Nov. 26, 2003
This week the Villanova Men's Basketball team embarked upon a challenging eight-day, six-game trek spanning five time zones. Villanova director of media relations Mike Sheridan and the Nova Notebook are along on the journey. This is the second of three journal installments on the trip.
Sunday, Nov. 23
Maui
As fatigued as some in the travel group may feel after the long trek from Philadelphia through Los Angeles to finally arrive here, it doesn't take long for the energy level to rise. One glance to the east, where a gorgeous sunrise lights the sky here before 7:00 a.m., is enough to revive any weary traveler.
The official list of activities begins this morning with a head coach's meeting at the Westin Hotel here, which also serves as the Wildcats' headquarters on this leg of the trip. A press conference featuring the eight head coaches follows at 8:00 a.m. before a free throw shooting contest that pairs one head coach with one local student.
A platform is set upon risers on a veranda with the Pacific Ocean serving as a backdrop to the press gathering. Each coach makes introductory remarks and San Diego State's Steve Fisher takes note of Villanova's unique scheduling situation.
"I understand," Fisher quips, "that Jay Wright has scheduled another game today."
The banter is light as the coaches talk about their teams. Ohio State head coach Jim O'Brien, who is suffering from a vocal chord problem that developed after surgery this summer, pointed out that his predicament has engendered no sympathy from the officials.
"We've played one game and I already have a technical," he noted. (He would pick up another in Wednesday's game against Villanova).
The press conference concludes and the coaches are ushered out near the pool. The sun is shining brightly as the free throw contest is held just below the elevated pool deck. Wright and his young partner in the contest do not qualify for the second round.
Yet the mood is light. The expression "no worries", as uttered by one tournament official, seems to fit perfectly. A strong contingent of Villanova fans is on hand, and wastes little time in settling in for fun.
For the 'Cats themselves, however, this is a business trip. The team heads to the Lahaina Civic Center for a practice session. The coaching staff spends some of the time afterward visiting with the ESPN crew of Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas and Bill Raftery.
Another duty is performed back at the hotel immediately after practice. An ESPN crew tapes interviews with Wright and sophomore guard Allan Ray. It is near 1:30 p.m. before coach and team can retire to their rooms for a bit of rest. A banquet awaits in the evening and it is Wright's advice to his team that it expend as little energy as possible over the next few hours, staying out of the sun for the most part.
Meanwhile, as the players rest, the coaching staff studies tape. In an event like this, there are seven possible opponents and much advance work must be done to study all of them. Leisure time will be limited over the next several days for Wright, associate head coach Fred Hill and assistants Brett Gunning and Ed Pinckney.
Following the banquet, the 'Cats retire to their hotel rooms. There is another early wakeup call scheduled for Monday morning.
The sun and fun can wait.
Monday, Nov. 24
Maui
The athletes have boarded the bus for the short coach bus ride to the Civic Center by 7:45 a.m. They will be on site within ten minutes of their departure.
The Lahaina Civic Center is, as those who have seen it many times on television can attest, a misnomer of sorts. In reality it is a gymnasium seen in many Division II and III locales across America.
It does, however, include one notable feature that has only been added recently: air conditioning.
"By this time of the morning in the old days," says Associated Press sportswriter Jim O'Connell, the dean of media covering this event on the opening morning, "the (advertising) banners would have already been soaked and falling off the walls."
The Civic Center is a building that is barely noticed from the main highway below. It holds 2,500 people and it's most unique aspect is when you exit: down the side of the hill sits the Pacific in its most visually appealing glory.
Such beautiful sites may be lost on the 'Cats today. Villanova falters down the stretch and drops a 52-49 decision to host Chaminade in the first game of the day.
"Give Chaminade credit," states Wright in his remarks after the game. "They played hard and made big shots down the stretch."
It is a disheartened team that climbs back on to the bus for the ride to the hotel. Even in paradise, a loss is no fun.
7:15 p.m.
This evening's team dinner is slated for the Hard Rock Caf? in Lahaina. The mood is relatively subdued yet the focus has already turned to the next game. Only Hill among the coaches is able to accompany the team to dinner. The rest of the staff is back at the Civic Center, scouting possible opponents (which is permitted at tournaments such as these.) Villanova won't know its next foe until the final game of the day, Hawaii vs. Santa Clara is complete. By the time the squad steps off the bus at 8:30 p.m., it knows that Santa Clara is up next. There is a brief meeting before the student-athletes head back to their rooms. There is no time for self-pity in an event like this.
Tuesday, Nov. 25
Maui
Today, the Wildcats can sleep in - until 7:00 a.m. Pre-game meal is set for 7:30 a.m. in a room here at the Westin but the coaching staff has been up for most of the night, reviewing tape on the Broncos and fine-tuning the scouting report. When the players are through their breakfast, Wright leads them through an overview of the opponent.
The game itself is something less than an artistic success. Villanova struggles to locate its offensive game as it carefully picks its looks at the basket to conserve both energy and fouls. Santa Clara takes a 23-17 edge into intermission.
Santa Clara manages to keep the 'Cats at arms' length for much of the second half. However, Allan Ray and Randy Foye power a late surge that brings Villanova within striking distance. After a dunk with 22 seconds left puts Santa Clara up five, Ray drains a 3-point field goal with 17 seconds left. The 'Cats deny the in-bound pass and force Santa Clara to use a timeout. Then, after the 30-second break, Villanova's defense forces Santa Clara to commit a turnover. Foye, penetrates, is fouled and then converts two free throws to tie the game at 47. In overtime, Curtis Sumpter's two free throws with 2.3 seconds left are the margin of victory in a 53-51 win.
"Just what we needed," quipped Wright afterwards, "overtime."
But in this case it proved what the head coach has believed all along. His team has a inner grit that can't be coached.
"This win," Wright said, "is a tribute to the character of our young men."
Next: The final game and Thanksgiving.
