Feb. 1, 2005

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VILLANOVA, Pa.--Men's Basketball Game Notes for Wednesday night's game between Villanova (12-4, 4-3 Big East) and Connecticut (12-5, 4-3 Big East). Game time is 7 p.m. at the Hartford Civic Center.

Villanova (12-4, 4-3 Big East)

Connecticut (12-5, 4-3 Big East)

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For the second time in three seasons Villanova posted a record setting victory at Rutgers' Louis Brown Athletic Center. The Wildcats handed the Scarlet Knights a 94-61 defeat, the most lopsided loss for Rutgers since the building opened in 1977. It was also Villanova's largest margin of victory in a Big East road game. In 2002-03, the `Cats established a new record for points scored on the road in a 110-89 win at the RAC.

Villanova returned to the top 25 poll for the first time since 1997 this week. The `Cats are ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press poll and No. 25 in the ESPN/USA Today poll. This is VU's first appearance in the two polls since 1997.

Junior center Jason Fraser saw his first game action on Saturday since fracturing his right hand on Jan. 11 in a win at Providence. The native of Amityville, N.Y. wore a wrap on his right hand. He contributed four points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots in 13 minutes of action.

Villanova makes its first appearance at the Pavilion in three weeks on Saturday night, when it hosts Providence at 7:35 p.m. The Wildcats earned an 83-78 overtime win over the Friars on Jan. 11.

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A Day at the RAC: Last March, Villanova rolled into the Louis Brown Athletic Center in high gear for a National Invitation Tournament quarterfinal. Boosted by a strong effort in the Big East Tournament, the `Cats recorded wins over Drexel and Virginia to earn a shot at the NIT Final Four against Rutgers.

"Our guys know what can happen here," stated head coach Jay Wright, "because it happened to us in the NIT."

Indeed, guard Ricky Shields exploded for six 3-point field goals as Rutgers ended Villanova's season by the final count of 72-60.

"We knew we had to be ready right from the start," stated sophomore guard Mike Nardi.

The `Cats were. They jumped on Rutgers for an early 10-2 lead that was 15-4 by the time the first media timeout was signaled. By halftime, Villanova owned a 44-26 advantage.

"It was one of those days where everything clicked," stated Wright. "We were able to get off to the kind of start which makes it harder for the crowd to get involved. They had a rough day. I've been on the other end of those."

The sellout crowd - many of whom had seen the Scarlet Knights nearly upend Syracuse five nights earlier - was seldom given a chance to be a factor. When the Knights closed the gap to 59-44 with 13:07 left, Villanova quickly responded with a layup by Randy Foye and pair of free throws from Curtis Sumpter.

By the time the Villanova spurt was over two minutes later, the Wildcats held a 70-44 lead.

"We probably played our best game of the year, combining our offense and our defense," stated Wright.

The margin of victory was Villanova's largest on the road since Dec. 30, 1994, when it defeated Delaware 90-54. It was also the largest margin of victory for Villanova in a Big East road game and the most lopsided loss ever suffered by Rutgers at the RAC.

Villanova, though, has proven better able than most to cope with life at the RAC. It is now 5-4 lifetime in the building.

Ten different players scored for Villanova in the victory, the most of any game this season.

Honoring Allan: Junior guard Allan Ray continues to be instrumental at both ends of the floor for the Wildcats. In Villanova's last three games - wins over Kansas, Notre Dame and Rutgers - Ray has scored 71 points and done so in very economical fashion.

In his last three outings, Ray is 24-of-42 (.570) from the field, including 13-of-19 (.684) from beyond the 3-point arc. He was named Big East Conference Player of the Week for his efforts in wins over Notre Dame and Rutgers.

Ray ignited the Wildcats offense with deep triples in the first half at Rutgers. His 3-point goal opened the scoring and he made another with 16:07 left in the first half to give the `Cats an early 15-4 advantage. By halftime he had 14 points and was 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Over the course of his three seasons at Villanova, Ray has emerged as one of the Big East's top deep threats. The 21 points he scored against the Scarlet Knights marked the 21st time in his career on the Main Line that he has scored 20 points or better in a game.

Ray has flourished in Big East play thus far. In seven games, he is averaging 19.9 ppg and is 22-of-47 (.468) from beyond the 3-point arc, tops in the conference. On the season Ray averages 17.8 ppg and is connecting on .513 of his attempts from the field.

"Allan has always been a good shooter," states Wright. "But now, as a junior, he has become a better defender, rebounder and leader."

This week Ray was named Big East Conference player of the week as well as Dick Vitale's national player of the week. In addition, he was also cited for the second consecutive week as co-winner of the Philadelphia Big Five player of the week honor, sharing that distinction with Pat Carroll of Saint Joseph's.

Defensive Details: The Big East Conference statistics underscore Villanova's reliance on defense as its foundation.

VU ranks first in the Big East in scoring defense (59.4 ppg); second in field goal percentage defense (.382) behind Connecticut; and second in the Big East (to UConn) in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.300). It also ranks third in steals (to Providence and West Virginia - 8.31 spg) and blocked shots (to UConn and Providence - 6.25 bpg).