Even When You’re Sleeping, Keep Your Eyes Open

Mike Tranghese, the former Big East commissioner, recently suggested that the basketball schools take a long look at breaking away. What would the tipping point be for universities like Villanova, St. John’s and Georgetown to depart? “That’s a great question,” Wright said. The departures of Louisville and UConn would probably expedite those discussions. Wright acknowledged that the next few months would be some of the most critical in the league’s history. “I think this time between now and the TV contract, all of us have to have our eyes open,” he said.”  But Jay was a bit more positive on the future of the Big East when speaking with Iliana Romero of the Orlando Sentinel, saying “We’ve been through this so many times. I remember seven years ago when Miami, Boston College and Virginia Tech left, everybody thought that was going to be it. We thought we were done. And we wound up being better than ever. And so I really look at it the same way. It’s going to be different, but it’s going to be better and it’s going to be exciting.”

The More the Merrier (But Not Necessarily At The World’s Most Famous Arena) … NBC Connecticut reports, “The Big East conference’s basketball coaches have endorsed a plan to have every [one of the conference’s 18 teams] compete in the postseason tournament starting with the 2013-14 season. The Orlando Sentinel reports that the “Big East is likely to accept the coaches’ request but there’s still the issue of figuring out how to accommodate everyone. The Big East’s contract with Madison Square Garden does not give the league access to the venue until Tuesday, so the conference would have to renegotiate its contract with the arena or hold the games at a nearby venue so that winners would be available to play in the full tournament the next day.  Commenting on the expanded slate of 18 teams,  Jay Wright said, “In the past, when we had more stability, you would go for what you thought was best for men’s basketball or best for your school.  Now everybody just says we have to do what’s best for the whole conference.”

Go West Young Man …. As reported earlier this week on VUHoops, Daniel Martin of NBC Sports writes that Villanova recruiting target, Allerik Freeman, will spend his final season of high school basketball playing at Findlay Prep (Nev.).  Freeman, a Top 15 player in the country, holds offers and interest from schools that include Duke, Kansas, Ohio State, Villanova, and UCLA.

For The Love Of Money … Raphielle Johnson of NBC Sports writes, “Former president of CBS Sports Neil Pilson [believes] the Big East could end up getting more than the projected $130 million/year the conference turned down last year, [but] that’s not the consensus. Industry sources told CBSSports.com they expect the Big East to get much less — maybe as low as $50 million annually — because of the loss of West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and TCU. And then there’s the possibility the Big East could lose two more of its biggest names — most likely Louisville, Connecticut or Rutgers — if the Big 12 expands and the ACC has to replace two schools.  Current all sports members receive a paltry $3.125 million per year from the Big East’s current deal while the basketball schools get $1.5 million per year.  According to McMurphy the football-only schools (Boise State, San Diego State and Navy right now) would only get $3 million per year.”

About Next Year … Matt Norlander of CBS Sports writes, “The Big East again will be a very good — but not dominant. Two teams, Louisville and Syracuse, are in our not-to-be-taken-lightly Top 25 (and one). They’re top-10 teams. But no other Big East team resides there.  Notre Dame, Marquette and Georgetown should finish 3, 4 and 5 in the Conference. Villanova’s in this weird in-between state. The Wildcats should be better, but until I see them with an 18-5 record again, I’ll remain pensive.” [Editor's Note:  If you are interested in picking up your own 'Nova Crystal Ball, check out Mike's 'Nova Gift Shop.]

Lost and Found … Roger Bohn of SlamOnline writes, “Maalik Wayns looks to follow in the footsteps of another Philly-bred guard who went to ‘Nova and bounced to the League: Kyle Lowry.  We had a chance to see Maalik’s workout debut at Impact after arriving in Vegas late the night before. The shifty bursts of explosiveness were unlike those of any other guard in the ball-handling drills.  The area that appeared to be Wayns’ biggest liability during his college career (his outside jumper) actually turned out to be his biggest asset. There were three separate instances in which Wayns hit 10 consecutive NBA threes and he shot over 60 percent total by our count. Maalik is a guy who will surprise some teams with his explosiveness and new found ability to shoot the ball. Projected as a late second-round pick, he has the potential to make a GM look real good if drafted into a system that caters to his skill set.”

Everything I’m Not … Rob Dauster of NBC Sports writes, The NBA has released their list of the 60 players invited to the Draft Combine in Chicago the weekend of June 7th and 8th.  And while it is tough to nitpick with who was invited to the combine, it is easy to point out the notable names that will be watching from home with the rest of us.  Perhaps the most notable name that won’t be invited to the combine is Renardo Sidney.  Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek left Villanova with a year of eligibility remaining. Neither of them was invited.” (Editor’s Note:  One of every six players invited to the Draft Combine came from the Big East, including Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom (Marquette), Andre Drummond (UConn), Moe Harkless (St. John’s), Kevin Jones (West Virginia), Kris Joseph, Dion Waiters and Fab Melo (Syracuse), Jeremy Lamb (UConn), Henry Sims and Hollis Thompson (Georgetown).  Click here for the full list of invitees.

On to the Next One … Tom Firme of BleacherReport writes, “The Memphis Grizzlies will likely be contenders to reach the NBA Finals next season.  They could help the cause by trying to trade one of three contract-year players – Tony Allen, Josh Selby and Dante Cunningham. With his modest role on the team, promising value and reasonable salary, Cunningham may very well be that guy.”

Speaking of Moving On … Jonathan Feigen of UltimateRockets.com writes, “Kyle Lowry does not believe he and Goran Dragic, his successor as the starting point guard this season, will both return to the roster next season. Lowry was even less confident he and Rockets coach Kevin McHale can successfully coexist.“I don’t think so,” Lowry, 26, said. “I honestly think it would be tough. Things have to be addressed. The situation would have to be addressed.“If things aren’t addressed coaching-wise, I guess I have to be moved.”But McHale did not believe the issues were too great for him and Lowry to work well together.”

Viva Las Vegas …Sporting New reports that rising junior “Roscoe Smith, a freshman starter on UConn’s 2011 National Championship team, and one of several players to leave Connecticut in the wake of sanctions that’ll keep the Huskies out of the 2013 NCAA Tournament, plans to transfer to UNLV, his father told CBS Sports on Friday. Even after signing Smith, Runnin’ Rebels coach Dave Rice has one more scholarship available. According to the Las Vegas Sun, he’s holding that spot open for former Villanova commit, Savon Goodman.”  Rick O’Brien of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Goodman was one of two Philly area players (along with Maurice Watson of Boys’ Latin) to be named to Parade magazine’s 56th annual All-America boys’ basketball team. Goodman led Constitution to a 23-9 and the program’s first PIAA Class A state title, averaging 25.8 points, 14.2 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.”

In Good Company …. Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press writes in an article discussing how the surprisingly large number of schools who have had Final Four appearances vacated have dealt with the fallout.  The culprits include St. Joseph’s (1961), Villanova (1971), Western Kentucky (1971), UCLA (1980), Massachusetts (1996), Minnesota (1997), Ohio State (1999), and Memphis (1985 and 2008).  About Villanova, he writes, “In 1971, star big man Howard Porter, who was named the NCAA tournament’s most outstanding player, signed a professional contract in the middle of his senior year.  Villanova vacated the NCAA title-game run and four NCAA tournament wins. Porter’s most outstanding player award was vacated.  One of the priorities (current coach) Jay Wright made when he returned here in head coach in 2001 was to bolster the connection between all basketball alums and the program and the 1971 team is no exception.  We created an annual golf outing/reception each summer where all of the alumni are welcomed back and the ’71 group has been a big part of that. We often see former team members Chris Ford, Tom Ingelsby, Ed Hastings and Mike Daly at games or events. Howard Porter was honored twice here before his death in 2007. His jersey was retired in 1997, and he took part in those ceremonies. Then, in 2002, the ’71 team, including Porter, returned and was honored at halftime of a game played on campus against UCLA.  Villanova officials don’t believe a 1971 banner ever hung at the school because the sanction came down before the next season, but that 1971 team is recognized in a small display of the other Final Four teams in the basketball practice facility.”

Sun Belt Conference commissioner Karl Benson told a radio host on 93.1 The Ticket in Boise, Idaho that his conference was done expanding for now, but that he had been taking calls from a number of eastern FCS schools hoping to upgrade. Those schools included Jacksonville State, Georgia Southern, Liberty and Appalachian State (though Benson indicated that there were other schools as well), and none of them are quite done with their FBS ambitions — Benson claims they will all explore joining the WAC now.

The WAC is struggling to stay alive as a viable conference, and especially as an FBS conference. They have just two FBS football members remaining in the league, Idaho and New Mexico State, and neither has any realistic options to play elsewhere. The only real option for western FCS schools at this point would appear to be the Big Sky conference and it is not believed that any of those schools has interest in moving up and joining a weakened WAC.

The eastern FCS schools have more money to play with, however, and a more urgent desire to play at the higher level of the game — they just need a conference to offer them the opportunity. While the old WAC would have been geographically difficult for those schools to handle, a new WAC with a largely eastern football membership would be far more palatable.

The NCAA would have potentially be a roadblock to turning a conference comprised purely of FBS-aspirants into a true FBS league. Bylaws of the association state that a conference must have 8 FBS football members to be a bona fide FBS conference, and that a school must have an invitation from a bona fide FBS conference in order to reclassify.

The NCAA has granted waivers and rule changes to help the WAC rebuild in the past, however, and it may be easier to gain those approvals if the FCS schools from the east coast were presented as a salvation plan for the beleaguered conference.

Liberty University has announced an intention, like Appalachian State, to move it’s program up to the Bowl Subdivision, but like Appalachian State, they have been unable to find a conference willing to offer an invitation. Their athletic director Jeff Barber has suggested that the Virginia school would not turn down a conference just because it had members in New Mexico or Idaho.

“Liberty is a university that is national, national in scope, national in its destiny I believe and because of that we’re not limiting ourselves to a geographic region of Virginia, Pennsylvania, whatever, North Carolina,” he said in an interview with WSET. “We’re willing and really would like to be in a national conference that would span all 50 states.”

If the four schools mentioned were to join the WAC and make the move to the Bowl Subdivision, it would solve at least some scheduling problems for Idaho and New Mexico State. With just 6 football members, however, the WAC would need to court a few more schools in addition to the aforementioned four. James Madison and Delaware (or perhaps other CAA members) could become targets for their courtship.

At present, no additional eastern FCS schools have been publicly connected to the WAC talks, but there seem to have been more than four schools present at some reported meetings of eastern schools hoping to upgrade mentioned by Benson. If this WAC plan were to touch the CAA conference as well, the rebuilding of CAA football — which has to add at least one more member for 2013 — would potentially become an impossible task.

You Say You Don’t Love Me

The Courier Journal reports that Indiana University men’s basketball coach Tom Crean added a fourth commitment to his 2013 recruiting class, signing 6-foot-3 guard Stanford Robinson of Paul VI High School in Fairfax, Va.  Robinson is ranked No. 46 in the junior class by ESPN.  Robinson, picked the Hoosiers over Texas, Rutgers, Villanova and Maryland.”

This Is Your Team … CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein counts Villanova’s Ty Johnson among his predicted ten top breakout players for next season, writing, “With both Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek opting to bypass their senior seasons and enter the NBA Draft, Johnson is now Jay Wright’s primary ball handler. The 6-foot-3 sophomore possesses good size, solid instincts, and showed major promise during a stretch in the middle of the season when Wayns’ was injured. Look for Johnson to be one of the Big East’s most improved players as he attempts to lead Villanova back into the postseason picture.” [Editor’s Note:  “I was hoping you would support who we are, not who we are not.”  Coach Norman Dale, Hoosiers]

One of the Best … Jeremy Bauman of SlamOnline calls Villanova 6-3 rising freshman guard, Ryan Arcidiacono, “one of the best 2012 lead guards in the nation.  He brings [outside shooting] and an extremely unselfish attitude and willingness to get his teammates involved on the hardwood. “As a point guard, if you’re a pass-first point guard, that’s everything you can dream for as a big man,” explained fellow Nova 2012 recruit, forward Daniel Ochefu. “I know that if he passes the ball to me in the paint I can always kick it back out and he’s going to knock down the three, so that’s always a good look right there.” Says Ryan, “We have a ton of solid big men.  I’m just excited to get out there and play and represent Villanova in the right way.  About being the 3-point shooter that Villanova desperately needs, Ryan says, “Hopefully I shoot really well — 38 % to 40% from three. I’m not really worried about what I shoot; I’m just hoping to get everybody involved.  About restoring Villanova’s winning tradition, Ryan says, ‘We just need to improve as a team on and off the court.’  Arch is going to be a popular guy, continuing the tradition of excellent floor generals at the Philadelphia school. Jay Wright and the Wildcats faithful are in for some exciting basketball.”

Thanks for the Head’s Up … In an article discussing this year’s impact of the NCAA deadline of April 10 for players to declare for the NBA draft, ESPN’s Andy Katz writes, “Villanova’s Jay Wright also benefited from early notification by two of his players, Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek. “It worked out exactly how the rule is planned to,” Wright said. “Those two made decisions that allowed us to get involved with two transfers, Wake Forest’s Tony Chennault and Rice’s Dylan Ennis, who we probably wouldn’t have taken if we had Wayns and Cheek back.”

Give and You Will Be Repaid Ten Times Over … Jay Wright, Lou Holtz and Gary Williams were honored last night at the annual Dick Vitale Gala, recognizing the trio’s work in support of The Jimmy V Foundation.  Host Dick Vitale was hopeful of raising well over $1 million for cancer research, with the event sold out at $1,500 per plate. “Jimmy said everyday in your life, you should do three things. You should be moved to tears, you should be moved to humor and laughter, and you should be moved to thought,” Vitale said. “You do that every day of your life and you will have a full life. ”It’s like the Martin Luther King Jr., speech,” Wright said. “People know that speech because it’s retold for generations. ”Mike Kern of the Philadelphia Daily News quoted Jay Wright before the event saying, “It’s very humbling, especially to be included with those guys.” I think [Vitale] must have picked me before the season. I know I’ll definitely be the only one being honored coming off a losing record.”

Speaking About Getting Paid Ten Times Over  … USA Today reports that “Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski brought in more than $7.2 million in compensation during the 2010 calendar year, second only to Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, who pulled in over $8.9 million.  Coach K’s comp includes $2 million in base compensation, $3.7 million in incentives, and $1.5 million in deferred compensation.  Writes Adam Zagoria, “Men’s college basketball coaches make slightly less on average than their football brethren, with an average salary of $1.4 million among coaches at public universities who made the NCAA tournament.”

Georgetown to Host 2013 East Regional … NCAA.com reports that the “Division I Men’s Basketball Committee has selected Washington, D.C. as the site of the 2013 tournament’s East Regional on March 28 and 30 at the Verizon Center. Georgetown University will be the host institution for the event, which returns to the nation’s capital for the sixth time since 1998.”

Slippery When Wet … NCAA.com reports ” temporary decals and logos may cause players to slip, so the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Rules Committees are recommending a rules change that requires the court be “of a consistent surface” so student-athlete safety is not compromised.”

UK Packs Them In … NCAA.com reports that “Men’s basketball attendance for all three NCAA divisions in 2011-12 totaled 32.8 million fans, a slight increase from the 2010-11 season and fifth all-time. The record is 33.4 million from the 2008 season.  For the seventh consecutive year and for the 16th time in the past 17 seasons, Kentucky led the nation in home attendance average at 23,721 fans per game. Syracuse was second at 23,618. The Big Ten Conference led the nation for the 36th consecutive year in conference attendance, averaging 12,868 per game.  The Southeastern (11,513), Big 12 (11,057), Big East (10,881) and Atlantic Coast (9,876) rounded out the top five in conference attendance average per game. The 16 teams of the Big East totaled 3,133,782 fans, the fourth most ever for a conference.”

Providence Tops In Big East Recruiting … ESPN’s Dave Telep writes, “Coach Ed Cooley did his job this year and then some. The homegrown head coach needed a talent infusion and he went straight to the New Englanders to get it done. Ricardo Ledo and Kris Dunn are not your typical recruits. Dunn is the nation’s No. 2 point guard and owns the best physical attributes of anyone at his position. Ledo is one of the best at getting buckets in the entire country.”

“I was very excited to learn I’d not only be representing  Allentown Central Catholic, but the entire Lehigh Valley in the 2012 Big 33 game”, Gulyas told Big33.org. “A lot of great players have played in this game and to be added to that list is a huge honor.  I’m excited to compete with the best of the best and also spend a week with my host family and buddy.”

In addition to his tremendous statistics, Gulyas’ Allentown Central Catholic team won the 2010 Pennsylvania AAA State Championship — going undefeated.

Coaches from bigger schools were talking to Gulyas, which may have caused him to delay his college decision. Penn State and Boston College both checked in on him, but passed because he wasn’t the ideal height for his position (he is taller than Wes Welker, for the record). Villanova wasn’t able to give him a scholarship when he was ready to decide, but he chose to be a Wildcat over taking a scholarship elsewhere.

“I chose Villanova because of the academics and people”, he said.  “The coaches and players all made me feel welcome on my visit and it just felt like the right place.”

“He’s arguably the most productive wide receiver in the history of Pennsylvania high school football,” new Villanova secondary coach Tony Trisciani told the Morning Call. Trisciani coached against Gulyas for the last few seasons, while he was the head coach at Lehigh Valley-area Whitehall High School. “We’re very fortunate to have him as a Wildcat, and in our offense he is going to be a great fit as a slot receiver.”

Another incoming freshman, Corey Majors, participated in the game last summer before spending the 2011 season at prep school.

The Big 33 Football Classic is an annual All Star game, pitting the best high school football graduating players from Pennsylvania against their counterparts from Ohio. It has been a tradition since 1957, and the game’s alumni have gone on to illustrious college and professional careers. There has never been a Super Bowl that didn’t have at least one Big 33 alumnus on the field.

Ohio has won the last three games in the series, and 12 out of 24 appearances in the game which had previously matched Pennsylvania’s best with Texas and Maryland as well.

This year’s game will take place on June 16, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Happy Mother’s Day… Terry Toohey of DelcoTimes reports that “Tony Chennault, the 2009-10 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year, gave his mother, Crystal Morton, an early Mother’s Day present Tuesday [when he announced he will transfer to Villanova. “I still have to go out and get her something big,” Chennault said. “She expects that.” Morton [who has health issues] is the reason Chennault decided to transfer after two years at Wake Forest.  “I wanted to be more accessible,” Chennault said. “She’s happy. I’ll get to see her more and she’ll be able to come to my home games.”  Still, leaving Wake Forest was not easy.  “My girlfriend is at Wake, my best friend is there and I’ve made a lifetime of friends, but in the end this was something I had to do in the best interest of my family,” he said.  [Editor's Note: Here's a list of gifts Tony should NOT buy his Mom this for Mothers' Day.]

New Rule Makes Coaches Drool… CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein writes, “The NCAA’s new rules allow teams to practice [starting in June for up two hours each week] once kids are enrolled in summer school.  That should do wonders for off-season development.”

The Call of the Wild…  CBS’ Jon Rothstein also is hearing that “NC State is going to be tough to beat for the services of Friends Central consensus Top 25 forward Amile Jefferson, who is set to announce his college decision next week.

Sporting News quotes Jefferson saying, “I definitely didn’t think it would take me this long, but it’s been a great process and I’m honored that these schools would stick with me so long.”  Jefferson has long considered NC State and Duke the frontrunners. Kentucky is making a late push. He also lists Ohio State and Villanova as options, too. “I know he’s more concerned about the system of play,” said Jefferson’s high school coach, Jason Polykoff “How does it fit him?”

Less Filling vs. Tastes Great… Dante Cunningham’s Memphis Grizzles defeated Randy Foye’s LA Clippers last night 90-88, knotting the series and forcing a decisive game seven in Memphis at 1:00 PM on Mothers’ Day.  Through six games, Randy is averaging 8.0 PPG, 1.8 APG and 2.3 RPG.  Dante is averaging 1.0 PPG and 1.3 RPG, playing almost eight minutes per game.  However, Dante leads in Superstar Facials and Flop Assists.

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer… ESPN’s Dana O’Neil, writes, “we are coming off a Final Four where as much was made about the rift between Rick Pitino and John Calipari as the X’s and O’s battle between Louisville and Kentucky. It’s not so easy [for college coaches] to be friendly anymore. There’s just too much at stake.  Friendships and relationships still exist, particularly among the generation that came up in the 1970s. “I think guys like Bill Self, Jay Wright, Tom Izzo and me were brought up by those old-school guys,” Notre Dame Coach Mike Brey said. “The next generation of guys …  I’m not so sure. There’s such a ruthless charge to move up in the business and the money is so big now, so I’d question whether friendships are as strong with them.”

Free JayVaughn…As first reported yesterday by Brian,  Carl Hessler of the JournalRegister separately reports that “JayVaughn Pinkston appeared in court Thursday but nothing was settled in the case where he’s accused of assaulting another [Villanova student] during a 2010 off-campus party in Upper Merion.  Pinkston, through his defense lawyer James Famiglio, requested in Montgomery County Court that action on his case be postponed again because he is still being considered for admission to a special probationary program. It’s the third time the case has been postponed at the request of the defense, according to court records.  Pinkston remains free on $2,500 unsecured bail while he awaits trial.  He could face a possible maximum sentence of one-to-two years in jail.”

Best in the Big Show… Andrew Sweat of Yahoo Sports writes, “Villanova University has one of the most successful men’s basketball programs in NCAA history. The Wildcats have reached the NCAA Tournament 32 times, advancing to the Final Four on four occasions, including the 1985 national championship.”  Which Wildcats does Mr. Sweat think went on to have the best NBA careers?  Here’s his list by statistical category:

• Points Scored:  “Hall-of-Famer Paul Arizin finished among the NBA’s Top-10 in PPG nine times in his career, including leading the NBA in scoring in 1952 and 1957. Arizin’s career 22.8 PPG average is 23rd on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.”  Honorable mention:  Tim Thomas and Jim Washington.
• 3-pointers:  “Tim Thomas‘ 962 career 3-pointers rank 76th on the NBA’s all-time list.”  Honorable Mention:  Kerry Kittles, Randy Foye and  Kyle Lowry.
• Assists:  “Rory Sparrow averaged a career best 6.8 APG in 1984 with the New York Knicks.”  Honorable Mention:  Bill Melchionni and Chris Ford.
• Rebounds:  “Jim Washington‘s career 8.6 RPG average is 90th on the NBA’s all-time list.”  Honorable Mention:  Paul Arizin and Ed Pinckney
• Blocks:  “Ed Pinckney was never a big-time shot blocker, averaging just 0.5 BPG throughout his 12-year NBA career [but still the best among former Wildcats].”  Honorable Mention:  Tim Thomas and Kerry Kittles.  “Memo to the Villanova recruiting staff: Sign a big man who can block some shots at an NBA level!”
• Steals:  “Chris Ford finished among the NBA’s Top-10 in SPG three times, including 1976 (5th), 1977 (7th), and 1978 (8th).”  Honorable Mention:  Rory Sparrow and Kerry Kittles.

Garcia to ‘Bama’s Bench:  The University of Alabama announced that former ‘Nova women’s basketball star, Clarisse Garcia, has joined the Alabama staff as  assistant women’s basketball coach.  “Garcia previously served as the head coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University, an NCAA Division II institution in West Palm Beach.  Prior to Palm Beach Atlantic, Garcia spent one season as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at Stetson University. Garcia graduated from Villanova in 2007. Throughout her four-year career with the Wildcats women’s basketball team, she was a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team member and captain her senior season, leading the Wildcats advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and the Women’s NIT in 2005 and 2006.”

Latest Wisdom from BleacherReport… Josh Schoch published his list of the most important recruits in the history of college basketball.  Coming in at #13 is Villanova’s Ed Pinckey (1981-85).  About Easy Ed, Mr. Schoch writes, “Standing at 6’9″ and just 195 pounds, Pinckney was not a powerful forward, but he was versatile, and created mismatches.  An All-American in 1983, Pinckney led Villanova to four NCAA tournaments, three Elite Eights and the school’s only NCAA tournament Championship.  Pinckney led Nova to one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history, [defeating Georgetown for the 1985 NCAA Championship], and the No. 8 seeded Wildcats remain the lowest seed to win it all.  [Editor’s Note:  Who was #1 you ask?  Lew Alcindor (aka Kareem Abdul Jabbar).  No argument there.  A couple notables not on Mr. Schoch's list:  Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing, North Carolina’s Michael Jordan, Indiana State’s Larry Bird, and Villanova’s Howard Porter.  Your turn G-Drizzle.]

Look Back At The Play of ‘Nova’s Targets at the Mary Kline Classic … Alex Schiffer of NBE Basketball writes, “One of the hottest names from the previous two weekends in the April open evaluation period in the Class of 2013 in NYC native Jermaine Lawrence of Pope John XXIII in Sparta (NJ). The 6-foot-9 PF Lawrence scored a game-high 27 points in the underclassman contest of the Mary Kline Classic, earning one of the two MVP honors.  “Cincinnati, Rutgers, St. John’s, UCLA [and] Florida have been looking at me, Miami as well,” said Lawrence.  “UConn and Villanova programs are among the new schools quickly entering the mix following his April performances.”

Mr. Schiffer  further reports that”St. Patrick’s DeAndre Bembry also drew plenty of recruiting interest at the MKC. Vanderbilt and Georgetown showed interest in me,” said Bembry on Saturday night. “Villanova just offered me.  “I’m going to try and visit UCF, Georgetown and Villanova.”  Jaren Sina, the 6-foot-1 point guard out of Gill St. Bernard’s in New Jersey produced 10 points and 14 assists in the all-star game contest Saturday night, sharing game MVP honors.   “I’m probably visiting Pitt, Michigan [and] maybe Villanova.”

Just Keeping the Seat Warm… Associate Press reports that The Big East’s interim commissioner, Joseph Bailey III, said he does not want the Commissioner job permanently and believes it will take about three to four months for the conference to find a replacement.  In the meantime, he said he’s seen no split between football and basketball schools, and said the Conference is working to dispel any perception that it is unraveling following the ouster of John Marinatto, who resigned this week amid pressure from Big East presidents. “I can tell you just from being in the meetings that I’ve been in, it’s not at all. It’s a very cohesive, very focused group.  [Editor’s Note:  if you want to go on believing that, do not read the next paragraph.”

I Love the Smell of Napalm in the Morning … ESPN’s Andy Katz writes, “Whoever ends up landing the new Commissioner gig will inherit quite a mess.  Among the many issues facing the Conference, “there remains a desire among some member schools to leave. Multiple sources with direct knowledge of their situations told ESPN.com that Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich told the Big East board of directors that the Cardinals want to be in the Big 12 or the ACC, opting for transparency by making members aware of his school’s true intentions.  Connecticut, meanwhile, states publicly that it wants to stay in the Big East, though a number of UConn sources have said privately that they want to be in the ACC with Notre Dame. The Irish have so far publicly remained committed to independence in football and the Big East in all other sports.”  [Regarding football vs. basketball schools, “there is no movement to orchestrate a split.  The most powerful basketball-centric university in the Big East is Georgetown and the Hoyas aren’t interested in splitting up the league. Basketball can survive and flourish with Louisville, UConn, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Villanova, St. John’s, Marquette, Cincinnati, Memphis and Temple anchoring the league. But take Louisville and Connecticut out, and, according to the Big East source, “the whole thing implodes. Then the basketball schools will be reactive, rather than proactive.”

Where Did We Go Wrong?  Writes ESPN’s Andrea Adelson, “Was it shortsighted presidents who got the Big East into this mess? Or was it a fundamental lack of leadership and vision from the man in charge to get everybody to buy in? The schism between basketball and football members has always been there, but what has become increasingly evident is that Marinatto was powerless to stop the growing gap. Marinatto couldn’t reconcile the differences among the Big East’s football and basketball schools.”

Ochefu and Arcidiacono playing for a Good Cause … John Verlin of Philahoops reports that incoming Villanova freshmen, “Daniel Ochefu and Ryan Arcidiacono, will be suiting up for the Blue Seniors in the 2nd-Annual Mary Kline Classic this afternoon at the Pennington School in Pennington, New Jersey. The event, which benefits brain tumor research, was organized by Alex Kline to honor of his mother, who died of a brain tumor seven years ago.  It features two all-star games–one for seniors and one for underclassmen–as well as a slam dunk contest, 3-point contest, and a skills contest.”

Ochefu Coup … BleacherReport’s Thad Novak lists Villanova signee, Daniel Ochefu at #6 in its list of the Ten Biggest Signing Coups of the Year, saying “Few teams have built up as much negative momentum in the last couple of years as Villanova. The Wildcats closed 2010-11 on a six-game losing skid, then saw Corey Fisher’s graduation gut their offense and leave them at a woeful 13-19 last season.  Fortunately for Jay Wright, that unpleasant recent history didn’t scare off 6’10” center Daniel Ochefu. Rivals.com’s 42nd-ranked player in the country could have stayed home just as easily at one of Villanova’s Big Five competitors, but his decision to sign with the Wildcats will bring a combination of size and shooting touch to a team that’s rarely had both in one package.”

Mouph Working On Footwork … Mike Sheridan, wrote a feature this week’s Nova Notebook on rising senior center Mouphtaou Yarou.  He writes, “[Mouph]  was Villanova’s most decorated interior signee since Jason Fraser in 2002.   [However,] the learning curve for interior athletes is steeper than for those on the perimeter. There is an adjustment to the physical nature of the game, double-teams, not to mention the nimble footwork needed to operate near the basket. And that is true of athletes who had spent their whole lives playing the game, a luxury Yarou did not enjoy.   Yarou is the only returning captain for 2012-13 and will lean on fellow upperclassmen Maurice Sutton and James Bell for assistance in that area.  One element that should aid Villanova is the frontcourt synergy between Sutton and Yarou. The 6-11 Sutton’s insertion into the starting lineup in February coincided with Yarou’s most consistent offensive production. At the offensive end, Sutton’s presence allows Yarou to face the basket as a power forward, where he is comfortable draining 12-15 foot jumpers. Yarou plans to spend the summer largely in or near the Davis Center, honing the footwork and individual skills that are part and parcel of playing effectively around the basket.”

Chennault Next to Text “Yes” to Jay?  … CBS’s Jeff Goodman reports “Word is that Wake Forest guard Tony Chennault will likely land back home at Villanova.”

Any Day Now … Bruce Adams of Main Line Media News reports that Villanova is still in the mix for Amile Jefferson.  He writes, “When will Amile Jefferson announce his college selection? I’ll probably pick a date [to announce my decision] soon.” Jefferson’s top three college choices are considered to be Kentucky, North Carolina State and Duke [but] Villanova and Ohio State also [are] possible choices. During a recent interview with ESPN’s Dave Telep Jefferson said, part of him would like to stay home in Philadelphia and play at Villanova, where his family would be nearby. He said another part of him wants to go far away, so he can grow on his own.  “One day it’s one,” Jefferson told ESPN.com, and “one day it’s the other.”

Cats Among Biggest Losers … NBC Sports’ Raphielle Johnson lists Villanova among the five teams expected to be most negatively impacted next season by players opting for the NBA draft, writing, “2011-12 wasn’t exactly a banner season for the Wildcats, but having a year of experience under their belts as “the guys” would have benefited both Dominic Cheek and Maalik Wayns. Alas both had a desire to help out their families financially, and they decided to go pro instead. “[Their departure] puts more on the shoulders of James Bell, Darrun Hilliard and Ty Johnson to produce in 2012-13, and the same goes for sophomore forward JayVaughn Pinkston.” [Editor’s Note:  Duh]

Overdue for a Visit to the Rose Garden … While Friday’s visit by the national champion Kentucky Wildcats to the White House to meet President Obama made the headlines, we prefer to remember a visit by another Wildcat team some 27 years ago!

Randy & Dante Update… Randy Foye Foundation announced  the second annual “Regina’s Run” will be held on Sunday, June 3rd.  “The 5k run/walk in partnership with the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center honors of Randy’s late mother, welcomes participants of all age and skill levels for the 5k and children’s 1 mile fun run.”  The Clippers posted an extensive feature on Randy Foye’s life, foundation, and time with the Clippers.  Randy’s LA Clippers are tied with Dante Cunningham’s Memphis Grizzles after two games in the first round of the NBA playoffs.  Over the two games so far, Foye is averaging 4.5 PPG, 2.5 APG and 3 RPG over 23 MPG, while Cunningham is averaging 1.0 PPG and 2 RPG over 7.5 MPG.  However, Dante is one up on Randy in game highlights.  Update:  in today’s game 3, Randy led his Clippers to a one-point win, with 16 pts on 6-9 shooting including 4-5 from beyond the arc, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers, and one steal.  Dante did not score nor grab a rebound in five minutes of play for the Grizzlies.  The Clippers are now up 2-1.

No Six-Peat for Abro … Rob Dauster of NBC Sports reports that “the NCAA has denied Notre Dame’s Tim Abromaitis a sixth-year of eligibility. Abro is the posterboy for the NCAA’s “student-athlete” ideal. There are few players in the country that are better students than Abro. He completed his undergraduate degree in three years. He finished a Master’s degree by the end of his fourth season and took graduate-level courses for fun during his fifth-season in South Bend. Of the five years that he spent in college, one resulted in playing in two exhibition games and another saw him take part in two total games. Not granting him a sixth-year doesn’t make any sense.”

‘Cuse Hates Cats … Bleacher Report lists Villanova at #5 among Syracuse’s Ten Most Hated Basketball Rivals, behind #1 Georgetown, writing, “Anytime you get beat by a team whose coach takes more time in front of his wardrobe than he does in front of his whiteboard, it stings.  The Villanova Wildcats have become one of the Orange’s feistiest opponents.  The Orange are always playing for something, and the Wildcats are the ones standing in the way.”

FriarFanatic’13′s Revenge …  Rob Dauster of NBC Sports reports that Providence Coach Ed Cooley “continued his impressive recruiting run at Providence on Tuesday afternoon. With top 20 recruits Ricardo Ledo and Kris Dunn ready to enroll in the fall and Arizona transfer Sidiki Johnson already primed to join the Friars next season, Cooley has now brought in Wake Forest transfer Carson Desrosiers.  Desrosiers is a 6-foot-11 center with a nice touch from the perimeter. He started 38 games in two seasons with the Demon Deacons, averaging 4.4 points and 3.7 boards. Desrosiers will have to sit out the 2012-2013 season, but he will have two years left once he gets eligible.”

Guard U II? …. Kevin Duffy of the Connecticut Post writes “The Big East has long been synonymous with a grind-it-out brand of basketball that is predicated on rough play in the paint. The elite teams usually share a common trait: They can bang on the low block and alter shots around the rim. “That’s the way Connecticut has been for years,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said by phone Tuesday afternoon. “When you go against them, you know they’ve got guys in there that can really rebound and change shots.” But UConn’s winning formula — it led the nation in blocks from 2001-09 — is certain to undergo a make-over next season. There is no Andre Drummond or Hasheem Thabeet or Alex Oriakhi on the roster. This team — whether it’s led by Jim Calhoun, Kevin Ollie or someone else — must tap into Wright’s blueprint: Three- and four-guard lineups will likely dictate UConn’s success.”

‘Nova’s LAX Bubble Burst?  Sixteen teams will play in the 2012 NCAA LAX tournament, comprised of 7 automatic qualifiers (champions of America East, Big East, Ivy, Patriot, Colonial, ECAC, and MAAC) and 9 at-large teams.  LAXPOWER had projected Villanova as one of the 9 teams earning an at-large bid by virtue of wins against three top 20 RPI teams, but that was before the Cats were upset yesterday at Providence.  The Big East Championship will be decided at Villanova Stadium on May 3 – 5.  In the May 3 Semifinal games, No.2 Villanova faces No.3 Syracuse at 7PM (ESPN3) and at 4:30 PM No.1 Notre Dame takes on No. 4 St. Johns (ESPNU).  The winners of the Semifinal games face off in the Final on Saturday at Noon to decide the championship (ESPNU).

Body Slam of the Week:  Mike Jensen of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote this week, “Jay Wright knows that last season wasn’t just a failure on paper for Villanova, but an unwatchable debacle.  When Wright’s past teams made deep NCAA runs, “the stars all aligned.”  This [year], it was more like space junk falling from the sky.”

Doing Us Proud …  The Memphis Grizzles’ Dante Cunningham will face Randy Foye and the LA Clippers in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Cunningham played in 64 games, averaging 18 mpg, 5.2 PPG with a .516 FG%, and 3.8 RPG, and earned $2 million this season.  With teammate Marc Gasol recovering from a bone bruise in his right knee, Cunningham has seen increased PT the last two games following four straight contests with less than 10 minutes of court time. He’s taken advantage, averaging 7.5 points (on 54.5 percent shooting), 3.5 boards, and 1.5 swipes in 19.7 minutes. Foye played in 65 games, averaging 26 MPG, 11.0 PPG with a .398 FG%, 2.1 RPG and 2.2 APG, and earned $4.25 million this season.  Foye got the start in place of the injured Chris Paul (groin) Wednesday, dropping 28 points, five boards, four assists, three steals, and a quartet of treys in the loss to the Knicks.  The other former Villanova Wildcat playing in the NBA, Kyle Lowry, (Houston Rockets) played in 47 games, averaging 32 MPG, 14.3 PPG with a .409 FG%, 6.6 APG, 4.6 RPG and 1.6 SPG and earned $5.75 million this season.  Lowry suffered a sports hernia injury that forced him to miss the final games of the season, including the loss to Miami on April 22 that eliminated the Rockets from playoff contention.

Hot Start in Dayton … David Jablonski of the Dayton Daily News reports that former Villanova pitcher, Kyle McMyne, is off to a hot start for the Dayton Dragons, a Class A minor league baseball team affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds.  McMyne, a reliever for the Dragons, “can hit 96 miles per hour on the radar gun. He was a fourth-round pick a year ago and is off to a great start this season. Through Sunday, he had thrown 7 1/3 scoreless innings in five appearances with nine strikeouts, four hits and one walk.”  McMyne started 10 games last season in Billings, but he was never healthy. He went 1-1 with a 8.00 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 27 innings.”  Hat Tip to VUHoops Reader, Bill’62

… But A Cold Start In Daytona … Former ‘Nova two sport great, Matt Szczur, has gotten off to a slow start in 2012, playing center field for the Daytona Cubs.  Through 21 games and 82 at-batts, Matt is batting .220 with an OBP of 347 and a SLG% of only .280.  He has one hit in 14 at-bats over his last three games.

‘Nova’s Derrick May Has Great DNA … Kevin Tresolini of The News Journal reports that Derrick May Jr. has signed his letter of intent to play baseball for Villanova. May, who chose Villanova over Maryland, is batting .471 with .500 on-base and .882 slugging percentages this spring for Tartnall. “His grandfather, Dave May, had played 12 big-league seasons.  His father, Derrick May Sr., was a first-round pick of the Chicago Cubs — and ninth overall — out of Newark High., and played 10 seasons in the big leagues.

Well-Healed …. Villanova.com published a feature this week on Villanova wideout, Norman White, who missed last season with a foot injury.  “White’s return to the field this fall is one reason why Head Coach Andy Talley’s team believes it will soon be back to the form that helped deliver an FCS NCAA title to the Main Line. Everything feels good,” says White, who collected 69 receptions and 11 touchdowns as a first team All-CAA choice in his junior season. “It gets a little sore after practice but they told me that was going to happen. I feel like I’m right back to where I was before the injury.”

Griffith to Hall of Fame … Jim Lane of the Altoona Mirror reports that Allen Griffith, “a three year starter for Villanova’s basketball team from 1954-57, will be inducted into the Blair County Sports Hall of Fame.  The Wildcats were 18-10 in his sophomore year and reached the NCAA Tournament. They went 14-12 and 10-15 in his next two seasons and he captained the team as a senior when he led them in scoring with a 13.2 average. He was named to the Big Five/Quaker City all-star team and inducted into Villanova’s Hall of Fame in 1993.  He finished with 735 points and 502 rebounds over his Villanova career.”

No Place Like Home … Mike Kern of the Daily News reports that recent Villanova signee, Dylan Ennis wanted to be closer to home. And he wanted to play in the Big East.  [Ennis] averaged 8.5 points and 4.1 assists as a freshman starter last season at Rice.  His brother, Tyler, is a highly regarded senior at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark.  The Wildcats are one of the schools in the recruiting mix for Tyler. But as their father, Tony McIntyre, said: “If you have one, you don’t need the other.” Says Dylan about his brother, “If we play together, that’s great. But we like to compete. So maybe we’ll play against each other.”

Ochefu Earns Local First Team Honors …. The West Chester Daily Local News selected Daniel Ochefu to its first team, saying “The Villanova-bound center averaged 13 points per game and led the Moose in rebounding.”

April Showers Bring Freeman & The Harrisons … VUHoops’ Brian Ewart reports that top 2013 recruits Andrew and Aaron Harrison visited ‘Nova this week, and fellow top recruit Allerik Freeman will visit on May 4.

‘Cuse Nabs Gbinije … Brian had reported that Duke transfer, Michael Gbinije counted Villanova among the schools he was considering after receiving permission to transfer from Duke.  However, Daniel Martin of NBC Sports reported today that “while on a visit to Syracuse last night, former Duke forward Michael Gbinije committed to play for Jim Boeheim and the Orange.”

A Little Prep Never Hurt …  Mike Miller of NBC Sports reports that “most signs have pointed to 2013 one-time Villanova commit, Savon Goodman, prepping for a season and therefore reclassifying to the class 2013. “I’m not sure yet,” Goodman said [last] weekend. “I’m waiting to make a decision.” Goodman said waiting a season to go to college would give him another year to work on his game, while it would also shore up any academic or eligibility issues that might come up.  Goodman plans to visit St. John’s [next week]. He met with Temple coaches last week. The Seton Hall Pirates could have immediate playing time, too, because guard Sean Grennan will transfer.

Cassell a Terp … The Associate Press reports that Sam Cassell Jr. has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Maryland, coach Mark Turgeon said Monday.  Cassell is the son of former NBA guard Sam Cassell. He chose Maryland over the University of South Florida, Villanova and Florida State. Cassell says he picked Maryland because “it’s close to home so all my family and friends can see me play.”

Harold’s Boy … The University of Portland announced the signing of guard Bryce Pressley to a National Letter of Intent.  “Pressley (6-4, 190) averaged 14.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.4 blocked shots and 2.0 steals per game during his senior season. Bryce’s father, Harold, played four years in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings after a successful collegiate career at Villanova, which included being a key member of the 1985 NCAA Championship team.”

Fall of the Empire … ESPN reports that “five underclassmen have left the Huskies since last month [when the NCAA] denied the school’s request for a waiver of new academic requirements. Two left for to the NBA draft — sophomore guard Jeremy Lamb and freshman center Andre Drummond, and are transferring – junior Alex Oriakhi (Missouri), sophomore forward Roscoe Smith (undecided) and redshirt freshman center Michael Bradley (undecided).  Jim Calhoun did not appear with his players Thursday as they were honored by lawmakers at the state Capitol’s annual “Husky Day.” Shabazz Napier says the team is hopeful the coach will be with them on the sideline next season.  Associate head coach George Blaney said he doesn’t believe Calhoun has made a decision yet about whether he will return next season.”

Wanted: Brain-Mouth Filter … Associated Press reports that the presiding judge “expects to announce his decision in two weeks after hearing arguments on a motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit against Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim.  Former team ballboys Bobby Davis and Mike Lang claim Boeheim slandered them when Boeheim called Davis a liar and opportunist looking to exploit publicity surrounding the Penn State sex-abuse scandal when the allegations surfaced in November. Boeheim later apologized.”

NBA Commish Stern Favors Two-And-Done … Raphielle Johnson of NBC Sports reports that NBA Commissioner, “David Stern’s preference would be that players have to be at least two years removed from high school in order to be eligible for the NBA Draft. Stern said, “Everyone I hear from- players actually, college coaches, NBA teams- everyone says its a good idea except for the [NBA Players] Union, whose consent is necessary to change it. So what I tell people to do is, ‘Don’t call me, call their union.”

Philly.com Photo

Ochefu Shines; Goodman AWOL …. Ted Silary of the Philly Daily News  wrote a feature on Villanova’s 6-10, 240-pound signee, Daniel Ochefu.  Ochefu’s “I-3 All-Stars won the Donofrio Classic championship on Tuesday night with a 91-85 victory over Team Philly. Ochefu contributed 21 points (9-for-10 from the floor), 10 rebounds and five blocks.  Ochefu’s teammate, Savon Goodman, who was expected right up until tipoff, never put his face in the place. Afterwards, Ochefu said,  ‘I think I have a real high ‘ball IQ. And I’m willing to work. Whatever coach [Jay] Wright wants from me, I’m going to provide it. Whether that means grabbing rebounds, running the floor and blocking shots one night or using good postup moves the next. I’m still improving my footwork. That’s going to be important.’” [Editor’s Note:  Ochefu made the All-Tourney squad.  Villanova recruiting long-shot, Amile Jefferson, took Co-MVP honors.]

LAX Cats Equal to the Challenge … Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun interviewed former Syracuse All-American midfielder and ESPN Analyst Paul Carcaterra about Villanova’s chances to upset Notre Dame on Saturday.  Said Mr. Carcaterra, “Villanova is a really interesting team.  [They] break down a defense with an extraordinary amount of off-ball movement, and that makes it very difficult to defend. I [am] very impressed with the motion offense of the Wildcats. They almost resemble a half-court basketball offense where everyone’s moving around and no one is standing still. I think they’re a really difficult team to defend. Now if any team mentally is going to be able to prepare for that type of offense, it’s Notre Dame. They’ve played incredible defense over the last five years, and they play the best defense in the country. But I think Villanova is a team that can upset Notre Dame if Notre Dame doesn’t shoot well. ”

Washington Post Photo

Twins Are Villanova-Bound; No, Not Those Twins,  the Other Ones … The Washington Post reports that “Villanova-bound twins Caroline Coyer and Katherine Coyer, who paced Oakton to the Virginia AAA title and a 31-0 season, will lead the Virginia public school all-star team today in the Capital Classic games in Washington.” The Washington Post says that “Caroline Coyer is the flashier player, a 5-foot-9 slashing point guard with a quick step. Katherine is a punishing 5-10 defender with a relentless motor.”

Oh Yeah, About Those Other Twins … Daniel Martin of NBC Sports reports that Villanova’s 2013 targets, Andrew and Aaron Harrison, are in Pittsburgh today for “Day 2 of Hoop Group’s Pittsburgh Jam Fest. “Our lists are still open,” Andrew told NBCSports.com [about their recruiting status]. “We have a top four, but that doesn’t mean another school can’t come up.” The duo lists Kentucky, Maryland, Baylor, and Villanova as the leading programs at this point. Harrison also made one thing clear: they will choose a school as a duo and are set on playing together in college. “We’re definitely a package deal,” said Aaron. “One-hundred percent.”

Are We There Yet?  ACC Basketball Recruiting Analyst, Clint Jackson, tweeted on Thursday, “No Amile Jefferson announcement this week. Maybe next week.”  So what is he waiting for? Amy Fadool at Comcast Sports says, “Well, it might not be what … so much as who. People close to Jefferson say the Friends Central senior is waiting to see how some of the rosters shake out of the school’s he’s interested in, specifically North Carolina State and Duke.” ESPN reportsthat “Jefferson was named to the 2011-12 ESPNHS All-American fourth team after leading Friends Central to its  fourth straight state Independent Schools’ crown.  Last summer, he led the NBPA Top 100 Camp in scoring, was Pennsylvania and a McDonald’s All-American. Duke, NC State and Villanova are on his short list.” Bleacher Report’s Josh Schoch has this to say about the chances of Villanova receiving a commitment from Jefferson:  “Villanova used to be a great school for basketball, but the school has dropped off in recent years, and is now a mediocre team in a conference that is going to be torn apart by conference realignment. While staying close to home can be good for some recruits, I don’t see it being a huge factor in Jefferson’s decision. This kid is going to be a star, and like most star players, I see him making sure that he goes to the best school no matter how far away it is. Also, the fact that his other three schools are all in the South (including two in North Carolina) tells me that that is where he wants to be.

Please Stop At the Bursar’s Office to Collect Your Final Paychecks … Associated Press reports that “Kentucky’s starting lineup of three freshmen and two sophomores did most everything together. [On Tuesday night], freshmen Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague, and sophomores Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb declared for the draft and will go their separate ways in the NBA.”  ESPN’s Dana O’Neill writes, “Stop complaining that John Calipari is a used car salesman and his players are mercenaries. John Calipari is a businessman running a multimillion-dollar business, not a coach with a whistle in charge of a CYO team. His players are junior entrepreneurs, interning for a year before cashing in on the big gig, not plucky kids hoping to get a chance. Am I a fan? Absolutely not. I prefer my college athletes have more staying power than a fraternity party hook up.  But I’m also a realist and I realize that conventions don’t last. The construct of the rules dictate how the game is played, and one overriding rule still applies: He who has the best players wins. Kentucky will continue to win because Calipari will continue to get the best players.  The NBA draft is now Kentucky’s biggest recruiting tool, where future championships are born”.

Nova Basketball Finally Makes Someone’s Top Twelve List … Bleacher Report’s Thad Novak named his twelve most head-scratching college basketball early entry decisions of 2012, with Villanova players dominating the list.  Coming in at #6 is Maalik Wayns with the commentary, “Wayns could’ve emerged as a bonafide star in 2011-12 and made his decision to enter the draft a foregone conclusion. Of course, very few things broke in Villanova’s favor last season, and Wayns instead finds himself a forgettable prospect who will be lucky to make the bottom of the second round. Wayns did increase his scoring [to] 17.6 points a game, but he’s a point guard by trade, and his assist totals [were an unspectacular at] 4.6 a night.  Worse yet, he turned the ball over 3.0 times a game—hardly the kind of performance that will have NBA teams clamoring for his services.  Just missing the top spot and coming in at #2 on the list was Dominic Cheek.  Mr. Novak called Dom “the second-best guard on a bad college team. What about that status sounds like an NBA player in the making? He has the length to play the 2 in the NBA, but why anybody would bother giving him a chance to do so is a mystery.” Len Robinson answers those who doubt Cheek’s decision in today’s New York Post.  Writes Mr. Robinson, “[Cheek’s] decision was based mostly on financial considerations.  He’s a perfect prospect to play in the lucrative leagues from France to Israel to Russia. At 6-foot-6, 190 pounds he can do a little bit of everything, and he will do it right. A team owner won’t have to worry about some ugly American getting into a bar fight in the red-light district. He will work hard. Cheek will be the American making the sacrifice for his family[and] will send home most of his paycheck.”

Yes, Attending Class Is Optional … Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Constitution High coach Rob Moore will meet with Temple to discuss the recruitment of forward Savon Goodman, according to multiple sources.  The Temple [coaches] want to know what type of person the 6-foot-6 senior is. According to another source, the Owls are expected to offer Goodman a scholarship. As of Monday, there was thought that Goodman would attend prep school next year. He wanted to spend the year working on his outside shooting. Goodman backed out of an oral commitment to play at Villanova in August.”

But They Got Straight-As in Gym … ESPN reports that “the NCAA defended its standard for academic performance Thursday that led to Connecticut’s men’s basketball team being banned from next year’s. Said Bob Williams, spokeman for the NCAA, ‘Every other team at the University of Connecticut met the (APR) standard. Every other team in the entire Northeast did. So obviously the standard was well known and others met the standard. The real issue is the academic performance of the UConn men’s basketball team.’ Connecticut officials argue the penalty was applied retroactively and hurts current students, who had nothing to do with the low scores.”  NBC Sports reported today that rising junior, Rosco Smith, is the latest UConn player to announce he will not be returning to Connecticut.  Smith is eligible to play this year at another school because UConn is not eligible to play in the NCAA tournament.

Syracuse to Penn State:  We Feel Your Pain … ESPN reports that “Zach Tomaselli, just five days after saying he had been lying the past few months about his claims that former Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine sexually abused him as a child, said Wednesday he was indeed abused by Fine.  Tomaselli released a statement on Wednesday in direct contradiction to his previous comments to Syracuse local media last Friday. Tomaselli said he’d had a “complete psychiatric breakdown” when he recanted. Bobby Davis, a ball boy for Syracuse teams in the 1980s, and his stepbrother Mike Lang also have accused Fine of molesting.”

About As Sad As It Gets …. Mike Anthony of the Hartford Courant reports that “legendary Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, who was diagnosed about a year ago with early onset dimentia, stepped down Wednesday as Tennessee coach and made it official at a Thursday afternoon news conference.”

Dante’s Chance to Shine … BleacherReport’s Tom Firme reports that Memphis Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol’s [leg] injury may cause him to sit out the remainder of the regular season. “Dante Cunningham, who’s the likely replacement for Gasol, will be just fine in his place. Starting in place of Gasol the last time they played Minnesota, Cunningham had 13 points and 14 rebounds in 40 minutes.  Cunningham is a solid defender who’s athletic and can grab rebounds. He won’t make noise on offense, but the Grizzlies have other players who can fill in for Gasol’s scoring.”

VUHoops Blogger At Center Of Masters Controversy … Who will ever forget the miraculous shot that Bubba Watson hit from the pine straw on the second playoff hole at Augusta National to win the 76th Masters on Easter Sunday?  Jonathan Heeter of McClatchy Newspapers wrote, Watson’s [shot would need to go through] gap in the trees, staying below the tree limbs, [then hook severely and carry 60 yards] over the bunkers guarding the front and right side of the green.” Anyone not in a coma knows that the shot landed ten feet to the right of the pin, and Bubba putted out for the win.  It turns out, however, it may not have been Bubba who made that miraculous shot.  Pete of Let’sGoNova.com reports that VUHoops’ blogger, Brian Ewart, allegedly stepped out from the Master’s crowd and took the shot for Bubba.  Just before Brian swung, Pete quotes several witnesses who say Bubba told him, “Just hit your normal shot and I will be donning my green jacket before you can say Jack Nicklaus.”  Mr. Ewart has dismissed the allegations as a desperate and sensational attempt by Pete to get back into the blogging game.  [Editor's Note:  Brian will need to cut back on his VUH blogging to four posts a day to concentrate on his defense against several civil suits brought by the PGA, the most serious of which is impersonating a golfer.]

C.J. Small

LAX Cats Weather Storm … Villanova.com reports that “led by a pair of goals from senior C.J. Small , No. 12 Villanova (8-4, 4-0) scored four unanswered goals to start the fourth quarter and rallied past St. John’s (6-5, 2-3) for a 10-8 victory at Villanova Stadium [this] afternoon.  With the win, Villanova became the first team to clinch a berth into the inaugural BIG EAST Championship, hosted by Villanova  May 3 – 5 at Villanova Stadium.”

Arcidiacono’s ‘Back’ … After missing his senior year at Neshaminy due to back surgery, Villanova signee Ryan Arcidiacono returned action on April 4 leading his Bucks County All Stars with 17 points and 7 assists to a Round of 16 win over DeStefano Electric in the Donofrio Classic.  In the quarter final game on April 11, Arcidiacono scored 20 points, but Bucks County lost to Team Philly behind 28 points from Rysheed Jordan, the #34-ranked player in the Class of 2013.  “[Ryan] played vey well, was smooth out there,” Bucks County coach Jim Kenny said.  Arcidiacono heads to U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs on June 5 to try out for Team USA in the Fibas America U18 Tournament, to be held from June 16-20 in Brazil.

Blame Grandma … CBS Sports  reports that  family considerations were the main factor behind Dominic Cheek’s decision to bypass his senior year at Villanova and make himself eligible for the NBA Draft. “It was based mostly on [financial considerations],” Cheek told the Philadelphia Daily News. “I’d do anything for my family. The neighborhood where I’m from is one of the worst in the city. My grandmother lives in the projects. She’s taken care of three kids. I just want to get her out of there. That’s what I’m trying to do.” “[Dominic and I ] talked a lot,” Coach Jay Wright told the Philadelphia Daily News. “There’s a lot to this, and I admire the way he’s handled it. With his situation, it might be better for him to do it now.  It wasn’t a decision he made quickly.”

Turkey-Bound …  DraftExpress.com does not project either Cheek or Maalik Wayns to be selected in the NBA Draft on June 28. The loss of both Cheek and Wayns leaves Villanova coach Jay Wright with a huge void to fill. Suddenly, Villanova went from a team with four seniors to two.“We’re losing 30 points a game, and that’s what I’m thinking about right now,” Wright said. [Editor's Note:  other than, of course, how smart I was to sign a long-term deal after the Final Four in 2009.]

Melo and Waiters

I’ll Miss Early Morning Classes Most of All … Other Big East stars who have declared for the 2012 NBA Draft include: Syracuse stars Fab Melo (7-0, C, SO) and Dion Waiters  (6-4, G, SO), Georgetown’s Hollis Thompson (6-8, SF, JR), St. John’s Moe Harkless (6-8, SF, FR) and Connecticut’s  Andre Drummond  (6-11, C, FR).  Players had until April 10th to test the waters without hiring an agent.  They then have until April 29th to officially make a decision on entering the draft.  Expect more announcements over the next two weeks.  [Editor's Tongue In Cheek Note:  After two years at Syracuse, Fab is only 115 credits shy of graduating.  He was frequently heard gushing how he loved the academic side of college life and that when his basketball career is over, he'll have the next 50 years to earn his degree.  That might be cutting it close, Fab.]

Love Ya Coach Calhoun, but … Adding to UConn’s woes, ESPN reports that “forward Alex Oriakhi will transfer to Missouri.  He has one year of eligibility and can play immediately because UConn is banned from next season’s NCAA tournament.

Prediction?  ‘Pain’ … Matt Norlander of CBS Sports foresees more of the same for the long suffering Nova faithful, with a predicted ninth place finish in the Big East conference next season and a conference record of 8-10.  Mr. Norlander’s top three next year will be Louisville, Syracuse and Marquette, in that order, with sub-par seasons expected for perennial powers Pittsburgh (eighth) and Connecticut (eleventh).  St. John’s is predicted to finish dead-last.

My Work Here Is Done … ESPN reports that Jay Wright mentor and “Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown will interview with SMU on Saturday for the Mustangs’ coaching vacancy, a source told ESPN senior writer Andy Katz.  “I’m not going to be politicking for a job right now,” the 71-year-old Brown said. “I’d like to get back involved in the game in some capacity. Whether that’s as a coach, assistant, running a team or just as a resource, I don’t care.”  [Editor’s Note:  It sounds like Brown was there for the taking if Jay Wright wanted him on his bench.]

Help? Is On the Way … Philly.com reports that “former Wake Forest basketball player Tony Chennault is scheduled to visit Villanova on Thursday.  The 6-foot-2 point guard is strongly considering transferring to the Big East Conference school. Chennault, who just completed his sophomore season, will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.  The Neumann-Goretti High School product started all 31 games last season for the Deacons and averaged nine points and 2.8 assists.”

One ‘n Done U Reloads … Kentucky strikes gold again, reports ESPN. “John Calipari and his Wildcats hit a grand slam with the announcement that seven-foot Nerlens Noel will wear the Kentucky uniform.  UCLA fared pretty well too, with recent signings of  top recruits Kyle Anderson and Shabazz Muhammad.

Finally Some Good News …. Villanova.com reports “women’s basketball junior forward Jessica Wamala has been awarded the prestigious Truman Scholarship. Wamala is a Honors Political Science and Arab and Islamic Studies major.  The mission of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation is to find and recognize college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service.

The service has been similarly used by schools like Cincinnati and Boston College to sell football and basketball tickets.

The site offers its users a “Groupon” — a combination of “Group” and “Coupon” — offering a discount on a good or service that becomes available only if a certain minimum number of users sign up for it. Villanova’s minimum was apparently set at 10 purchases, according to the site. For this deal, Villanova is offering four tickets to the Notre Dame game for $20. Tickets normally carry a face-value of $10, while season tickets cost just $30.

According to the Groupon’s pitch for the deal:

Like flying-trapeze artists, lacrosse balls need a durable net to fall into, or else they refuse to leave midair until their meals are launched to them from a T-shirt cannon. Witness deal-breaking mesh in action with this GrouponLive deal to see the Villanova Wildcats men’s lacrosse team play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Villanova Stadium. For $20, you get four general-admission tickets on Saturday, April 21, at 5:30 p.m. (up to a $40 value). The kids’ Fun Zone opens at 4 p.m.

Villanova has been using the splash-page of Villanova.com to promote the Big East lacrosse tournament, which will be held for the first time ever at Villanova Stadium at the conclusion of this season. The athletics department is hoping that they can be a success hosting the first ever incarnation of the event, but getting fans to show up for regular-season games is also still a priority.