Villanova beats Kutztown 110-84 in exhibition

In the dress rehearsal for what should be an entertaining season Villanova did not pull a Syracuse and instead handled Kutztown easily, beating them by 26 points.  With most of the regulars in, Villanova scored 67 points in the first half.

Scottie Reynolds looked excellent scoring 27 points, and his backcourt mate Corey Fisher also was at the top of his game with 18 points and 5 assists.

Perhaps most notably, Taylor King was excellent off the bench, scoring 17 points and connecting on every shot he took from the field, including four 3-pointers.

As for the freshmen, Mouphtaou Yarou, the only one to start, finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds while struggling with foul trouble.  Maalik Wayns played 17 minutes off the bench, scoring 8 points and dishing out 3 assists.  Dominic Cheek played 14 minutes, but registered 4 fouls and just 2 points.  Isaiah Armwood saw the least action, playing just 9 minutes and scoring 4 points.

Now we wait for the official start of the season, which will take place next Friday when the team hosts Fairleigh Dickinson at the Pavilion.

-David Cassilo

Villanova’s starting five

Via a source close to the team, here is tonight’s starting five:

G Scottie Reynolds

G Corey Fisher

G Corey Stokes

F Antonio Pena

C Mouphtaou  Yarou

Interesting to see if Mouph stays as a starter as many expected Taylor King to fill that role.  We’ll see if this is the lineup past tonight.

-David Cassilo

Villanova ranked No. 6 preseason Coaches poll; No. 5 in AP

As expected, Villanova received a very high ranking to begin the season, tabbed as the sixth best team in the country in one poll and fifth in the other.  They are one of six Big East teams in the Top 25 to start the season.

Complete coaches poll

Complete AP poll

- David Cassilo

Hoops Mania kicks off season tonight

Hoops Mania takes place tonight, and the event serves as a perfect way to for one last time celebrate the Final Four team of last season while also welcoming this year’s players as they try to build on the team’s performance from a year ago.

According to Villanova’s SGA, there will be events celebrating the Final Four team and other Villanova teams of years past.

There will also be player introductions for this year’s team, a routine between the players and the dance team and supposedly some sort of dunk contest or pickup game.

As has become customary the last few year at Villanova, a performer will also take the court at Hoops Mania.  The rumors have suggested that Trey Songz will be this year’s act, but there have also been reports that it may be Pitbull or Asher Roth.

The Blue/White scrimmage, which usually had taken place the night of Hoops Mania, will now take place tomorrow night.

Hoopla aside, tonight’s Hoops Mania is first and foremost about basketball, and although the first game is still three weeks from today, tonight will get students and fans thinking about basketball.  After tonight, the anticipation will for what expects to be an exciting season will grow even higher.

-David Cassilo

Villanova picked as Big East favorites, Reynolds picked for conference’s First-Team

The latest sign that the college basketball season is on the horizon is the announcement today of both the Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll and the Preseason All-conference teams.

As has been projected all summer, Villanova has been voted the conference favorites this year, edging out West Virginia by three votes.  Villanova received 10 of the 16 first place votes.  The complete poll is below:

	Pts.
1. Villanova (10)	218
2. West Virginia (5)	215
3. Connecticut (1)	185
4. Louisville	179
5. Georgetown	161
6. Syracuse	152
7. Cincinnati	135
8. Notre Dame	132
9. Pittsburgh	119
10. Seton Hall	110
11. St. John’s	82
12. Marquette	78
13. Providence	52
14. USF	44
15. Rutgers	43
16. DePaul	15

The Big East also announced that senior guard Scottie Reynolds has been selected to the conference’s preseason All-Big East First Team.  He was the only Wildcat selected to any team.  Luke Harangody was chosen as the conference’s preseason Player of the Year.  All of the teams are below:

2009-10 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year

Luke Harangody, Notre Dame

2009-10 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year

Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati

2009-10 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team

Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (Player of the Year), F, Sr., 6-8, 255, Schererville, Ind.

Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, Sr., 6-1, 190, Indianapolis, Ind.

Greg Monroe, Georgetown, C, So., 6-11, 247, New Orleans, La.

Lazar Hayward, Marquette, F, Sr., 6-6, 225, Buffalo, N.Y.

Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.

Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia, F, Sr., 6-7, 225, Newark, N.J.

2009-10 Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team

Jerome Dyson, Connecticut, G, Sr., 6-3, 190, Potomac, Md.

Kemba Walker, Connecticut, G, So., 6-1, 172, Bronx, N.Y.

Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F, So., 6-9, 260, Trelawny, Jamaica

Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, Jr., 6-5, 185, Bronx, N.Y.

Dominique Jones, USF, G, Jr., 6-4, 205, Lake Wales, Fla.

Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F, So., 6-9, 210, Long Island City, N.Y.

• a tie in the balloting created six positions

2009-10 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention

Stanley Robinson, Connecticut, F, Sr., 6-9, 210, Birmingham, Ala.

Arinze Onuaku, Syracuse, C, Sr., 6-9, 275, Lanham, Md

-David Cassilo

2009-2010 Schedule released

2009-10 VILLANOVA MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

NOVEMBER

Nov. 5 KUTZTOWN -exh (WC)

Nov. 13 FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON

Nov. 16 PENN+

Nov. 19 vs. George Mason 1 (ESPNU)

Nov. 20 vs. Dayton or Georgia Tech 1 (ESPNU)

Nov. 22 vs. TBD at O’Reilly Auto Parts Classic

Nov. 28 LA SALLE+ (ESPN2)

DECEMBER

Dec. 2 DREXEL

Dec. 6 vs. Maryland 2 (FSN)

Dec. 9 at Saint Joseph’s+ (ESPN2)

Dec. 13 at Temple+ (CBS College Sports)

Dec. 19 at Fordham 3

Dec. 23 DELAWARE

JANUARY

Jan. 2 at Marquette* (ESPN2)

Jan. 6 DEPAUL*

Jan. 9 MARQUETTE*

Jan. 11 at Louisville* (ESPN)

Jan. 17 GEORGETOWN* (WC)

Jan. 20 at Rutgers*

Jan. 23 at St. John’s* (ESPN)

Jan. 27 NOTRE DAME* (WC) (ESPN)

FEBRUARY

Feb. 2 SETON HALL*

Feb. 6 at Georgetown* (ESPN)

Feb. 8 at West Virginia* (ESPN)

Feb. 13 PROVIDENCE* (WC)

Feb. 15 CONNECTICUT* (WC) (ESPN)

Feb. 21 at Pittsburgh* (CBS)

Feb. 24 USF*`

Feb. 27 at Syracuse* (ESPN)

MARCH

Mar. 2 at Cincinnati* (ESPN2)

Mar. 6 WEST VIRGINIA* (WC) (ESPN)

Mar. 9-13 Big East Tournament (ESPN & ESPN2)

Redding has one charge dropped

Per the Philadelphia Inquirer:

“Reggie Redding, a senior guard who helped the school earn a Final Four berth last season, was in court this morning for a preliminary hearing. The charge of possession or distribution of small amounts of marijuana was dropped, according to court officials. Redding still faces the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Both charges are misdemeanors.”

-David Cassilo

Tickets for Villanova-Temple football game on Thursday

This Thursday Villanova will be playing Temple in football at Lincoln Financial Field.  The game, known as the inaugural Mayor’s Cup, will kick-off at 7 p.m.  Below is information on tickets:

• Student tickets can be purchased at the Athletic Ticket Office at Jake Nevin.  The price is $10, and students must have their Wild Card.
• Two student buses will be transporting students to the game.  Time of departure is TBA.

The football team is ranked in the top-10 of the FCS, and has a legitimate shot to not only beat Temple, but also make a run at the national title.  I strongly recommend that people attend, and at the very least it gives a cheap way to check out the Linc.

-David Cassilo

Dante Cunningham signs multi-year contract with Portland

Dante Cunningham officially became a member of the Blazers roster today as he signed a multi-year contract with the team.  Terms of the deal were not announced.

“I am so grateful and happy to be a Trail Blazer,” said Cunningham. “This is a dream come true and I can’t wait to get to work with my teammates. I’m looking forward to moving to Portland and helping this team in any way that I can.” 

Being a second round pick, Cunningham’s contract was not guaranteed, but an impressive summer league performance persuaded the Blazers to sign him.

“We are really excited about the versatility and determination Dante brings to our team,” said general manager Kevin Pritchard. “Dante had a great summer league and we believe he has the potential to become a very good player in this league.” 

His addition gives the Blazers 12 players.  It was also announced that he will wear #33.

-David Cassilo

Redding suspended from games for fall semester; allowed to practice

As expected, Reggie Redding will be ineligible to play basketball during the fall semester.  He will not play games or travel with the team.  However, Redding can still participate in all practices.

Here is the official release:

It was announced today that as a result of disciplinary proceedings Villanova University student and men’s basketball player Reggie Redding has lost his status as a “student in good standing” at the University for the Fall semester 2009.  As a result of these proceedings, Redding is not eligible to represent the University in intercollegiate activities during this period.  He will, however, remain enrolled in classes during this time.

 

Redding may not compete in games or travel with the team.  He will be permitted to resume competition following the conclusion of the fall semester, December 18, 2009, at the discretion of his coach and the Athletic Department.  “I am in support of the University’s decision,” said Villanova head men’s basketball coach, Jay Wright. “I believe the process was respectful and fair to Reggie. He is a quality person, who, with the support of his great family, met this head on and has learned a valuable lesson from this experience.”

 

All other aspects of Villanova University’s disciplinary process as it relates to Redding, as well as any other sanctions, are considered confidential.

 

-David Cassilo