I Bleed Blue and White

With so much hype around this year’s recruiting class, the task is going to be develop these young players and build some team chemistry.  Another tough task at hand is continuing to bring in top-notch recruits to the Main Line on a yearly basis.  In a couple of years, Villanova may land a big prospect by the name of Sterling Gibbs, the younger brother of Pittsburgh’s Ashton Gibbs (who will likely start at point for Pitt next year).  Sterling is a rising junior guard at Seton Hall Prep and currently, says his favorite school is Villanova.  Gibbs says,

I just like the way that they play and how their guards play.  They’re just an open offense.  There’s not real set plays.  They just like to have players who could just make plays.

Jay Wright recruiting another guard.  Surprising.  As mentioned in the previous post, Corey Fisher was named to the U.S. team to compete in the World University Games.  Fisher spoke about his selection to the team and his play during tryouts.  Fisher, on making the team:

It was just a dream come true.  I just first want to thank the committee and everyone who selected me to be here and to try out. When I got my name called, it was a dream come true, and all I was thinking about was going out there and playing for USA, representing my country.  I wouldn’t be here without God, my parents, my Villanova teammates and my university.

Fisher, on how he played at tryouts:

I think I did pretty well.  I could have done better, nobody is perfect.  There are things that you need to work on, and there are things you are good at, but you got to always work on the things that you’re not good at.  I was just trying to come out here, compete and win some games – get my teammates involved.  I think I ran my team well.  I talked real well.  I think I was a leader.  I think I turned the ball over, but that will stop.

Villanova junior guard Corey Fisher has been selected to participate on the United States team for the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia.  Fisher joins 11 others on the 12-man squad, which will be coached by Wisconsin’s Bo Ryan.  It was thought that Fisher may have a tough time making the team, because Kansas’ Sheron Collins was practically a shoe-in at point guard, which meant that Fisher had to compete with Penn State’s Talor Battle and Arizona’s Nic Wise.  Collins backed out a couple of days ago due to family reasons, opening the door for Fisher and Battle to make the squad.  According to ESPN’s Andy Katz,

No one associated with the selection was overwhelmed by the point guard position with Collins out, but Battle and Fisher are expected to suffice, considering the talent at every other position.

The team’s schedule in the Games is as follows: July 3rd vs. Finland, July 4th vs. South Korea, July 6th begins the 2nd round, July 9th begins the medal round, July 11th is the finals.

Do not underestimate the experience that Fisher will gain in this tournament.  Playing against foreign players is a very difficult task, but a very worthwhile one nonetheless.  Fisher will only get better by playing against some of the best players in the world.  Congrats to Corey. 

As you can see by the title, this post will contain a variety of different things, so I apologize for the randomness.  First, with the deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft officially over, some new preseason rankings have come out.  Andy Katz has placed Villanova at #4 in his new top 25.  Katz on the Cats,

Corey Fisher and Scottie Reynolds and a highly touted newcomer class means the Wildcats are the pick to win the Big East.  Losing Dante Cunningham hurts, but Jay Wright has this program rolling. There won’t be a dip.

SNY also published their updated Big East rankings for next season with Villanova coming at #1 in the conference.  On Villanova,

Reynolds returns to bolster an experienced core that includes Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes and Reggie Redding.  The Wildcats also feature a top-five national recruiting class that should make Jay Wright’s team the class of the Big East.

While Katz released his opinion on teams for next year, he also came out with a story regarding the World University Games.  Corey Fisher is trying out for the U.S. team competing in the Games, and it looks like he has a good shot to make the team now, as Kansas guard Sheron Collins recently backed out of the tryouts.  Katz on Fisher,

Collins’ absence practically puts a must-get tag on Arizona point guard Nic Wise and Villanova lead guard Corey Fisher. Both players were probably going to make the squad anyway, but now it almost seems like a given.

Katz also mentions in the article that Boston College is trying to schedule a Big East opponent for next season, and Villanova is at the top of their list. 

 The Nova Notebook is back with another offseason feature, entitled “Attitude of a Champion.”  This is the title of the 70-minute DVD that will be coming out in August, which tells the tale of Villanova’s 2008-2009 basketball season and their ultimate run to the Final Four.  The film features behind the scenes footage and interviews throughout the season.  All of Nova Nation will be looking forward to this release later in the summer.     

Lastly, even though many people see Villanova as a national title contender next year, replacing a player like Dante Cunningham will be a tall task.  Recently, Jay Wright and Tony DiLeo (former 76ers head coach) gave their thoughts on Dante’s future in the NBA.  Most notably, they both think he will have a long career, lasting possibly 10 years or more.  The above link will take you to the video page for Comcast SportsNet.  Then, click on the SPORTSNITE tab, and the aforementioned video is from 6/16-Jay Wright on Dante Cunningham’s future in the NBA.