I Bleed Blue and White

It occurred to me today that I’m quickly tiring of waiting for Villanova hoops. I’ve already bought my tickets, and I’d pay good money to be able to see a game this weekend. Seriously. No disrespect to the football team — you’re having a great year, and I’ve actually become a huge fan the past 2 years, but I need me some basketball.

Luckily, the Villanova chapter of the NBA got things underway this week with their preseason starting up. That, and more Villanova athletes continue to bring home the hardware during the fall season. I guess times aren’t so rough.

• Kyle Lowry didn’t start for Houston, but he ended up playing more minutes than Aaron Brooks and filled the stat sheet. Keep it up Kyle.
• Dante Cunningham was a DNP (Coaches’ Decision) in the Blazers opening game. But he did having a little dunk contest at their Fan Fest. In the words of the Blazers’ columnist “he can fly.”
• Randy Foye came off the bench to score 14 points in his Wizards debut. He, like Lowry, is a stat-sheet filler.
• Gary Parrish of CBSSports ranks ‘Nova 6th in his final pre-season poll. Fair.
• Get ready for “Hoops Mania presented by Advance Staging Productions.” Wow, I think I just threw up a little.
• The Women’s Cross Country won the Bill Dellinger Invitational to start their season. And afterward, they moved up to #2 in the country. Way to go girls!
• Megan Goelz was named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll for the third consecutive week. Kudos.
• Elysse Studzinski was also named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll in volleyball.

Football coach Andy Talley came out and defended starting QB Chris Whitney just two days after he pulled him in favor of 5th year senior Antwon Young. Talley stated that Whitney “wasn’t happy” about being pulled (ya think?) but that he will be the starter this weekend against Northeastern. So for now, no controversy.

But if Whitney struggles this weekend, and Young (who was replaced by Whitney as the starter last year against Penn, ironically) does well leading the team, what is next? I find it unusual that the #2 team in the country has this issue, but it is what it is. Hopefully Whitney rebounds and this can all end. On to some morning reading…

• Speaking of the Quakers, at least one man thinks that Penn doesn’t need Villanova in football. Usually you want to play the best competition, but not those Ivy Leaguers! Keep on striving boys!
• Tim Thomas had surgery on his right knee to repair torn cartilage. No word on how long he’ll be out.
• Tweeted this earlier, but in case you aren’t on Twitter the CAA announced that the October 3rd football game between William & Mary and Villanova will be broadcast nationally on VERSUS, at 3:30 p.m. It will be the first time a CAA regular season game has been broadcast nationally. Now I won’t have to watch us on crappy backdoor internet links, at least for one week.
• Time may be running out for the injury-prone Brian Westbrook in Philadelphia. As a Giants fan, let me extend a thank you to the Eagles’ front office.

No, I do not believe that. Especially not after Jon Scheyer spent the majority of this beatdown complaining to the refs instead of doing anything of actual significance. But, at least one man believes that the aforementioned Dookie is better than Villanova’s own Corey Fisher. On to the links…

No word on if he was yelling 'rape!'

• Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News would be the man who inspired this post. Not to mention that he left Greivis Vasquez off the list completely. Sheesh.
• The Philadelphia Inquirer talks with Brian Lynch about his wife’s comeback to win the US Open.
• Jeff Goodman of FoxSports says Jay Wright is his choice for the top recruiter in college hoops. As Goodman points out, Wright probably does the most with the least to sell. Personally, bring home Mike Gilchrist and I’ll agree with Goodman.
• ZagsBlog reports that Memphis wants the SEC first, and the BIG EAST if that doesn’t work out. A Rutgers-to-Big 10 and Memphis-to-BIG EAST scenario is posed. Personally, I wouldn’t miss the them.
• The NCAA Tournament is returning to Philadelphia for the 1st and 2nd rounds in 2013. So you can officially mark 3 BIG EAST games down at The Wachovia Center instead of the usual 5 that year.
• Gary Parrish at CBSSports thinks the National Champion will have one of impact freshman. Considering we have at least 3 that look to play a big role, that bodes well for us.
• Villanova 2011 target Tony Wroten Jr. tore his ACL playing football, and will be out for the basketball season. We’ve still got love for you Tony. Get well soon.
• Curtis Sumpter will be playing for BCM Gravelines in France this year after playing for fellow French team Chorale de Roanne last season.

…In all honesty, I love seeing basketball becoming more popular throughout the world, and I love how both Sumpter and Ray are still playing professionally, and doing quite well…keep it up boys…

In a great New York weekend where the Jets punished the Patriots and the Giants spoiled Jerrah-World’s grand opening, the Villanova athletics scene was too bad either. Villanova athletes took home 3 awards this past week, in another successful week all across the ‘Nova Sports landscape.

• WR Matt Szczur was named the CAA Special Teams Player of the Week after returning the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown. That’s 1.
• Krista Andersen was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week after she helped the volleyball team to a championship over the weekend. That’s 2.
• Megan Goelz and Meredith Sabatini were named to the Big East Honor Roll after solid weeks for the field hockey team. That’s 3 and 4.

See, I wasn’t kidding. Now let’s get to the teams and recap their weeks.

Football (3-0)

• If you hadn’t heard yet, they beat Penn 14-3 at Franklin Field on Saturday night. Not the prettiest win, but we’ll take it. They are currently ranked #2 in the country. They’ll open their CAA slate next week at home vs. Northeastern.

Women’s Basketball

• Not playing until November, but they announced their schedule today. Check it out.

Field Hockey (4-2, 1-0)

• In their first home game, and BIG EAST contest of the season, the ladies dismantled Rutgers 7-1.
• They continued their winning ways on Sunday by beating Bucknell 4-2 on goals from Sabatini, Meg Ryan, Lauren Wuzzardo and Dana Ramsden.

Women’s Soccer (7-1-1)

• In their first setback of the season, the ladies got smoked in their BIG EAST opener at Georgetown when they lost 4-0.
• Katie Ryan was the savior on Sunday when she scored in the 90th minute to hand her team a 1-0 win over Fordham.

Men’s Soccer (4-2-1)

• Jordy Griffith staked the team to a 1-0 lead over UConn, but it wasn’t enough as the Wildcats fell 2-1 in their BIG EAST opener.
• Kyle Soroka scored just over 4 minutes into the match, and the team held on to beat Providence 1-0 on Sunday.

Men’s Golf

• The team finished 12th out of 18 teams at the McLaughlin Invitational hosted by St. John’s.

Women’s Volleyball (11-2)

• The women traveled to Virginia for the Marriott Cavalier Invitational and they came away the big winner. First, they defeated Albany 3-2 behind 18 kills from Krista Andersen.
• The next day, senior Amy Gulyas and Andersen both posted double-doubles as the ladies won again, defeating hosts Virginia 3-1.
• Later in the day Villanova won yet again as they defeated Virginia Tech 3-2 as Gulyas and Andersen shined again.

If you’re keeping score (I am), then you’ll know that Villanova sports cruised to a 8-2 overall record, and a 12th place finish for the golf team. Good times, keep on comin’.

It's Fisher's time.

Corey Fisher has seen his role steadily increase over the past two seasons, and it looks like he is finally ready to assume a starting spot in the backcourt. We’ve got big ideas when it comes to Fisher this season, but it appears we aren’t the only ones.

‘Nova is likely to be pretty guard-oriented (similar to 2005-06) and if that vaunted 4 guard offense is to return, Mr. Fisher-Price is going to be one of the key ingredients. Here’s some morning links.

• The Sporting News listed Corey Fisher as one of eight pivotal players in college hoops for the coming season. They believe that it he shines, so will ‘Nova.
• Villanova By The Numbers also took part in the East Coast Bias Roundtable, and has posted their answers. Like us, they also see Fisher becoming one of the faces of the Big East.
• VUHoops has a new blogger on the staff. Derp’s first article helps you get to know ‘10 target Cory Joseph. Speaking of Joseph, Jay Wright and Chris Walker will both be going to see the recruit for in-home visits in the coming weeks. Two separate visits, that is. I like the sound of that.
• Brian Westbrook’s days as a Philadelphia Eagle could be numbered. Reportedly, he other 31 teams are foaming at the mouth.
• ESPN is going to show college hoops around the clock on November 17th. So if you are in the area, make sure to check out that St. Peter’s-Monmouth clash at 6 a.m.!
• After a win over FBS Temple and a blowout win in their home opener, head coach Andy Talley thinks the ‘Nova football team is overrated. Ouch.

Brian Lynch was a bit before my time, but a few friends have been talking about him at the U.S. Open this week. For those of you who don’t know, Lynch married tennis star Kim Clijsters and has been all over the TV this week during his wife’s matches.

For those who do not follow women’s tennis, Lynch changed the landscape will a single question. This is the man who took Clijsters out of professional tennis after their marriage following her winning the U.S. Open in 2005. Yep, that’s right. Brian Lynch has took a tennis star in her prime out of the game for 4 years. Only a Villanova man.

Lynch took his game to Europe after 'Nova.

So if you’ve been missing Brian Lynch, or just want to find out who exactly this man is, turn on CBS this Friday.

• VUHoops is all over the Brian Lynch phenomena by noticing he is #11 on Google Trends. No, seriously. He really is.
• Sticking with the alumnus theme, Mike from VUHoops let us know that former Villanovan Andrew Sullivan is captaining Great Britain at Eurobasket 2009.
• Villanova By The Numbers is looking into Scottie Reynolds’ bid to become the all-time leading scorer at Villanova. He is 623 points shy of Kerry Kittles’ record of 2,243. According to stats-guru greyCat, he would need to average roughly 20 points per game in his final year to hit the mark.
• VUHoops has posted the recap of their Wisdom of Crowds experiment for the guards. It’s an interesting look into things, although like Ed suggests over there, I have a hard time figuring out how the masses figure Reggie Redding’s minutes per game will decrease by nearly 5 minutes.
• Villanova Golf Coach Will Reilly and sophomore Eddie Ryan are helping inner-city youths learn life skills through the game of golf. The pair teamed with the Northeast Philadelphia Boys & Girls Club to create the program.
• Field hockey players Steffi Caniglia and Dana Ramsden were selected to the Big East Honor Roll for their performances over the weekend.
• Goalie Chris Bresnahan was selected the Philadelphia Soccer Six Player of the Week.
• And for the second time in the season’s first three weeks, freshman Heidi Sabatura was named the Big East Rookie of the Week for women’s soccer.

A glorious Labor Day weekend. I was lucky enough to be up at Lake Sabego in Maine (many thanks to our hosts Tom and Jackie) where a great weekend with absolutely picturesque weather ensued. Alas, we’re no longer labor free. So for me, back to obsessing over ‘Nova sports. I hope everyone’s weekend was great!

Yako won it for 'Nova as time expired.

Here’s a look at how the ‘Nova programs fared over the weekend.

Football (1-0)

• WR Brandyn Harvey and K Nick Yako earned CAA honors following the team’s 27-24 victory over Temple. Harvey was named the Offensive Player of the Week while Yako got the nod as Special Teams Player of the Week. The team returns to action this Saturday when they host Lehigh at 7:00 p.m.
• Following their win to start the season the football team moved up 2 spots to #3 in the country in the latest FCS poll.
• Darrel Young was cut by the Washington Redskins, but then later reassigned to their practice squad.

Field Hockey (2-1)

• Junior Meg Ryan scored two goals as the Wildcats defeated Ball State 4-1 on Friday in a tournament at Fairfield University. Senior Captain Emily Donaldson and junior Dana Ramsden also scored for ‘Nova.
• In their 2nd game of the weekend, the team picked up its second win by beating Fairfield 3-1 on the strength of goals from Lauren Wuzzardo, Sam Haas and Dana Ramsden.

Women’s Volleyball (5-2)

• The girls started out the weekend by winning their 5th straight to start the season over LaSalle in The Big 5 Tournament. Maggie Mergen and Morgan Petkovich led the way with 19 and 15 kills, respectively.
• In their 2nd match of the weekend they fell to Temple 3-2, and they also dropped the weekend finale 3-2 to Penn. Kim Maroon picked up a consolation by being named to the All-Tournament Team.

Women’s Soccer (4-0-1)

• The girls started the weekend off right by crushing Davidson 4-1 as Erin Byrnes, Megan Verdeur, Heidi Sabatura and Katie Ryan all found the net.
• On Sunday the team found itself in a dogfight as Charlotte came back to tie the game twice before Amy Greco sent ‘Nova into the lead on 70 minutes for a 3-2 victory. Goals from Grace Hawkins and Rachel Breton helped ensure the women’s soccer team (4-0-1) remained undefeated in the young season.

Men’s Soccer (1-1-1)

• Against Temple on Friday, the team went down 2 goals early before Matt Margiotta took one back on 76 minutes, but it wasn’t enough as the team fell 2-1.
• Sunday gave a better result as the team drew Penn 0-0. Adam Amann almost won it for ‘Nova with 4 minutes left in regulation, but his shot rattled the bar.

UPDATE: Not to be outdone by his peers, former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie was arraigned on DUI charges Thursday after being pulled over with a “strong fruity smell coming from his person.” I will not be having what he was drinking.

One of the subtle bonuses to having Jay Wright as your coach is that he rarely (has he ever?) puts his foot in his mouth. With nothing really going on in the offseason, we pretty much take for granted that the ‘Dapper Don’ of ‘Nova Hoops will hit up a beach somewhere, work on that tan, and enjoy life outside the spotlight.

Jay acts as smoothly as he dresses.

Other programs? Let’s just say the Louisville AD is probably still wondering what his coach’s point was today.

• Rick Pitino hastily called a news conference yesterday afternoon for…well, we still really don’t know. Ted Kennedy’s death was involved (a lot), but you’re really going to have to see this one for yourself.
• Not to be outdone, Isaiah Thomas is already causing stirs in his new post at Florida International. He’s threatening to boycott their opening game vs. North Carolina because they were supposed to play Ohio State. Since FIU will clearly lose to either, it begs the question of whether it actually matters.
• Dick Vitale is apparently on a mission to to clear Memphis of any wrongdoing. Because according to him, it is the NCAA’s fault that they were caught cheating?
• Bobby Knight has been inducted to the Indiana Hoosiers Hall of Fame. Whether he will attend is not yet known, but I’d imagine his acceptance speech could include downing a shot of whiskey, kicking over the podium and giving the crowd the bird. The possibilities are endless.
• After realizing that complaining to officials doesn’t stop your team from taking a beatdown at the hands of Jay Wright, Mike Krzyewski has actually decided to recruit big-time players in order to win.

…The Isaiah Thomas story cracks me up especially…he thinks that since he wasn’t there when the contract was signed that it doesn’t impact him…even after he’s gone from my beloved Knicks, he can’t go gracefully into the night…

I gathered up a few links for your reading pleasure as Friday winds down and the weekend begins. Enjoy!

• Mike Sheridan pens the newest ‘Nova Notebook, which details the journey Antonio Pena has seen so far at Villanova, and how he’s ready to step up this year.
• greyCat takes a look at the Big East teams in close games at VBTN. Villanova had the best record in games decided by 5 points or less, but the equation changes when you look at the youth of each team.
• VUHoops has been all all over Randy Foye lately. First they relay a video in which he talks about his childhood. Today, new contributor Brian relays a conversation he had with Foye at his recent charity event.
• “Inside Villanova Basketball with Jay Wright” is up for a Mid-Atlantic Emmy! Congrats to everyone involved!

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

As I drove back to Villanova today I felt the pain. With each mile that passed, I had to come to the realization that Villanova basketball is over for this year. And for me, it was my last year as a Villanova student (unless I decide to come back for graduate school at some point). And then I read an article where Dante Cunningham shared his feelings. And I felt even more pain. I’m really going to miss watching him play. I’m just in awe that he, along with the 3 other seniors are leaving.

• I thought I was upset the season was over. This puts it in perspective…Philadelphia Daily News (Bob Cooney)
• I don’t think any of us will ever forget this team, and what they accomplished…Philadelphia Daily News (Dick Jerardi)
• We’ve been losing assistants left and right lately, but we will really miss Pat Chambers…Philadelphia Inquirer (Mike Jensen)
• We’ve still got some wrapping up to do, but it isn’t too early to think about next year. And because of our ridiculously deep pool of guards, we might be a Top 5 team…Sports Illustrated
• 3 of our recruits were named High School All-Americans…Parade Magazine