Oct. 24, 2003

Each Friday Villanova director of media relations Mike Sheridan takes you inside the men's basketball program.

With more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience to his credit, newly appointed associate head coach Fred Hill readily acknowledges that drawing too many conclusions after a week's worth of practice is risky business.

"To me it's like a blank canvas," says Hill, 44. "At this time of year you have begun painting but you really aren't sure what the final product is going to look like. It might turn out to be a nice piece of art. It may turn out to be something that isn't up to your standards. Or it could even become a masterpiece.

"It's just hard to know at this stage."

That is the hard truth of coaching life.

Though answers to basic questions about the 2003-04 Villanova Wildcat prospects may be weeks and months away, it is nevertheless fun to ponder the possibilities. So, on the eve of the Hoops Mania and Blue and White scrimmage, the Notebook spoke with the members of the men's basketball coaching staff to get their first impressions of the 2003-04 'Cats.

"The thing that strikes me is the youthful energy this team brings to the floor," says head coach Jay Wright. "These guys are enthusiastic and it's been fun."

Among the larger issues confronting the squad is the health of sophomore forward/center Jason Fraser in the wake of surgery on his two knees last April. The Amityville, N.Y. product has participated in practice each day and, though still in the process of regaining his basketball stamina, endured no setbacks.

"Jason," notes Wright, "is coming along."

Derrick Snowden, meanwhile, is at practice each day and spends much of his time on a stationary bicycle in the wake of surgery to repair a torn ACL in late August. Otherwise the 'Cats are all present and accounted for on the court, including 5-11 freshman Ross Condon (Springfield, Va.) who officially has been added to the team this fall.

At this point in the campaign, it's difficult to assess roles or a possible playing rotation. Of the 13 players on the roster with Snowden on the sidelines, only three - Marcus Austin, Andreas Bloch, and Tom Grace - are upperclassmen and they have a total of four combined career starts between them. (All four belong to Austin).

"It sounds strange to say," says Hill, "but I think we're a younger team this year than we were last year. Our sophomores do have another year of experience but we've lost three seniors who saw a lot of action in their careers in Andrew Sullivan, Gary Buchanan and Ricky Wright. If you look at the best teams, most have seniors and in a lot of cases there is a fifth year senior in the mix too."

While the inexperience inhibits the ability to draw snap judgments, the staff has detected some inherent qualities in this group it values.

"Last year we played Marquette at (Madison Square) Garden on Nov. 15," states assistant coach Brett Gunning. "Even at that early point in the season as coaches we could appreciate the great chemistry that team shared. It was incredible and we all saw the results as the season went on.

"Obviously Marquette was a great, experienced team and we're still very young. But the early signs are promising. These guys get along and it looks like there are the makings for some terrific chemistry."

"I like to use the word camaraderie," states Hill in discussing the interaction of this group thus far. "There is an excitement for these guys about coming to practice, to eating together at training table."

For Ed Pinckney the new season is something of a trip in a time machine. He is preparing for his first college campaign since 1984-85 after a long stint in the National Basketball Association as a player and team executive. All those seasons in the NBA might leave some with a jaded view of a college team still feeling its way through early practices. The newest member of Villanova's coaching staff evokes none of that.

"For a young team, these guys have a great understanding of what they need to do," he says. "I think they get into how hard they have to play to succeed.

"One of the things I have noticed is how willing our guys are to get in there and battle. They will get in there and fight for rebounds, knock each other down and then help one another up after the whistle blows. I can tell you that if some of the exchanges we've seen happened at the next level, there would usually be a fight. But our guys take it in stride and move right along."

At 6-9, Pinckney knows well the challenges that lie ahead for Fraser, sophomore Chris Charles, Austin and freshman Will Sheridan.

"The big guys are making progress," says Pinckney. "Even though his preparation has been limited by his injury, you can see how talented Jason is as a rebounder and outlet passer. He also has a great understanding of what he needs to do on the floor. Chris Charles is getting better and Bump (Sheridan) is off to a good start too."

Unlike many freshmen, Sheridan and roommate Mike Nardi haven't often worn the looks of befuddled newcomers. Each appears very much at ease in their new surroundings and the staff believes there is a reason for that.

"They are both fundamentally sound, "says Gunning. "It's very obvious that they played in successful high school programs. What's striking is how much they know already."

There is also a clear sense that gains have been made on an individual basis since the close of the 2002-03 campaign.

"There is no question about it," says coordinator of basketball operations Billy Lange. "Our guys have made advances. Allan Ray has improved tremendously. Curtis Sumpter has gotten better with his jump shot. You can see a lot of improvement in Chris Charles and Jason too, even though he hasn't been able to do as much as he might have liked because of the injury.

"We still have a lot to work on but there is very good enthusiasm with this group and it appears to have the ability to transfer coaching into playing."

The first public viewing comes on Oct. 24-25. Hoops Mania gives the Villanova student body its first chance to greet its 'Cats at 8:00 p.m. on Oct. 24 in the Jake Nevin Field House. The following morning at 10:30 a.m. the team will split into two squads for the annual Blue/White scrimmage.

Pinckney cautions that folks shouldn't read too much into the scrimmage.

"I distinctly remember participating in those games," he says with a laugh. "It's your first time around a crowd in a while and everyone is thinking about their mother or their girlfriend in the stands. Guys would try to put on a show instead of thinking about the play we were running. It was a mess.

"Now, as a coach, I'm like, 'it's OK to be excited but let's stay focused on what we're trying to accomplish.'"

Time and roles change. But everyone around the program is ready to have their first public introduction to a new season.

"It's always fun," says Hill. "Our students, fans and alumni are a part of our program and this is a great way for all of us to share in the excitement of a new year."

Ever hopeful that the campaign titled 2003-04 will one day be deemed to be a masterpiece.