STF In-Season Rankings: #3 Villanova Wildcats

Gettin' right down to it now. Here's a team that narrowly missed playing in the big game last season. We think they'll have a shot to rectify that situation this year.

 

logo-villanova-university.gif#3 Villanova Wildcats

Location: Villanova, PA

Conference: Big East

2008-09 Record: 30-8 (13-5)

NCAA Postseason: Beat American, UCLA, Duke, and Pitt (great freakin' game) to make the Final Four. Defeated by eventual champs UNC 69-83 in the semis.

Head Coach: Jay Wright (8th Season)

Losses: 6'8" F Dante Cunningham (16.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg), 6'6" F Dwayne Anderson (9.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg), 6'7" F Shane Clark (5.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg), 6'8" F Frank Tchuisi (1.0 ppg).

Key Returnees: 6'2" Senior G Scottie Reynolds (15.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.4 apg), 6'1" Junior G Corey Fisher (10.8 ppg, 2.8 apg), 6'5" Junior F Corey Stokes (9.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg), 6'8" Junior F Antonio Pena (5.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg).

Additions: 6'1" G Maalik Wayns (Philadelphia, PA), 6'10" F/C Mouphtaou Yarou (Natitingou, Benin), 6'7" F Isaiah Armwood (Baltimore, MD), 6'6" G Dominic Cheek (Jersey City, N.J.)

The Skinny: The return of the Wildcat backcourt was enough to get hoops fans excited. But Jay Wright's recruiting class is spectacular, and should fill the holes left by the departure of Cunningham and Anderson on the front line.
 
Those two worthies took most of 'Nova's rebounding prowess with them when they left, so the recent news that 6'10" Mouphtaou Yarou (man, that hurts my fingers) will be eligible to play right away, even though he may be old enough to rent a car. Cheek is a versatile 3-point bomber who needs to gain a little strength, but he's one of the true hauls of the class of '09. Local guy Maalik Wayns is a sweet-handling guard, and Armwood is a somewhat skinny forward. But none of them garnered less than four stars on scout.com.
 
Anyone who watched last year's epic Villanova/Pitt battle that sent the Wildcats on to the Final Four is likely excited about watching the Wildcats this season. Scottie and the two Coreys provide a sterling foundation, so if the rebounding and inside scoring can be somewhat better than average, as we suspect they will be, everything's going to be juuuust fine.
 
Bloggers say
 
scottie.jpg"Villanova enters the 2009-10 season as a popular pick to make a return visit to the Final Four. The reason? Strength, excellence, and experienced back court play. This is Guard U.

Scottie Reynolds returns for his senior season after testing the NBA waters. Along with Junior Corey Fisher, the returning Big East 6th Man of the Year, a backcourt exists with two scoring threats and two ball handlers. Throw in the experience of Long Distance threat Corey Stokes and lock-down defender and jack of all trades Reggie Redding (who will return to the team in the 2nd semester) and many teams should be worried. Additionally, the future of Villanova Guards is strong in the current season as McDonald All-American Freshmen Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek join the team.

The reason for caution with this year's Nova squad is the loss of graduating seniors Dante Cunningham and Dwayne Anderson who were the inspiration and heart of last year's Final Four squad. Their departure will require the only experienced post player, Junior Antonio Pena, to step up. However, he will have help- redshirt sophomore (and Duke transfer) Taylor King joins the team as does 6'10" freshman Mouphtaou Yarou, a consensus top-10 recruit and Low Post option. Redshirt freshman Maurice Sutton and true-frosh Isaiah Armwood also allow depth and extreme athleticism down low."
- Mike from VUHoops.com

Best Games:

12/6 "@" Maryland (Verizon Center, D.C.)
 
12/9 "@" St. Joe's (Palestra)

12/13 @ Temple

1/2 Louisville
1/11 @ Louisville
 
2/8 @ WVU
 
2/15 UConn
 
3/6 WVU

Villanova's laudable decision to play all of their Philly neighbors (the Big Five plus Drexel) makes their non-con schedule pretty predictable. But the round-robin deal between the Philly schools is one of the few surviving gentlemen's agreements that makes hoops so fun. No backing down in Philly.

Famous Basketball Alums: Rollie Massimino, Kerry Kittles, Chris Ford and Ed Pinkney.
 
Other Famous Alums: Howie Long. Jim Croce. John Cardinal O'Connor. Deirdre Imus.

Places to eat: Mike from VUHoops.com gives us Kelly's, Flip and Bailey's, and The Grog. STF reader, Villanova Law School grad, and sometime Extra P. lunch buddy Stormy agrees on Kelly's and adds Gullifty's.
 
"Previously, on STF Preseason Rankings"

#4 Kentucky Wildcats

#5 Tennessee Volunteers

#6 North Carolina Tar Heels

#7 Texas Longhorns

#8 West Virginia Mountaineers

#9 California Golden Bears

#10 Purdue Boilermakers

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