They went to the Final Four last year, so they should return this year. They have one of the best recruiting classes in the country, so they should be one of the most talented teams this year. The Big East is weaker this year, so they should be right at the top by season’s end. These statements have been heard and seen throughout the offseason. Of course, everyone wants to see another magical season, but it’s not going to happen overnight and no group knows that better than the 2009-2010 Villanova squad.
As Jay Wright puts it:
How do we handle it? We’ve got to do what we always do. It sounds boring, but we’ve got to understand that this is a new team. This isn’t the team that went to the Final Four. That’s not a bad thing, but this team has to prove themselves.
Scottie Reynolds adds:
If we can just fight human nature, and stay humble and hungry and focus on the little things that will create big opportunities for us, I think everything will work out.
With the big expectations for this season, there are flaws nonetheless. Rivals analyzed the biggest flaws of the country’s elite teams.
Jason King on Villanova:
The graduation of Dante Cunningham, Dwayne Anderson and Shane Clark has left the Wildcats thin in the frontcourt, where Antonio Pena is the only returnee with significant experience. Pena averaged 5.1 points off the bench last season. Villanova is hoping for big contributions from 6-foot-10 freshman Mouphtaou Yarou, who is expected to start at center.
Mike Huguenin on the Cats:
If coach Jay Wright could enact a rule saying teams can’t have anyone taller than 6 feet 4, I’d bet he would do it. The Wildcats will have one of the best – if not the best – backcourts in the nation. But the frontcourt is a monster question. If some freshman big men don’t come through, the Wildcats will finish third or fourth in the Big East.
Don’t freak out by Huguenin’s comments of finishing 3rd or 4th in the Big East. If they finish 3rd or 4th and end up making a deep run in March and April, I’ll take that all day. First thing’s first though: Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday.
