Aug. 25, 1998
Howard Brown took the cross-court pass, squared his shoulders to the basket, and let the ball fly. The scoreboard, illuminating a 93-93 tie in the first-round Big East Conference Tournament contest, clicked off the final seconds of the second overtime period. Just as the buzzer shook Madison Square Garden, Brown's perfectly launched trey sailed through the rim. Wildcats win, 96-93. The bench cleared, and Villanova celebrated.
It was this moment that signified how far the young Wildcats had come throughout the 1997-98 season. Brown, together with fellow juniors John Celestand and Rafal Bigus, had played the double-overtime contest with Pittsburgh with heart and toughness. They persevered through ups and downs during the game, and came away with an important victory. It was this victory that demonstrated that Villanova had come together as a team and had the potential to achieve great heights in the future.
Now, with their senior season ahead of them, Brown, Celestand, and Bigus will look to make that next step, the jump into the upper echelon of the Big East Conference and back into the national spotlight. Each earned valuable experience as juniors, improved tremendously, and assisted in the development of the underclassmen. And with the team returning nearly every player from a season ago, the 1998-99 season looks promising for the trio of seniors, head coach Steve Lappas, and all the returning Wildcats.
Gone from the 1998 squad is Villanova fan favorite Zeffy Penn, the only senior on scholarship for Lappas last year. Penn was a valuable role player for the Wildcats who started six games last season, including the final three of the year. A native of Harrisburg, Pa., Penn averaged 6.2 points and 4.0 rebounds and finished strong, posting double-doubles in two of the last three games of the season.
Brown truly came into his own a season ago, earning Most-Valuable-Player honors for the Wildcat squad after averaging 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, and starting 27-straight games. Brown, a first-team All-Philadelphia Big Five selection, made drastic improvement last year and established himself as Villanova's most consistent performer. He stands six-foot-five, and weighs in at 200 pounds and possesses the ability to knock down the open jumper, go strong to the basket, and rebound. The Pottstown, Pa., native, led the team in scoring 11 times and in rebounding eight times throughout the season. His thrilling gamewinning shot versus Pittsburgh was the highlight of the season, and capped an exceptional outing that night, as he scored a career-high 24 points on nine-of-17 shooting from the field. On the season, Brown shot well from the field, converting better than 50 percent from the floor 12 times and better than 40 percent from three-point range on 13 occasions. His work ethic and intensity are two of his greatest attributes.
"Howard really stepped up last year," said Lappas. "He has worked hard on every aspect of his game, and we feel like he'll be even better this year. His great athletic ability, work ethic, and love for the game are what make him a very special player."
Joining Brown as one of the team leaders is Celestand, a six-foot-three, 175-pounder, who truly played the best basketball of his career during the tail end of the season. A starter in 21 games, the Piscataway, N.J., native, averaged a team-best 13.2 points and 5.1 assists as a junior and posted career highs of 25 points (versus Pittsburgh) and 13 assists (versus West Virginia) last season. The combo guard, an explosive scorer with great quickness, demonstrated that he possesses the potential for excellence. Over his last six game of the season, Celestand averaged 20.7 points, 6.7 assists, 5.7 rebounds and only 2.7 turnovers. Additionally, he shot better than 51 percent from both the floor and three-point range during that span of games.
"John Celestand may be the key to our success," said Lappas. "He possesses all the tools to be an All-League player in his senior season. He has great quickness and ball-handling abilities and can drain the three when you need it." Also returning for his final season is Rafal Bigus, a seven-foot-one center who attended Archbishop Carroll High School in Radnor, Pa., but was raised in Stargard, Poland. Bigus started 17 games during his junior outing, averaging 8.2 points and 5.1 rebounds. He proved to be most effective last season, however, coming off the bench, and finished exceptionally strong in the Big East Tournament. Against Pittsburgh, Bigus recorded a career-high 18 rebounds, the most in a single game by a Wildcat since 1983 when Ed Pinckney did it. Bigus has excellent offensive skills and runs the floor well for a big man. His size will be invaluable to Lappas, but the coach would like to see him improve his aggressiveness.
"Biggie played great at the end of last season," said Lappas. "We're looking for consistency and aggressiveness from him and I think, in his last year, he will be ready to give us that."
Moving on to the junior class, Lappas has great confidence in the trio of Malik Allen, T.J. Caouette, and Brian Lynch. Allen has the potential to be one of the class post men in the Big East Conference after starting 28 games and averaging 8.3 points and a team-best 5.8 rebounds. The Medford, N.J., native, demonstrated flashes of brilliance throughout last season, pulling down a career-high 16 rebounds versus Duke and scoring a personal-best 21 points against Boston College. The six-foot-10, 240-pound Allen is solid both offensively and defensively with great rebounding ability. With valuable playing time under his belt, the sky is the limit for this junior.
"I think that Malik Allen potentially could be one of the top players in the Big East Conference," Lappas said. "He has all the tools, and his work during the offseason on his strength has helped put him over the top. After two solid seasons, we may see just how good he can be this year."
A product of Winthrop, Maine, Caouette has earned the reputation among his teammates for extraordinary toughness. The six-foot-seven, 215-pound forward has the ability to play either inside or outside and has been a solid role player for Lappas throughout his first two seasons. Caouette averaged 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 1998, starting nine times throughout the season. He is an excellent shooter, converting 19 three-pointers during the season.
"T.J. has proven to be a great role player for us," Lappas said. "He's the type of player that never complains, he just goes out there and gives it his all. Every team should be so lucky to have a player like him."
Lynch earns third-year status in 1998-99 after a sophomore season in which he made tremendous strides. The Belmar, N.J., native, averaged 8.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals and demonstrated great athleticism at the guard spot. The six-foot-six, 185-pounder posted a career-high 25 points versus Rutgers, and posted double figures in scoring on 10 occasions. Lynch rated as the Wildcats' best three-point shooter, converting 26 treys during the season for a percentage of 38.2. While he is definitely a three-point threat, he also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and score off the bounce.
"Brian is one of the most important players on this team," Lappas said. "He demonstrated a real feel for the game last year, and I think he will be a valuable contributor this season. He has good athleticism and demonstrated an explosive scoring ability in flashes last year."
Two players return to the Wildcat roster as sophomores in 1998-99. Jermaine Medley, a six-foot guard from Wilmington, Del., and Simon Ogunlesi, a six-foot-10 forward from Nigeria, should both have increased contributions in the upcoming campaign.
Medley started 23 contests for Lappas and played in every game, averaging 6.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. Medley is a pure shooter with great range, as evidenced by his 39 three pointers on the year. That was the third-best number on the team, and his percentage of 35.9 ranked among the Big East's top 10 last year. Medley posted a career-high 17 points versus Miami, and hit five three-pointers in the Wildcats' contest with Seton Hall in The Pavilion. His five-for-nine effort from behind the arc rates as the most treys by a freshman in Wildcat history, and the third-best all-time shooting performance by a rookie.
"Jermaine really got some valuable experience last season," Lappas said. "He came a long way as the year progressed, and his shooting ability and ball handling skills are exceptional. He has a very bright future at Villanova."
Ogunlesi is a power player who has only experienced two years of organized basketball. A dominating rebounder, he saw limited action in 1998, playing in 10 games and averaging 1.2 points and 1.4 rebounds. Ogunlesi should provide depth in the frontcourt for Lappas, and should continue to improve both his endurance and skills as he learns the game.
"Simon is very strong with natural rebounding instincts," Lappas said. "He has the ability to play some important back-up minutes and really help us this season."
Redshirt freshman Johnny Holley, a six-foot-six, 180-pound forward will also look for playing time this season after sitting out the 1998 campaign due to knee troubles. His versatility allows him to play several positions, and Lappas looks for Holley to be a valuable reserve. Other newcomers this season for Lappas include incoming freshmen Brooks Sales, a six-foot-10 forward from Bloomfield, Conn., and Bobby Smith, a six-foot-two guard from East Chicago, Ind. Sales and Smith are both solid all-around players who will compete for playing time with the returnees.
"Johnny Holley is a tremendous individual," said Lappas. "He has solid all-around skills, and spent a very valuable year learning our system. Brooks Sales and Bobby Smith are two freshmen who we feel very good about, and expect to come in and contribute immediately."
1998-99 Villanova Rosters
Alphabetical RosterNo. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl.-Exp Hometown (High School)15 Malik Allen F 6-10 240 Jr.-2L Medford, N.J. (Shawnee)31 Rafal Bigus C 7-1 270 Sr.-3L Stargard, Poland (Archbishop Carroll)22 Howard Brown G 6-5 200 Sr.-3L Pottstown, Pa. (Pottstown)50 T.J. Caouette F 6-7 215 Jr.-2L Winthrop, Maine (Winthrop)13 John Celestand G 6-3 175 Sr.-3L Piscataway, N.J. (Piscataway)40 Johnny Holley F 6-6 180 RFr.-HS McKinney, Texas (McKinney)51 Chris Lee F 6-5 200 Sr.-2L Havertown, Pa. (Monsignor Bonner)21 Brian Lynch G 6-6 185 Jr.-2L Belmar, N.J. (Christian Brothers Academy)10 Jermaine Medley G 6-0 165 So.-1L Wilmington, Del. (Oak Hill (VA) Academy) 0 Simon Ogunlesi F 6-10 265 So.-1L Lagos, Nigeria (Word of God (NC))32 Brooks Sales F 6-10 220 Fr.-HS Bloomfield, Conn. (Northwest Catholic)23 Bobby Smith G 6-2 175 Fr.-HS East Chicago, Ind. (Maine Central Institute)
Numerical RosterNo. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl.-Exp. Hometown (High School) 0 Simon Ogunlesi F 6-10 265 So.-1L Lagos, Nigeria (Word of God (NC))10 Jermaine Medley G 6-0 165 So.-1L Wilmington, Del. (Oak Hill (VA) Academy)13 John Celestand G 6-3 175 Sr.-3L Piscataway, N.J. (Piscataway)15 Malik Allen F 6-10 240 Jr.-2L Medford, N.J. (Shawnee)21 Brian Lynch G 6-6 185 Jr.-2L Belmar, N.J. (Christian Brothers Academy)22 Howard Brown G 6-5 200 Sr.-3L Pottstown, Pa. (Pottstown)23 Bobby Smith G 6-2 175 Fr.-HS East Chicago, Ind. (Maine Central Institute)31 Rafal Bigus C 7-1 270 Sr.-3L Stargard, Poland (Archbishop Carroll)32 Brooks Sales F 6-10 220 Fr.-HS Bloomfield, Conn. (Northwest Catholic)40 Johnny Holley F 6-6 180 RFr.-HS McKinney, Texas (McKinney)50 T.J. Caouette F 6-7 215 Jr.-2L Winthrop, Maine (Winthrop)51 Chris Lee F 6-5 200 Sr.-2L Havertown, Pa. (Monsignor Bonner)
Head coach: Steve Lappas;Assistants: Steve Pinone, Joe Jones, Peter Zaharis;Administrative Assistant: Kevin Cox; Trainer: Jeff Pierce.
Steve Lappas assumed the reins of the Villanova men's basketball program in 1992, and since then, the Wildcat program has achieved unparalleled success. Over the past six years, Villanova has vaulted back into the national spotlight, capturing numerous Big East Conference titles and returning to the NCAA Tournament. Virtually each year Lappas has taken to the hardwood while serving as the Wildcat coach, Villanova faithful have been party to exciting basketball and thrilling victories.
Named Villanova's seventh head men's basketball coach on April 14, 1992, Lappas came to the Main Line from Manhattan College, where he had been cited by many as a miracle worker. At Villanova, Lappas set out to continue the reputation he had built at Manhattan. After an initial season of rebuilding, his 1994 squad did a complete about-face, bringing a special brand of basketball to the Main Line. That year, Villanova finished 20-12, posting its first 20-win campaign since the 1988 season, winning 14 of its final 17 contests, and capturing the school's first National Invitational Tournament. Lappas was named the Coach of the Year in the East region by Basketball Times, Coach of the Year by Big East Briefs, and received a Special Recognition Award from the Philadelphia Big Five after the Wildcats' special season.
It was obvious that the Wildcats had arrived, and in 1995, Lappas and Villanova made the nation sit up and take notice. With future All-American and Big East Player of the Year Kerry Kittles leading the way, Villanova finished the season 25-8 overall and set a school record for Big East victories (14). The Wildcats won the school's first-ever Big East Conference Tournament Championship and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years. In 1996, winning once again was the norm. Lappas guided Villanova to a school-record 26 wins against only seven defeats, and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the second-straight season. That season, Villanova also reached its highest-ever ranking in the AP poll, checking in at No. 2 in December.
In 1997, Lappas led the Wildcats to Villanova's first Big East Conference regular-season crown since 1983, as his team posted an overall mark of 24-10 and league record of 12-6. Tim Thomas became the first Wildcat in history to earn National Freshman-of-the-Year honors, and the Wildcats advanced to their third NCAA Tournament in as many years.
Winning is not the only benchmark of the Lappas regime, as player development has also become an important signature of his tenure. When players come to Villanova, they are certain to improve every aspect of their game. Kittles is a prime example of this fact. The New Orleans, La., native was not ranked among the nation's top 50 high school prospects when he arrived on the Main Line in 1992, but left Villanova as one of the most heralded players in school history. Kittles earned virtually every Big East Conference honor during his four-year career, including selection as a first-team Associated Press All-American as a senior. Kittles' improvement is a credit to Lappas and his staff and their teaching ability, but it doesn't stop with just one player. Center Jason Lawson improved his game drastically since he graduated from Olney High School, and point guard Alvin Williams developed his shooting touch over the four years he spent on the Main Line. Current player Howard Brown is another example of drastic improvement, as the senior elevated his game in every statistical category from his sophomore season to his junior campaign. Brown, one of the most improved players in the Big East Conference in 1998, improved his shooting percentages drastically, and upped his scoring output from 5.8 points in 1997 to 13.1 points in 1998.
Simply put, at Villanova, coaching and teaching go hand in hand. Lappas has seen to that, and the National Basketball Association has taken notice. Kittles and Thomas were both lottery picks, as Kittles was selected with the eighth choice by the New Jersey Nets in 1996. He went on to become one of the league's class rookies, earning second-team All-Rookie acclaim in 1997. Thomas, meanwhile, earned the No. 7 spot in the NBA Draft in 1997, selected by the Nets and later traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. The second round saw two Wildcats taken, with Lawson drafted by the Denver Nuggets (and traded to the Orlando Magic) and Williams selected by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Prior to his arrival on the Main Line, Lappas achieved great success as the head coach of Manhattan College. The New York, N.Y., native earned Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach-of-the Year honors in 1992 after guiding the Jaspers to a 25-9 overall record, their best finish in school history, and a third-round NIT appearance.
It was the culmination of a four-year period in which the Manhattan program had done a complete about-face. Lappas had engineered a conference championship out of a team that had won only 75 games from 1980 until his arrival in 1988. In addition to league honors, Lappas also earned National Association of Basketball Writers District II Coach of the Year, and was named New York Metropolitan Coach of the Year.
Prior to his successful seven-year run as a collegiate head coach, Lappas made his debut on the Main Line as an assistant for Rollie Massimino in 1984-85. Throughout his four seasons as an assistant, Lappas helped guide the Wildcats to their unforgettable National Championship 1985, an NCAA final eight appearance in 1988, and an 87-53 record along the way.
Lappas' career began after his graduation from the City College of New York in 1977 when he served as a volunteer coach at York College for one season, followed immediately by a one year stint as an assistant coach at Fort Lee High School. He then took over the reins of the Harry S. Truman High School program, in the Bronx, NY, in 1979, where he served until 1984. Just as he would in his three collegiate positions Lappas began his coaching career with incredible success at Truman. He compiled a 91-32 slate during his tenure, including a 27-3 record in 1983-84 and the New York State Class A Championship. Twice he was named Coach of the Year by the New York Daily News in 1981 and 1984.
Before he took to the hardwood as a coach, Lappas spent three years in the gym as a basketball letterwinner for CCNY, earning a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Team captain as a junior, Lappas initially set his sights toward becoming a teacher. His father, Thomas, had always stressed the importance of education while young Steve was growing up in New York. Although Lappas ultimately chose a different career path, the Wildcat mentor found a way to fulfill the goals inspired by his father by teaching his student-athletes the fundamental skills of basketball, and also the importance of values gained off the court. Achievement of goals is the cornerstone of Lappas' philosophy, and he has instilled that drive in the student-athletes that play basketball at Villanova. He is truly an educator of young men, in basketball, and in life. It is but one more mark of success in the life of Steve Lappas.
The 44-year-old Lappas and his wife Harriet are the parents of two children, Kristen (11) and Peter (8), and reside in Broomall, Pa.
YEAR-BY-YEAR WITH STEVE LAPPAS
Year Overall Conference School/Postseason1988-89 7-21 (.250) 3-11 (.214) Manhattan College1989-90 11-17 (.393) 7-9 (.438) Manhattan College1990-91 13-15 (.464) 8-8 (.500) Manhattan College1991-92 25-9 (.735) 13-3 (.813) Manhattan College MAAC Champs/NIT 3rd Round1992-93 8-19 (.296) 3-15 (.158) Villanova1993-94 20-12 (.625) 10-8 (.556) Villanova/NIT Champs1994-95 25-8 (.758) 14-4 (.778) Villanova/NCAA 1st Round1995-96 26-7 (.788) 14-4 (.778) Villanova/NCAA 2nd Round1996-97 24-10 (.706) 12-6 (.667) Villanova/NCAA 2nd Round1997-98 12-17 (.414) 8-10 (.444)
Totals 171-135 (.559) 92-78 (.541) NCAA Record: 2-3 (.400) / 3 @VU 115-73 (.612) 61-47 (.565) NIT Record: 7-1 (.875) / 2 @MC 56-62 (.475) 31-31 (.500) Big East Tourney: 7-5 (.583) / 5
VILLANOVA SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
STEVE LAPPAS, 1992-97
1997-98 (12-17 overall, 8-10 Big East): After losing four starters, including three to the NBA, the Wildcats finished the 1997-98 season with a mark of 12-17 overall and 8-10 in the Big East Conference. Juniors John Celestand (13.2 ppg) and Howard Brown (13.1 ppg) both recorded excellent seasons, coming into their own and serving as the team's leaders.
The Wildcats finished strong, winning two of their last three games, including a 96-93 double-overtime victory over Pittsburgh in the Big East Tournament. Brown hit the gamewinner with no time left on the clock, providing one of the most memorable moments of the season. Other high points of the season included a 68-57 victory over No. 16-ranked Temple and a 78-75 win over Miami in The Pavilion.
1996-97 (24-10 overall, 12-6 Big East): In 1996-97, Villanova captured its third-ever Big East Conference regular-season title, with the Wildcats recording a league mark of 12-6 to share the title with Boston College, and earning their third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, the four-year record of 95-37 (.693) from 1993-97 rates as the best in school history for a class (Jason Lawson, Alvin Williams, Chuck Kornegay), and ranked 14th in the nation over that span.
Additionally, Tim Thomas became the first Wildcat in history to earn National Freshman-of-the-Year honors, and joined Lawson and Williams as NBA draft picks. The three Villanova players taken rated as the most from any single school that year. The 1997 campaign was special at Villanova for another reason as well. On Jan. 25, 1997, in an 84-66 victory over Boston College, Steve Lappas earned his 150th career win.
Then, on March 1, 1997, he achieved yet another milestone when the Wildcats defeated Rutgers, 84-74, to clinch the Big East title. That game marked Lappas' 100th victory on the Main Line, making him only the fourth coach in Villanova history to reach the century mark. He joins Alexander Severance (1936-61), Jack Kraft (1961-73), and Rollie Massimino (1973-92) in the prestigious club.
1995-96 (26-7 overall, 14-4 Big East): In 1995-96, Villanova posted 26 victories, the most wins in a single season by any Wildcat squad in school history. The Wildcats spent the entire 1996 season ranked in the Associated Press top 10, reaching a school-record No. 2 in December, and duplicated their school-best 14 Big East Conference regular-season wins from the season before.
Head coach Steve Lappas was cited as one of the five finalists for the Naismith National Coach of the Year. The Wildcats earned their second-straight No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and advanced to the second round of the competition.
Guard Kerry Kittles closed out his Villanova career as one of the most celebrated players in Wildcat history, becoming the school's first Associated Press All-American in 25 years and the first Villanovan to be named the Big East's Most Outstanding Player when he earned the honor as a junior. Kittles was drafted No. 8 by the New Jersey Nets, and went on to earn second-team All-Rookie honors in his initial campaign in the NBA.
1994-95 (25-8 overall, 14-4 Big East): While winning was the buzzword in 1996, remarkable was the adjective used to describe Steve Lappas' 1995 team. The Wildcats won their first-ever Big East Tournament Championship that year, rewriting the record books and recording one of the greatest wins in school history by defeating Connecticut in the title game.
In addition, Villanova won 14 Big East contests and earned its highest seed (No. 2) in the tournament since 1983. The Wildcats returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991 and finished the season with a No. 9 AP ranking, their highest ranking in the final poll in recent history. Lappas' efforts did not go unnoticed. He was presented with the Harry Litwack Award as Eastern Coach of the Year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association, earned Big Five Coach of the Year, and was a finalist for AP and Naismith College Coach-of-the-Year honors.
Other landmarks along the course of Lappas' third year at Villanova included his 100th career collegiate coaching victory on Feb. 7 (73-63 victory over Miami) and his 50th career win at Villanova on Feb. 28 (92-68 victory over Boston College).
1993-94 (20-12 overall, 10-8 Big East): The success of the 1994-95 season came on the heels of Villanova's first NIT title in 1994, only Steve Lappas' second season on the Main Line. Villanova won 14 of its final 17 games, finishing a full seven victories better in the Big East over a one-year span. At that time, no other Big East club in league history had improved so dramatically in 12 months.
Villanova recorded a mark of 20-12 overall, its first 20-win season since the 1987-88 campaign and improved from 10th in the league in 1993 to tied for fourth. For his incredible achievements during the 1994 season, Lappas was voted Coach of the Year in the East region by Basketball Times, Coach of the Year by Big East Briefs, and received a Special Recognition Award from the Philadelphia Big Five.
1992-93 (8-19 overall, 3-15 Big East): Steve Lappas arrived on the Main Line, named as Villanova's seventh head coach on April 14, 1992, and spent his first season rebuilding the Wildcat program. The New York native signed Jason Lawson and Alvin Williams, future NBA draft choices, a pair that would serve as the cornerstone of the program for the next four years. That season, Villanova played with spunk, coming up with big wins over No. 12-ranked Syracuse and No. 15-ranked Pittsburgh. Lance Miller led the team in scoring with an average of 13.7 points per game, and a freshman named Kerry Kittles made his debut on the Main Line.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Birth date: March 18, 1954Hometown: New York, NYEducation: B.S. in Elementary Educ. (1977) City College of New YorkExperience: Volunteer Coach, Fort Lee High School (1977-78); Assistant Coach, Fort Lee High School (1978-79); Head Coach Truman High School (Bronx, NY) (1979-84); Assistant Coach Villanova University (1984-88); Head Coach Manhattan College (1988-92); Head Coach Villanova University (1992-present).Playing Career: Three years, varsity basketball CCNY (1974-77)Wife: HarrietChildren: Kristen (11) and Peter (8)
