In our next installment of “Getting To Know,” we go one-on-one with Villanova’s future, 6-5 redshirt freshman Donte DiVincenzo. You’ll learn how tough it was not to be able to compete last season for the National Champions, about his unusual nickname – but not how he got it – what it’s like having Josh Hart as a mentor, why he may be enjoying Villanova’s fine season just a little bit more than his teammates and how much he is looking forward to competing in both the BIG EAST and NCAA Tournaments next month.
BIGEAST.com: Going back to last year, how tough was it personally for you to have to sit out with your foot injury and not participate in Villanova’s championship run?
DiVINCENZO: “At first it was tough not being able to be out there at all. But once I got healthy and was practicing, it went a little bit smoother because I felt more connected to the team being on the practice team to help them prepare for the games. I needed to stay connected to the team. I didn’t want to be one of those guys who was being hurt and not being really productive with it. So once I got healthy I kind of made it my duty to make sure those guys were prepared and do as much as I could possibly do and down the stretch it paid off.”
BIGEAST.com: OK, tell us about you being dubbed “The Michael Jordan of Delaware.” How did that nickname come about?
DiVINCENZO: (laughs) “I don’t know where that came from. One day I heard it here and now a lot of people are saying it.”
BIGEAST.com: Not exactly a bad nickname to have though?
DiVINCENZO: “No not at all. I’m not complaining.”
BIGEAST.com: Packed house at the Wells Fargo Center and your put back off Josh Hart’s miss with less than a second to play gives ‘Nova its dramatic win over Virginia. How much do you still think about your first great moment?
DiVINCENZO: “Yeah that was pretty cool. Especially going forward, like after basketball, I’m definitely going to be thinking about that and telling stories about that. But right now, that was a great game, but it’s behind us now and we got to move forward. So I can’t focus on that.”
BIGEAST.com: Recently coach (Jay Wright) said you can be like Josh Hart. That’s pretty high praise considering what Josh has accomplished in his career and also being a leading candidate for National Player of the Year. What do you think of that comparison?
DiVINCENZO: “I feel great about being compared to him. I respect him and strive to be like him because we go at it every day in practice. I try to get him better and he tries to get me better. I’ve learned a lot from him just by seeing him in practice and also playing with him, being out on the court and getting a feel for each other. I’m just learning from him every single day and that’s going to help me going forward.”
BIGEAST.com: What are some of the main things you’ve learned from Josh so far?
DiVINCENZO: “To never give up on a play. Whenever the shot goes up there is always the chance for an offensive rebound. Also just making the right play and not forcing anything and just taking what the defense gives you.”
BIGEAST.com: Not giving up on a play certainly helped you out against Virginia, didn’t it?
DiVINCENZO: “Oh absolutely!”
BIGEAST.com: Because you didn’t get to play during the championship run, are you enjoying this year’s run by Villanova maybe just a little more than the rest of the team who went through it last year?
DiVINCENZO: “Yeah. I think for myself and Eric (Paschall) there’s a little bit more hunger. I’m not saying the other guys aren’t hungry to get back to (the championship) again. But they were fortunate enough to be in the games so I think there is a little bit more hunger for Eric and I to get back to that stage.
(Eric Paschall sat out last year as a transfer from Fordham).
BIGEAST.com: How much fun is it to play for Jay Wright?
DiVINCENZO: “It’s a lot of fun. A lot of fun. We defend and we rebound and we’re not too worried about offense as long as we get back to defend and rebound. Everything’s positive.”
BIGEAST.com: There are still two weeks left in the regular season and you still have three games on the schedule, including home games against Butler and Creighton, before the BIG EAST Tournament. You didn’t get to play in it last year so how much are you looking forward to the tournament this time around?
DiVINCENZO: “I’m looking forward to it a lot. Last year I just stayed on the bench and it was a great environment. I think it will be kind of similar to when we played St. John’s up there. I just feel confident playing on that floor having played there already so it won’t be like I’m going on a stage that I haven’t been in.”
BIGEAST.com: How about the NCAA Tournament? What do you think that will be like for you?
DiVINCENZO: “I think everything will be louder but it’s all the same. It’s 94 by 50 feet so the court doesn’t change and I’ll be out there with my teammates, brothers and coaches so I can’t worry about anything going on outside of the court.
BIGEAST.com: Obviously your career got stalled by the foot injury last year but how would you say your first full season is going this year?
DiVINCENZO: “Yeah I’m enjoying it a lot. But I’m never satisfied. I know and coach knows that there is a lot more left in me and if I just keep learning everyday, then the sky’s the limit.”
BIGREAST.com: So are college basketball fans just seeing you scratching the surface right now?
DiVINCENZO: “Yes I believe so. Like I said, I’m learning every single day. Playing at this high a level, you learn new things every single day, even learning from your teammates in practice. Learning in-game situations and game experience is only going to help me in the long run.”