Let me start of first by saying congratulations to Jay Wright, the coaching staff and this team. I enjoyed this season, just as I have enjoyed each and every season but there was no doubt in my mind the world would view us based on how we played yesterday. I give this team alot of credit, Jay, the seniors, staff and everyone. The season is a long journey and everyone in the room knew it was about one game and not only did they show up, they played the best 20 minutes of Villanova Basketball I have ever seen in my life time.
Watching Jay and the team celebrate is what is all about. These guys spend countless hours together, Jay has fostered a family like atmosphere with his players current and former. Watching him pump his fist going into the locker room made me want to run through a fregen wall. The guy loves his players and cares about them. He wants them to be successful on and off the court. On Sunday I was a nervous wreck, my wife said she had never seen me like this before a game, which is saying alot because I am always nervous. I simply told her its not about me, I can deal with the bullshit friends and the Doug Gottliebs of the world, its about them. Arc, Daniel, Henry, Pat and Kevin have put their blood sweat and tears into this program. I am proud to call them villanovans, they deserve to win this game, they deserve that in a season where they played their butts off to win the game that will ultimately judge their careers by the so called basketball experts. In the end that is what made me nervous. I am just incredibly happy for the kids, they deserve this week and hopefully next as well.
Now on to the game:
-This team played 40 minutes of high octane in your face defense, the offense got sloppy a bit but that is fine, you arent going to shoot the lights out of the gym for 40 minutes. The thing that impressed me the most about our defense was Booth and Brunson. That was the best Brunson has played all year defensively. Booth has been coming on and honestly I am going to say this now, I love the Booth Rodriguez match up. I think Booth can really get in his head and pester the ball.
-Kris Jenkins is going to be a good NBA player. Kris Jenkins plays with fire, passion, plays great D, and has the prettiest jump shot in America outside of Mr. Steph Curry. Kris Jenkins is going to be a very good NBA player, mark my words.
-Josh Hart had 19 points yesterday. I have no idea how Josh Hart had 19 points but every game I say the same thing to myself. Kid is scrappy and just gives what the defense will give him. Saying that, he needs to work on where he picks up his dribble. He has been picking it up in traffic alot lately, something he can easily fix. Think he needs to come back to work on the handle aspect of his game, but he is not that far off.
-Ryan Arc, lay up, hits a three, sets the damn tone of the game. Loved it when they went on a run and Arc is screaming at the bench getting them fired up. A true leader for the Wildcats, man I am going to miss him.
-Mikal Bridges is playing like a junior, having him on the floor and in the rotation just makes us so much better defensively. Love how he is playing right now, going to be an all timer at Nova.
-Daniel Ochefu, I am sure people are going to post on this board about Ochefu didnt play well offensively. I dont get why people get on him, Daniel is smart player. When he has to go against another 7 footer he isnt going to force things and I am fine with that. It wasnt the greatest match up for him, neither is Miami when Jakori is in. Saying that if we can get Jakori in foul trouble their other two big men are soft as charmin and in that case I really like the match ups. To me the thing that stood out about Daniel in this game was his aggressiveness on D. I tortured myself this summer and watched the NC State game, Daniel had multiple chance to block shots and alter them and just stood there. Against Iowa he made things extremely difficult for Utoff and their guards. I thought that was one of Daniel's best defensive games of the season.
-What I love about Darryl Reynold is he is always even keel. Takes what the defense gives him, doesnt force anything, was surprised he missed so many foul shots at the end though, he has been a very good foul shooter this season. Really like the minutes he is giving us.
My keys to the Miami game:
-Frustrate Rodriquez, as he goes Miami goes. Give him multiple looks, Bridges, Booth, Arc, sprinkle in some Hart.
-Force McCellan off the three point line, he tends to get out of control when he is heading to the basket.
-Newton is going to be jacked up, take it at him, get him in some foul trouble, need to eliminate one of their dribble drive threats.
-Really like the Jenkins, Hart match ups. Really like Brunson in this game too offensively.
This is going to be a tight game with multiple runs. Miami is a good team but match up wise they dont scare me. One thing is Larranaga's teams play hard, he gets them fired up. Need to do the same thing as we did against Iowa, play suffocating defense and get some transition opportunities.
Enjoy the game and the week everyone, best week of the year when you win the first weekend.
Other Notes:
-How bad is CBS become t the NCAA Tournament? The announcing is terrible across the board, the guys in the studio know nothing about the teams, even Clark Kellogg who is suppose to watch this the whole season is clueless. Fox and ESPN do so much of a better job with College Basketball and its not even close.
-I find myself craving Mexican food during games because of that damn Chalupa commercial.
-L Ville, anybody have extra tickets will be in Columbus this week, might make the drive there.
-If we are to win, I really really want Maryland. Dont ask me why, but for some reason I envision us taking them out.
-The 10:00 tip on Sunday has got to stop, I get it on Friday, Saturday and even Thursday, there is just no reason do it on Sunday.
-Tru TV is not a thing, and I plan on only watching it for four days a year.
Watching Jay and the team celebrate is what is all about. These guys spend countless hours together, Jay has fostered a family like atmosphere with his players current and former. Watching him pump his fist going into the locker room made me want to run through a fregen wall. The guy loves his players and cares about them. He wants them to be successful on and off the court. On Sunday I was a nervous wreck, my wife said she had never seen me like this before a game, which is saying alot because I am always nervous. I simply told her its not about me, I can deal with the bullshit friends and the Doug Gottliebs of the world, its about them. Arc, Daniel, Henry, Pat and Kevin have put their blood sweat and tears into this program. I am proud to call them villanovans, they deserve to win this game, they deserve that in a season where they played their butts off to win the game that will ultimately judge their careers by the so called basketball experts. In the end that is what made me nervous. I am just incredibly happy for the kids, they deserve this week and hopefully next as well.
Now on to the game:
-This team played 40 minutes of high octane in your face defense, the offense got sloppy a bit but that is fine, you arent going to shoot the lights out of the gym for 40 minutes. The thing that impressed me the most about our defense was Booth and Brunson. That was the best Brunson has played all year defensively. Booth has been coming on and honestly I am going to say this now, I love the Booth Rodriguez match up. I think Booth can really get in his head and pester the ball.
-Kris Jenkins is going to be a good NBA player. Kris Jenkins plays with fire, passion, plays great D, and has the prettiest jump shot in America outside of Mr. Steph Curry. Kris Jenkins is going to be a very good NBA player, mark my words.
-Josh Hart had 19 points yesterday. I have no idea how Josh Hart had 19 points but every game I say the same thing to myself. Kid is scrappy and just gives what the defense will give him. Saying that, he needs to work on where he picks up his dribble. He has been picking it up in traffic alot lately, something he can easily fix. Think he needs to come back to work on the handle aspect of his game, but he is not that far off.
-Ryan Arc, lay up, hits a three, sets the damn tone of the game. Loved it when they went on a run and Arc is screaming at the bench getting them fired up. A true leader for the Wildcats, man I am going to miss him.
-Mikal Bridges is playing like a junior, having him on the floor and in the rotation just makes us so much better defensively. Love how he is playing right now, going to be an all timer at Nova.
-Daniel Ochefu, I am sure people are going to post on this board about Ochefu didnt play well offensively. I dont get why people get on him, Daniel is smart player. When he has to go against another 7 footer he isnt going to force things and I am fine with that. It wasnt the greatest match up for him, neither is Miami when Jakori is in. Saying that if we can get Jakori in foul trouble their other two big men are soft as charmin and in that case I really like the match ups. To me the thing that stood out about Daniel in this game was his aggressiveness on D. I tortured myself this summer and watched the NC State game, Daniel had multiple chance to block shots and alter them and just stood there. Against Iowa he made things extremely difficult for Utoff and their guards. I thought that was one of Daniel's best defensive games of the season.
-What I love about Darryl Reynold is he is always even keel. Takes what the defense gives him, doesnt force anything, was surprised he missed so many foul shots at the end though, he has been a very good foul shooter this season. Really like the minutes he is giving us.
My keys to the Miami game:
-Frustrate Rodriquez, as he goes Miami goes. Give him multiple looks, Bridges, Booth, Arc, sprinkle in some Hart.
-Force McCellan off the three point line, he tends to get out of control when he is heading to the basket.
-Newton is going to be jacked up, take it at him, get him in some foul trouble, need to eliminate one of their dribble drive threats.
-Really like the Jenkins, Hart match ups. Really like Brunson in this game too offensively.
This is going to be a tight game with multiple runs. Miami is a good team but match up wise they dont scare me. One thing is Larranaga's teams play hard, he gets them fired up. Need to do the same thing as we did against Iowa, play suffocating defense and get some transition opportunities.
Enjoy the game and the week everyone, best week of the year when you win the first weekend.
Other Notes:
-How bad is CBS become t the NCAA Tournament? The announcing is terrible across the board, the guys in the studio know nothing about the teams, even Clark Kellogg who is suppose to watch this the whole season is clueless. Fox and ESPN do so much of a better job with College Basketball and its not even close.
-I find myself craving Mexican food during games because of that damn Chalupa commercial.
-L Ville, anybody have extra tickets will be in Columbus this week, might make the drive there.
-If we are to win, I really really want Maryland. Dont ask me why, but for some reason I envision us taking them out.
-The 10:00 tip on Sunday has got to stop, I get it on Friday, Saturday and even Thursday, there is just no reason do it on Sunday.
-Tru TV is not a thing, and I plan on only watching it for four days a year.
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