Feb. 12, 2007
The Nova Notebook, by Villanova director of media relations Mike Sheridan, appears each week from September through February and monthly from April through August. This week we follow the Wildcats on their trip up the New Jersey Turnpike to face Seton Hall University at Continental Airlines Arena.
Friday, Feb. 9
2:05 p.m.
Villanova, Pa.,
The coach bus that will transport the Wildcats on their journey to New Jersey is moving past the main entrance to the Villanova campus. After loading the majority of the team and equipment from its usual loading location in the rear of the Pavilion, the group needs to make a quick stop in front of the Connelly Center to pick up two freshmen, Antonio Pena and Scottie Reynolds, whose class ends at 2:20 p.m.
Both arrive quickly after class ends, load their gear and find a seat on the bus.
Associate head coach Brett Gunning and assistant coach Ed Pinckney are to remain behind to take in a high school basketball event that night at the Pavilion. The rest of the squad and support personnel take a seat and soon the vehicle is headed towards I-476 and the Garden State.
While some players read or sleep, head coach Jay Wright chats on the telephone with a reporter from Minneapolis doing a feature on 2006 BIG EAST player of the year Randy Foye.
"Randy really understands what we are trying to do here and I still talk to him all the time," Wright tells the reporter. "He is a great resource for me because he has been through this and he still talks to our guys. It helps me get a feel for what the player's perspective is."
4:45 p.m.
The Wildcats will have an unusual opportunity this afternoon to conduct a full scale practice at the site of Saturday's game, the Continental Airlines Arena. As is the case with most major professional buildings, the packed schedule of events in the home of the New Jersey Nets and Devils offers few windows for visiting squads to work out on the floor prior to game day. However, the arena is, in the parlance of the industry, "dark" on this date so Villanova can put its game plan into place on the floor where the action will take place.
That Mike Nardi is among the first to take the floor is only fitting. As a senior at nearby St. Patrick's, the 6-2 senior led his high school to the coveted New Jersey Tournament of Champions title on this court in 2003.
As the rest of the Wildcats are taped by head athletic trainer Jeff Pierce and begin loosening up, Wright huddles with assistant coach Patrick Chambers. For each game during the season, one member of the coaching staff, either Chambers, associate head coach Brett Gunning or assistant coach Ed Pinckney, is given the assignment to be the lead scout on a game. Seton Hall belongs to Chambers.
By the time he huddles with Wright, Chambers will have spent hours staring at the tendencies of the Pirates on DVD's.
"I like to watch one full tape before the game prior to my scout," Chambers explains. "In this case, I watched one Seton Hall tape before we played Saint Joseph's. If you do more than that ahead of time, I find you can lose sight of the team directly in front of you. I want to be as helpful as I can be in the game before my scout."
Once the horn sounded on Villanova's 56-39 triumph over the Hawks on Tuesday evening, Chambers hunkered down with his DVD player and poured over tapes. He viewed some in his office, others at home and will even pop one in while working out on a treadmill.
"I watch as much tape as I feel like I need to get a good handle on our opponent," he states. "It can be anywhere from 6-10 tapes."
As he views the video, Chambers is often struck by the variety of avenues there are to basketball success.
"It is amazing to see how many different ways there are to accomplish what you want to," he says. "There are nearly as many styles as there are coaches.
"I love scouting. It's fascinating to try to get into the head of your opponent. You look for any little tendency that might give our guys an edge."
On Thursday morning, Chambers has transferred his thoughts to paper, often with the help of senior manager Courtney Scrib. He then meets with Wright and his fellow coaching colleagues to discuss the practice plan for the next two days. Before practice starts, he pulls aside the white team, usually led by senior walk-on Ross Condon, and goes over some of the most fundamental plays the opposition likes to use.
Wright then calls the squad to center court and briefly reviews the plan for this afternoon's practice. It is a crisp, high intensity affair that concludes by 6:20 p.m.
With that, the team piles back into the charter bus for the short ride to the hotel. By 7:30 p.m., the team has shared dinner together and retreated to their rooms. At 9:00 p.m. they reconvene in the same hotel meeting room to review the game plan and watch a few video clips that highlight the Pirates' key sets and players. At 9:45 the meeting breaks up and, after a light snack, the players head to their rooms to rest for the noon game.
Saturday, Feb. 10
8:00 a.m.
The team, coaches, and support staff gather again for the pre-game meal. The day begins with a Bible reading from team chaplain Rev. Rob Hagan, O.S.A. followed by a short message from Hagan to the group about the passage.
A high protein buffet breakfast featuring eggs, pancakes, French toast and cereals is available and the group eats quietly. Once the meal is complete, the group moves to the front of the room where a makeshift lane made of athletic tape is in place on the carpet. The players and coaches spend 15 minutes reviewing a few key points before dispersing.
10:15 a.m.
The coach bus is parked and loaded in front of the hotel. Once the group and equipment is on board, the bus pulls away and is soon backing down the ramp and into the Continental Airlines Arena. At 10:25, the team is in its locker room. Head athletic trainer Jeff Pierce tapes the ankles of most Wildcats and they then begin to file on to the court to shoot.
Forty five minutes before tipoff, strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watson leads the team in its stretching session. At 32 minutes before tip, the team heads back to its locker room to meet with the coaches.
Tipoff is nearly at hand.
2:20 p.m.
The Wildcats have completed a 78-69 victory over Seton Hall. After taking time out to join the team in singing "Happy Birthday" to freshman center Casiem Drummond, Wright heads down the hallway to the post-game press conference.
"It's a BIG EAST road win," he tells the cameras and reporters. "They aren't easy to get and we will take it."
For Wright and Chambers there is little time to celebrate. Once he has completed his media obligations, Wright climbs behind the wheel of his vehicle and begins driving to Trenton, N.J., home of an important high school event. Chambers is already en route, having jumped into a car almost as soon as the buzzer sounded.
For the rest of the `Cats, there is time to meet with friends and family in the stands at the arena. By 3:15, the team has said goodbye to its loved ones and is on the bus, headed home. It will arrive back on campus by 5:15 p.m.
"It's always a rewarding feeling," says Chambers, "to come home with a win."
