Phil Booth Has Earned Villanova Royalty Status
Leads the Wildcats into the Final Regular-Season Game of His Career
By Sean Brennan, Special to BIGEAST.com
He’s the Viceroy of Villanova. The Marquis of the Main Line. The Baron of the BIG EAST. The Count of the Court.
A little much? Perhaps. But pick one, they all apply to Villanova’s Phil Booth, though we’re reasonably sure he would not approve of any of the schlocky monikers we came up with trying to describe his time on the Main Line. That’s because Booth is way too humble for such grandiose monikers and he is all about team, about program and about all things Villanova. (Though Baron of the BIG EAST does have a nice ring to it, no?).
He may not possess the flair of Markus Howard, the sizzle of Shamorie Ponds or Myles Powell, and there have been times in his career where he was overshadowed by some of his own teammates. But what Booth has accomplished in his career at Villanova is nothing short of staggering.
In his five seasons at Villanova - he missed all but the first three games of the 2016-17 season due to a knee injury - Booth has compiled a 129-24 regular-season record, 59-12 in BIG EAST play, has been part of two BIG EAST regular-season, title-winning teams, won a pair of BIG EAST Tournament championships and, oh yeah, played on two National Championship teams, including the 2015-16 team in which he scored 20 points in the Wildcats’ title-game win over North Carolina.
Those are some mind-boggling numbers that may never be duplicated at Villanova - or anywhere else for that matter - as star players rarely stick around for as long as Booth has. So when you consider all he has accomplished, there can be no denying Booth is about as close to BIG EAST royalty as one can get, regal nicknames or not.
But when asked about his enchanted career, one that may never be equaled, Booth gave a typical Booth answer.
“I’m just blessed and fortunate to have had such great teammates, a great group of guys who came together and made some great runs together,” Booth said. “I’m just blessed.”
But what about being arguably the most successful player in Villanova history? All the accomplishments within the program? Does anyone even hold a candle to Booth?
“Yeah it’s crazy,” Booth said. “It’s been a crazy run. I’ve just been fortunate.”
The latest highlight to Booth’s amazing career came last weekend in Villanova’s final home game of the season, Booth’s last time playing in front of those Philly fanatics. In a 21-point victory over Butler, Booth poured in 28 points, one off his career high, as he left Philly on the highest of high notes. He could not have scripted a better final act at home.
“Getting a big win like that after snapping the little losing streak we were on was a big win for sure,” said Booth, again all about the team. “(But) it was special. (His final home game) came so fast to be honest with you. The season just flew by.”
Booth arrived at Villanova after a storied career at Mount St. Joseph High School in Baltimore where he earned Prep Player of the Year in the Charm City. But even after such a brilliant high school career, Booth could never have envisioned a five-year stay in Philadelphia like the one he has enjoyed at Villanova.
“It’s not stuff you think about when you’re going into college,” Booth said. “I never thought about winning one national championship, never mind two. You just try and come in and be the best player you can be and come together as a team.”
With all his successes, Booth was asked what he’s proudest of during his time at Nova. The national championships? That 20-point game against the Tar Heels? The BIG EAST titles? How about none of the above.
“Just the whole culture I’ve been part of since I’ve been here,” Booth said. “It’s been great, both on and off the court. It’s all the little things we’ve done together that has made us successful.”
At this time of year for a senior, each day becomes a series of lasts. Booth has already played his last home game. He’ll play his last regular-season game on Saturday when the Wildcats travel up the Jersey Turnpike to face Seton Hall and then he will play in his last BIG EAST Tournament and make his last collegiate appearance at Madison Square Garden.
“It’s going to be exciting,” Booth said. “It’s a real competitive league this year and playing at the Garden is always special. I can’t wait. We love playing there. We get great crowds there from Villanova alumni in New York and the guys who travel (from Philly). It’s always a great showing for us and we love it.”
Booth admits there are times, when he is sitting in his dorm room or just on some down time, that thoughts of the end of his career creep in. They are not happy thoughts but they help him appreciate it all the more as his college career winds down.
“Oh yeah definitely, I think about that,” Booth said. “You don’t know how many games you have left guaranteed so you just have to take every game and every practice and give all you got. You can’t take anything for granted. (The season) goes by quick so I try and cherish every game. Every time I go out there and compete I cherish it.”
Booth is not sure what the future holds after Villanova, though he hopes it includes a career in the NBA. But as you might expect he is not concerned with such things right now. There is the game against Seton Hall to focus on, where a victory would give the Wildcats their fifth regular-season outright title in six years. Then there is that trip to the Garden for the BIG EAST Tournament and then his final NCAA Tournament appearance. Anything else is just white noise right now.
“(Going to the NBA) is definitely the hope, just to see where basketball takes you,” Booth said. “But I don’t worry about that now. I’ll think about that after the season. Now I just worry about our team, what we’re doing and how we’re playing and stuff like that. I just focus on that right now.”
But whenever the final horn sounds in his final game in a Villanova uniform, it will mark the end of a spectacular career. And Booth knows it won’t be easy taking that No. 5 uniform off for the final time.
“I’m going to miss it a lot,” Booth said. “It’s been a great five years and I’ve been lucky to be a part of it. I’m definitely going to miss it for sure.”
But maybe next year, or soon after, he will return to Villanova for Phil Booth Appreciation Night. Or how about a Phil Booth Bobblehead Day? Surely Booth would be on board for that after all he’s done for Villanova.
“I have not heard anything about that,” Booth said laughing. “I don’t know anything about that.”
It’s the least Villanova could do. Booth is, after all, BIG EAST royalty.
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Villanova is not the only team with something to play for on the season’s final weekend as each matchup offers some degree of drama as no seed for the BIG EAST Tournament has been secured as yet.
A victory by Seton Hall at home against Villanova would hand the Pirates, one of five teams sitting at 8-9, the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament. The Villanova-Seton Hall game will tip off at noon on FOX.
Marquette will host Georgetown at 2:30 on FOX and the Golden Eagles have a shot at grabbing a share of the regular-season title with a win over the Hoyas coupled with a loss by a Villanova loss at Seton Hall.
Georgetown, one of those five teams bunched together at 8-9, is coming off a lopsided loss to DePaul and the Hoyas enter Saturday’s action as the No. 7 seed.
St. John’s and Xavier, two of the other 8-9 teams, do battle at the Cintas Center at 5 p.m. on FOX. The Musketeers had their five-game winning streak snapped at Butler Tuesday night but have beaten the Johnnies eight straight times. The latest victory over the Red Storm came on Feb. 28 when Naji Marshall poured in 31 points. The game will also welcome the three millionth fan to watch men’s basketball at the Cintas Center since it opened in 2000. If St. John’s wins, the Johnnies will capture the No. 3 tourney seed regardless of other outcomes.
Creighton, another 8-9 squad, will host 7-10 DePaul at 8 p.m. on FS1. The Bluejays have won four straight and come into Saturday as the No. 6 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament. The Blue Demons are coming off a 101-69 victory over Georgetown Wednesday night when Max Strus erupted for 30 points.
Finally, Butler travels to Providence for a noon start and, at 7-10, can finish anywhere from fourth to 10th, depending on Saturday’s outcomes. The Friars come into the game 6-11 and in last place but can enhance their seed with a win and some help. The Friars knocked off Butler, 73-67, in overtime on Feb. 26.