Villanova Wildcats Basketball - Articles - Zimbio

Wildcats receive stadium blow

Wed, 11 Sep 2008 16:39:00 GMT

posted by galata

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have been rocked by the collapse of their plans for a new stadium.

The engage Super League club were recently awarded a three-year licence on the promise of a move to an all-seater, community stadium in a sports village at Thornes Park on the outskirts of Wakefield.

But the local authority say the project would be difficult to deliver within the £60million budget and by 2012, the date by which they need to have a new stadium to comply with licence requirements.

Wakefield Council have pledged to investigate other options, which could include a stadium-sharing arrangement with engage Super League neighbours Castleford Tigers.

Both clubs need to move into new homes to retain their places in engage Super League after 2011

The Thornes Park project included an eight-lane swimming pool, sports hall, a 150-station gymnasium, training fields, redevelopment of the park, transport links and running track refurbishment.

“We are in discussions with the local authority to find a solution which will satisfy these cost and date issues,” said a Wakefield spokesman.

Big Win Keeps Villanova’s NCAA Tournament Hopes Alive

Fri, 23 Feb 2008 20:56:25 GMT

posted by highlite15

Just when we thought the big five was dead, the Villanova Wildcats step up with a huge 67-65 victory in a well-played, hard fought contest against Big East foe, the #13 Connecticut Huskies. The win makes it 3 in a row for Jay Wright’s club and ended Uconn’s 10-game winning streak.

Villanova was lead by Cory Stokes hot outside shooting in the first half, leading 33-27 at the break. Stokes finished with 18 points in the game. The second half was all Scottie Reynolds who scored 15 of his 18 points after the break.

The Wildcats were able to overcome a big size disadvantage and 38-22 rebounding disparity in similar fashion as they have all year - with quickness. Nova forced 13 turnovers including 9 steals that lead to many easy buckets. Add the 9-20 three-point shooting and that is a winning combination for the Wildcats.

Key plays in the last minute:

With 39-seconds and a two-point lead Scottie Reynolds coming off pick from Dante Cunningham drives to the basket with 7′ 3 Hasheem Thabeet on his hip and puts up a right hand floater high of the glass, ala Allen Iverson to give Nova a 4-point lead.
A.J. Price had a chance to tie the game with 6.9-seconds but missed the first of two free throws.
Dante Cunningham at the line with 4.9-seconds to go, missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Antonio Pena tipped the miss back to Cunningham, secured the most important rebound of the afternoon. He was fouled again with 2.3 seconds remaining and Cunningham hit the first free throw and missed the second. Leading 67-65 the desperation heave from half-court proved fruitless for Uconn.

In my opinion this was the first of three straight must win games for Nova to be considered for an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament. With a mediocre overall record (17-9) and .500 in the Big East conference (7-7) it’s clear the Wildcats need to rack up some quality wins down the stretch to build their resume for the selection committee.

Up next, they face #24 Marquette at home then go to #23 Louisville next Sunday. Those are the two tough games left on the schedule that Villanova really needs to win. They finish up the regular season with South Florida and at Providence.

If they can win out their resume looks like this going into the Big East Tourney:

21-9, (11-7 in the Big East)
8-4 in their last 12 games (last 12 is the new measure since seasons are longer)
Quality wins: Marquette, Louisville, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, George Mason
Bad loses: Rutgers, DePaul

I think that is good enough to make them at the very least one of the last 4 in. Throw in a few wins in the conference tournament and they are a lock for the big dance. For now, Jay Wright needs to have them fully focused on Marquette.

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SEC PREVIEW KENTUCKY : Wildcats feel more familiar

Thu, 31 Oct 2008 04:49:17 GMT

posted by rogersarkansas

By BOB HOLT

Published: Thursday, October 30, 2008 PRINT E-MAIL

Seventh in a series previewing SEC basketball teams BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie and the Wildcats know each other a lot better as they get ready for their second season together.

“Last year we didn’t really know his personality,” Kentucky junior guard Jodie Meeks said at SEC Media Days. “We kind of went into the season blindfolded. But I think once we started winning games, he started trusting us more and we started trusting him more.

“ Once we met in the middle and clicked, we went on from there.” After a 6-7 start that included home losses to Gardner-Webb and San Diego, the Wildcats began clicking in SEC play. Kentucky went 12-4 in the SEC, made the NCAA Tournament and finished 18-13 with a firstround loss to Marquette, 74-66.

It wasn’t the type of season envisioned by Gillispie when he left Texas A&M; to replace Tubby Smith at Kentucky.

“I don’t think it ever really came together,” Gillispie said. “We were able to survive.” Gillispie knows Kentucky fans demand a lot more than survival from their basketball team, but he said he welcomes the expectations at a program that has won the most games in NCAA history (1, 966 ) and has seven national titles along with a record 98 NCAA Tournament victories in 49 appearances.

“I don’t think we should lose, either,” Gillispie said when asked about the fans’ level of expectations. “I don’t want to be at a place that wants to lose any games.

“ I don’t see Kentucky fans having anything but a positive effect on the team. If they were ever going to be really, really disappointed, they wouldn’t have kept coming when we were 6-7 going into the conference.

“ Passion is not bad. Passion, in my opinion, is what evokes greatness in anything whether it be entertainment, coaching, husband, father. Passion separates people.” Tennessee is favored to repeat as SEC champion, but the Wildcats — and their fans, of course — are expecting Big Blue to challenge the Vols and return to being a nationally elite team.

Kentucky will be led by Meeks and sophomore forward Patrick Patterson, who both are back from injuries.

Patterson missed the last six games with a stress fracture on his left ankle after averaging 16. 4 points and 7. 7 rebounds in 25 starts. Meeks was limited to 11 games because of a hip flexor, fractured pelvis and sports hernia, and averaged 8. 8 points.

“Healthwise I’m feeling pretty good,” Patterson said. “I ’’ ve done a bunch of rehab work trying to get the ankle stronger so the injury won’t happen again.” Meeks said he’s back to full speed after undergoing hernia surgery.

“Last year was frustrating because I’d never been hurt before in my career,” Meeks said. “It’s great to feel healthy again.” Kentucky suffered heavy losses in its backcourt with Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley being seniors last season and Derrick Jasper transferring to UNLV.

Freshman guard DeAndre Liggins is expected to help fill the void at point guard.

“He needs to play a real big role for us, but he’s a freshman, and freshmen usually have a very difficult time adjusting,” Gillispie said. “But he has the talent to do that. He has the work ethic, the commitment.

“ We need for him to be a major player for us right from the get-go.” Patterson said preseason conditioning and early-season practices have been as tough as last year, but the players were better prepared.

“Going into the second time around, we know Coach G’s personality better,” Patterson said. “The veterans on the team have to help the younger guys with what we need to do to please him.” Meeks laughed when asked if Gillispie is calmer this season.

“He’s always a tough guy,” Meeks said. “That’s what we like about him. He’s tough, but if you do something good, he’s going to tell you ‘good job.’” Patterson said Gillispie is more comfortable this season.

“He had to establish himself last year as a head coach at Kentucky, and he’s done that now,” Patterson said. “I don’t think it was easy.

“ But this year we’re all cool with him, we all love him. The relationship we have this year is a lot stronger.” Patterson said the players have spent more time at Gillispie’s house this year, eating, playing video games and pool.

“I have a good time when they come over, and I hope they have as good a time as I do,” Gillispie said. “It’s a good way to get away and see people in a different light.

“ You have to find time to relax.” Next: Florida

Villanova beats Syracuse in a Battle of the Bubble Teams

Tue, 12 Mar 2008 19:48:00 GMT

posted by highlite15

This was a game which undoubtedly would decide the tournament fate of both Big East teams. Villanova and Syracuse were sitting either squarely on the bubble or on the outside with their faces pressed firmly against the bubble looking in. Somebody wouldn’t be dancing next week.

Villanova started the game tentative and off from behind the arc and managed to remain only one down going into halftime. In the second half, on the other hand, a completely different team showed up. I don’t know what Jay Wright told the Wildcats at half time (probably shoot the damn ball and stop hesitating), but they clearly got the message. Villanova came out in the second half and blasted Syracuse to the tune of 55-35. I guess Pete and I picked the wrong half to watch during our lunch break. That explosive 2^nd half of basketball gave Nova an 82-63 win and ensured that they are still in the hunt for an NCAA tournament bid.

Undersized Villanova dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Orangeman 34-20. And in the second half Nova finally found their shooting touch, ending the game connecting on 48% of their shots and 52.4% from three. Scottie Reynolds, as usual, lead the team in scoring with 22 and also dished out 6 assists. But the real story was the Wildcat bench, led by Cory Stokes (18 points) and Shane Clark (11 points) outscoring the entire ‘Cuse bench 29-8.

Great performance by Villanova in a must-win game. But there is still a lot of work to be done. Next up is the overrated Georgetown Hoyas, but they have been playing much better basketball lately.

With the recent upsets by San Diego over Gonzaga and Middle Tennessee State over South Alabama in the mid-majors, there are fewer at-large bids available meaning Villanova, as well as Saint Joseph’s and Temple, will need to make an even stronger case for themselves in their respective conference tournaments. Nova took the first step today beating up on Syracuse, but I don’t think that alone is enough. One more win, a signature win against the Hoyas, will likely move the Wildcats from outside the bubble into the field of 65. Let’s just hope the refs don’t @#$% Villanova this time around.

LET’S GO BIG 5

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Pesky Villanova Wildcats Turn Pitt Over in Win

Sat, 6 Jan 2008 22:35:09 GMT

posted by highlite15

Dante Cunningham’s 2 clutch free throws may have sealed the win for Nova, but it was 22 forced turnovers that made the difference for the Wildcats. 10 seconds left and a chance to win the game Pitt went to its bread and butter end-game play (see the win vs. Duke). But without the playmaking ability of Levance Fields and against the quick hands and feet of Villanova, that play ended the same way the entire game played out for Pittsburgh. With a turnover.

This was a great bounce back win for Nova coming off a disappointing loss to DePaul in their Big East opener. The Blue Demons shot 51% in that game, and it was apparent from the start of today’s game that Jay Wright had his team pick up the defensive intensity against Pitt. Full-court pressing and trapping most of the game combined with a depleted back-court for the Panthers resulted in 11 steals and 22 points off turnovers for Nova.

That suffocating defense and 39-7 bench scoring difference was just enough for Villanova to overcome a poor shooting day (33% from the field & 27% from behind the arc) and a sub-par game from leading scorer Scottie Reynolds (1-6 fgs 4pts). With the game on the line, Reynolds did make a great pass that ultimately lead to Cunningham’s game-winning free throws. Freshman Malcolm Grant picked up the scoring load with a career high 22 points on 6-12 from the field while suffering leg cramps late.

“He’s incredible. He’s a freshman but he’s the heart and soul of our team,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said about Grant. “I try to diminish that but I can’t. He’s really energized our team since he’s gotten here.”

Pittsburgh got another monster game inside from freshman DeJuan Blair (12pts & 15 boards) who gave the Panthers their last lead of the game with a fall-away shot after being bumped in the lane.

This was the Wildcats 5^th straight victory over Pitt in the last 5 meetings at the Pavilion. Hopefully Nova, currently ranked 16^th in the country, won’t drop far in the rankings, having redeemed themselves after the DePaul loss against a tough, 13^th-ranked conference foe.

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