most formidable forward combinations in all of the Big East, and Villanova's frontcourt will be hard-pressed to limit the damage. As the nation's premiere low post player, Hibbert has an assortment of pump fakes and back-to-the-basket moves. Pena and Cunningham must be careful to not get into foul trouble and play solid defense. Ewing Jr., an explosive player, is more athletic and physically imposing than Cunningham, and is a defensive force as a rebounder and shot blocker. Look for the 'Nova guards to take it to him looking for contact.

Foul shooting: Every point is important, so the 'Cats must shoot better on the line than they did against Syracuse.

Remember to predict the final score and offer your own keys to the game in the comments section below.

'Cuse game comment thread

Eighth-seeded Villanova takes on #9 Syracuse in the opening game of the Big East Tournament, Wednesday at noon in Madison Square Garden.

The game will air live nationwide on ESPN.

I will be traveling to New York for the game, so the site won't be updated until the next day, probably in the afternoon.

Feel free to use this thread to comment before, during, and after the game. My usual review with player grades should be up on Thursday.

Even with the very slight shrinking of the bubble earlier this week, I still feel that the winner of the Villanova-Syracuse game will be invited to the NCAA tournament.

If you agree or disagree, make your case in the comments.

PLAY-IN GAME Winner of 'Nova-'Cuse likely in NCAAs

[UPDATE] Naysayers, take note. No less an authority than Jay Wright believes we are in a play-in game:

Now we're in an 8-9 game at noon and it's an awesome game. I think it's a play-in game for the NCAA Tournament.

Villanova got what it wanted after a crippling 5-game losing streak one month ago: the chance to play itself into the NCAA tournament.

Now squarely on the bubble, Villanova faces a win-and-in scenario, barring a string of conference-tournament upsets or smoke-filled-room committee conspiracies.


With regular-season conference play complete, the Big East Tournament is now set, and Villanova is the #8 seed in the 12-team elimination bracket.

The Wildcats will face the #9 seed Syracuse to open the tournament. With seven teams from the Big East all but certain to be included in the NCAA tournament, Syracuse and Villanova will battle for the likely final spot on Wednesday.


A win in the 8/9 game should be enough for either team to receive an NCAA invitation, but it is not guaranteed. If you are more comfortable calling Wednesday's game an elimination game instead, feel free, because the loser of that game will almost certainly be headed to the NIT.

The Wildcats and the Orange have similar resumes for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. If the season ended today, Syracuse would probably get the nod due to its better RPI and strength-of-schedule numbers.

Villanova has a chance to make all that moot on Wednesday if the Wildcats can secure the victory. The winner of the game will most likely gain an at-large bid to the NCAAs, while the loser will probably have played itself into the NIT.

It's all on the line on Wednesday.

The game, scheduled for noon at Madison Square Garden, will air live nationwide on ESPN.

If Villanova is able to get past Syracuse on Wednesday, it will get a rematch with the #1 Georgetown Hoyas at noon on Thursday. Villanova lost its game at Georgetown last month on what was widely believed to be one of the worst referee calls in college basketball history.

The entire Big East Tournament schedule is reprinted below from the Big East Web site.

You may also predict Wednesday's final score in the comments section.

'Nova in free fall with 4th straight loss

Villanova dropped its fourth straight game today with an embarrassing 87-73 home loss to Syracuse at the Wachovia Center.

The defeat drops the Wildcats to 3-6 in conference play and into the bottom four of the Big East.

If the season ended today, the season might truly end. Villanova would miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004, and would be on the bubble for the NIT. The Wildcats would not even be invited to Madison Square Garden for the Big East Conference tournament.

Of course, the season is not over yet. If the Wildcats go on a tremendous run in the rest of conference play and another tremendous run in the BET (assuming they qualify), an NCAA Tournament appearance is possible.

At this point, however, the 'Cats have some work to do to get to the Garden and to the NIT, which now requires a much better resume for major-conference teams. A rule took effect in 2006 that gives an automatic bid to the NIT to any regular-season conference champion that missed the NCAA field of 65.

I'm out of town until late Sunday, so I won't be able to post the full recap and player grades for the Syracuse game until late Sunday night Monday afternoon, well after the Super Bowl.

Check back Monday morning if you're not into staying up all hours of the night to read a blogger's opinion as to why Villanova lost.

You can comment on the game in this post. All comments will be saved after this post is updated.

'Cats welcome Orange to town

vs.

Villanova Wildcats (13-6, 3-5 BE) vs.
Syracuse Orange (15-7, 5-4 BE)

Date: Saturday, February 2, 2008
Location: Wachovia Center (Philadelphia, PA)
Time: 12:00 p.m. EST
Television: ESPN

Official game notes (PDF): Villanova.com
Syracuse coverage: CuseAdelphia || Orange Basketball

Villanova looks to return to its winning ways this Saturday when the Wildcats face the Syracuse Orange at the Wachovia Center. Since its impressive come-from-behind victory at the Carrier Dome no more than two weeks ago, Villanova has lost three straight conference games, fallen out of both the major polls, and is now teetering dangerously close to the bottom tier of the Big East.

In the last meeting between these two teams, 'Nova was led by Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher, who dictated a tempo to Villanova's liking against Syracuse's 2-3 zone. Defensively, the front line handled the likes of Arinze Onuaku and Paul Harris, while forcing guard Scoop Jardine into eight turnovers. Super freshman Jonny Flynn led the Orange with 23 points, while classmate Donte Greene, arguably Syracuse's most consistent offensive threat, played with limited effectiveness on the court, as he was in foul trouble all game.

While this was a convincing victory at the time for a young and motivated Wildcats team, I shudder to think what the outcome would have been had Greene played more than 23 minutes. After playing Georgetown down to the wire (64-62 OT loss @ GU), Syracuse has posted two convincing victories versus Providence and DePaul.

This battle can best be described as a game between two reputable programs going in opposite directions, and I, for one, hope Villanova can end its losing streak at three games by completing a home-and-away sweep of Syracuse.

Keys to the game

Defense: The points will come for Villanova if Syracuse continues to struggle defensively; 'Cuse allows 73.1 points per game, three more than Villanova's season average. The key for 'Nova to come out of this game with a W will be its ability to defend the perimeter. Donte Greene will no doubt be much more of a factor this time around, and he will complement Flynn's ability to sink three point shots, regardless of range. The 'Cats must not over-help on dribble-drives by Greene, because his keen court vision will allow him to find the open man. Instead, 'Nova defenders must be aggressive on their own man, and be willing to take charges, putting Syracuse's scorers in foul trouble once again.

Tempo: This "key" for Villanova worked last meeting with Syracuse. Jim Boeheim traditionally runs a 2-3 defense with his teams. Because this year's edition is still learning to rebound efficiently in this particular defensive set, Coach Boeheim will often revert to man-to-man defense. Villanova's offense should dictate which defense Syracuse will primarily play, forcing the Orange to react to Villanova's offense.

Crash the boards: Syracuse's defensive rebounding troubles will allow for countless put-backs by Pena and Cunningham. Every point will count when team defense is struggling like 'Nova is now, although it looked a little better against Pitt.

Take it strong: Pena would have easily had six or eight more points in the Pitt game had he tried to dunk the ball instead of finessing a layup around the rim. If the bigs go up strong with the ball and the guards take it to the hole, not only are the Wildcats showing that they came ready to play, but they will put Syracuse in foul trouble by doing so. This may be the most important key to the game.

X-factor

Crowd: I mention this far too often, but the crowd absolutely affects the play of Villanova. Put yourself in the position of the kids on the court. How would you perform if you heard Malcolm Grant's name being called from the fan section? Although we all may disagree with the substitution pattern of Jay Wright, the fact of the matter is this team needs the fans' support. Aside from the opening five minutes of each half and Villanova's last run with about 11 minutes remaining against Notre Dame, the Wachovia Center was silent. Syracuse traditionally brings a large contingent of fans to Philly, and it would be sad to see the Orange cheer louder than the home fans.

Final thoughts

You are either on the bandwagon or you are off it, and despite their frustrations, it is the duty of the student section to intimidate the opposition. I do not think the 'Cats are as over-matched in this game as in previous contests, because each team has its share of problems. I believe Villanova will rise to the occasion and win this game; after all, the best antidote to losing is winning.

Remember to predict the final score in the comments section below, and offer your own keys to the game.

Villanova tops 'Cuse

Villanova 81
Syracuse 71
(box score)
(ESPN video highlights)

Syracuse: 13-6 (3-3 BE)
#21 Villanova: 13-3 (3-2 BE, 3-0 B5)

Next game: at Rutgers, 01/23 at the RAC.


Villanova took down Syracuse on Saturday for its first Big East road win. The 'Cats improve to 3-2 in conference play.

The 'Cats used yet another second-half comeback to take the victory, though this one was not nearly as dramatic as past come-from-behind efforts. Villanova trailed by just five points heading into the locker room, and the Wildcats were able to outscore Syracuse by 15 in the second half.

Scottie Reynolds led all scorers with 25, and should receive several votes for the Big East player of the week.

Due to widespread carnage in the top 25 this weekend, expect Villanova to move up several spots in the rankings.

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

Next up for Villanova is a trip to the dreaded RAC Wednesday night to face Big-East cellar-dweller Rutgers.

Let's get right to the player grades. "READ MORE" below for player performance grades and analysis.

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 36 min)

  Reynolds is back in a big way, and is now pretty much the most dangerous scorer in the Big East. Scottie scored 25 points Saturday on 6-14 shooting, including an excellent 4-7 from the three. He was outstanding from the foul line, shooting 9-10. He also was third on the team in rebounds, with 6. Reynolds added 4 steals, tops on the team, and 2 assists. He committed 4 turnovers. It was a spectacular outing for Scottie, who seems to be hitting his stride as the perfect time of the year.
  Grade: A
  
  

• Shane Clark (S, 32 min)

  O.K., Clark played 32 minutes and Villanova got its biggest win of the season. Based on the results, some might say you can't fault Clark for his performance or Jay Wright for sticking with him. But the truth is that Clark played an awful game against Syracuse. He scored just 2 points in 32 minutes on an atrocious 1-9 shooting effort, including 0-3 from behind the arc. But it wasn't just the lack of offense; Clark's defense was tremendously poor, especially along the perimeter and on help assignments. Clark was slow to contest shots and literally let penetrators go right by him unmolested. The two bright spots for the game were his 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Clark also committed 2 turnovers. I suppose Wright called upon Clark so much against 'Cuse for his size, but what good is size when the player is struggling on defense and offense, and can't handle the ball to boot? I think a significant reduction of Clark's minutes is warranted if he can't break out of this slump on both ends of the floor.
  Grade: D-
  
  

• Dante Cunningham (S, 28 min)

  It was another efficient game for Dante Cunningham, who scored 14 points on 6-8 shooting. Cunningham also led the 'Cats in rebounds, with 8. His defense was solid, and he handled the ball a lot better than in previous efforts. Cunningham passed for 2 assists and, more important, committed 0 turnovers.
  Grade: B+
  
  

• Dwayne Anderson (21 min)

  Anderson bounced back from a lackluster performance against DePaul to put out a good game Saturday. His offense looked a lot better, and for once he was not afraid to take open shots. Anderson shot 3-4 from the field and hit a pair of big three pointers to score 9 points. He did struggle from the foul line, however, shooting 1-4. His defense was good. Anderson added 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers.
  Grade: B-
  
  

• Reggie Redding (21 min)

  Redding found the court once again Saturday after being virtually ignored in the DePaul game. Though he struggled a bit on offense, scoring just 5, Reggie's on-the-ball defense earned him the minutes against the Orange. Redding shot 1-3 from the field and a mediocre 3-6 from the stripe. He played a good all-around game with 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks (!), 3 steals, and just 1 turnover.
  Grade: B-
  
  

• Antonio Pena (S, 19 min)

  Pena shot well from the field against the 'Cuse, going 3-4. He was only 3-6 from the foul line, however, and finished with 9 points. He grabbed 4 rebounds and had 2 steals, but clearly struggled handling the ball, committing 5 turnovers. The redshirt freshman continues his development and has earned his starting spot.
  Grade: C
  
  

• Corey Fisher (15 min)

  Fisher came off the bench and promptly put up 15 points in 15 minutes. I still think that Fisher is being used far too little of late. Corey did not shoot particularly well (2-8), but did drill 2 three pointers in 3 attempts. He was excellent from the foul line, shooting 9-10. Fisher added 3 assists, 1 steal, and 1 turnover. In my opinion, we need to see more of Corey Fisher and Malcolm Grant, and less of Corey Stokes and Shane Clark, no matter what the size implications are.
  Grade: B
  
  

• Corey Stokes (12 min)

  Stokes struggled on Saturday after making progress in the Pavilion against DePaul last week. Corey shot 1-5 from the field, including 0-4 from the three. Wherever Corey Stokes's three-point shot went after high school, I sure hope he finds it. Stokes grabbed 2 rebounds but committed 2 turnovers. He was not a factor at all on offense, but his defense was passable.
  Grade: D
  
  

• Malcolm Grant (S, 10 min)

  I do not understand Jay Wright's substitution philosophy for Malcolm Grant at all. Grant is clearly one of the team's best players, yet Wright yanks him from the lineup the second he misses a few shots. Give him a chance to get going. Grant is obviously a high-energy, streaky scorer. What good is starting him when he gets pulled and benched after missing a few baskets? Grant only saw 10 minutes of court time on Saturday and was 0-3 from the field, scoring 0. He had 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 0 turnovers. Who knows what he could have contributed if he had seen more floor time. I think that Grant should be averaging at least 25 minutes a game. With Shane Clark, Corey Stokes, Dwayne Anderson, and Reggie Redding all getting dozens more minutes each than Grant in various games, there is plenty of time to go around, it seems. Play Malcolm more, in my opinion.
  Grade: C
  
  
  

• Incomplete grades: Andrew Ott (3 min).



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

'Nova looks to keep momentum vs. 'Cuse

@

#21 Villanova Wildcats (12-3, 2-2 BE) at
Syracuse Orange (13-5, 3-2 BE)

Date: Saturday, January 19, 2008
Location: Carrier Dome (Syracuse, NY)
Time: 12:00 p.m. EST
Television: ESPN

Syracuse coverage: CuseAdelphia || Orange Basketball

Villanova might hope its strong second half against DePaul propels the 'Cats to another Big East victory this Saturday, when Villanova travels to Syracuse to take on a young but talented team.

Decimated by season-ending injuries to guards Andy Rautins and Eric Devendorf, Syracuse is led by two freshmen who make up one of the strongest recruiting classes in all of college basketball: Donte Greene (18.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.9 apg) and Jonny Flynn (14.5, 2.4, 5.4). Add the talented sophomores Paul Harris (13.6, 9.2) and 6'9" Arinze Onuaku (13.6, 7.7), and Syracuse has four double-digit scorers capable of taking the game over offensively on a team that averages more than 83 points a game.

Like Villanova, 'Cuse lost to the Cincinnati Bearcats in Ohio, do in large part to its inconsistent defense. Although the Orange easily built a big lead in the game's opening minutes, Syracuse was unable to hold it, and ultimately lost. It is in this aspect of the game that many parallels and similarities can be drawn between these two teams. Both are at times able to score at will, but it is their lack of experience that allows more veteran-laden -- albeit less talented -- teams to win, a la Cincinnati and DePaul.

"READ MORE" below for the keys to the game and x-factors. As always, you may try to predict the final score and offer your own keys to the game in the comments section.

Keys to the game

Villanova Press: It is important that Villanova continually pressures the Syracuse's ball handlers. Once the Orange gets into its offensive sets, it is very hard to contain Syracuse's scorers. 'Cuse is extremely balanced offensively, with scoring options both in the post and on the wing, so it is imperative that 'Nova force turnovers and harass the young guards.

Tempo: Jim Boeheim traditionally runs a 2-3 defense with his teams. Because this year's edition is still learning to play cohesively at the collegiate level, however, many times Coach Boeheim reverts to man-to-man defense. Villanova's offense should dictate which defense Syracuse will primarily play, forcing the Orange to react to Villanova's offense.

Rebound: The 'Cats out-rebounded DePaul 40-18, yet still only managed to win the game in the last few minutes. If the 'Cats still refuse to play perimeter defense and allow teams to stay dangerously close, each defensive rebound will be especially important to keep Syracuse from scoring on second chances.

X-factors

Shane Clark: His athleticism and long arms will prove to be valuable against Syracuse's big men in Greene and Onuaku.

Antonio Pena: 'Tone is riding a wave of confidence over the past few games and is beginning to look like another viable scoring option. Get him the ball and let him go to work down low.

This game may prove to be a high-scoring and exciting affair, and I, for one, look forward to watching two explosive teams play to their potential Saturday morning.

'Cats top 'Cuse in regular season finale

Villanova 78
Syracuse 75

• box score
• ESPN highlights (Flash required)

Syracuse: 21-9 (10-6 BE) RPI: 50; SOS: 48.
Villanova: 20-9 (21-9, 9-7 BE, 4-0 B5) RPI: 18; SOS: 7.

Next game: BET R1, vs. DePaul or West Virginia (TBD), 03.07 @ Madison Square Garden.

Villanova closed out its regular season today with a big win over the Syracuse Orangemen at the Wachovia Center. The victory gave the Wildcats 20 wins versus Division I competition, and inked the team's final conference record at 9-7. The win also will likely ensure a higher NCAA seed for Villanova, assuming the Wildcats can get at least one win at the Big East Tournament in New York City.

The game itself today was fairly physical and rough. The game was marred by two ugly technical/intentional fouls and generally poor officiating. After coming out of the gate hot, the Wildcats fell behind in the middle of the game, only to make a comeback and take a large lead of their own. The Orange had one last run in them that was greatly assisted by two dumb plays by Villanova's front line, and one even-dumber intentional foul call with 3.9 seconds left. Despite these setbacks, Villanova was able to hang on to the win.

Many Villanova fans watching the game probably needed a hearty dose of Tums after the way things unfolded at the very end. After Scottie Reynolds sank two free throws with 8 seconds left to give the 'Cats a 6-point lead, the game seemed to be all but over. Syracuse raced up the court and Josh Wright drove into the lane to try a quick lay-up. In what may be the worst decision by a Villanova player I have ever seen, senior Curtis Sumpter stepped in to try to take a charge. Instead, he was whistled for a blocking foul, and 'Cuse was awarded two foul shots with 3.9 seconds on the clock. Wright made both free throws, and then things got crazy.

As the second foul shot was going in, Villanova's Dante Cunningham was jockeying for position on the blocks with Syracuse star Demetrius Nichols. Cunningham attempted the murkily illegal "swim-move" box-out, and his flailing arms grazed Nichols's head. Nine times out of 10, Cunningham's arms would have grazed Nichols's abdomen, but Nichols had lost his balance after moving inside Cunningham for the rebound.

Incredibly, the referee blew his whistle and called a technical foul on Cunningham, which was later amended to an intentional foul. The result, however, was the same: Syracuse would get two free throws and the ball, down 4 with 3.9 seconds left.

Luckily for the 'Cats, Nichols only made one of the free throws, and the Orange could not sink either of the two three-point attempts they managed to fire before the buzzer. Had Syracuse tied or even won the game on a 6- or 7-point possession in under 4 seconds, however, it would have been one of the greatest collapses/comebacks in the history of American sports.

In my opinion, the intentional foul call on Cunningham was tremendously incorrect. By definition, an intentional foul is, well, intentional. Anyone could see that Cunningham had made inadvertent and immaterial contact with Nichols. At worst, it should have been a regular foul. At best, it's inadvertent contact and a non-call. What it certainly should not have been, however, was a chance for Syracuse to make up 6 or 7 points in one trip down the floor in a game that had been over.

I really admire the way Jay Wright handled the incident. As soon as the technical foul was called, and the arena exploded into stunned silence, Jay had the presence of mind to calmly call his team over to discuss the situation. When the buzzer sounded and the win was intact, however, Wright sprinted down the sideline to confront the offending official. Rather than face Wright, the official cowered behind security personnel, who then ushered him into the tunnel amidst the boos, curses, and popcorn raining down. Did the official really believe Jay Wright was going to hit him?

This 90-foot dash by Jay somewhat stunned his players, who were momentarily confused before they finally formed the usual handshake line. By the time Jay made it back down to the North side of the court, his team was already engaged in the traditional v-sign salute to the student section.

Next up for the 'Cats will be either DePaul or West Virginia at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. Though Villanova lost to both those squads in the regular season, the Wildcats would likely now be a favorite over either of them on the neutral Garden floor.

Villanova's opponent hinges on the results of Sunday's game between St. John's and Providence. If St. John's wins, Villanova will get a #9 seed in the BET and be paired against #8 DePaul Wednesday at noon. If Providence wins, Villanova will be the #10 seed and will play the 7 p.m. game Wednesday against #7 West Virginia.

On to the player grades. As always, click "READ MORE" below for player performance grades and analysis.

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 40 min)

  Scottie followed up his 40 points at UConn with another spectacular game today. After struggling early to overcome an Orange 2-3 zone that seemed intent on denying him any look at the basket, Reynolds put the team on his back in the second half. Scottie led the team in scoring with 22 points on 6-19 shooting. He was 2-8 from the three and a perfect 8-8 from the line. He grabbed 3 rebounds and co-led the team in turnovers with 5. His best stats of the day, however, were his 4 steals and 6 assists. Reynolds was flying all over the court on offense and defense, mucking up Cuse's offensive plans and setting up his teammates for easy baskets. Though he struggled a bit with his three-point shooting and with the turnovers, Reynolds once again did what was needed to win. It should be noted that with Nardi injured for much of the game, Reynolds also assumed primary ball-handling duties, in which he excelled. Let me be among the first to ask Scottie to stay at least one more year!
  Grade: A-




• Curtis Sumpter (S, 40- min)

  For 39-plus minutes, it was the kind of performance from Sumpter that Villanova fans had been waiting for. Curtis was dominant in the paint today. Sumpter scored 20 points on 6-15 shooting, including 2-5 from the three. He was 6-9 from the foul line. He led all rebounders with an incredible 15 boards. He also had 2 blocks. The only negatives were his 5 turnovers, co-leading the team, and the foul with 3.9 seconds left, described above. His in-game performance grade before that foul was an A-, but I'm docking a full letter grade for that boneheaded play. A senior leader like Curtis should know game situations, and there is no excuse for being anywhere near the paint in the path of a driver while up 6 points with 4 seconds left. It nearly cost the 'Cats the game.
  Grade: B-




• Dante Cunningham (S, 34 min)

  Cunningham exploded offensively today, pretty much taking over the second half at the foul line. Dante scored 21 points on 5-13 shooting, and was a remarkable 11-11 at the free throw line. He pulled in 8 rebounds, blocked 2 shots, and had 1 steal and 1 assist. He committed 2 turnovers. Cunningham also made a great heads up play on the opening tip, taking advantage of Syracuse defenders confused as to the direction of their basket, to open the game with a monster dunk. His performance for the first 39:56 was a solid A, but as with Sumpter, I have to deduct a full grade for what occurred in the last 4 seconds. True, the official over-reacted, but there is no reason Cunningham should have been that aggressive in the first place, in that game situation. Objectively, Cunningham's swim-move should have been a regular foul, which still would have placed the game in peril unnecessarily.
  Grade: B




• Reggie Redding (25 min)

  With Mike Nardi suffering from a twisted ankle and possible back spasms, Redding was once again conscripted into emergency guard duty. Redding played 25 minutes of good basketball, especially on the defensive end, where he almost single-handedly shut down Nichols, the conference's leading scorer. Redding also looked great passing the ball. He routinely found the open man, setting up several scores with his passing. Two areas where Reggie underperformed were ball-handling and shot-taking. Reggie got trapped in the corner after giving up his dribble a couple of times, which is patently against basketball fundamentals. Redding also passed up a few open shots that he should have taken. Redding finished with 0 points on 0-2 shooting, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, and 0 turnovers. Overall it was a good, solid performance by Reggie.
  Grade: B




• Will Sheridan (S, 24 min)

  Sheridan played decently today. Though he was customarily quiet on offense (5 points on 1-1 shooting), Sheridan looked good on defense. He also was fair on the boards, grabbing 5 rebounds. He did turn the ball over 3 times, which is too many for a big man playing only half the game. He added 1 block and 1 steal.
  Grade: C




• Shane Clark (23 min)

  Clark played a good complementary game today. He scored 8 points on an efficient 3-4 shooting performance from the field and a perfect 2-2 mark at the foul line. He added 4 rebounds, 2 assists, a block, and a steal. He committed no turnovers and played good defense.
  Grade:B-
  
  

• Mike Nardi (S, 13 min)

  Nardi injured his ankle early in the game, and was also said to be suffering from painful back spasms. He was not effective today, probably due to the injuries. Nardi scored 3 points on 1-5 shooting, and had 1 assist and 1 turnover. His status for the Big East Tournament has not yet been determined; the sprained or twisted ankle was apparently of the low variety, which is a good sign. I would not be surprised, however, to see Mike sit out Wednesday as a precaution, especially with the 'Cats' NCAA dance card already stamped. I'll try to update the site with Mike's status early this week as we learn more.
  Grade: NA



Note: Villanova radio reported that reserve forward Casiem Drummond was serving a one-game suspension for a minor violation of a team rule.


• Incomplete grades:
  Bilal Benn (1 min).



• Did not play:
  Casiem Drummond (1-game suspension), Dwayne Anderson (CD), Frank Tchuisi (CD), Ross Condon (CD), Andrew Ott (RS), Antonio Pena (RS).

'Cuse kills the 'Cats

Villanova 64
Syracuse 75
(box score)

Syracuse: 14-4 (3-1 BE)
Villanova: 10-5 (11-5, 1-3 BE, 3-0 B5)

Next game: vs. Notre Dame, 01/17 @ The Pavilion.

After a statement win over Georgetown in Washington, Villanova looked to even its conference record with a win at Syracuse on Saturday afternoon. Victory, however, was not in the cards for the 'Cats, as the team suffered perhaps its worse loss of the season at the hands of the Orange.

Although the game started out beautifully with an alley-oop from Reynolds to Cunningham to make the score 2-0 Villanova, it was pretty much all downhill from there. The Wildcats couldn't make shots, couldn't play defense, and couldn't score in transition. Syracuse shot a blazing 54.5 percent from the field, while holding the Wildcats to an anemic 36.1 percent. I use the word "holding" lightly, as Villanova missed several wide open looks.

Villanova was able to force 20 turnovers while only giving the ball away 12 times, an excellent margin. The 'Cats could not capitalize, however, as they were outscored on the fast break 11-2. Despite the plus-8 turnover margin, 'Nova managed only a 17-16 edge in points off turnovers.

The real problem, however, was shooting. Villanova's freeform offensive philosophy produced precious few easy buckets. The "take 'em" approach that worked so well with three NBA guards last year seems to be languishing this season, as the 'Cats have precisely one player who can create off the dribble as the offense requires.

With three new, highly touted guards coming in next year, Jay Wright may indeed want to stick with his guard-centric, create-for-yourself style. It does seem that the offense will create a lot of headaches this year, however, as the only player who gains any advantage from the offensive sets is Reynolds.

Villanova may not have won this game with any kind of offense, though. The Wildcats missed shots at a fantastic rate yesterday; in the second half they managed to miss fully two-thirds of their shots, going 10-30.

The 11-point final margin of victory for Syracuse is fairly misleading, as the Orange were comfortably ahead the entire second half and were in complete control of the game.

Onto the player grades. As always, click "READ MORE" below for player performance grades and analysis.

• Curtis Sumpter (S, 37 min)

  Sumpter once again led the team in scoring, putting in 24. He shot well from the field, 9-17, and from the three, 3-5. He grabbed 12 rebounds, leading the team, and had 3 steals. He only committed 1 turnover. These numbers are fantastic by any measure, but Villanova did lose the game. Sumpter is an excellent scorer, true, but sometimes the team needs him to take charge during dry spells and moments of panic. Curtis has rarely done that this season.
  Grade: B+




• Dante Cunningham (S, 34 min)

  Cunningham's performance as the point man of the full-court press is a sight to behold. His long wingspan and natural athleticism give him a major edge in forcing turnovers. He co-led the team in steals with 3. Dante also grabbed 4 boards and scored 4 points on his typically efficient 2-3 shooting. This sounds like a broken record, but they need to involve Cunningham in the offense more.
  Grade: B




• Scottie Reynolds (S, 32 min)

  It was a frustrating game for Reynolds, especially following his two career-best performances against DePaul and Georgetown. Scottie started out the game well, finding Dante on a beautifully-timed alley-oop and swishing a threeball. Inconsistency crept into his play, though, especially in the second half. Reynolds finished with 4 turnovers, leading the team. He also could not seem to find his stroke. Reynolds shot 4-15 from the field, and a terrible 2-10 from the three. He is a better shooter than that, but the shots weren't going in on Saturday.
  Grade: C-




• Will Sheridan (S, 22 min)

  Sheridan was a non-factor in the game despite starting and playing for 22 minutes. He was 1-3 from the field with 2 points, and only managed to get 2 rebounds. Sheridan is a competent role player, but would he be starting if he weren't a beloved senior? It may be time to look in other directions for the team's post minutes.
  Grade: D-




• Mike Nardi (S, 38 min)

  Frustration was the word of the day for the senior leader Nardi. He scored 17 points, second on the team, but he did it on 5-17 shooting, including a dismal 2-10 from the three. Nardi is in a major slump, shooting 13-51 from the field in his last four games, 25 percent. He is also 7-34 from the three in that span, a 20.5 percent success rate. The team needs a second major scorer to complement Sumpter, and unless he is set up by his teammates, Nardi may not be able to play that role. Nardi is a tremendously better shooter when he is able to catch and fire open and in rhythm. What he cannot do is create his own shot. Yet that is what he has been trying to do lately, with the expected results. I am a big Mike Nardi fan and cannot wait to see him get it back on track.
  Grade: D+




• Shane Clark (14 min)

  Clark was very quiet in his 14 minutes, scoring just 3 points on 1-4 shooting. He grabbed two rebounds and committed 2 turnovers. He may have suffered a minor injury during the game as he saw no action in the final minutes.
  Grade: D
  
  

• Casiem Drummond (12 min)

  Drummomd played no role in the offense in his 12 minutes, but looked good on the defensive end. He had 2 rebounds, an assist, a turnover, and even a steal. Count me in amongst the growing set of Drummond fans. I also believe either Casiem or Clark should be this team's fifth starter, with an edge to Drummond, because I like the offensive spark Clark can provide off the bench.
  Grade: C-




• Dwayne Anderson (5 min)

  In a game where Villanova could not score for its life, the highly touted "instant offense" provided by Anderson consisted of 0-1 shooting and no points. He literally had no statistics in his 5 minutes of play aside from 2 personal fouls. Why not take some shots, Dwayne?
  Grade: D-




• Bilal Benn (6 min)

  Maybe if Benn got more minutes he could get into the flow of the game better. With only 6 minutes played from the point, is it any surprise Benn could not contribute offensively? Benn is a good defender and should be able to shoulder the load a bit from Nardi. If Nardi is going to be playing 38 minutes per game while only hitting 1 in 4 shots, it's going to be a very long rest of the season. Benn, for his part, didn't do much of anything during his limited playing time, but that's not to say he couldn't given a longer period of run.
  Grade: D




• Reggie Redding (Did not play: coach's decision)

  Why didn't Reggie play? In a game where our guards couldn't make anything happen offensively, why not give Reggie some minutes? Is he that inept on offense? If so, that assessment differs greatly from the ability he showed in high school: namely, that he knew how to put the ball in the basket. The only real reason for not playing Redding that I can think of is that Villanova may be extremely close to signing Tyreke Evans. Though that would indeed be good news, it certainly doesn't seem fair to Redding if that is indeed the reason he stayed on the bench Saturday. I am not privy to private team matters or performances in practice, and it may be simply that Reggie is in the doghouse. But in a game where the offense is sputtering and the game is quickly getting out of reach, I would have thrown Redding in there to see what he could do.
  Grade: NA




• Incomplete grades:
  None.



• Did not play:
  Reggie Redding (CD), Ross Condon (CD), Frank Tchuisi (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.