: ‘Nova may play in Jimmy V Classic
Villanova seems to be one of the desired teams to participate in the Jimmy V Classic on December 9th at Madison Square Garden. The game would be on ESPN.
The Jimmy V Classic benefits the The V Foundation for Cancer Research.
RUMOR: Brett Gunning to Charlotte Bobcats?
Speculation is flying around the City of Brotherly Love and Tobacco Road that Larry Brown will be the next coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. On top of that, is the rumor that Brown will add longtime Jay Wright Assistant, Brett Gunning, to his NBA staff.
Gunning has been on Jay Wright’s staff since their time at Hofstra.
Brett was also rumored to be a candidate for the Marist Head Coach position but he withdrew his name.
: Calvin Byrd (’93) Named Assistant at USF
Calvin Byrd (’93) has been appointed to an Assitant Coach position at the University of San Francisco. Byrd is leaving Loyola Marymount to be a member of Head Coach Rex Walter’s staff.
: ‘Nova Academics Noted
The NCAA has released their annual Academic Progress Rate Report. It’s an impressive list and Villanova is the only BIG EAST basketball team on the list. Nicely done Jay!
Overall, ‘Nova was recognized in 7 sports.
: Official- Malcolm Grant to Miami
Malcolm has officially transferred to Miami. He’ll need to sit out a year, but will have 3 season in Coral Gables starting in the 2009-10 season.
: Awards from the Basketball Banquet
- Dante Cunningham won the Villanova Basketball Award
- Scottie Reynolds took home the Most Outstanding Player Award
- Shane Clark nabbed the Jake Nevin Award for “selflessness and providing an outstanding example to his teammates”
- Dwayne Anderson won the Paul Arizin Award for the Most Improved
- Frank Tchuisi earned the Alexander Severance Award for “his hard work and dedication in the classroom and demonstrating a commitment to reaching his full potential”
- Tim Thomas got the Alumni Appreciation Award
: 2008 Recruit- Maurice Sutton
Facing 2 open scholarships next season (Taylor King has the 3rd) and a need for height, the Jay Wright and staff are taking a look at Maurice Sutton from Upper Marlboro, MD. The 3-Star, 6′10″ 210lb forward from Largo HS is a long, athletic player who averaged 18pts, 12rebs and 8 blocks a game for the State Champions.
Sutton has just visited Kentucky (the “leader”) and has a planned trip to Seton Hall coming up. Syracuse and Indiana join Villanova in the list of woo’ing schools.
: Scottie to Stay
It’s official. Scottie Reynolds will be back for his Junior year according to Goodman On Fox.
: RUMOR: Duke’s Lance Thomas to Transfer
VUhoops.com hasn’t been above posting rumors before and figuring it’s going to be a slow week we thought we’d throw a small rumor out there…
Duke sophmore Lance Thomas is reportedly upset in Durham and possibly considering a transfer; Villanova would be a likely landing spot. The 6′8″ 220 pounder went to St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark with Corey Stokes.
Thomas played 18.5 minutes a game for Duke this year getting 4.3points and 4 rebounds.
We don’t know how strong the legs are on this rumo, but we do know that Lance’s experience, hussle, and size would be a welcome addition to this team after Dante Cunningham graduates.
: Villanova Players in the NBA
The regular season is over for the 4 former Villanova players currently in the NBA. Here’s a quick recap of their seasons.
- Malik Allen (Dallas Mavs) was part of the trade that sent Jason Kidd from the NJ Nets to the Mavs in Februrary. He finished the season averaging 4.6ppg, 2.7reb, .6ast. Malik recorded a season-high 18 points against the Heat on December 20th.
- Randy Foye (Minnesote T’wolves) spent the first 3 months of the season on the DL. He saw his first action on Jan 29th and finished the season averaging 13.1pts, 3.3rebs, and 4.2asts. He got his second career Double-Double on Mar19th vs. Memphis and notched a career-high 32 points against Milwaukee this past wednesday in the season finale. He was averaging 18.4 points a game in April.
- Kyle Lowry (Memphis Grizzlies) finished the season with 9.6ppg, 3reb, and 3.6 assts on a team where he was not the featured point guard and many rumors existed about his future with the Grizz. Kyle, scored a career-high 24 points vs. the Bulls in March. He was avergaing 14.1 ppg during Memphis’s last 10 games.
- Tim Thomas (LA Clippers) ended the season avergaing a quiet 12.4 points, 5.1 rebs, and 2.7 assists. Thomas had a season high 29 verse Charlotte in January.
