I Bleed Blue and White

Coach K says, "Who is this man?!"

I had a legit man-crush on Dwayne Anderson last year. He was the epitome of what I thought a “Villanova Basketball Player” should be. Not the biggest, strongest, or fastest. But man, did he have heart. Every loose ball, that was his. Every challenge, he rose to the occasion. When I finally came to grips with his graduation, I was legitimately upset. I didn’t know if he could be replaced.

Then I met Taylor King in Boston. I was on my way to a hotel to pick up my friend Meaghan and and I went to her room and there is Taylor watching SportsCenter. I knew that he wasn’t allowed to travel with the team, so it was a general shock to see him sitting there. After talking with him for 20 minutes or so, it was apparent that the guy loved Villanova. Hell, he made sure he was there for Boston. And he was amongst the most rambunctious fans during that famed weekend. That was the day I decided Taylor King would fit right in at Villanova.

It is early, but it looks like we may have found our answer to Dwayne Anderson’s graduation. Taylor King is playing Villanova basketball. Once known as a no-defense, shoot-only-3’s Dookie, King has transformed himself into the mirror image of what Dwayne Anderson was to last year’s team.

Nothing signified that more than what he did last night when the team was up by 20 (hint: it is what made Anderson a ‘Nova legend). Make sure you watch the highlight video starting at 1:53 to see what I mean.

So Taylor, this Bud’s for you. Keep yelling. Keep diving on the floor. Keep your teammates fired up. Keep pulling down those loose balls. And most importantly, keep making sure Coach K regret pushing you out the door at Duke. We love you.