Marquette grades and Anderson update

Marquette 84
Villanova 102
(box score)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Scottie Reynolds (S, 35 min)

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




• Dante Cunningham (S, 33 min)

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




• Corey Fisher (32 min)

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

• Reggie Redding (S, 27 min)

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

• Shane Clark (S, 26 min)

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

• Corey Stokes (21 min)

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




• Dwayne Anderson (S, 13 min)

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





• Antonio Pena (11 min)

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




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



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

'Nova wins big, Anderson hurt

[Click here for the full recap and player grades]

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

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

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

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

Possible serious Wayns injury

Just a short post to address the latest rumor: Villanova commit Maalik Wayns, one of the top PGs in the nation, may have suffered a possibly serious knee injury.

Details and official confirmation have not yet emerged, but if this is true, it could set back Wayns for much of his senior season.

Hopefully, the injury is a minor one. This post will be updated when details are available.

Update: As of Tuesday morning, an injury to the ACL has been ruled out, which is good news.

Anderson out with stress fracture

Swingman Dwayne Anderson, Villanova's most improved player last year and a projected starter, has been sidelined with a stress fracture in his left foot, according to a story by ESPN.

Villanova coach Jay Wright said "Dwayne is one of our significant leaders and this is a great loss for our team," according to the ESPN article.

Anderson is said to be out indefinitely.

Shane Clark, another Villanova forward, is also out for 3 to 6 weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

Shane Clark out 3-6 weeks

According to a press release from Villanova, senior forward Shane Clark is out for 3-6 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery yesterday.

Clark underwent the procedure Thursday at Bryn Mawr Hospital to remove loose particles from his right knee.

"Shane has been bothered slightly by pain in his knee," said Jay Wright in the statement. "It has not prevented him from practicing. He feels it is best at this time to have a minor procedure to ensure that this problem doesn't persist during the season. He will be back quickly."

Drummond to have surgery on broken ankle

Casiem Drummond will undergo surgery on Tuesday for a fractured right ankle, Villanova University announced in a press release.

Drummond fractured his right ankle in Villanova's win against Siena in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday. According to Villanova, the new injury is not related to the stress fracture in the same ankle that Drummond was diagnosed with in December.

Drummond started at center for the Wildcats for several games this season until the stress fracture caused him to miss more than ten games.

Drummond will miss Friday's game against top-seeded Kansas, and any further action this season as he recovers from his latest injury.

Anderson sprains ankle

According to Joe Juliano of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the starting junior Dwayne Anderson sprained his ankle in practice on Monday and is listed as "day-to-day."

Many Villanova fans have credited the swingman Anderson's insertion into the starting lineup with the Wildcats' resurgence in the second half of the season.

This injury does not sound all that serious, but it would be a huge blow to the 'Cats if Anderson were sidelined for their first round game against the 5-seeded Clemson Tigers on Friday night.

Fortunately for Villanova, Anderson still has more than two full days to heal, as the Wildcats do not tip off until 9:50 p.m. Friday night.

Drummond cleared to practice

Villanova center Casiem Drummond has been cleared to participate in practice "on a limited basis," according to a press release posted on the Villanova.com.

Rob Good, Villanova's team orthopedist, approved Drummond's return to practice after evaluating Drummond today. Good determined that Drummond's ankle had healed sufficiently to resume working out with the team.

Villanova coach Jay Wright praised Drummond's motivation in rehabilitating his ankle:

We are excited to have Casiem back with us on the court again. Cas worked extremely hard in rehab to maintain his conditioning. We will monitor his progress on the practice court this week and make a judgment on when he returns to the lineup.

Drummond had been sidelined since Dec. 14 with a stress fracture in his right ankle.

Without Drummond, the Wildcats suffered losses against DePaul and Cincinnati, and were also out-rebounded in several games.

Drummond sidelined with stress fracture

Before the game tonight, Villanova announced disappointing news in that sophomore center Casiem Drummond has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right ankle. Originally diagnosed as ankle tendonitis, Drummond has been hampered and unable to suit up for the past few games.

A stress fracture is defined as a tiny bone crack developed from overuse. When muscles are fatigued they fail to absorb the shock of impacts. Consequently, the muscles transfer the stress to the ankle which creates a small fracture. With proper rest, and use of protective footwear, most players with similar injuries have been able to return and be effective in the same season.

There is no timetable for his return, although similar injuries by basketball players such as Samuel Dalembert and Josh Childress have sidelined the stars for several weeks, with Childress' injury coming in the final weeks of the season. Interior players Dante Cunningham and Antonio Pena must step up in Drummond's absence if he is expected to miss significant time if the Cats hope to contend in the Big East.

Drummond has had a solid sophomore season thus far, starting six of Villanova's first eight games while averaging 7.1 points and 7.9 rebounds. His strongest game arguably came against NC State when he grabbed 17 rebounds during the Old Spice Classic.

Source: Fisher to play Sunday

According to a tip e-mailed to LetsGoNova.com, Corey Fisher will play Sunday at the Pavilion against Bucknell.

Fisher had been sidelined for the last two games with knee tendinitis. The freshman point guard was perhaps the highest-touted member of the recruiting class of 2007, and wowed fans with his dazzling performance at the Blue-White intra-squad scrimmage at Hoops Mania last month.

The 'Cats take on Bucknell in their second regular season game Sunday at 5 p.m.

Fisher may not play Friday

According to Dana Pennett O'Neill of the Philadelphia Daily News, Villanova coach Jay Wright said Corey Fisher missed Tuesday's exhibition with "severe tendinitis" and is only a 50 percent chance to play Friday at the Wildcats' season-opener against Stony Brook at the Pavilion.

Fisher, a freshman point guard, was arguably Villanova's highest-regarded recruit for the season, and fans who didn't make it to Canada this summer or Hoops Mania last month are anxious to get a first look at the potential star.

Shane Clark, the junior forward, also missed Tuesday's blowout of Bloomsburg, but only has a sprained thumb and should be able to play Friday, according to O'Neill.

As for the actual game, Villanova By The Numbers runs an in-depth preview. Check out his thoughts on the game before the 'Cats tip off against the Seawolves Friday night.

Nardi said good to go for tonight

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

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

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

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

Nardi suffers injury setback

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nardi hurting but hopeful

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

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

The story begins somewhat dramatically:

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

Other than that, Nardi is fine.

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

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

According to Nardi:

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

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

Injury update

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

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

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

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