March 11, 2006

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Villanova senior guard Allan Ray was expected to be released in good condition from St. Vincent's Hospital early Saturday morning after suffering what physicians described as a "soft tissue injury" to his right eye in Friday night's Big East Tournament semifinal loss to Pittsburgh. The 6-2 senior suffered the injury when he collided with a Panther player in a scramble for a loose ball near the scorer's table early in the second half.

"He couldn't see when he was here," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright at an impromptu early morning press conference at Madison Square Garden. "And being there, they did a great job there. Everybody did a great job. Our trainer (Jeff Pierce) got right to him. An ophthalmologist rushed across town and examined him. Now they said his vision's good and they're going to release him."

Wright said "it actually looked a lot worse than it was. It'll be a day-to-day prognosis now, but it's much, much better than they initially anticipated."