Jan. 13, 2004
VILLANOVA WILDCATS (8-5, 0-1)
vs.
BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES (11-3, 1-1)
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004
7:35 p.m.
Conte Forum - Chestnut Hill, Mass.
WZZD Radio (990 AM)
Game notes for the men's basketball game between Villanova and Boston College on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 7:35 p.m. at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass. Both squads are coming off conference losses - 'Nova to Notre Dame at the Wachovia Center, and the Eagles at Syracuse.
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Late Charge Felled 'Cats
In the eyes of Villanova head coach Jay Wright the explanation for Notre Dame's late rally that helped the Fighting Irish take an 82-78 victory over the Wildcats on Saturday came down to making plays.
"They made plays down the stretch," stated Villanova's third-year head coach. "Sometimes when you are in a situation like that against a great offensive team, you have to come down and make plays at the offensive end. We weren't able to do that often enough."
After trailing for most of the first half - Notre Dame owned a 38-34 advantage at the break - the Wildcats used a surge to gain the lead early in the second half. Thanks to a balanced attack led by Randy Foye, Allan Ray, and Mike Nardi, the Wildcats built a 70-64 lead after Nardi sank a 17-foot jump shot with 4:14 left on the clock.
But Notre Dame stayed close on free throws from Torian Jones and Chris Thomas. A Foye jumper with 3:27 left extended the Villanova lead back to 72-66 but Chris Quinn immediately responded with a 3-point field goal to cut the margin in half.
Jason Fraser slowed the momentum briefly when he tipped in a missed shot attempt to give Villanova a 74-69 edge. But Tom Timmermans sank a 15-foot jump shot and then Thomas dropped in a fadeway 23-foot bank shot to knot matters at 74.
Quinn put the Irish ahead 76-74 with 1:50 left and then a Torin Francis dunk after he picked up a loose ball gave Notre Dame a four-point advantage.
Notre Dame then held on for the 82-78 win.
One item that didn't help Villanova's cause late was free throws. The Wildcats missed five from the charity stripe in the final two minutes, ruining what had to that point been a very solid day at the line.
"Chris Thomas is a great player," said Wright, "and he made some big plays down the stretch."
The loss was Villanova's first in a Big East Conference season opener since 1999-2000, when the 'Cats fell at Seton Hall. VU last dropped a season opener at home in 1990-91 (SHU).
Keying on Curt
Thanks to a dazzling Deccember display that included a 39-point outburst against Northeastern, Curtis Sumpter has attracted the attention of opponents and observers alike.
Since the calendar page turned to January, the native of Brooklyn, N.Y., has seen defenses pay him special attention. After converting better than 50 percent of his field goal attempts in six of his first seven games this season, Sumpter has been held below that threshold in each of the past three games.
When Sumpter connects on less than 50 percent of his field goal attempts this season, Villanova is 1-3.
Another factor in January is a sprained right thumb on Sumpter's right (shooting) hand that he injured against Memphis. Although it has cost Sumpter no practice time, the thumb has been heavily taped during the past two outings.
On Saturday Sumpter was 5-of-12 from the field and finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Sumpter is of critical importance to the Wildcats. He averages 36.4 minutes, 17.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1 blocked shot per game. On the season he is connecting on .521 of his field goal attempts.
The 38 Percent Solution
Villanova's defense is its cornerstone. In 13 games thus far, the Wildcats have held opponents to 38 percent shooting or less from the field eight times. They are 7-1 in those contests.
One reason Villanova was unable to fend off Notre Dame down the stretch was due to its inability to get stops late. The Fighting Irish converted 50 percent of their field goal attempts in the second half and .459 for the balance of the contest. It was Villanova's second poorest effort in that department of the season (Ohio State made 54 percent of its attempts on Nov. 26).
A problematic area for Villanova in 2002-03 was its 3-point field goal percentage defense. Over the course of their first 12 games, Villanova had made significant gains in that department, limiting opponents to .321 shooting from beyond the arc. However, Notre Dame was 9-of-23 (.391), including 7-of-14 (.500) in the second half.
On the year opponents are shooting .379 from the field against Villanova and .328 from deep.
Balance of Power
It has been all about balance this season for the Villanova offense. When Villanova's offense has been in gear, the Wildcats have spread the offensive wealth.
In Villanova's eight victories this season, the `Cats have had four or more players score in double figures six times.
For the season, Villanova has four players averaging doubles figures in points, including Allan Ray (17.5), Curtis Sumpter (17.2), Randy Foye (16.5) and Mike Nardi (11.5).
The Wildcats' balance and unselfishness can be seen in the field goal and assist columns as well. Villanova has four players (Sumpter, Ray, Foye and Nardi) with 90 or more field goal attempts and three players (Ray, Foye and Nardi) averaging at least three assists per game.
Snow Storm
Derrick Snowden's year has often been about mileposts on the road to recovery.
After undergoing surgery on Aug. 27 to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, Snowden has made steady progress in his return to the form that allowed him to lead the team in minutes played in 2002-03.
Many of the mileposts have been passed quietly, in rehabilitation or on the practice floor. Lately, though, Snowden's progress has been on public display.
Snowden contributed three points in 13 minutes against Notre Dame as he continues to make his way back from the surgery.
Snowden's long range accuracy is a developing storyline. After connecting on 33 percent of his 3-point field goal attempts in his first two seasons on the Main Line, Snowden emerged as a legitimate threat from deep as a junior, converting 35-of-81 (.432) from beyond the arc in '02-03. That figure led the team.
The senior from Baltimore, Md. is 19-of-30 (.633) from deep over his last 16 games, including 4-of-9 (.444) this season.
Jason's Jolt
Although January hasn't been especially kind to the Wildcats, it has offered Villanova fans a glimpse of the talent of sophomore center Jason Fraser. Fraser has played a major role in each of Villanova's three games this month as he continues his return from knee and ankle injuries that hindered him in 2003.
The journey began as a freshman in 2002-03. The former McDonald's All-American was plagued by tendinitits in both knees throughout the year and then was sidelined by a stress reaction in his left foot after playing only one minute at Providence on Feb. 22, 2003. Fraser was cleared to resume action on March 7 but then closed out the season by serving three games of a suspension for misuse of a university telephone access code.
On April 9, Fraser underwent surgery in both knees to correct the tendonitis issue. The Amityville, N.Y. native spent the rest of the summer rehabilitating the knees and was ready for practice on Oct. 18. But at the end of October Fraser was again sidelined, this time by a stress fracture in his left foot.
In the loss to Notre Dame, Fraser established new career highs in minutes (37) and rebounds (17). Fraser becomes only the third 'Cat in the past six seasons - Brooks Sales and Will Sheridan were the others - to grab 17 or more caroms in a single game.
Fraser's 37 minutes on Saturday were within shouting distance of his total log (49) entering competition on Saturday.
Fraser is now second on the 'Cats in rebounding (6.8 rpg) and tops in blocked shots (2.2 bpg).
Ray Regained Form
Sophomore guard Allan Ray has been a consistent offensive force for the Wildcats in 2003-04. He bounced back from an uncharacteristically poor shooting night on Jan. 6 vs. Memphis with an 18 point effort that included 3-of-8 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc.
The native of the Bronx, N.Y. also grabbed four rebounds and handed out three assists with zero turnovers.
As he nears the midway point of his sophomore season, Ray has already eclipsed the 500-point plateau (536). (Classmate Randy Foye is right behind him with 533 career points).
Ray paces the Wildcats in scoring at 17.5 ppg and has steadily improved his assist to turnover ratio throughout the season. After committing 16 turnovers to just seven assists in the campaign's first three games, Ray has totaled 33 assists and 17 turnovers in the past 10 outings.
Suspension Summary
The suspensions related to the misuse of a university telephone access code revealed last March have now been completed.
The recap of those affected in 2003-04:
Marcus Austin (served 8 games, suspension complete)Andreas Bloch (served 5 games, suspension complete)Chris Charles (served 3 games, suspension complete)Derrick Snowden (served 3 games, suspension complete)Curtis Sumpter (served 3 games, suspension complete)
Pavilion Power
Villanova has capitalized on its homecourt advantage since the Pavilion opened its doors on Feb. 1, 1986. The Wildcats are 156-46 (.772) in the Pavilion all-time.
With its victory over Northeastern on Dec. 12, VU improved to 17-1 in all-time home openers at the Pavilion. The only loss came to Seton Hall in 1991.
The Wildcats have been especially proficient in the Pavilion in the last decade. Since 1994-95, Villanova is 94-13 (.879) on its primary homecourt. It is 24-4 (.857) in the Pavilion since Jay Wright became head coach in 2001.
Villanova also scheduled three regular season games at the Wachovia Center. Those dates include: Memphis (Jan. 6); Notre Dame (Jan. 10); and Connecticut (Feb. 28). The Wildcats are 0-2 at the Center in 2003-04, having suffered setbacks to Memphis (73-57) and Notre Dame (82-78). They are 10-14 (.417) lifetime in the building. Tickets are available for the game against Connecticut on Feb. 28 and can be ordered through Ticketmaster.
Nardi is Nestling In
Over the last six seasons at Villanova, there have been six different starting point guards: John Celestand (1998-99); Bobby Smith (1999-00) and Jermaine Medley (latter portion of '99-00 and 2000-01); Derrick Snowden (2001-02); Randy Foye (2002-03) and incumbent Mike Nardi (2003-04).
Foye and Snowden remain important elements of the Villanova equation. Yet it is the freshman Nardi who appears ready to lay permanent claim to the quarterback's role.
The product of St. Patrick's (Elizabeth, N.J.) High School delivered an outstanding effort against Notre Dame, scoring 15 points, distributing four assists and hounding Chris Thomas for much of the afternoon. It did not go unnoticed among observers that Nardi's absence for a three minute stretch late in the contest as he had a cut under his chin repaired also coincided with Thomas' igniting.
Nardi averages 11.5 points and 4.7 assists per contest. He also has been on a roll from beyond the arc, connecting on 9-of-20 (.450) from deep over the last four games, including 3-of-4 on Saturday in the loss to Notre Dame. On the year Nardi is 20-of-51 (.392) from outside the arc.
Philadelphia Big Five
The historic tradition known as the Philadelphia Big Five continues in 2003-04. Villanova and its City Series rivals - La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's and Temple - will play a complete round-robin schedule.
Villanova defeated Temple (73-48), La Salle (74-63) and Penn (73-63). It will host Saint Joseph's on Feb. 2 in a contest that will be broadcast nationally by ESPN2.
This marks the most wins for Villanova in the City Series since the 2000-01 season, when it completed the campaign with a 4-0 record. The Wildcats were 2-2 in both 2001-02 and 2002-03.
Big Five Standings
Villanova 3-0Saint Joseph's 1-0Pennsylvania 0-2La Salle 0-1Temple 0-1
Villanova Sports Page
The radio show hosted by Jay Wright is set for Monday, Jan. 19 at 7:00 p.m. at Gullifty's Restaurant in Rosemont, Pa.
