Dec. 30, 2004
The Nova Notebook, by Villanova director of media relations Mike Sheridan, appears each week beginning in the fall and continues through the basketball season. This is the second of two holiday editions. The Notebook returns to its regular Friday slot on Jan. 7.
To those peering in from afar, the Allan Ray who greets 2005 does not appear all that different from the young man from the Bronx, N.Y., who showed up on the Villanova campus as part of one of the most heralded recruiting classes in America in 2002. He's added a bit of bulk to be sure, but mostly it's still the same guy who often is mistaken for his backcourt partner Randy Foye.
A conversation with Ray, though, is a reminder that this is no longer a young player feeling his way through the hazards of high-level Big East competition.
Now in his third season on the Main Line, the junior guard has seen much. As a freshman, he became a key cog in the rotation and then endured the typical ups and downs of a novice as the grind of the Big East campaign became a reality in February and March. As a sophomore, he carried a heavy load throughout the campaign on his way to being named a third team All-Big East choice.
This season, he is now a tri-captain who is being counted on to offer an example to a roster that includes only one scholarship senior (Marcus Austin).
It seemed natural then to seek out this team leader as we prepare to turn the page to the 2005 portion of the schedule. Villanova (6-1) plays its final contest of 2004 on New Year's Eve when it hosts Philadelphia Big Five rival Pennsylvania at 4:05 p.m. in the Pavilion. It will open the 2005 portion of the schedule - and Big East play - on Jan. 5 against West Virginia, also at the Pavilion.
"I think we're coming along nicely," stated Ray, after completing a practice session this week at the Pavilion. "We're much better defensively than we have been in my first two years here and I feel that's really going to help us as we head into January."
One benefit of the past two seasons is that the junior class can now draw upon two full seasons worth of experience to assist it.
"We've got everyone back and that's important," Ray said. "We've all played together for a couple of years and we have a good feel for one another. The other thing is that Coach (Jay Wright) is still pushing us. He wants us to keep getting better and that helps keep you focused on doing what you need to.
"All of us are very dedicated to having a successful season."
Of course, Ray is a cornerstone of Wright's program. He was the first member of the junior class to give Villanova a verbal nod and in some ways that's wholly appropriate. His steady play and ability to score - he averages 15.0 ppg through seven games - give the Wildcats a dangerous perimeter offensive dimension. Ray is also adroit at taking the ball to the basket and has steadily improved his defense through his two plus seasons on campus.
Plus, Ray has grown more comfortable in a leadership role, one he shares with classmates Foye and Curtis Sumpter.
"None of us are really vocal guys," said Ray. "We prefer to lead by example. But Coach stresses how important it is for us to speak up in practice when we think someone could be more intense. He wants us to be the ones to point that out rather than one of the coaches having to do it. I think we're all more comfortable about saying something when it needs to be said to one of our teammates."
One avenue in which Ray demonstrates leadership is through an even temperament. As a sophomore he started 34 of 35 contests - his only absence from the starting lineup came in the regular season home finale against Miami when Derrick Snowden got the start on Senior Night. After starting the first three games of a 2004-05 season in which he was selected as a preseason second team All-Big East choice, Ray came off the bench against La Salle. He did so against Fordham and Albany too before returning to the starting lineup in a win over Middle Tennessee State on Dec. 27.
"It's not a big deal," Ray stated of starting or coming off the bench. "We're a team and the important thing is that we get wins."
The lineup change has more to do with court balance and the roster than anything else. Last season, Villanova generally employed a three guard starting lineup featuring Ray, Foye and Mike Nardi. This year, the knee injury suffered by freshman Kyle Lowry left only three scholarship guards on the roster. Wright started the three guards in the first three games of the season before utilizing a more traditional two guard, two forward and a center mix the last four contests.
Against Albany, Ray exploded for 26 points, including a 3-point goal with 10:24 left in the second half that was the 1,000th point of his college career. He became the first Wildcat to reach that plateau since Ricky Wright did it in the 2002-03 season.
As a seasoned hand, Ray understands that the Wildcats are about to enter the heavy lifting portion of their slate. Of the remaining 20 games on the schedule, 16 are against Big East foes, two against Philadelphia Big Five opponents and another against national powerhouse Kansas.
"The schedule has been a little different than it was in my first two years," Ray stated. "We've been at home most of the time against teams from conferences we don't normally see. It's gone pretty well but we know that it's very tough from here on out.
"Penn is always a good team with great shooters. And then we go into the Big East. You look at the records of all the teams in the Big East and they're all off to good starts. Some of them are undefeated. We have a lot of big games coming up against teams that are very physical and very good."
Yet Ray is convinced his unit is ready.
"Everything is starting to click," said Ray. "We're just going out and playing now. We're comfortable with one another and we have a lot of trust in one another. You know if you need help on defense, someone will be there to pick you up.
"We've all worked very hard. I just feel good about what we've got and what we can accomplish."
