In anticipation of ‘Senior Night’ and our Wednesday night clash with South Florida, I caught up with Ken DeCelles from the USF Blog Voodoo 5. Make sure you head over there and check out my answers to Ken’s questions, and as always, give him some hell while you’re over there!
On to the questions…
Chris (IBBW): Is there a more under-the-radar player in the BIG EAST than Dominique Jones? He’s averaging over 20 a game but still doesn’t get much press. What has he meant for the Bulls’ program?
Ken (V5): I’d like to see one. He did get some national recognition during our four game Big East winning streak earlier this year, but he is still widely unappreciated. Jones’ biggest contribution has to be making USF relevant again in basketball. I’ve heard more USF basketball talk this month then I have over the past 5 years. Jones has said that he will be back if USF doesn’t make it to the Sweet 16 this year, so I hope there will be some national buzz about the team next season.
Chris (IBBW): Jarrid Famous is a guy that Villanova was heavily involved with and was disappointed to miss out on. How is his first year on campus going? Would you say he’s below, met or exceeded expectations?
Ken (V5): It took a little bit of time for Famous to adjust to the higher level of competition, but he has done exactly what we needed him to do this season. He rebounds well, does a good job in the post, and he is improving everyday on defense. He has been knocked around by stronger guys like Yancy Gates, but I’m sure an offseason of strength training will help.
Chris (IBBW): You’ve scored some good wins this year (Pitt, Georgetown) but taken a few bad losses (St. John’s last time out, and a sweep at the hands of Notre Dame isn’t pretty). Many think you’re still on the bubble for The Dance, so what do you need to do to get in?
Ken (V5): A win tomorrow would be a great start. I thought that if we could win 5 games between our last 5 games of the regular season and the Big East Tournament would get us in. An NIT bid would be a little bit of a letdown considering what happened earlier this season, but any type of tournament would be a huge step in the right direction for the program.
Chris (IBBW): You’ve got nearly 5 guys averaging in double-figures (with G Mike Mercer barely missing with 9.0 ppg). How should we read into that? Does that mean there is a glaring lack of depth on this team?
Ken (V5): Depth has been a concern this year, but we finally have everyone healthy for the first time this season. We do have one huge void that’s missing from our team, and that is a competent three-point shooter. For the season we are only hitting 29.2% of our shots from three. In an offense where its mostly dribble penetration, defenses have quickly learned that all they need to do is collapse in the paint and make our guys beat them from deep.
Chris (IBBW): What does Villanova have to do to stop it’s two-game losing streak and dispatch the Bulls, who’ve given a lot of teams problems this year?
Ken (V5): Run zone on defense, and collapse when Jones drives to the basket. We have a hard time hitting anything from distance, and it has burned us the last couple of games. But because I said this, I wouldn’t be surprised if we go 10-15 from three tomorrow.
Chris (IBBW): It’s Senior Night at The Pavilion, which means Scottie Reynolds’ last game on campus. What are you expecting out of him?
Ken (V5): I think that Chris Howard and Anthony Crater will do a decent job holding Reynolds to below his season averages. Last season we did a great job limiting Reynolds to one made basket and seven points, and while I don’t think we will hold him to single digits, I think Reynolds will finish up with 14 points and 5 assists. Not a bad scoreline, but its not what everyone will expect from Reynolds on
Senior Night.
Chris (IBBW): Give me a prediction for how this one plays out.
Ken (V5): USF will keep it close for 30-35 minutes, but Villanova will pull away late and crush USF’s fleeting tourney hopes.
Nova 71-63.
…Thanks again to Ken for making this happen on such short notice. Good luck tomorrow night and as you put it, let’s hope for a clean, injury-free affair…
