Who winning would you think benefits Nova more? If the KenPom predictions pan out Providence is a 9 - 9 fifth place team (I'll believe it when I see it) while Xavier would be in second behind us. But we've beaten Xavier and lost to Providence, which makes me think it is better for us to get another game up in the standings over them. Can't decide who to root for.

That's all.

In this week's Coaches Poll, the Big East has three Top 10 teams:

• Villanova (6)
• Xavier (8)
• Providence (10)

AP poll out soon.

not really watching,is X doing something we should have done or are the Friars just having "one of those nights"?

http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/sports/colleges/villanova&id

We will really miss him

At a naval medical center. For sure.

You know the player better than everybody else and you even know the family, what do you suppose is up with Phil Booth?
This is not a criticism because obviously the kid is playing hard and giving his all.
Do you think that maybe we placed unrealistic expectations on the kid?
This has nothing to do with yesterday game but I'm looking at it as an overall picture.

Yesterday's game was lost on offense: twice we passed the ball from the right corner into the the left side to nobody, missed two bunnies and a dunk, missed a five on four (how does that happen?), and reverted to shooting too many treys.
That's why we lost.

37 points thru 3 against the Spurs.....he is literally a RL video game highlight reel. I still can't believe people think he is not the best player in the game today.

My buddy sent me a video on you tube of Sticks. Watched on my phone. He was raving about him. Said he will be a college star. That video was awesome. Looked a little like a more advance Mikal Bridges from the brief watch. Remind me- didn't you say he was at a few of our games? I forget now. I hope we are stong after him

Just was offered by LVille and trust me more are coming! I like Randolph a lot, I only saw him play one time, but you can tell he has a lot of game. A pretty good shooter from what I saw and a pretty good athelte, runs the floor well! He is fast rising. I am sure Jay is very aware of him, just another kid to look out for. I wouldn't be shocked one bit if at the end of this year or begining of next year he is ranked higher than Lonnie Walker. Just goes to show all of us that kids come out of no where and develop all the time.

Does he work for the Phoenix Suns? I'm at Sixers game and I'm 3 rows behind Suns bench and it looks like him in a suit.

I would like to drive down from NY to go to the game and the luncheon. Anybody have two tickets to sell for Butler? Thanks.

This from twitter:
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Rest Easy sir!!!

1. Ben Bentil is the best player in the Big East. Physical gifts and basketball skills merging together. Tailor-made for the new small-ball, positionless NBA.

2. There is not enough differentiation in our 2016 guard arrangement between Arch, Jalen, and Booth. They all do the same things and none of them does anything extremely well. All three are mediocre athletes (at best), poor defensive players, inconsistent shooters, and average to below-average breakdown playmakers. All three will have great careers, but they simply do not compliment each other currently. All three are feeling the impact.

3. It's time to put the ball exclusively in Arch's hands. It's been weeks since Jalen has put together a really strong game. Move Phil Booth into the starting lineup. It's been weeks since he's put together a strong game as well, but I believe this is ultimately due to the fact that hasn't been given a clear role on this team. As the starting 2-guard, he will be asked to be a scorer who can initiate a stronger offensive attack from the jump. Either way, I am positive that Jalen will not be removed from the starting lineup. Perhaps, that is the wiser move in the long run.

4. Daniel Ochefu has had one of the most disappointing careers in recent memory. I say this because he has so many physical gifts and basketball skills, but he just can't put it all together consistently. Given what we know about Daniel, he should be dominating this league. He got his butt handed to him yesterday.

5. Mikal Bridges is the most exciting thing about our program currently. His athleticism is refreshing. His competence and effort are surprising. Wonderful redshirt. Will wreak havoc in the BE for years to come.

6. Kris Jenkins is the one of the most unique and dumbfounding players I've ever seen. He simply doesn't know what he is on the court. Increased minutes has given way to poorer shooting: he's simply too tired to be a true threat from beyond the arc. Shots are short. It would be nice to see him operate from the elbow into the post instead.

7. Josh Hart struggled for the first time this season in yesterday's game. He will bounce back. He will replace Arch as the primary leader next season.

8. Next years team will be more equipped to beat a team like Providence. We will be stronger and longer. Could we start Brunson, Hart, Bridges, Paschall, and Spellman? Futhermore, will Spellman be able to compete with Bentil? We'll see.

I would drive down from NY to attend if I was able to get two tickets for Butler. Anybody have two to sell? Thanks.

Class of 2020's beast Che Evans. He will surely be one of the top wing prospects in Fishes and Loafs land. Probably a nationally ranked kid too if he keeps progressing

...so Jenkins is getting accolades for expanding his game by posting up etc. yet his 3-point shooting is suffering...Ochefu is being lauded for expanding his game by shooting the mid-range jumper whereas his strength is playing around the tin...planted in my head is the voice of Billy Packer during the '85 Championship game saying 'John Thompson does not want a big man shooting jumpers, he wants a big man playing around the rim'...is the expansion of both players skills? truly a plus for our team or potentially a big fat minus?...

Obviously with the loss we end up looking at all the reasons it happened. If we had pulled it out, we'd probably be highlighting a few of the plays that helped seal the win. One that jumps out to me that shouldn't get lost in the shuffle was the defensive play of Bridges on Dunn late in the game, resulting in a shot clock violation.

Absolutely fantastic play, really highlights his value to this team on the defensive end. I honestly thought after he made that stop that we were going to pull it out but even with the loss I think it's worth mentioning.

loses to Iowa state 85- 72
One day ranked #4 and they lose already.

Cats 7,191 Owls 6,096 Hawks 3,021 All games played in Philly, in blizzard conditions one day after the snow stopped falling.

If Nova beats the Johnnies next Sunday, it will be 8-1 at the halfway point of conference play against a pretty balanced schedule. On the whole the opponents in the first half were harder, but the next half has Providence and X on the road.

We are also through non conference play except for Temple. So what is your take on the following:

1. What is the ceiling for this club?

2. What seed do you expect to be when all is said and done?

3. What NCAA tournament performance will you consider a success?

4. What one area of improvement that you consider reasonably possible would most benefit the team? (E.g. Booth improvement, Brunson growth)

5. Will this team win the Big East regular season?

Goes down as the gr8est fantasy qb of all time, and one of the top 15 quarterbacks of all time.

Very solid career. I enjoyed watching it in a Jeff Kent sort of way (gr8est fantasy baseball 2b of all time?)