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My take

I saw a lot of the same strengths as last year (defensive intensity , asserting our will on people , excellent excellent floor spacing with plenty of sharp shooters , a real competent big man , good guard play) As well as some of our same weaknesses ( over reliance on 3 ball , some inability to stay in front of opponents , some front line depth questions) So ill focus on what i saw different
1) Booth is a difference maker. He definetely is our best breakdown guard off dribble , without question. He is also our most athletic and explosive player.
2) Hart continuing and actually increasing his dribble penetration is key. A real weakness last year was absence of a breakdown guard , hopefully josh and Phil fix that
3) DO's footwork is much better , announcer claimed Akeem the dream like (im not willing to go there) but Danny boys moves were polished. In some instances I wish he'd just go up hard and dunk , but footwork better
4) Bridges provides length and athleticism. Jay singeled ut his lengthas a big factor tonight.
5) Brunson is a true pg , with ability to score and get to rack. He looks for open man 1st but he can shoot from outside , albeit not tonight and he can get to rim.

Lets see if tese differences make up our same shortcomings

Mikal Bridges

I think Bridges is the key to this team this season.

We have the big man in Ochefu.

We have great small guards in Arch, Booth and Brunson.

However, what Bridges can bring to the table is something different than the rest of the team. We don't have that length or pure athleticism anywhere at the wing. Bridges has a lot of development to do, but if we can get him to play starter-caliber basketball by March, I think he's the key to how far our ceiling can go (assuming DO is healthy).

He's 2nd on the team in block percentage and 3rd in offensive rebound percentage (Donte is 2nd, but that will fall).

If he can shoot 33% from deep, and use his length to make plays on defense and on the glass, there's no telling how much better this team can get.
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AWARDS AFTER TWO GAMES.....MY THOUGHTS

TEAM AWARDS........BEST REBOUNDER.....MONSTER MASH....DAN OCHEFU.......MOST NATURAL SCORER....JOSH HART.......BEST ONE ON ONE PLAYER WHO SCORES .........PHIL BOOTH..........BEST PENETRATOR IN LANE WHO PASSES......JALEN BRUNSEN............BEST OVERALL PASSER ON TEAM....JALEN BRUNSEN.......BEST SHOOTER......KRIS JENKINS....... BEST MID RANGE SHOOTER....RYAN ARCH........MOST IMPROVED SHOOTER...RYAN ARCH.....MOST IMPROVED BODY....TIE......K JENKINS AND D REYNOLDS WHO LOOKS LIKE HERCULES"",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ALL THIS NOT BASED ON STATS...BUT THE EYE TEST......AFTER TWO GAMES"...........................ONE LAST NOTE......ALL THOSE POSTERS WHO INSISTED THAT JAY WOULD PLAY......DAN OCHEFU AND DARYL REYNOLDS TOGTHER.......ALOT THIS SEASON IN OUR ROTATION..........SHOULD KNOW THEY HAVE PLAYED A GRAND TOTAL OF......ZERO MINUTES TOGTHER.....SO FAR.......ILL BE KEEPING TRACK OF THIS AND WE WILL ADD UP THE TOTAL MINUTES AT THE END OF THE SEASON........

Is a new on campus arena a go?

I follow these guys on Facebook, VUhoops.com, and the article's headline on facebook is, "
"Plans are in full swing for either a new Villanova Basketball arena or complete renovation." - Jay WRight

But then here is the article, which really doesn't say so much. Anybody know anything or is this just speculation?

http://www.vuhoops.com/2015/11/11/9718314/jay-wright-talks-about-villanovas-pavilion-arena-plans

Holy $hit

We are much better than last year. We haven't even shot well yet. We're more athletic, more skilled, chef is better, hart is better, Arch is better and Brunson is a stud. We need to stay healthy. Under-selling this team is silly. Nothing is guaranteed and it's a long year. However, we are an absolute load and I have a hard seeing us losing many games if we stay healthy, hungry and humble. Drop the mic, Nova's awesome.
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Other Thoughts - Brunson/Jenkins/DD/etc.

Lots of thoughts on the board after the first two -- I'll add a few of my own, with the obvious caveat that we are 2 games into the season and lots can change:

1a) Brunson can ball. He is easily the most under control freshman guard that I have ever seen at Villanova. Let's see how that holds up over the course of the season when he gets pressed more, but he more than looks the part. The ball-handling/passing are elite. He can score it from anywhere, so he'll command attention. He is fearless in the lane. Seems to me that he has a lot of Lowry in his game without the elite quickness.

1b) The above said, to me, Jalen is nothing close to a one and done player. He is a good, but far from great, shooter. He is nowhere near as big as Arch, who is only 6'3", and doesn't look bigger than Booth to me either. DO NOT GET ME WRONG -- I love his game and I see why he was so highly ranked. But I do not see at all how he can be a first round pick in the draft this year. It would not surprise me, at all, to see him picked in the lottery down the line. But I can't agree, at this point, with anyone suggesting that he is gone after this year.

2) For those criticizing Jenkins after last night, you were obviously not watching the game on the defensive end. That was one of the best defensive/rebounding efforts I have ever seen Kris Jenkins give. His effort on block-outs down low was tremendous. Even when he didn't get rebounds, he cleared his man out of the lane so one or more of his teammates could. Defensively he stayed in front of his man and made things tough on whoever he was guarding. If he gives us that kind of effort all season, he is FAR from a liability. His shots are going to fall eventually -- it is the effort on the other end that he needs to pick up, and he did that last night.

3) I like Donte D's enthusiasm and hustle, but I think he is a year away. Thought he was very skittish with the ball last night. It seems like he needs some time to get used to this level of play. Of course, he'll have that luxury this year.

4) Reynolds is noticeably bigger this year. Hit the weight room hard in the offseason. Still have my doubts about whether he is really trustworthy enough to play 10-15 minutes, but you can tell that he worked in the offseason.

5) Hart's line - 19 pts/5 rebounds/4 steals. An all-around threat.

6) Forced 22 turnovers. 33 points off the turnovers. For those concerned about the team defense, this team can turn you over. The traps and presses are still relentless. Also think the shorter shot clock will help us force tempo even more.

7) The team doesn't lack for leadership. Arch and Chef have picked up right where Hilliard and JVP left off last season, with Jenkins and Hart in strong understudy roles. The JW hierarchy remains strong.

8) Funny moment when Nelson Agholor was announced as being at the game - fair number of boos thrown his way. Eagles fans don't forgive easy.

XC Nationals

i am not that knowledgeable on the national XC scene but how did Nova men not get an at large berth to the NCAA champs? We only were behind auto qualifier Penn b 7 points. 31 total teams make it, seems like we should have been one of them. Zero respect from the committee for our weak region. Three individuals were selected but still seems like men ps team should have made it. Women were selected and I think their resume is not nearly as good as the men.
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Key West lodging suggestions

This board always has great advice. I have been here twice but without a kid. And my daughter has food allergies so we want a place with a kitchen (villa). Does anyone have any suggestions for places somewhat near Duval St down there that are either condos, houses etc.? We have stayed at Simonton House and the Pier House but neither had kitchens. Thanks for any input. Planning a trip for 2016
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