Villanova's Phil Booth against Gonzaga at Madison Square Garden's Jimmy V Classic.
Villanova's Booth Back In Action
By Sean Brennan
Special to BIGEAST.com
Phil Booth was all smiles as he slowly strolled toward the Villanova bench in the final minute of the Wildcats’ game against Gonzaga Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
And why wouldn’t he be beaming? Booth is finally back among the basketball living after missing virtually all of Villanova’s season last year due to a knee injury.
Now, no longer confined to the Wildcats’ bench in a suit that most likely came from the Jay Wright Collection, Booth is now either making up for lost time or picking up where he left off at the end of the 2015-16 season, when his 20-point performance in the national championship game against North Carolina helped give Villanova its second NCAA title.
Either way, Booth is just happy to once again be contributing to one of the nation’s premier basketball programs.
“Last year was hard but I learned a lot from that year sitting out,” Booth said after the No. 4 Wildcats’ 88-72 victory over 15th-ranked Gonzaga. “I missed the game a lot and I learned to appreciate my teammates for all the things they do. And I saw the game from a totally different perspective. ”
Gonzaga most likely was not as excited for Booth’s return as he was after the junior guard hung a season-high 20 points on the Bulldogs, with each Booth bucket being met with the distinctive “Booooth” cheers from the large contingent of Villanova Nation that descended on the Garden.
It was just the latest quality outing for Booth, who has now scored in double figures in six of the Wildcats’ nine games so far this season.
Booth eased into the season scoring eight points in Villanova’s opening night win over Columbia, then broke into double digits against both Nicholls State and Lafayette with 12 and 11 points, respectively in the Wildcats’ second and third games of the season.
But it was over the last four games where Booth seems to be back in that 2015-16 groove. He scored 12 points in Villanova’s 64-50 victory over Northern Iowa in the title game in the Battle 4 Atlantis. He followed that up with a 14-point outing vs. Penn and notched 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a rout of St. Joe’s before hanging 20 on Gonzaga.
Booth was particularly pleased that his latest performance - as well as the 28-point eruption from teammate Mikal Bridges - came against Gonzaga, Nova’s biggest game to date this season.
“Gonzaga is a really good team. I saw them last year and how they went to the national championship and how many guys they have returning,” Booth said. “So to have a team like that come in and beat them like this was a great win for us. They have a lot of great players and a lot of older guys and a well-experienced team. So this was a quality win for us in a game that we had to prepare really hard for because they are a tough team to guard.”
Last season Villanova rolled off 32 wins, won the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles and earned a top seed in the NCAA Tournament all without the services of Booth. The Wildcats now stand at 9-0 and a favorite to again top the BIG EAST standings. So does Booth appreciate playing ball more now than before because of last season’s injury?
“Without a doubt,” Booth said. “I missed every minute of it. It was tough last year getting ready for game day and you got to put a suit on instead of your uniform. It was a different feeling. Now every practice I appreciate, every game, anything. Anytime I get to be out there with my guys, that’s what I love to do and what I missed. So I definitely do appreciate it more,”
With no seniors on his roster, but with the likes of Booth, Bridges and Jalen Brunson - Villanova’s version of the Killer B's - Wildcats’ head coach Jay Wright looks to Booth to be one of the leaders with what he brings to the table.
“He brings a lot. They all like each other (on the team) but he’s the most revered guy on the team and the most respected,” said Wright, who has compiled a stellar 136-17 overall record the past four-plus seasons. “He has a great relationship with everybody on the team. He played hurt his sophomore year and everybody knows that and they respect him for it. He scored 20 in the championship game with all the pressure on us. But he’s just a really well-respected guy. It really permeates our team, his confidence, having him back.”
With just three non-conference games remaining on Villanova’s schedule - vs. LaSalle on Dec. 10, at Temple on Dec. 13 and at Hofstra on Dec, 22 - the Wildcats could be a third of the way toward another 30-plus win season even before opening BIG EAST conference play on Dec. 27 at DePaul.
And having a healthy Booth back in action will only enhance Villanova’s prospects this season.
“To get back out there this year and play and incorporate the things I learned last year is what I’m trying to do,” said Booth, who is currently third on the team in scoring at 12.1 points per game. “It’s just great to be back out there playing.”