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27 February 2007


One win and in

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/27/2007 07:18:00 PM

I agree with Sports Illustrated bracketologist Seth Davis, who wrote today in his bubble breakdown that Villanova is a lock for the NCAA Tournament with just one more win.

Here is what Davis has to say on Villanova:

This is a great example of a team that is in good shape because its coach put together an intelligent schedule. The Wildcats played four true road games and three neutral-court games in the nonconference season, which is almost unheard of for a major conference team. None of Villanova's nine losses came against bad teams, but the finishing stretch is a bit dicey -- at UConn followed by Syracuse at home. Two losses would mean four out of five, which would tighten Nova's collar heading into the Big East tourney. One more win would put them safely in.

There's a lot of talk by pessimistic fans about Villanova needing to win two of three to get an NCAA bid. I say that's hogwash. With Villanova's RPI (22) and SOS (7), nothing short of a complete collapse will keep the 'Cats out of the tournament. Even if Villanova loses all three games, there's still a decent chance the team dances. With any one win, the Wildcats are a lock.

There is, however, another motivation for Villanova to win as many games as possible before the Big Dance: seeding. Right now, most bracketologists have the 'Cats as an 8 or 9 seed. The 8 and 9 are terrible seeds this year due to the relative strength of the nation's top four or five teams compared to the next tier. Winning three games versus one game before the tournament may be the difference between a 9-seed with a disastrous second round match-up with North Carolina, and a 7-seed with an eminently winnable second round against a team like Texas A&M.

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26 February 2007


Villanova cruises vs. Rutgers

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/26/2007 03:22:00 AM


Villanova 74
Rutgers 51


Rutgers: 9-18 (10-18, 3-12 BE)
Villanova: 18-9 (19-9, 7-7 BE, 4-0 B5)

Next game: at Connecticut , 02/28 @Gampel Pavilion.

It was senior night at the Pavilion, but a freshman stole the show in Villanova's easy win over Big East bottom-dweller Rutgers on Saturday. Villanova rookie Scottie Reynolds put on an absolute clinic in the first half, scoring a point per minute and pouring in five threes. Reynolds looked like he was playing at a different speed than everyone else, although that is now becoming a familiar sight. It was all but over by half-time, when the 'Cats took a 45-18 lead into the locker room. The Scarlet Knights were horrendous at the start of the game. It took Rutgers 8 minutes just to get its first field goal.

Rutgers played much better in the second half, actually outscoring the 'Cats by 4. The game's outcome, however, was never in question, and Villanova cruised to the win.

The win over Rutgers does not really improve the Wildcats' NCAA Tournament resume. A loss, however, would have been disastrous. Villanova still needs at least one more win in its final two games at UConn and vs. Syracuse to be on the safe side of the bubble, depending on what happens in the Big East Tournament. Winning out those two games would move the 'Cats to the absolute lock category. If the Wildcats lose the next two (not as unlikely as it seems), they will either have to make a run in New York City, or place their fates in the hands of the committee, or both. If the season ended today, however, Villanova would be solidly in, and it would take a tremendous collapse at this point for the 'Cats to go 0-3 and play themselves out of the NCAAs.

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



  • Mike Nardi (S, 36 min)

    It seems like it's been forever since Nardi made his Pavilion debut at "Hoops Mania" three-and-a-half years ago, and yet it feels like it's too soon to say that he has played his last minutes on Villanova's campus. Barring an unlikely collapse to the NIT, however, Nardi and the three other Villanova seniors indeed have played their last games at the Pavilion.

    Nardi went out on a high note. Rebounding from his sub-par performance in Milwaukee, Mike played well and seemed to have fun out there, too. He dished out a team-high 7 assists, scored 11 points on 3-7 shooting, and was a perfect 4-4 from the foul line. Nardi even managed to drain a three, the last of his many Pavilion longballs.

    It's interesting, also, to note that Jay Wright moved Nardi back on the ball Saturday. Was the decision to give the point back to Nardi based on the competition, or the fact that it was senior night? Or was it a legitimate strategy shift that will carry forward for the rest of the season? I'm not sure either way. Nardi handled the ball well, turning it over only once. And Reynolds sure was spectacular playing off the ball. But will Jay stick with Nardi handling the ball against more athletic defenses? My guess is no, but it is an option.
    Grade: B



  • Scottie Reynolds (34 min)

    Jay Wright moved Reynolds off the ball Saturday, and the dividends were measured in swishes. Reynolds scored 25 points, including 20 in the first half before Jay called off the dogs. He was simply unstoppable. You read it here first: Scottie's performance Saturday just locked up his Big East Freshman of the Year award. Reynolds shot well from the field, 8-14, and perfect from the foul line at 3-3. Reynolds is now 36 for his last 39 free throws. I know who I want at the stripe with the season on the line this March. Scottie added 3 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. He committed 2 turnovers, and had a block. Reynolds is going to be the 'Cats' primary weapon in any NCAA Tournament run that is in the cards.
    Grade: A



  • Curtis Sumpter (S, 28 min)

    Sumpter also said goodbye to the Pavilion, his basketball home for the past five years. He put in a balanced performance Saturday. Sumpter scored 13 points on 5-11 shooting. He was 1-3 from the three and 2-2 from the free throw line. He led the team in rebounds, with 8, and blocks with 2. He had 1 steal and committed 2 turnovers. Sumpter is a much better player when he does not have to be the primary offensive focus, and the team's results this year reflect that. It was a very good game for Curtis's last in the "ski lodge."
    Grade: B



  • Will Sheridan (S, 24 min)

    Bump went out with a bang Saturday, putting in an efficient, mistake-free effort. Sheridan was 2-3 from the field for 4 points. He grabbed 3 rebounds in 24 minutes, and did not commit any turnovers. He also added 1 steal. Not eye-popping numbers by any means, but much better than some recent performances. His defense in the interior was fairly strong, but he did not have any blocks.
    Grade: B-



  • Dante Cunningham (24 min)

    Dante looked solid out there Saturday. He scored 12 points on 3-10 shooting, which is half his season field goal percentage. He was, however, a fantastic 6-6 from the foul line. Cunningham added 5 rebounds off the bench, and co-led the team in steals with 2. He did commit 2 turnovers, but his aggressive defense made up for it.
    Grade: B-



  • Shane Clark (S, 20 min)

    Clark continues to start, and no one really knows why. He did play fairly well Saturday, however. Shane notched 7 points on 2-6 shooting, including 1 three pointer. He was 2-4 from the foul line. Clark pulled in 6 boards, and added an assists and a steal to go with his 2 turnovers.
    Grade: C+

  • Reggie Redding (11 min)

    Redding did not do much offensively in his 11 minutes on the floor, but he did play solid defense. Reggie had 2 rebounds and a block. I'd really like to see him get his shot going before the post-season, so he can become another weapon on the perimeter.
    Grade: C



  • Bilal Benn (8 min)

    Benn had an assist, a turnover, and a steal in his 8 minutes. He played solid defense.
    Grade: C+



  • Ross Condon (S, 6 min)

    Condon started Saturday as part of the senior night festivities. A walk-on, Condon has been a valuable member of the team for four years, especially on the practice floor, where he helped hone the talents of NBA guards Randy Foye, Kyle Lowry, Allan Ray. He was a bit unlucky during the actual game tonight, going 0-4 from the field after finally getting the green light to take some shots. Ross faced the real possibility of being shut out on his senior night until Rutgers coach and former Villanova assistant Fred Hill instructed his team to foul Condon with 24 seconds left. It was a classy move on Hill's part to get Condon to the line, and Ross sank both free throws to get on the board in his last game at the Pavilion. The second made free throw also allowed Coach Wright to sub out Condon on the dead ball to a boisterous standing ovation. Condon was active all over the floor in his 6 minutes. He grabbed two rebounds and co-led the team with 2 steals.
    Grade: B



  • Incomplete grades:
    Casiem Drummond
    (4 min), Dwayne Anderson (3 min), Frank Tchuisi (2 min).


  • Did not play:
    Andrew Ott
    (RS), Antonio Pena (RS).

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25 February 2007


Stokes named McDonald's All American

posted by Matthew
2/25/2007 07:58:00 AM

Villanova signee Corey Stokes was named to the McDonald's All American roster on Friday. The 6-6, 220 pound Stokes is the second Villanova recruit in as many years to be named to the McDonald's All American team.

Corey Fisher, another highly touted recruit who will find his way to the Main Line next fall, was left off the team. Many had speculated that it was possible both Coreys would have been selected, making them the first pair of Villanova recruits to ever be named to the All American team in the same year.

In any case, Villanova fans have many reasons to be excited in the coming months.

The McD's All American game will be played at Louisville's Freedom Hall on March 28th and will be televised on ESPN.

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24 February 2007


Highlights from the Fisher-Mayo duel

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/24/2007 02:06:00 AM
It's on Youtube and the quality isn't the best, but the only word for this is "wow." Enjoy.


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23 February 2007


VU signee Fisher scores 37 in win over Mayo

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/23/2007 12:54:00 AM

Corey Fisher, who will arrive at Villanova's campus next fall, led nationally top-ranked St. Patrick (Elizabeth, NJ) to a 78-76 overtime win over prep superstar OJ Mayo and #6 Huntington of West Virginia.

Fisher, a dynamic point guard with a deadly outside shot, scored 37 points and had 6 assists to lead his team to the win. OJ Mayo, a USC-commitment and regarded by many as the best high school player in America, scored a phenomenal 47 points in the loss.

The game was played in West Virginia and was broadcast live nationwide on ESPN2.

Fisher is part of an outstanding recruiting class that includes standout small forward Corey Stokes and point guard Malcolm Grant, New York City's player of the year. With this year's top recruit Antonio Pena set to take off his redshirt next fall, Villanova could have one of the best classes of freshmen in the country.

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22 February 2007


NBA great Dennis Johnson dead at 52

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/22/2007 05:04:00 PM

Dennis Johnson, a star guard for the Boston Celtics in the 1980s, is dead today at age 52, according to ESPN.com and the AP.

Johnson had been head coach of the Austin Toros, Boston's NBA D-League affiliate.

Earlier this week, Villanova star alumnus Allan Ray had been sent down to the Austin Toros. It had been hoped that Ray could learn from Johnson, the legendary guard.

Johnson's cause of death is not yet known, and his body will be autopsied, according to the Travis County (Texas) Medical Examiner's Office.

Update: ESPN's PTI just reported that Johnson died of a heart attack while coaching a Toros practice. This means it is likely that Allan Ray witnessed the event in person.

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20 February 2007


Amazing Reynolds clip

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/20/2007 02:30:00 PM
So after the two straight losses and the news of beloved alum Allan Ray being sent to the D-League, I thought you all needed a taste of good news.

Check out this video below, courtesy of the geniuses at BigEastHoops. Scottie Reynolds just takes over the game for a stretch against Georgetown. Reynolds had a longer similar stretch of unreal play against Marquette, too. Enjoy.

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A-Ray to the D-League

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/20/2007 01:46:00 PM

Say it isn't so!

The Phanatic Magazine is reporting today that Celtics guard and former Villanova star Allan Ray has been sent down to the Celtics' NBDL affiliate in Austin, Texas.

Update: The Celtics' Web site now confirms Ray's re-assignment:

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have assigned rookie guard Allan Ray to their NBA Development League affiliate Austin Toros. Ray is the team's first assignment to the NBA Development League this season and the 19th NBA player to be assigned to the Development League. [...]The 6'2" guard out of Villanova will be coached by former Boston Celtics point guard Dennis Johnson with Austin who is in its first year as an affiliate of the Celtics.


Hopefully the NBA legend DJ will be able to show Ray some of his stuff. Ray's first game for the Toros should be on Feb. 23 at home against Fort Worth.

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'Cats collapse at #16 Marquette

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/20/2007 04:14:00 AM


Villanova 67
#16 Marquette 80

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



  • Scottie Reynolds (S, 37 min)

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



  • Shane Clark (S, 32 min)

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

  • Reggie Redding (30 min)

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



  • Curtis Sumpter (S, 27 min)

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



  • Mike Nardi (S, 22 min)

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



  • Dante Cunningham (20 min)

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



  • Will Sheridan (S, 19 min)

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



  • Bilal Benn (13 min)

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




  • Incomplete grades:
    Casiem Drummond
    (<1 min)


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

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18 February 2007


#14 Georgetown out-duels 'Nova

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/18/2007 04:11:00 AM


Villanova 55
#14 Georgetown 58

(box score)

#14 Georgetown: 20-5 (10-2 BE)
Villanova: 17-8 (18-8, 6-6 BE, 4-0 B5)

Next game: at #12 Marquette , 02/19 @The Bradley Center.

The Wachovia Center was rocking today as Villanova looked to punch its NCAA dance card against the #14 Georgetown Hoyas. The first match-up between these two teams, a 56-52 Villanova win in D.C. on Jan. 8, was a drawn out slugfest, and nothing less was expected today as both teams looked to keep win streaks alive.

The game lived up to its expectations. Though Villanova jumped out to a small lead early, the Hoyas closed the gap right before the half. Once again, Villanova built up a small cushion in the opening minutes of the second half, only to squander it to a Georgetown run. From that point, it was two fighters standing in the center of the ring dishing out their best shots. The last possession would determine the last man standing, and that's what it came down to.

Georgetown made its shots in the clutch, and Villanova didn't. The two teams were evenly matched, and the ball just went in for the Hoyas at the end. If Shane Clark's three from the corner had gone down instead of rimming out with 10 seconds left, the result may have been different. The fact that Villanova got such a good look is one positive to take away from the game.

One thing I would like to defend is Jay Wright's coaching job today. Several fans I've talked to are placing the blame for the loss squarely on Jay's shoulders, but in my opinion they could not be more wrong.

I believe this was one of Jay Wright's finest coaching performances. He stuck to his game plan of pressing three-quarter-court and then settling into a match-up zone to front the Hoyas' far superior big men. That plan kept the Wildcats in the game even as the Hoyas' high-powered offense attacked relentlessly.

Jay also used his timeouts perfectly in terms of game strategy and flow. His decision to take the air out of the ball sitting on a small lead in the final three minutes was correct. In a situation like that, with Villanova up a basket but overmatched in the paint, the clock is your ally.

The fact that the 'Cats came home with the L spoiled one of the best coaching jobs and pre-game preparation all year. Hopefully a similarly effective plan can be hatched for Monday's match against #12 Marquette, who have lost three in a row and will be hungry for a victory at home.

A note on Villanova's NCAA Tournament hopes: a win today would have placed the team into the "lock" category. Now the situation is a little more murky. To be safe, three wins out of the next four games should get us into the field easily. If Villanova splits 2-2, it may come down to how that record was split. A win against Marquette on the road will certainly be worth more than the assumed easy win over Rutgers at the Pavilion. If Villanova goes 1-3 over its last 4 (or dare I even suggest it it, 0-4), the 'Cats will need at least one win at Madison Square Garden to get into the NCAAs.

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



  • Shane Clark (S, 36 min)

    Clark led the team in minutes and had a quiet but decent game. His biggest contribution was his 2-3 performance from behind the arc; unfortunately that one miss was the potential game winner. He had 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 turnover. His defense was passable but he did commit 4 fouls.
    Grade: C

  • Curtis Sumpter (S, 34 min)

    Sumpter scored 15 today on 4-11 shooting. He was not as effective from behind the arc, going only 1-5, but was a perfect 6-6 from the line. He also led the team in rebounds with 8, in blocks, with 2, and in turnovers, with 3. Though he hit some huge shots in the second half, Sumpter did not even get the ball in the closing moments. Still, this is exactly the kind of game we need from Sump in the post-season.
    Grade: B



  • Mike Nardi (S, 34 min)

    After a string of good games, Nardi took several steps back today. He looked nervous and prone to forcing the issue, which is a deadly combination for a ball-handling guard in Jay Wright's system. Nardi scored just 2 points on 1-6 shooting, and was 0-2 from the three. He had 2 bad turnovers, and did not reach the foul line. He added 2 assists, 1 rebound, and a block. What won't show up the in box score, however, were the several missed opportunities he had. ESPN's College Gamenight even pointed out one in its highlight summary: at the end of the first half, Nardi forced a closely-guarded three with time left on the clock when teammate Reynolds was wide open to his immediate left. Had Nardi simply made the pass to the open shooter, there is no way that Georgetown's Jesse Sapp would have been able to launch his successful 65-foot three-pointer that proved to be the game's margin. On the other side of the court, Nardi's defense was fairly weak. Nardi fell hook, line, and sinker for Jeff Green's head-fake, allowing him to step up for an easy jumper that turned out to be the game-winner. Nardi is a senior and the team will need him to cut down on mistakes, step up up defensively, and make better decisions with the ball in the remaining games.
    Grade: D-



  • Scottie Reynolds (S, 29 min)

    Reynolds was back in his mid-season scoring form today, leading the team with 18. He shot an excellent 7-14 from the floor, including 4-6 from the three. He also led the team in assists with 4, and co-led the team in steals with 2. Despite shouldering the point responsibilities for 29 minutes, he did not commit a single turnover. He also added 4 rebounds. You simply could not ask for anything more of Reynolds today. He was huge in the clutch. With the team down 1 with 19 seconds left, he was able to penetrate and drew contact that should have been a foul. Still down 1 and inbounding the ball with under 10 seconds left, he made what would have been the game-winning assist, had Shane Clark's three gone in. It was the perfect look off the inbounds play. Then, down 3 with just 3.6 seconds remaining, Reynolds took the inbounds pass and turned on the jets, covering the length of the floor to get a good look at a three that just didn't fall. As that three was in the air, I was convinced that we were going to overtime, but the shot did not go down. Reynolds was the ultimate competitor today, trying to will the team to victory. Even as he was relegated to the bench with 4 fouls late in the second half, he could not sit still while watching the action. When he came back into the game at the 3:46 mark, he promptly hit a huge three to give the 'Cats a 4-point lead. Though Villanova lost today, the play and spirit of Scottie Reynolds will help bring home many wins in the future.
    Grade: A



  • Will Sheridan (S, 27 min)

    Sheridan played his best game in a while today. He excelled in his role as defensive stopper of the formidable Hoya front line. Thanks in part to Will's efforts, Roy Hibbert was limited to just 4 points. Sheridan was more involved offensively today, scoring 5 on 2-8 shooting. He had 6 rebounds, 2 assists, a block, a steal, and no turnovers. The block, in particular, was outstanding, as it occurred on a crucial defensive possession late in the game.
    Grade: B



  • Dante Cunningham (24 min)

    Villanova needs to get Cunningham back into the starting lineup. Can he really still be suffering from bronchitis? Why have his minutes been cut back? Cunningham was not as effective today as he was in the past two games. Dante scored just 3 points on 1-4 shooting. He grabbed 5 rebounds and added an assist, a steal, and a turnover. His defense was good, but we need him more involved on the offense.
    Grade: C-



  • Reggie Redding (16 min)

    Redding played his role well today, giving 16 solid minutes as Villanova went as shallow as possible in its rotation. Redding scored 6 on 1-2 shooting from the field, and was 4-6 from the foul line. He made some excellent passes but was not credited with an assist. His defense was generally good, and he co-led the team in steals with 2. He also did not commit any turnovers. I'll take this game from Reggie every time.
    Grade: B




  • Incomplete grades:
    None


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

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16 February 2007


'Nova freezes Cincinnati

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/16/2007 02:31:00 AM


Villanova 64
Cincinnati 48

(box score)

Cincinnati: 10-15 (1-10 BE)
Villanova: 17-7 (18-7, 6-5 BE, 4-0 B5)

Next game: vs #14 Georgetown, 02/17 @The Wachovia Center.

The wintry mix of snow, ice, sleet, and gale-force winds kept many would-be spectators away from the Pavilion last night, but those who did make the trip witnessed a solid Villanova win over a hopelessly poor Cincinnati team.

The spread for the game was 15.5, and it was clear very quickly that the game would never be close. Cincinnati simply could not score. With 6:08 remaining in the first half, Cincinnati had 10 turnovers and just 6 points. They needed 16 minutes just to reach double digits.

You know your team is terrible when the opposing student section starts mock-cheering for nearly all your baskets. That's exactly what happened at the Pavilion last night.

Some strong points for the Wildcats were their defense, long-ball shooting, and transition game. Villanova forced 16 turnovers, including 12 in the first half, and held the hapless Bearcats to 34.2 percent shooting. The Wildcats shot 8-20 from the three for 40 percent. Finally, Villanova managed an excellent 19 points off turnovers.

The game was never in question. The real test for Villanova will be Saturday's showdown downtown against the #14 Georgetown Hoyas. With a win at the Wachovia Center Saturday, Villanova will have all but stamped its NCAA ticket.

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




  • Mike Nardi (S, 29 min)

    Mike Nardi seems to have gotten back into his rhythm these past few games. Nardi led the team in scoring with 16, and shot 5-9 from the field. He was on fire from the three, going 4-5. Nardi seems to hit shots when he is open, and Cincinnati gave him plenty of open looks. If he can stick his open shots and not force contested ones, Mike is going to be very valuable to the team in the post-season. Nardi added 3 assists, 3 rebounds a steal, and a turnover.
    Grade: B+



  • Scottie Reynolds (S, 29 min)

    Reynolds got a chance to showcase his defensive skills last night. He co-led the team in steals, with 3, and was generally a nuisance to Cincinnati's offensive plans. Scottie continues to be cold from the floor. He shot 2-9 from the field, including 1-5 from the three, but was perfect again from the line at 4-4 to score 9 points total. I get the feeling that after suffering from the flu, Reynolds needs another offensive breakout game to regain his confidence. Let's hope that game is Saturday against Georgetown. Reynolds managed to run the point while committing just 1 turnover, and he also added 3 assists and 3 boards.
    Grade: B-



  • Will Sheridan (S, 25 min)

    This is the first game in a while that Sheridan's minutes have cracked 20. Will played a solid game against the Bearcats. Cincinnati really has no inside presence to speak of on either end, so Sheridan was able to get into the offensive flow a little bit. He scored 8 points on 4-6 shooting. His defense was not that good, however. Sheridan committed 2 turnovers and had just 1 block against a Cincinnati team that was absolutely horrible in the paint. Will also pulled in 3 boards.
    Grade: C



  • Shane Clark (S, 23 min)

    Clark was as cold as the weather from the floor last night, going 2-8 from the field and 1-5 behind the arc. He did have a positive impact everywhere else. Clark had 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, and 1 turnover. His defense looked better. His handle still needs a lot of work.
    Grade: C+

  • Bilal Benn (22 min)

    Benn earned some major minutes serving as the 3rd guard on the floor. He played very efficiently and handled the ball well, coughing up no turnovers. He scored 5 points on 2-2 shooting. He added 4 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and played his typically stingy defense.
    Grade: B-



  • Reggie Redding (20 min)

    Redding may be the team's best pure passer. His court vision is definitely unmatched. He led the team in assists with 4, and co-led the team in steals with 3. Reggie is such a natural basketball player that he knows where to be and when most of the time. He was horrendous as a shooter, however. Redding shot 1-5 from the floor, and most of those shots had no chance whatsoever. He is a good shooter and needs to get his confidence going. He also needs to protect the ball a little more as he committed 3 turnovers. His defense against the Bearcats was outstanding, however.
    Grade: C+



  • Dante Cunningham (20 min)

    Cunningham is still suffering from respiratory symptoms after his bout with influenza or bronchitis or both, depending on who you ask. As against Seton Hall, however, his game is showing no ill effects. Dante was 3-7 from the field and a perfect 5-5 from the stripe to get 11 points. He also led the team in rebounding with 9. He added 1 spectacular block, and had 1 turnover.
    Grade: B+




  • Curtis Sumpter (S, 19 min)

    Sumpter was held scoreless for most of the game before hitting consecutive shots. He finished with 8 points on 3-7 shooting, including 2-3 from the three. He had 4 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, a block, and a turnover. All in all, not bad for 19 minutes of work.
    Grade: B-



  • Incomplete grades:
    Dwayne Anderson
    (5 min), Casiem Drummond (4 min), Frank Tchuisi (2 min), Ross Condon (2 min).


  • Did not play:
    Andrew Ott
    (RS), Antonio Pena (RS).

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14 February 2007


Game will be played as scheduled

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/14/2007 02:25:00 PM
Despite the snow, ice, and sleet storm that has moved through the Villanova area, tonight's game against Cincinnati will be played as scheduled at 9 p.m. at the Pavilion.

The university did cancel all afternoon and evening classes today due to the storm. According to villanova.edu:

Villanova University will close at 1:30pm today. All afternoon and evening classes are cancelled. [...]
The mens' game at the Pavilion vs Cincinnatti will be held as scheduled this evening at 9pm.


Hope everyone makes it to the game safely.

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12 February 2007


Randy Foye cited by police

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/12/2007 02:57:00 PM

Villanova alumnus and NBA rookie of the year candidate Randy Foye was cited by police last night for disorderly conduct outside a Minneapolis gas station. Police had been responding to reports of fighting.

Police did not say who started the fight. Foye and two others received citations and were then released, while a fourth was booked into the local jail. All four had been in the same automobile, said police.

According to the Associated Press, which obtained the police report

Officers responded about 2:40 a.m. to a witness report of a scuffle outside the gas station about 2 miles south of Target Center. They found four people in a fight next to a parked sports utility vehicle while the store was closed.


Update @6:47 P.M: Randy Foye talked to reporters Monday afternoon to discuss the incident. Foye said that he was driving when two of his passengers began arguing. Foye said he then pulled over the SUV so the argument could be settled.

Foye emphasized that he does not plan to make a habit of these type of incidents:

That's not me, and it won't be in the future because I'm much smarter than that. I had nothing to do with the situation. Basically I tried to stop the situation.


Update @ 13-Feb-2007, 1:00 A.M: Here is a story on the situation from the Minneapolis Star Tribune. It sounds like Randy was just trying to be a peacekeeper and it backfired. It's a good read to understand the situation.

Update @ 13-Feb-2007, noon: The full transcript of Randy's comments addressing the situation can be found here. From his comments it is clear he was not involved in the fighting in any way.

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Dante's monster dunk

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/12/2007 02:33:00 AM
Per request, here is Dante's ferocious slam dunk against Seton Hall. The broadcast angle was bad, so to make up for it I have added some cheesy editing and music. Enjoy!

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10 February 2007


Villanova sinks Pirates

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/10/2007 06:29:00 PM


Villanova 78
Seton Hall 69

(box score)

Seton Hall: 11-11 (12-11, 3-7 BE)
Villanova: 16-7 (17-7, 5-5 BE, 4-0 B5)

Next game: vs Cincinnati, 02/14 @The Pavilion.

Villanova evened its conference record Saturday with a crucial road win over the Seton Hall Pirates. The game was sloppy at times, and perhaps the Wildcats let Seton Hall hang around far too long, but it was a road win in the Big East, which is all anyone can ask for.

With the win, Villanova improved to 5-5 in the Big East. Getting to .500 in conference is important to the NCAA selection committee. With the team's excellent strength of schedule and computer rankings, Villanova should cruise into the tournament as long as it keeps its conference record above water.

Before we get to the player grades, I want to address a question I've been asked a dozen times since Saturday: "What was the deal with Jay Wright's track suit?"

No, Jay didn't forget to pack one of his many expensive, finely tailored business suits. Coach Wright was participating in the "Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend." According to the American Cancer Society:

Coaches and coaching staff are encouraged to wear sneakers with their suits while coaching games during this weekend to remind college basketball audiences about the many ways people can reduce their risk of cancer, like eating right, exercising, making healthy lifestyle choices, and following the American Cancer Society's recommended cancer screening guidelines.

While other coaches wear sneakers along with their normal suits, Jay chooses to wear a full track suit ensemble. Whether he does this to further emphasize the importance of being physically active, or just because he feels it looks less silly, I don't know. This marks the second straight year that Coach Wright has donned the track suit for cancer awareness.

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




  • Mike Nardi (S, 37 min)

    This was one of the better games of the season from Mr. Nardi. Mike scored 16 points while taking just 4 shots, thanks to his 11-15 performance from the foul line. Nardi also led the team in assists, with 8. For the second straight game, Nardi played 37 minutes, again by far the most on the team. Though he played soundly for the most part, he did turn the ball over 3 times. It was a quietly efficient, albeit unspectacular performance from Mike.
    Grade: B



  • Curtis Sumpter (S, 33 min)

    Sumpter really got it going Saturday against the Pirates. He shot 7-13 from the floor, scoring 21. He also was 60 percent from the three, 3-5, and perfect from the line at 4-4. He led the team in rebounds with 10. One negative was his 4 turnovers, most on the team. His defense looked a little soft, but nothing too serious. Good game from Curt.
    Grade: B+



  • Shane Clark (S, 29 min)

    Clark was quiet on the offensive end of the floor, taking just 3 shots in 29 minutes. He managed to score 4 points and pull in 6 boards. His defense was excellent. Shane led the team in steals with 2 and did a good job defensively on the perimeter and inside.
    Grade: B-

  • Dante Cunningham (26 min)

    Dante did not start Saturday for the second straight game. Could he still be suffering from his flu-like symptoms? If he was, it didn't show on the floor at the Meadowlands. Cunningham was back to his usual efficient offensive game, scoring 14 points on 4-7 shooting. He also has seemed to right the ship at the free throw line, where he shot an excellent 6-7 despite recent foul shooting woes. Cunningham also added a block and had 2 turnovers. The real story of the game, though, was a spectacular dunk in the 2nd half that brought the house down, even though the house was half-empty. Dante is an amazing athlete and the fact that we have him for two more years bodes well for the Villanova Wildcats.
    Grade: A-



  • Scottie Reynolds (S, 23 min)

    Reynolds struggled with foul trouble, picking up 4 early in the second half. He also shot poorly from the floor, 1-6, and was not a factor from the three (0-1). Dare I say that Reynolds should probably take more than 1 shot from beyond the arc? He is arguably our best long-ball shooter, and I do not want him to regress to his pass-first mentality of 2006. Reynolds did manage to score 11 points despite making only a single field goal, thanks to his outstanding 9-9 performance at the stripe. He also grabbed 4 rebounds, had 4 assists, and committed just 2 turnovers. By any standard it was a good game from Reynolds, but I feel like he can be doing so much more. He might need another breakout game to regain his scoring confidence. Could Cincinnati be that game? My money is on yes. Expect a lot more out of Scottie Reynolds before the Big East Tournament.
    Grade: B-



  • Reggie Redding (23 min)

    Redding is now solidly in the tight 6-man rotation. He plays Jay-Wright style basketball, doing all the little things out there and not letting his on-paper position define his role. His defense has been steadily improving, to the point where I can now say that aside from Bilal Benn, Reggie is our best lock-down defender. Thanks to Redding's height, he can guard four of five opposing positions. Reggie also seemed to get in the flow of the offense Saturday. He shot well, 4-8 from the field, to score 8 points. He missed his only 3-point shot, and was a surprising 0-2 from the foul line. It's time for Reggie to improve these areas of his game. For the season, Redding is shooting 14.8 percent from the three and 60.0 percent from the line. He is a better shooter than those numbers, and I expect those numbers to start going up very quickly as we march toward the post-season. Redding also added 6 rebounds tonight, along with a steal and 2 turnovers.
    Grade: B-




  • Will Sheridan (S, 18 min)

    Sheridan's minutes have really gone down lately, but he remains a starter at tip-time. Will played 18 minutes tonight. He was not much of an offensive force, scoring 4 on 1-1 shooting, but was a perfect 2-2 from the line. He managed to grab 4 rebounds, and led the team in blocks with 3. Not much offense, but some good defense in limited time for Will.
    Grade: C



  • Bilal Benn (9 min)

    Benn brings some much-needed intensity and passion from the bench. On Saturday Benn played 9 serviceable minites. He did not score, but did grab 3 rebounds. He had 2 turnovers, but he played good defense.
    Grade: C-



  • Incomplete grades:
    Dwayne Anderson
    (1 min), Casiem Drummond (1 min).


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

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06 February 2007


'Nova takes Big 5 with win over SJU Hawks

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/06/2007 10:10:00 PM

Villanova 56
St. Joseph's 39

(box score)

St. Joseph's: 12-10 (13-10, 5-4 A10, 2-1 B5)
Villanova: 15-7 (16-7, 4-5 BE, 4-0 B5)

Next game: at Seton Hall, 02/10 @ Continental Airlines Arena.

Villanova won the Philadelphia Big 5 city series tonight after beating St. Joseph's by a score of 56-39 in an ugly game at the Pavilion. This marks the third consecutive year the Wildcats have earned either the lone or partial share of the Big 5 championship.

Though it was a good win against a solid St. Joseph team, it was an exceedingly unattractive basketball game. The two teams could not combine for triple digits, and neither team had much success shooting the ball.

What's more, the teams combined for a ridiculous 39 turnovers tonight. There were also 34 total fouls called.

Whenever your team shoots 35 percent from the field and commits 18 turnovers, and manages to actually win that game by double digits, you should probably just take the victory and move on. Let's not even mention that the team shot 3-22 (13.6 percent) from the three. Oh wait, we just did.

The Wildcats do seem to have a lot of issues to work on before they resume conference play Saturday in East Rutherford, N.J, but winning the Big 5 is no small accomplishment on its own.

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




  • Mike Nardi (S, 37 min)

    Nardi led the team by far in minutes tonight. We needed him every second out there. He played a solid game of basketball, but he is still struggling to find his shot. Nardi went 3-12 from the floor, including 2-8 from the three. He did shoot perfectly from the charity stripe, 3-3, to finish with 11 total points. He was excellent distributing the ball, dishing 7 assists. That number is even more remarkable considering the team only had 21 field goals, so Mike Nardi either made an assist or make the basket on 10 of the 21 field goals, just under 48 percent. Nardi did have 3 turnovers, and no steals. Hopefully he will shoot better on Saturday, but he carried the team tonight.
    Grade: B



  • Curtis Sumpter (S, 30 min)

    Sumpter led the team in scoring, with 14 points. He shot well from the field, 6-11, and from the line at 2-2. He also grabbed 7 rebounds, had 2 assists, 3 blocks, and 2 turnovers. His defense looked much better tonight than against Louisville. All in all it was a very good game by Curtis.
    Grade: B+



  • Shane Clark (S, 28 min)

    Clark couldn't really get his shot going tonight but was flying all over the court doing other things. He scored 9 points on 3-8 shooting, including 1-5 from the three. We need him to shoot better from behind the arc. Clark did lead the team in rebounds with 8, and had 2 swats, a steal, and a turnover. Clark has come up pretty big the past few games when called on to play crucial minutes for injured or ill starters.
    Grade: B

  • Reggie Redding (25 min)

    Redding is a smart basketball player, and smart players know to keep shooting when open even amidst a slump. Redding was 2-11 from the field, and 0-6 from the three, but none of those shots were ill-advised or forced, in my opinion. That makes his shooting perfomance much easier to swallow tonight. Redding is a freshman and just recently began to earn major minutes. He was an excellent jump-shooter in high school, so eventually the shot will start to fall. Reggie found other ways to contribute tonight, pulling in 5 rebounds, getting an assist, and making 2 steals. He only had 1 turnover, which is a major step up from the Louisville game. Word has it that Redding was working on his jumpshot at the Pavilion tonight after the game until the wee hours of the morning. It is obvious Redding is dedicated to improving as a player, and that dedication is sure to pay dividends.
    Grade: C-



  • Dante Cunningham (23 min)

    Dante is suffering from the flu. He took the floor tonight with a 101-degree fever after receiving intravenous fluids in the locker room. I know we only grade players here, but I am giving the team doctor an F for not getting these guys influenza vaccinations this fall. Cunningham makes the fifth Villanova starter to be stricken with the flu this season. Get them some flu shots next November!

    Cunningham did not start tonight due to his illness. He did, however, see 23 minutes of floor time tonight, fifth-most on the team. He looked like he was ill out there, shooting 1-4 from the floor and 0-1 from the line for 2 points. He only was able to grab 3 rebounds. Cunningham did manage to grab a team-high 4 steals, which was huge. He gets a pass tonight for being ill, but we need the old Dante back pronto.
    Grade: B-



  • Scottie Reynolds (S, 19 min)

    As if having one starter out with an illness weren't enough, the team found out at half-time that Reynolds was also severely ill. Thus the freshman star was limited to 19 minutes on the game, and just 6 minutes in the second period. He also was plagued by foul trouble for much of the game. His line was a bit wobbly. He shot 1-6 from the field but was a perfect 4-4 from the foul line to total 6 points. He grabbed 4 rebounds, which is fantastic in his limited run, but also committed 4 turnovers. He added 2 assists. We need Scottie to get healthy and start scoring again as soon as possible.
    Grade: C+



  • Bilal Benn (19 min)

    Benn played major minutes in his second straight game. Bilal really bailed out the 'Cats tonight with his energy and defensive intensity. He also even scored a little bit, getting 6 points on 3-4 shooting. He pulled in 4 rebounds, including 2 on the offensive glass. Benn also had 3 steals along with 3 turnovers. Kudos to Bilal for filling in so competently for Reynolds tonight.
    Grade: B-



  • Will Sheridan (S, 13 min)

    Sheridan did much more in his 13 minutes tonight than in his 17 against Lousiville. He still looks uncomfortable on the offensive end, but did manage to score 4 points on 2-3 shooting, including one dunk in a run-out, which is impressive. He only got 3 rebounds, but his minutes were limited. He only played 4 minutes in the first half after two quick fouls, even though he started. Sheridan had 2 blocks and 2 steals and 1 turnover. It was a decent performance for the minutes played, but it's becoming clear that Will's minutes are being reduced.
    Grade: C



  • Incomplete grades:
    Dwayne Anderson
    (2 min), Casiem Drummond (2 min), Frank Tchuisi (1 min), Ross Condon (1 min).


  • Did not play:
    Andrew Ott
    (RS), Antonio Pena (RS).

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05 February 2007


Happy birthday, Andreas Bloch

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/05/2007 08:16:00 PM

Villanova legend Andreas Bloch turns 25 today. Bloch starred for the 'Cats from 2000 to 2004, draining threes, creating mismatches, and generally wreaking havoc for four years.

Is it a coincidence that Bloch wore the #1 jersey before subsequent VU stars Kyle Lowry and Scottie Reynolds donned it? No. Bloch was perhaps the most underrated player in Villanova history, and his legacy lives on through his #1 jersey.

Andreas is now playing pro ball across the pond, and is doing quite well. According to his sports agency, Bloch is currently tearing it up for the Freiburg squad in the GER 2 League in Germany. Bloch is averaging 6.8 points and 6.5 boards in 30 minutes per game.

So happy birthday, Andreas Bloch. Hope we see you soon at the Pavilion.

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04 February 2007


'Nova saves season with win over Louisville

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
2/04/2007 04:13:00 AM

Villanova 57
Louisville 53

(box score)

Louisville: 15-7 (16-7, 6-3 BE)
Villanova: 14-7 (15-7, 4-5 BE, 3-0 B5)

Next game: vs. St. Joseph's, 02/06 @ The Pavilion.

Villanova was victorious in its must-win game yesterday against the Louisville Cardinals at the Wachovia Center, winning 57-53. With the W, the Wildcats improve to 4-5 in conference play and now are on the inside track to an NCAA bid.

It was close the entire game, but the 'Cats defense earned them the victory. Villanova held Louisville to 34.5 percent shooting from the field. This excellent defense helped to counteract the Cardinals' 2-to-1 advantage in turnovers forced (16-8).

Villanova also dominated on the glass, winning the battle of the boards 42-27.

Aside from the generally sloppy play that caused too many turnovers and poor shots, the Wildcats played with high levels of energy and purpose. This may have been aided by Jay Wright's implementation of a deeper, more balanced rotation against the speedy Cardinals, as compared to the previous few games.

Villanova went a legitimate 8 deep yesterday, and all 8 players saw at least 10 minutes of floor time. This playing-time spread probably allowed the 'Cats fresher legs at the end when they pulled away for the win.

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



  • Scottie Reynolds (S, 35 min)

    The story is out about Scottie Reynolds. The coaching fraternity in the Big East is now fully aware that Reynolds is the absolute key to the team's success. Rick Pitino said as much in the post game press conference:

    Their record is tremendous when [Reynolds] has great scoring nights. When Sumpter scores a lot of points, they lose. When [Reynolds] scores a lot of points, they win. We were not going to let Scottie Reynolds beat us.

    Scottie, consequently, had to overcome his position as the focus of the Louisville defense. It was not unusual to see two Cardinal defenders jump out to double-team Scottie as soon as he caught the ball anywhere within 30 feet of the basket. With all this defensive attention, Reynolds was unable to post the kind of gaudy scoring tally we have become accustomed to of late.

    Another factor working against Scottie in conference play is the lack of respect given to him by the referees. Several times against Louisville, Reynolds took the ball to the rim and was hacked by one of Louisville's big men, but no foul was called. If Scottie were not a freshman, the officials would likely give him the benefit of the doubt in these situations. Coach Wright confirmed my suspicions in his post-game remarks:

    He doesn’t really get calls right now. When he takes it up against the big guys sometimes, and he gets hit and we don’t get the call, I don’t care. If he makes a big guy commit, we have a chance for an offensive rebound. Good things happen when he drives the ball.


    Despite all these hindrances, and the lingering effects of the flu, Reynolds actually played a good game of basketball. His shot was a little off, as reflected by his 2-11 shooting from the field and 9 points overall, but Reynolds was good from the free-throw line, shooting 4-5. Where he truly shined, however, was in ball distribution: Reynolds dished out 10 assists, his career high, and is now leading the team in dimes with 97 for the season. Reynolds also led the team in steals against the Cardinals, with 2. He was a tad sloppy with the ball, losing 4 turnovers, but he did handle the ball for 35 minutes against the suffocating Cardinals' pressure defense.

    My one concern is that Reynolds's low scoring output in the past two games (17 points total) will cause him to revert to his early-season pass-first mentality. While his passing is fantastic, this team needs Reynolds to score in order to win. I know it, you know it, and coaches Wright and Pitino know it. Let's just hope Scottie knows it.
    Grade: B


  • Mike Nardi (S, 32 min)

    Nardi started the game hot, scoring 7 of the team's first 8 points. He shot well from inside the arc at 5-6, but poorly from the three (1-4), scoring 11 overall. He did not reach the foul line. Nardi played turnover-free basketball, but only had 1 assist, and did not make any steals. He looked solid on defense. Nardi plays best when he plays opportunistically, taking what the defense gives him and not trying to force anything. He did that fairly well against Louisville.
    Grade: B-



  • Curtis Sumpter (S, 32 min)

    Curt was decent on offense, scoring 10 points on 3-8 shooting, and hitting a huge three to stop a Louisville run. He also co-led the team in rebounds with 6, and was perfect from the free-throw line. He still seems a little tentative on the floor following his bruised leg injury, which may have caused his poor defense against the Cardinals. Coach Wright resorted to subbing him out on all defensive possessions down the stretch. Sumpter was good on the offensive end, but needs to improve the defensive effort.
    Grade: C



  • Reggie Redding (30 min)

    Redding earned his way from a little-used bench player to de facto starting status in just a few games. Redding notched 30 minutes against the Cardinals, and his silky smooth game was evident once again. I am quickly becoming a Reggie Redding fan because he does so many things when he is on the court. Redding is a natural passer, and while he earned no official assists in the scorebook against Louisville, he had several passes that immediately led to assists -- these would be scored as full assists in hockey. Alas, this is basketball, where such stats are not yet inked. Redding did co-lead the team in rebounds with 6, and scored 7 points on 3-5 shooting. He did lead the team in turnovers, with 5, but at least 1 of those was not his fault -- a 5-second violation where no one came back to the inbounder against the press except Reynolds, who was double-covered. It was a nice game overall by Redding, who should see his minutes continue to increase. The team is simply better when he is out there.
    Grade: B-



  • Dante Cunningham (S, 23 min)

    Cunningham had a quiet but effective game. He scored 6 points on 2-6 shooting, and grabbed 5 rebounds. He had one assist, turnover, and steal. His free-throw shooting is of major concern lately, as it seems to have regressed to last-year's form, after an excellent start this season from the foul line.
    Grade: C+



  • Shane Clark (21 min)

    Clark really bailed the team out on offense. He led the team in scoring with 12 on an excellent 4-5 from the field, including 3-3 from the three. More important, there were a few possessions where Shane looked like the only Wildcat willing to actually put up a shot. Clark's aggression offensively is a major asset when he uses it judiciously, as he did against the Cardinals. Clark also added 3 boards, 2 assists, a block, and a steal. His handle still looks terrible, and he did have 2 turnovers, but overall this was one of the best efforts from Clark all season.
    Grade: B+


  • Will Sheridan (S, 17 min)

    Sheridan once again had no impact whatsoever on the offense. He was 0-1 with 0 points in 17 minutes. He had 2 rebounds, fewer than any Wildcat who saw the floor Saturday, which is really unacceptable since Sheridan as the jumpball tapper is nominally the team's starting center. He did have an assist and a steal, and his defense was decent, but I just do not see how Sheridan is earning his minutes out there. To be fair, this was a major reduction in playing time from his average, but you would expect some sort of impact from Will while he is on the floor
    Grade: D-



  • Bilal Benn (10 min)

    Benn earned some minutes for the first time in several games, and he did not disappoint. He provided solid relief in giving some rest to Scottie and Nardi, and was aggressive on the offensive end. He scored 2 points on 1-2 shooting, and moved the ball well in the offensive sets. He also managed to grab 3 rebounds in his limited run. His defense was good.
    Grade: B-



  • Incomplete grades:
    None
    .


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

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