Feb. 28, 2002

In Big East Men's Basketball action on Thursday, Villanova (14-11 overall, 5-9 Big East) hosts Syracuse (20-8 overall, 9-5 Big East) at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pa. The game will be televised on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. Click on the .pdf link below for a complete version of tonight's game notes.

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Villanova Wildcats
(14-11 overall, 5-9 Big East)
Vs.
Syracuse Orangemen
(20-8 overall, 9-5 Big East)
Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002
First Union Center~7:03 p.m.
ESPN Television
Villanova Radio Network
(WZZD 990 AM)


A Familiar Script
The storyline at Boston College on Saturday afternoon was remarkably familiar to those who have followed the fortunes of the Villanova Wildcats. A spirited effort away from home gave the `Cats a chance to walk out of the building with a hard-earned victory. Yet a few mistakes down the stretch and a lack of precious experience resulted in a close loss that could well have left the principals muttering to themselves. Villanova produced a solid worksheet in many areas. Indeed, the Wildcats pulled out to a 41-31 advantage with 13:44 to go in the second half after B.J. Johnson converted one of two free throw attempts. The lead was 47-36 with 10:26 left.

Enter Andrew Bryant. Bryant, a 6-7 redshirt freshman who had played a total of ten minutes in Boston College's previous two outings, drained five 3-point field goals in the last ten minutes to spark a 69-67 victory for the defending Big East Conference regular season and tournament champions.

"We played hard," said Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "But it gets to the point where we've got to execute and put games away. That's our next step.

"We're in every game. We just can't finish. It's been the story line all year long."

Gary's A Triple Threat
During the first two years of his career, Gary Buchanan was a markedly less effective shooter away from home than he was in the Pavilion and First Union Center. Not so any more. On Saturday, Buchanan led the Wildcats with 23 points. He was 5-of -12 from beyond the 3-point arc and was 10-of-24 (.417) in two games last week at Providence and Boston College. On the season he is 83-of-185 (.449) from triple territory. Over the course of his three seasons on the Main Line Buchanan is 231-of-587 (.393) from beyond the 3-point arc. The Villanova record for 3-point field goals in a career belongs to Kerry Kittles, who made 278 from 1992-96. Kittles, whose New Jersey Nets face the Philadelphia 76ers here on Friday night, is expected to be in attendance tonight. Villanova's dilemma is that while Buchanan has 10 triples in the last two games, his teammates had one (Derrick Snowden vs. Providence) and were 1-of-12 (.083) from beyond the arc last week. On the year Buchanan has 83 of Villanova's 144 triples - roughly 58 percent of Villanova's production in that department.

In 89 career games at Villanova, this product of St. Thomas More has reached double figures in 66 of them. In three seasons on the Main Line Buchanan has amassed 1,296 points. Against Providence he moved past Tom Sienkiewicz into 29th place on the all-time Villanova scoring list. Next up in 28th place is Stewart Granger with 1,307 points. Buchanan leads the `Cats in scoring at 18.7 ppg and is fourth in rebounding (4.5 rpg). He is also tops in free throw shooting percentage (.915) and minutes played (890-35.6 mpg).

Free For G
Buchanan tonight returns to a place where he once etched his name into the Division I record books. Last February Buchanan made a pair of free throws against Pennsylvania at the Center to establish a new NCAA record for consecutive free throws made. His streak lasted from Nov. 17 - Feb. 12 and consisted of 73 straight free throws. This season Buchanan has continued to be remarkably efficient from the line. The St. Louis native is 90-of-98 from the line, a .918 percentage. According to research conducted by Stats, Inc., Buchanan is the leading active career free throw percentage shooter in the nation. The breakdown reads like this:

 1. Buchanan (.930, 252-271)    2. Brent Jolly, Tennessee Tech (.907)    3. James Gillingham, Bradley (.879)    4. Troy Bell, Boston College (.879)    5. Kyle Korver, Creighton (.877)    6. Brian Burke, Lafayette (.876)    7. Roger Mason, Jr., Virginia (.875)    8. Tony Brown, Utah State (.873)    9. Chris Spatola, Army (.868)    10. Andy Toole, Pennsylvania (.865)

Buchanan's longest streak this year was 27 in a row. He missed consecutive free throws for the first time in his career on Feb. 5 in a 65-56 loss to Miami.

Ferocious February
At the start of the month, Villanova was 12-6 but Jay Wright and his staff understood that the road ahead was frought with danger. There were eight games in February and the foes included Pittsburgh, Connecticut, UCLA, Miami, Georgetown, Boston College and Syracuse. Every opponent this month figures to see postseason action and five of those teams appear to have NCAA bids locked up entering conference tournament play. Villanova is 2-5 this month, with tonight's tilt against Syracuse yet to be played. A couple of categories illustrate the Wildcats' plight: they have shot 142-of-355 (.400) from the field in February. That's a marked contrast to their overall field goal percentage of .468. What's more, they are 38-of-116 (.327) from beyond the 3-point arc this month. On the year they are 144-of-361 (.399) in that department. Buchanan has accounted for 18 of the 3-point field goals in February.

Reggie Bryant has had an especially tough month. The sophomore from Baltimore, who saw his scoring average creep into double figures in early January, has averaged 5.0 ppg and connected on .232 of his field goal attempts (13-of-56) since the month began. No Wildcat is a more accurate gauge of Villanova's offensive success than Bryant. Villanova is 9-1 when this Baltimore native scores in double figures and 5-9 when he doesn't reach that level.

Bounding Brooks
When it is time to name his sqaud's most essnetial ingredient, Jay Wright doesn't have to think too long or hard about whom he would cast a vote for.

"I know I say this all of the time and I don't mean to repeat myself, but Brooks is our team's most valuable player," said Jay Wright. "He's great. I love them all, but Brooks just does everything. He can handle the ball under pressure. He dishes out assists, he rebounds, and he is our leader on the floor. The coaches can communicate to the players through him.

"He is a great Villanova senior. In my years as a Villanova assistant, the seniors always stepped up and made big plays. He does it all the time."

The native of Bloomfield, Conn. is now in 11th place on the all-time career caroms list at Villanova with 784. Next up, in 10th place, is former `Cat standout Alex Bradley with 797. Sales also now has 940 career points. A strong finish could make him the second Wildcat this season to soar past the 1,000-point club. Gary Buchanan joined that fraternity back in December. If Sales grabs 16 more rebounds and contributes 60 more points he will become only the 8th player in Villanova history to finish his career with 1,000 points and 800 rebounds. The others are Howard Porter, Jim Washington, Harold Pressley, Jack Devine, Jason Lawson, Ed Pinckney and John Pinone.

Fresh Faces
Senior guard B.J. Johnson saw his most significant action since December on Saturday, with seven minutes against Boston College. He scored one point and was credited with two steals. The native of Greensboro, N.C., played a career high 24 minutes against Bucknell on Dec. 1 but a broken bone in his left foot cost him eight games in December and Miami. Prior to the Boston College game he had played only two Big East minutes all season. Another member of the rotation who has seen increased action of late is freshman forward/center Chris Charles. The Milwaukee native played 16 minutes and delivered two steals and one block.

On Guard
When the trio of Buchanan, Snowden and Bryant reach double figures in scoring in 2001-02, Villanova is 5-0. When two reach that plateau, Villanova is 6-7. When only one contributes that many, the `Cats are 3-3. When none reach the mark the Wildcats are 0-1.

Turnover Tale
Turnovers have been an issue with the Wildcats this year, although the number has fallen of late. Villanova averages 18.5 turnovers per game and has had more assists than turnovers four times in 25 outings.

The Matchup
Villanova vs. Syracuse
All-Time Series: Syracuse leads 30-21
Last meeting: Syracuse 93, Villanova 61 (Feb. 23, 2000)
Last Villanova win: VU 75, SU 60 (Feb. 6, 1999)
Wright vs. Syracuse: First meeting


Notebook: The Orange pay their first visit to Philadelphia to face the Wildcats since Jan. 5, 1999 ... Villanova has never beaten the Orange in the First Union Center (0-3) ... These two teams did not meet in 2000-01 ... Syracuse has taken five of the last six meetings between the two schools ... The last Villanova win over the Orange in Philadelphia came during the 1994-95 season, 89-87 at the Spectrum ... Jay Wright served as an assistant coach to Jim Boeheim in the summer of 2000 for the USA Basketball World Championship For Young Men Qualifying Tournament in Brazil ... In his only career appearance against Syracuse, Ricky Wright had 18 points and five rebounds as a freshman in 1999-2000.