With the year coming to a close, it’s time to reminisce about some Villanova basketball things. First, Jonathan Tannenwald, who writes a blog called “Soft Pretzel Logic” for the Philadelphia Inquirer, compiled a list of the top ten local college basketball games of 2009. The #1 game is obvious, but see the other Villanova games that made Tannenwald’s list.
Obviously, the players made these games so special and memorable, but some players who we thought would be a part of these games were not. I’m referring to those that transferred out of the Villanova basketball family. Jay Wright has seen his fair share of transfers in recent years, so let’s take a look at how these players are doing at their respective universities.
-Bilal Benn (transferred to Niagara University in May 2007): While on the Main Line, Benn represented what Villanova basketball is all about; toughness, hard work, defense, pride. Unfortunately, he just could never get in a rhythm on the offensive end, as he couldn’t knock down shots and turned the ball over too much. It also didn’t help that Scottie Reynolds was on the verge of becoming a freshman phenom, so Benn was put on the back burner so to speak. At Niagara, though, he has become a star, averaging 15.6 points and 11 rebounds per game this season for an underrated team. Benn has missed the last couple of games after undergoing minor knee surgery, but he should return in mid-January.
-Andrew Ott (transferred to Penn State University in January 2008): It’s usually tough to find big men on a Villanova roster, but at 6′ 8″, some thought Ott had the potential to be a low post threat for the Cats. In all honesty, he just didn’t have the body to compete in the rugged Big East. He logged some minutes when others were in foul trouble, but other than that, he was rarely used in games. Thus, he departed to Penn State, where he hoped to be a more integral part of a team. He has achieved that to a certain extent, playing in all 12 Nittany Lion games this year and averaging 10 minutes, 3.3 points, and 2.2 rebounds per game. While not all that impressive, Ott is definitely more suited to play in the Big 10 as opposed to the Big East.
-Malcolm Grant (transferred to University of Miami in April 2008): Easily the most puzzling of transfers I can remember. Everyone could see Grant had a ton of talent and potential, but he could not find consistent minutes at Villanova. There were constant rumors that he was in Jay Wright’s doghouse, but no one ever admitted to this. Nonetheless, he singlehandedly brought the Cats back to win one of the most exciting games in Villanova history. Down 21 to LSU with 8 minutes to go at the Wachovia Center, Grant was inserted to spark a lackluster team, and he did just that, willing the Wildcats to victory. Despite these heroics, he was still overshadowed by fellow recruits Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher, which may have played a hand in his decision to transfer. In his first season with the Hurricanes now, Grant is one of the studs for a very solid 12-1 team. He plays nearly 24 minutes a game, while averaging 11.4 points and almost 4 assists a game.
-Casiem Drummond (transferred to Marist University in December 2008): Probably the biggest guy to put on a Villanova uniform in recent years, there were high expectations for Drummond. With Villanova’s usual lack of size, Drummond was seen as the force that could fill the center position void. In his sophomore year, he averaged 13 minutes, 5 points, and 5 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, he struggled with weight issues throughout his time on the Main Line, and transferred early in the 2008-2009 season. Transferring from Villanova to Marist, many assumed he could dominate for the Red Foxes in the MAAC. Drummond just became eligible to play a few weeks ago, and then was declared academically ineligible, so he will not be on the basketball court any time soon.
