No matter how you slice the numbers the past three seasons, Villanova has been on quite a ride.
How does 91 wins (and counting) over the past three seasons sound? How many coaches would sign on right now for a three-year run like that? How about the Wildcats’ staggering record in the BIG EAST conference over that time, a sterling 48-6 mark (88.8%) that has also included three consecutive conference regular-season titles and one tournament championship?
Toss in the fact that the Wildcats have been a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament two of the past three years – including this one – and a one-seed once and well, it’s been a good time to be a Wildcat.
Well mostly, anyway.
For as scintillating as Villanova has been the past three seasons, from November through February, March – more specifically the NCAA Tournament - has not been quite as welcoming to the Wildcats. And that’s all people wanted to talk about with Villanova as it gears up for its 2016 tournament opener against No. 15 UNC Asheville at 12:40 p.m. Friday.
Since reaching the Final Four in 2009, Villanova has not managed to get out of the first weekend in five tries. In 2010 as a No. 2 seed, St. Mary’s stunned the Wildcats in their second game. In 2011 and 2012, as nine seeds each time, it was George Mason and North Carolina who turned Villanova into one-and-dones with first-game exits.
But it’s the last two seasons that Villanova doubters have pointed to as the most difficult losses to comprehend. In 2014, as a two seed, a first-game win over Milwaukee was followed by a 77-65 loss to UConn. Last year as a No. 1 seed, an opening rout of Lafayette was quickly followed by another early exit when eighth-seeded N.C. State sent the ‘Cats packing 71-68.
So you can see why it was the topic of conversation in Brooklyn Thursday afternoon.
“It’s been a big part of our season. It’s been a big part of our program,” Villanova head coach Jay Wright said Thursday. “As soon as we lost to N.C. State last year it became a big issue, even in the off-season. And when we started this season, it was the first thing everybody talked about. So we had to talk to the team about it and just say, ‘OK, this is just something we’re going to have to deal with."
It’s hard for both the Villanova players and coaching staff to put the last two NCAA Tournaments in the rear-view mirror when they are constantly reminded of it and asked to comment on it ad nauseam. So as much as the Wildcats say it’s not an issue as the 2016 tournament prepares to tip off for Villanova, some admit it will be on their mind right up until the opening tip.
“Obviously we’re in the NCAA Tournament so it’s going to be fresh in our minds and everyone is going to be asking us about it,” said senior center Daniel Ochefu, who seemed to be over the ankle injury that hampered him in the BIG EAST Tournament. “(But) we do a great job of, as soon as we step on the court, we cancel it out of our minds and focus on UNC Asheville.”
Temple coach Fran Dunphy, who would face Villanova on Sunday if the Wildcats knock off UNC Asheville and the Owls take down Iowa, thinks this Wildcats team could built for a long run in this year’s tournament and, if so, all the talk of Villanova’s past shortcomings will vanish quickly.
“I think Jay does as good a job coaching basketball as anybody that I watch all year long,” Dunphy said. “His guys play hard. They play competitively. Defensively they dig in. They got a bunch of really good basketball skilled guys. They have the requisite toughness that they need. So I don’t think there is any limit on what Villanova can do.”
Perhaps, though, it is Villanova’s past performance that has it viewed as a vulnerable No. 2 seed in the eyes of at least one UNC Ashville player.
“As you know, if they’re a two-seed, they definitely have to be good,” UNC Asheville’s Will Weeks said. “They were ranked No. 1 in the country for a long while (but) you just prepare to do what you do and what got you here. They’re another team. They lace up shoes just like us. So we’re just going to play our game and hope for the best.”
As will Villanova, who Wright said will finally have a chance to quiet the doubters and maybe, just maybe, live up to their lofty seed this time around.
“Now we’re finally at the point where we can do something about it,” Wright said. “We’ve got to do it. We realize if we don’t do it, it’s going to be a major issue again. So we’re at the point where we can enjoy this and just concentrate on one game at a time and really concentrate on Asheville.”
Villanova is not the only BIG EAST heavyweight in action Friday. Xavier, the other No. 2 seed the conference produced, will also be in action when the Musketeers take on 15-seeded Weber State (26-8) of the Big Sky Conference in a 9:20 p.m. (Eastern Time) start in St. Louis. The Musketeers (27-5) are making their 10
th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the past 11 years, one of only nine teams that have accomplished that feat.
Xavier is also one of nine programs that have been to five Sweet 16s in the past eight NCAA Tournaments. Their No. 2 seed is also the highest in school history.
The Musketeers, who went 11-3 in their final 14 games of the season before bowing out to Seton Hall in the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals, reached the Sweet 16 last year with victories over Ole Miss and Georgia State before dropping a 68-60 decision to Arizona in Los Angeles.
Xavier coach Chris Mack, who has a 161-78 (.681) record in his seven seasons at the helm, had himself a nice St. Patrick’s Day as he was named the recipient of the Basketball Times National Coach of the Year as well as being named one of the four finalists for the Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year award. He is joined by Bill Self of Kansas, Tom Crean of Indiana and BIG EAST counterpart Jay Wright of Villanova.
The Musketeers, ranked ninth in the nation in the latest AP Poll, will be taking on a Weber State team that comes into the tournament winners of nine of its last 10 games.
The BIG EAST got off to a good start in the NCAAs on Thursday afternoon when Butler, a No. 9 seed, played a strong second half and defeated No. 8 seed Texas Tech 71-61. Kellen Dunham scored 23 points and Tyler Wideman added 14 points and seven rebounds.
“Defensively, we were good at times today,” said Butler coach Chris Holtmann after the win. “We did have some activity that lead to some turnovers and we took advantage of those (Butler had 12 points off eight Texas Tech turnovers in the second half). Our guys showed good poise except for one stretch in the first half, and we made plays when we needed to.”