Well, after another loss where the weaknesses stuck out like a sore thumb again, there is definitely a panic inside the Villanova camp. Jay Wright might not admit it, the players might not admit it, fans might not admit it, but this team is spiraling downward at a rapid rate. I’m not going to solely focus on yesterday’s debacle against the Mountaineers, because the problems of this team have been glaring for the last month or so. I’m obviously not an expert, but I feel the need to call out some people, so take a look below.
In no particular order:
1. Jay Wright-The man who has turned this program around is starting to bother me a little. Without a doubt, the officiating has been extremely bad this year, but every time I look over, Jay is complaining about something to the referees. At some point, the attention of the man in charge has to turn to his own players. Instead of berating the refs for the full 40 minutes, even though they usually deserve it, Wright needs to start actually teaching and making adjustments during the game. Second, the rotation has to be cut down to a set 8 or 9, unless dire circumstances warrant otherwise. Playing 11 guys in the postseason is not going to work in my opinion. Nobody can get into the flow of the game, and furthermore, most of the players never know how much they are going to play each game. This may seem like good motivation, especially for the young guys, but I think it’s starting to mess with the chemistry of the squad. One last thing–stop getting technicals Jay. He must have around 8 T’s this season, which is not ok.
2. Maurice Sutton-Plain and simple, he should not be on the floor for meaningful minutes, unless there is extreme foul trouble.
3. Maalik Wayns-The excuse may be that he’s only a freshman, but his reckless play is an issue now. Sure, we saw flashes of brilliance early in the season, and there’s no doubt he has the potential to be a star on the Main Line, but other teams are figuring the youngster out. They know he will force just about any shot and is prone to turnovers. Thus, opponents are more than happy to let him make one spectactular play, which will usually be coupled with multiple turnovers and errant shots. We need him to create, but turning the ball over every other possession doesn’t cut it.
4. Taylor King-There are far more serious concerns with King than on the basketball court. I heard from a friend that King has been suspended for academic reasons, but this may just be a cover up, as he might have got caught smoking weed. Again, this is not confirmed, so don’t hold me to it. On the hardwood, it’s all in King’s head in terms of his offense. His shot is obviously not falling, and it’s screwing up his psyche. If he gets the chance to play again this season, I still think he can be a valuable asset with his rebounding and defense, both of which have been surprisingly stellar this season for a team that has not done well in these categories.
5. Reggie Redding-The senior was never an offensive star in college, but he hasn’t produced at all when the Cats have the ball. He can take it to the hole, we have all seen it before, but not so much this year. I’m not asking Redding to light up the scoreboard, but at least look like you’re a part of the offense and create something for your teammates every once in awhile.
6. Corey Stokes and Antonio Pena-Lumping these two together stems from their lack of consistency. Both are extremely talented players with the ability to take over games singlehandedly, but they never seem to put back-to-back solid games together or even a full 40 minutes. For example, Stokes will hit a couple of trey balls early on in a game, but then he disappears for long stretches. Pena looks dominant one game and then comes up with a dud the next. Stokes probably deserves to be called out more than Pena, but if Villanova is going to get back on track, these two will be need to be vital cogs.
7. Fans in attendance-This includes myself. Each of the games I’ve been to seemed to have a noticeable lack of energy in the building compared to years past. Obviously, there’s a pass for yesterday’s game with the students still on Spring Break, but passionate fans really can energize a team. Now is not the time to desert this team, rather their struggles should motivate us even more to maybe make a difference in propelling the Cats back into form.
Some may think I’m being too harsh or just flat out wrong, but this is just how I see it right now. One person/one issue is not the sole reason for the lackluster performances recently, but when all of the problems are combined, the Cats do not play like we expect them to play. At this very moment, my optimism is dwindling, but I still have hope that this team can turn it around and make a run over the next few weeks. One thing is for sure: we will definitely find out what these group of Wildcats are made of in the very near future.
I’ll end this post on a positive note by mentioning the Wildcats who earned 2010 Big East Honors.
Scottie Reynolds-First Team
Corey Fisher-Third Team
Maalik Wayns-All Rookie Team
Seamus
Vinnie
Ted
Esteban D' Amur
Pope of the Hardwoods
Chocolate Thunder
kmac
BigKahuna3131
Ryan Mac
Not a Fair Weather Fan
Matt
Brian
March 7, 2010
This is probably Wright’s worst coaching job since he took over. Part of it is a product of raised (unfair?) expectations, and part of it is unfortunate circumstances (Reggie’s suspension and Mouph’s illness) but I couldnt agree more with most of your points.
I think last year’s team spoiled us all. It was a special group where each guy had clearly defined roles and they all played well together. And they really only had 8 guys all year after Drummond and Grant transferred.