First of all, congratulations to every single member of the TEAM, coaching staff and everyone that has any association with the Villanova Basketball Program. This is a tremendous accomplishment and you make the entire Villanova community proud.
Yes, this is a BIG DEAL. it has never happened before in a regular season poll. It means that a consensus of experts in both polls has determined that this TEAM at this point in time deserves to be the top team in America. There are 351 teams playing Division 1 men's basketball and this week our team has earned the honor of being the nation's best. It is February and 23 games have been played. It is no fluke. It has been accomplished despite three losses, which allows for debate but actually acknowledges the quality of our competition and the hurdles already overcome. We are not #1 because we are 23-0 against mediocrity but the pollsters are "stuck" with our undefeated record. This is RESPECT, EXPOSURE and IMPORTANT for recruiting now and in the near future.
This is the culmination (yet unfinished work remains) of work for a special senior class. This started in January 2013 when out of nowhere a struggling team beat top five rated Louisville and Syracuse in back to back games and became the national story of that week. Two premature exits from the NCAA tournament has both tempered some of the accomplishment and makes the ultimate result at the end of this season more pressure filled. This guarantees nothing in March Madness and may even turn up the pressure a notch but this week it is time to rejoice.
Villanova has accomplished this without sacrificing its ideals. This is a TEAM of STUDENT ATHLETES, required to go to real classes (And show up all the time on time). This is not a bunch of defacto mercenaries masquerading as college students. Many teams have taller, more athletic players at more positions but they have not (up to this point in the season) showed up to play at a near 100% effort level night in and night out, while sacrificing individual glory for the TEAM. What Jay Wright has put together in response to the "dog days of 2012" is nothing short of miraculous. He has selected Villanova kids and blended them together to... for at least a week reached the pinnacle of college basketball.
Other than that incredible journey in March/April 1, 1985 Villanova basketball has never been in a better overall position. The Porter years were special, the Pinone/Pinckney era was great, The Kittles era soared to special heights but never got over the national hump, the 2005/06 group were special and were the early the foundation for this... as was that 2009 Final Four team.
For this group this is something that has been built and sustained since January 2013 and it keeps growing. Hopefully this will be the year that these special players breakthrough in the NCAAs. Maybe it will be next year or the year after that. The EXPOSURE this brings certainly increases the odds on the recruiting trail. Will it give Lonnie Walker the last nudge to commit? Will the two NG boys see that Villanova not Syracuse is the place to be? Will Cam Reddish stay home or Sticks Smith forego the ACC? Being #1 increases those odds. Hey, the consolation prize is that even when this team loses we will be the national story of that day too....
These are the glory days of Villanova basketball. The present is great, the future looks bright but for at least one week (hopefully several more) let's enjoy the accomplishment and not worry about March or talking heads that want to cut us down. I trust that Jay will keep the team's heads on straight (and if not, it will be another opportunity to learn and grow). All I can say that is that I started rooting for the Cats in 1973 and NEVER before on a February 8 have I been more proud.
Enjoy the ride but savior the honor!
Yes, this is a BIG DEAL. it has never happened before in a regular season poll. It means that a consensus of experts in both polls has determined that this TEAM at this point in time deserves to be the top team in America. There are 351 teams playing Division 1 men's basketball and this week our team has earned the honor of being the nation's best. It is February and 23 games have been played. It is no fluke. It has been accomplished despite three losses, which allows for debate but actually acknowledges the quality of our competition and the hurdles already overcome. We are not #1 because we are 23-0 against mediocrity but the pollsters are "stuck" with our undefeated record. This is RESPECT, EXPOSURE and IMPORTANT for recruiting now and in the near future.
This is the culmination (yet unfinished work remains) of work for a special senior class. This started in January 2013 when out of nowhere a struggling team beat top five rated Louisville and Syracuse in back to back games and became the national story of that week. Two premature exits from the NCAA tournament has both tempered some of the accomplishment and makes the ultimate result at the end of this season more pressure filled. This guarantees nothing in March Madness and may even turn up the pressure a notch but this week it is time to rejoice.
Villanova has accomplished this without sacrificing its ideals. This is a TEAM of STUDENT ATHLETES, required to go to real classes (And show up all the time on time). This is not a bunch of defacto mercenaries masquerading as college students. Many teams have taller, more athletic players at more positions but they have not (up to this point in the season) showed up to play at a near 100% effort level night in and night out, while sacrificing individual glory for the TEAM. What Jay Wright has put together in response to the "dog days of 2012" is nothing short of miraculous. He has selected Villanova kids and blended them together to... for at least a week reached the pinnacle of college basketball.
Other than that incredible journey in March/April 1, 1985 Villanova basketball has never been in a better overall position. The Porter years were special, the Pinone/Pinckney era was great, The Kittles era soared to special heights but never got over the national hump, the 2005/06 group were special and were the early the foundation for this... as was that 2009 Final Four team.
For this group this is something that has been built and sustained since January 2013 and it keeps growing. Hopefully this will be the year that these special players breakthrough in the NCAAs. Maybe it will be next year or the year after that. The EXPOSURE this brings certainly increases the odds on the recruiting trail. Will it give Lonnie Walker the last nudge to commit? Will the two NG boys see that Villanova not Syracuse is the place to be? Will Cam Reddish stay home or Sticks Smith forego the ACC? Being #1 increases those odds. Hey, the consolation prize is that even when this team loses we will be the national story of that day too....
These are the glory days of Villanova basketball. The present is great, the future looks bright but for at least one week (hopefully several more) let's enjoy the accomplishment and not worry about March or talking heads that want to cut us down. I trust that Jay will keep the team's heads on straight (and if not, it will be another opportunity to learn and grow). All I can say that is that I started rooting for the Cats in 1973 and NEVER before on a February 8 have I been more proud.
Enjoy the ride but savior the honor!
