I Bleed Blue and White

This team raised the bar for the program. Now we’ve had a taste of the Final Four, and we want more. The players want it. The coaches want it. The students want it. The alumni want it. And we have the ability to do it.

We may be losing 4 outstanding parts of our program, but we’ll be introducing 6 new players into the mix next year. And we return a lot of what made us so great this year. So yeah, we’ll be back.

• While those of us in Detroit lost our voices, the campus came together and lost theirs too…Philadelphia Inquirer (Tom Infield)
• They fought and they clawed and this team never feared failure…The Idle Rich
• We aren’t fairweather fans, and we stayed until the final buzzer and showed our support…Philadelphia Inquirer (Troy Graham)
• A lot of things went wrong last night, but when it came down to it, Carolina was just better…Philadelphia Inquirer (Mike Jensen)
• It hurts now, but with time (as soon as late last night for me) we’ll all realize how special this was…Philadelphia Inquirer (Bob Ford)
• In the words of freshman Connor Bertoni, we’ll be back…Philadelphia Inquirer (Troy Graham)

This past weekend up in Boston, I spent a lot of my time with the great Whitey Rigsby’s son Fred, as well as Taylor King.

(Quick note on Taylor — he’s a great guy, and an even better teammate. He’s been on his own dime the entire tournament and has been there rooting the team on at every game, even though the NCAA is absolutely screwing him.)

Anyways, long story short, all I kept hearing about was Whitey this, and Whitey that. I knew Fred’s dad was the radio man for ‘Nova, but I didn’t know the reach of his legacy. With that in mind, here are some evening links, courtesy of Brian.

• Whitey Rigsby is still showing his love for Villanova over the airwaves…Philadelphia Daily News (Bob Cooney)
• The team appreciates the love, but the road and a focus on the game is a welcome sight…Philadelphia Daily News (John Smallwood)
• We’ve been through so much the last 5 or so years. Are the Gods finally on our side?…Philadelphia Inquirer (Bob Ford)

Good vibe around campus today. I hit up the bookstore to snag some Final Four gear. Every conversation you hear revolves around this coming weekend. The feeling is contagious. I found myself talking to anyone who would engage with me. Good times.

Still trying to find one more ticket (for Liz) to the Final Four this weekend. Having a little more luck on some leads today, but the $500 prices aren’t exactly warming my bones. Here’s some reading for you.

• Frank Tchuisi doesn’t get the love from the press, but he has the respect and admiration of everyone else…Philadelphia Daily News (Mike Kern)
• Here’s a nice reminder of why we hate St. Joe’s. They have the worst little-brother complex I’ve ever seen…Philadelphia Inquirer (John Gonzalez)
• Jay Wright is the youngest and best looking of the Final Four coaches. And that’s why Roy Williams likes being around him. Ummmm?…Chicago Tribune
• Why can ‘Nova win it all? Because they’ve proved the doubters wrong before…Detroit Free Press
• Jay Wright is much more than just a sharp dresser…Comcast SportsNet
• Even the ‘Nova professors are feeling the madness…Philadelphia Inquirer (Derrick Nunnally)
• The Radnor Police are going over-abuse their power even more than normal this weekend…Philadelphia Inquirer (Mari. A Schaefer)
• Some random things about this weekend…Philadelphia Inquirer (Joe Juliano)
• The team hasn’t forgotten last year’s loss to Kansas in Detroit, and they don’t want to lose there again…Philadelphia Inquirer (Joe Juliano)
• Don’t mess with Assistant Coach Pat Chambers, the guy is an pitbull…Philadelphia Daily News (Dick Jerardi)
• Speedy Claxton isn’t surprised by Wright’s success…Philadelphia Daily News (Bernard Fernandez)

…Thanks to Brian for most of these…longest links post ever…

Until I actually meet some of you (hopefully this weekend) I really don’t know the what the readership of this blog is. I know there are alums, students, and just fans in general, but I don’t know how many of each. If you’re on campus, you might know Brian, or Pops, as he is sometimes referred to. You also might know him as the out of control student was was yelling “There’s something special about this team!” following the ass-kicking we laid on Duke in Boston.

And even if you have no idea who I’m talking about, he deserves some public appreciation on here. He has spent the last few months sending me anything Villanova-related that he reads, and rarely goes a day without sending something. And on days where I get lazy about finding links, I usually find 3-4 articles in my inbox from him. So it goes without saying that he is an integral part to what we here.

Anyways, I was just chatting with him and he’s taking an RV with some friends up to Detroit this weekend. So if you run into a group of hooligans around an RV, that’s him and his friends. Stop by and say hi and thank him for the effort. So anyways, onto the links.

• Jay Wright is among exclusive company, but he’s got the attention of the ‘kings’…Philadelphia Inquirer
• It’s time to stop congratulating ourselves on making it to the Final Four. And Dante, never wash that shirt…Comcast SportsNet
• Jay Wright gets mention in a Hofstra lacrosse article. I hear he’ll be in the Harvard crew report tomorrow…From The Booth

Now that I’ve got a ticket to Detroit, I’m booked for a hotel, and I’m 99% sure I have a way to get there, there is only one thing holding me back from complete Final Four mode — school. Yep, I’ve got a presentation this afternoon and another paper due tomorrow. Don’t the teachers know what’s happening here? Can we get this stuff postponed?

Anyways here are some links since I probably won’t be back with the blog full-time until late tonight. Sorry for the lack of posts everyone.

• According to Scottie Reynolds, Jay Wright has no fear of failure…Philadelphia Daily News (Dick Jerardi)
• The ghosts of 2005 were very present in Boston. Thank God I didn’t know about this…Philadelphia Daily News (Mike Kern)
• Pat Forde has created a ‘Likability Index’. Don’t worry, I’m confused too…ESPN
• Villanova’s coming in loose, and that’s a big advantage…ESPN (Andy Katz)
• The lack of a ‘Cinderella’ is a good thing for this Final Four…ESPN (Gene Wojciechowski)
• Villanova, as well as the other 3 teams get dissected…The Sporting News
• Was there another force at work in the win over Pitt?…PittBlather
• Reynolds will now eat and drink for free at ‘Nova forever…Philadelphia Daily News (Mike Kern)
• Is the hatred towards ‘Nova fading? Maybe…Philadelphia Inquirer (Mike Jensen)

I’ve got some evening links for you, and I actually am re-linking you to the article about Scottie’s health. I didn’t realize that Jay’s press conference transcript was in there. Mea culpa.

• Jay Wright has seemingly been on every show, radio station, website that you can name. The man is a worker. Here’s his press conference transcript from today…Post Patterns
• Kyle Lowry dresses like Jay-Z these days, but like Randy Foye hasn’t forgotten his roots…Philadelphia Inquirer (Ashley Fox)
• Jay Wright was once a mere college student. And apparently, they hadn’t invented gel yet (see the picture)…Philadelphia Daily News (Rich Hofmann)
• I wasn’t able to make the live blog last night, but the fellas did a good job without me. And they hate Duke….PittBlather

Jamie was rehashing his call-in to ESPN 950 yesterday and we started talking about the nature of Philly sports. Obviously, people do hate us that much. Why? Pure jealously in my opinion. Jamie and I are both from New York, so we’re not from some hick sports scene. We root for a lot of the same teams, and we’ve talked about if we “hate” the other NY teams. If the Giants were eliminated, I don’t think we’d actively root for the Jets to get slaughtered in the playoffs. We want the city to do well, not just our teams. Of course our teams come first, but after that it’s about the city. I think it’s just the nature of Philly fans that brings on such animosity.

Anyways, random thought, but one of the articles linked below details that logic.

• Who would you root for, Duke or Villanova? The answer seems to be that Philly wants Duke to win. Wow…Soft Pretzel Logic
• Randy Foye realizes he’s lucky to have escaped to the NBA. But he isn’t forgetting about where he came from…Philadelphia Daily News (Kerith Gabriel)
  
• Maalik Wayns is the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year. Woot…Philadelphia Daily News
• Corey Stokes has been a marksman since he was playing with nerf balls…Philadelphia Daily News (Dick Jerardi)
• More talk about the love between ‘Nova and Duke players and coaches. Personally, I can’t wait ’til the first message we send…Philadelphia Inquirer (Joe Juliano)
• It’s the last day of the blogathon for the Randy Foye Foundation. Go make a donation!…VUHoops

I’ve got a Biology test tomorrow, so I should be busy studying. But I’m sick and I’m a senior and I can’t take my mind off of Thursday’s game. So here are some links if you’ve got a similar Tuesday obsession.

• Maalik Wayns, get here now. The incoming Mickey D’s All-American was going crazy over Dwayne Anderson’s play this weekend…Philadelphia Daily News (Ted Silary)
• When Corey Fisher gets off the bench for the first time, the opposing fans’ sphincters tighten…Philadelphia Daily News (Mike Kern)
• Out of town and unable to see The Davis Center? Now you can…Villanova.com
• Could we have an All-Big East Final Four? Steve Serby thinks so…New York Post
• Jay Bilas hands out some hardware from the opening weekend, and there is plenty of love for ‘Nova…ESPN Insider

Last night as I settled into bed after watching the season finale of Eastbound and Down, I was watching Dick Vitale talk about the Sweet Sixteen on ESPN. Although he didn’t go as far to say that his beloved ACC is overrated, he did have some choice words about the Big East. Vitale named Villanova as a team lower than a Top 2 seed that could win it all, and named ‘Nova-Duke his most intriguing matchup. Kudos Dickie.

With that in mind, here are some links.

• President Obama, despite his tendency to pick the chalk, realizes the Big East reigns supreme…Philadelphia Daily News (Dick Jerardi)
• The time has come to acknowledge Villanova as one of the nation’s elite (finally!)…Philadelphia Daily News (Mike Kern)
• Will the zebras get whistle-happy or choke on them? Sadly, the answer could decide Thursday’s game…Philadelphia Daily News (John Smallwood)
• Duke is impressed with ‘Nova, and looking forward to the game…Philadelphia Inquirer (Frank Fitzpatrick)
• 25 points followed by a double-double leads to a ‘not-hot’ rating for Dwayne Anderson…ESPN (Andy Katz)
• At least one man is worried about his Duke pick…CBSSports (Gary Parrish)

…Thanks to Brian for the links…

I’m heading over to my friend Joey’s after my morning class for the start of the best weekend of the year. Damn my 4 o’clock class. I’m not happy that I’ll be missing some action today. Here’s some reading for you until the madness starts.

• Tony Kornheiser and John Feinstein discuss Villlanova-American…The Washington Post (Video)
• Reggie Redding vs. Garrison Carr is the matchup to watch…The Washington Times
• Villanova’s 4 seniors came in unheralded, but will leave as legends…Philadelphia Daily News
• Bryce Simon’s latest blog entry covers the road trip to Philly…D.C. Sports Bog
  
• Garrison Carr has a target on his back these days…The Washington Post
• Best and worse case scenarios for every team, and the worst case for ‘Nova is scary…ESPN (Pat Forde)
• The recipe for an NCAA upset fits American pretty well…Rivals
• The Big East is getting a lot of hype, but will they live up to it?…ESPN (Dana O’Neil)

I’m expecting my bracket to be completely shot by the time the first set of games is over, but I’ve still got some hope. Enjoy today everyone and I’ll see you for the game tonight.