College Hoops Countdown | #5 Villanova

Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin’ Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation.

’08 – ’09 Results: 30 – 8 (13 -5 Big East) Lost to North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four, 83 – 69.

Coach: Jay Wright 178 – 91(eight seasons at Villanova) 300 -176 overall

Key Returners:

Scottie Reynolds – 15.2ppg, 2.9rpg

Reggie Redding – 7.1ppg, 4.9rpg

Corey Fisher – 10.8ppg, 2.3rpg

Antonio Pena – 5.1ppg, 4.2rpg

Corey Stokes – 9.4ppg, 3.4rpg

Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/19 vs. George Mason, 11/20 vs. Dayton or Georgia Tech, 12/6 vs. Maryland, 12/9 at St. Joseph’s, 12/13 at Temple

Stat of Identity: 75.3% from the free throw line

By Paul Gotham

On January 21st Villanova fell to UConn, 89-83. The loss dropped the Wildcats to two wins and three losses in the Big East Conference. From there Jay Wright’s gang recovered and won nine of ten on their way to the school’s first Final Four trip in over two decades.

This year’s version of the Villanova Wildcats will need to call upon that resolve which led the team to Detroit seven months ago. Wright’s Wildcats might swing through the season like a pendulum. The Wildcats will need to endure some lows as they prepare for another possible run in March.

Villanova returns one of the most experienced back courts in the college game. Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher and Reggie Redding all averaged at least 24 minutes per game during ’08 – ’09 – they understand what it takes to win big games. Each dished out over 100 assists – the three upper class men understand the value of teamwork. The three led the Wildcats to 300 steals last year while limiting opponents to 237. Corey Stokes will come off the bench. The junior would start in most programs. But in the guard-rich Villanova system, Stokes will have to wait his turn.

As deep as Villanova’s back court is, that is how lean their front court is. Wright got by with Dante Cunningham and Dwayne Anderson. What the two lacked in size they made up for with athleticism. Taking their place is Antonio Pena and freshman, Mouphtaou Yarou.  Pena played 17 minutes a game last year. Yarou will look to make the transition from Africa.

With an active back court, Villanova has the ability to make each game a battle of 94 feet. The Wildcats might need to do that to avoid shortcomings 15 feet within the basket.

25 | 23t | 23t | 22| 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6