Dec. 11, 2003
VILLANOVA WILDCATS (5-2)
vs.
NORTHEASTERN HUSKIES (3-3)
Friday, Dec. 12, 2003
7:35 p.m.
The Pavilion - Villanova, Pa.
WZZD Radio (990 AM)
Villanova's long-awaited home opener has arrived, as the 'Cats (5-2) take on Northeastern (3-3) in non-conference action at the Pavilion on Friday, Dec. 12 at 7:35 p.m. Click on the PDF link below for a complete version of the game notes.
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Defense Did The Trick
In assessing Tuesday night's opponent, the Villanova coaching staff believed one task stood above the rest: limiting the damage Penn could do from beyond the 3-point arc.
"We know they're a great 3-point shooting team and our guys did a good job of liming the good looks they got," noted Villanova head coach Jay Wright.
Perhaps the most pertinent stat to Villanova in the 73-63 victory was the Quakers' 5-of-20 effort (.250) from beyond the arc. That included holding one of the nation's premier 3-point shooters, All-Ivy League guard Jeff Schiffner, to 1-of-6 shooting from outside the arc.
"They came out and took away our looks," said Schiffner. "They made their shots and defensively they made us work for everything."
In the first half, Villanova limited Penn to 9-of-28 shooting from the field (.321) and the Quakers connected on just 2-of-12 attempts from beyond the arc (.167). That effort allowed Villanova to build a 29-21 halftime advantage.
The Wildcats extended that lead to as many as 14 points in the second half yet never could relax. Penn kept pushing and closed the gap to 65-60 with a little more than a minute to play.
However, sophomore center Chris Charles took a charge from Penn's Adam Chubb and the Wildcats converted free throw opportunities that accounted for the 73-63 final.
"Chris stepping in and taking that charge was a huge play," stated Wright.
The Penn game continued a trend that has been in evidence through much of 2003-04. Villanova's defense is limiting foes to .358 shooting from the floor on the season. In contrast, the 'Cats final 2002-03 field goal percentage defense percentage was .432.
In seven games thus far, Villanova has played 15 periods of basketball including an overtime session against Santa Clara on Nov. 25. In 10 of those 15 periods, the Wildcats have limited the opponent to less than 37 percent shooting from the field.
Ray's Radar
When it needs points, one of the first places the Villanova offense looks is guard Allan Ray.
The Bronx, N.Y., native has been the 'Cats steadiest scorer and he leads the squad in that category at 19.6 ppg. He is 17-of-33 (.515) from beyond the 3-point arc and is connecting on .532 of his field goal attempts.
"Allan is a hardnosed competitor and he's really done a nice job taking on a leadership role for us," notes Wright.
Foul trouble limited Ray to his fewest minutes this season on Tuesday night (30). Yet he still contributed 13 points to the cause. It marked the sixth time in Villanova's seven games this season that the product of St. Raymond's High School reached double figures in scoring.
The only instance in which he did not reach that plateau was in a 53-51 win over Santa Clara on Nov. 25.
On Target
Another category that helps explain Villanova's ability to withstand its early season travel and manpower issues can be found in the field goal percentage column. Through seven games the Wildcats are converting .511 of their opportunities from the field.
By comparison, the 'Cats were connecting on .436 of their field goal attempts at the same point in 2002-03.
Four Villanova regulars - Chris Charles (.722), Will Sheridan (.692), Ray (.532) and Curtis Sumpter (.500) - are converting better than 50 percent of their attempts. Two other primary scoring options, Mike Nardi (.481) and Randy Foye (.447) are posting very solid field goal numbers for perimeter players.
Already this season, Villanova has twice shot better than 60 percent from the field in a game (vs. Temple on Nov. 21 and Redlands on Nov. 22). It has shot better than 50 percent from the field in four of its seven outings, including its last two victories over La Salle and Pennsylvania.
The quality work Villanova has done near the goal has helped offset some turnover issues. In seven games, the Wildcats have committed 120 turnovers, an average of 17.1 per game. There were 20 turnovers in the win over La Salle on Dec. 6 and 15 in the triumph over Pennsylvania.
However, that's still an improvement over the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons, in which VU established new school records in the category with an average of 18.6 turnovers per contest.
Mike Made An Impact
In his short career on the Main Line, Mike Nardi has been a very solid presence at point guard for the Wildcats.
Yet there have been moments when the freshman from Linden, N.J., has looked like, well, a freshman. One of those came in Saturday's 74-63 Big Five victory over La Salle. Nardi was limited to 21 minutes by foul trouble and ultimately fouled out with a season-low two points.
When Nardi has faltered, though, he has responded with a strong effort his next time out.
He did so again in the 73-63 win over Pennsylvania at the Palestra on Tuesday night. In addition to his 20 points - a career high - Nardi made one of the critical plays of the contest when he made a steal and followed it with a traditional 3-point play to extend Villanova's haltime lead to 29-21.
"The play at the end of the half was just a crusher play," said University of Pennsylvania head coach Fran Dunphy.
Nardi connected on 7-of-9 of his field goal attempts and was 4-of-6 from the free throw line. He also added four assists in his 38 minutes of work.
On the season Nardi is fourth on the team in scoring at 10.9 ppg and leads the club in assists with 36 (5.1 apg).
Sumpter Time
Sophomore Curtis Sumpter plays an important role for the 2003-04. How important is underlined by this statistic: Villanova is 4-0 in games in which Sumpter has played this season, 1-2 in outings in which he was absent while serving a suspension for his role in the misuse of a university telephone access code last spring.
The Brooklyn, N.Y., native was at it again in Tuesday's Philadelphia Big Five victory over Pennsylvania. Sumpter contributed 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. He was also perfect at the free throw line (6-of-6) and added two blocked shots, two steals and two assists.
Sumpter enters the Northeastern game third on the squad in scoring with a 14.5 ppg average. His 8.3 rpg is tops on the club.
It is one of the reasons Wright lists Sumpter as his team's most improved player in 2003-04.
Randy Got It Rolling
Wright notes that there is a significant difference between the Randy Foye who debuted at Villanova in 2002-03 and the maturing sophomore who has reached double digit points in every game the Wildcats have played thus far.
"Everyone knows Randy can shoot it," states Wright, "but he has really become a complete player with his work on defense."
The Newark, N.J. product took the lead in stifling Penn's sharpshooter, Shiffner, on Tuesday night. Foye shadowed him for much of the night despite giving away three inches.
Meanwhile, Foye found a way to contribute his customary offensive production as well, scoring 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor. He also collected six defensive rebounds, the fifth time in this young season that he has grabbed six or more rebounds in a game.
"Having Mike (Nardi) here helps me out," Foye stated. "Now I don't have to worry about chasing those little guys all over the floor."
Foye is second on the 'Cats in scoring at 18.1 ppg and also averages 6.3 rpg.
The Snow Forecast
Senior guard Derrick Snowden received medical clearance to return to full practice on Dec. 5 and is now available for game action. The senior guard underwent surgery on Aug. 27 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and has been practicing on a limited basis since mid-November.
"It's great to have 'Snow' back in practice," said Wright. "We are already benefiting from his experience."
Villanova's most tested player, the product of Baltimore's Archbishop Spalding High School led the Wildcats in minutes played in each of the past two seasons. He also topped the club in assists (3.5 apg) and 3-point shooting percentage (.432). His scoring average was 8.6 ppg.
Before returning to game action, Snowden must complete a 3-game suspension for his role in the misuse of telephone access code last March. He served the first two games of that suspension against La Salle and Penn and will complete it this evening against Northeastern.
Notable Notes
The 'Cats are 3-0 in Philadelphia Big Five play for the fist time since 2000-01. Villanova faces Saint Joseph's in its final City Series game on Feb. 2 at the Pavilion...
Only two upperclassmen, Andreas Bloch and Tom Grace, have seen action this season for Villanova. Freshmen and sophomores have accounted for 95 percent of VU's minutes played, 97 percent of the points scored, and 96 percent of the rebounds...
Villanova is the last Big East team to play its home opener in 2003-04 and the only one to begin the season with as many as seven contests away from home. Every other Big East member had played a home game by Dec. 2 (Miami opened that night at home after four games away from Coral Gables).
Suspension Summary
The Northeastern contest marks Villanova's eighth game of 2003-04 and looms as the final outing in which suspension time owed to the misuse of a university telephone access code will impact the club. Marcus Austin and Derrick Snowden are scheduled to serve the final game of their suspensions against the Huskies.
The recap of those affected in 2003-04:
Marcus Austin (served 7 games, 1 remaining)Andreas Bloch (served 5 games, suspension complete)Chris Charles (served 3 games, suspension complete)Derrick Snowden (served 2 games,1 remaining)Curtis Sumpter (served 3 games, suspension complete)
The Boot Gets Booted
For the first time since February, Jason Fraser will be in uniform and available for action on Friday night.
The 6-10 forward/center has endured an injury plagued 2003. This 2002 McDonald's All-American played through painful knee tendinits as a freshman before being forced to the sidelines on Feb. 22 with a stress reaction in his left foot. Shortly after being cleared to return to action in early March, Fraser learned that he would be forced to serve three games of suspension time for his role in the misues of a university telephone access code.
Fraser ended his rookie campaign having played in 24 games with 7.1 ppg and 6.3 rpg averages.
On April 9, Fraser underwent surgery on both knees at nearby Bryn Mawr Hospital. Fraser spent much of the summer rehabilating his knees after surgery and only began to participate in individual instruction in mid-Septemeber.
After nine days of practicing with the team in late October, Fraser was forced to the sidelines with what was diagnosed as a stress fracture in his left heel. (The injury was unrelated to his previous foot ailment). Fraser then donned a walking boot that he sported until last week.
On Dec. 10, Fraser returned to practice. He is available for action against Northeastern.
Charles in Charge
His numbers on the final statistics sheet were far from overwhelming but Wright was quick to laud the charging foul sophomore forward Chris Charles took with a little more than one minute left on the clock on.
"That was a huge play for us," said Wright. "Penn was charging and in this building (Palestra) you are never comfortable in a Big Five game."
In his four games this year - Charles was another Wildcat who served three games of suspension - the sophomore has stepped forward as a significant contributor to the cause.
Even after a game in which he was limited to 18 minutes by foul woes, Charles still chipped in with three points and three rebounds.
Charles is averaging 7.3 points and 6.0 rebounds a game in the early going. He has started each of the four games he has played.
The Milwaukee product sat out 2002-03 as a redshirt.
