VILLANOVA RIGHT AT HOME IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

March 19, 2009


Villanova makes their fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, a streak that only trails the eight in a row by Pittsburgh in the Big East, on Thursday night when they take on 14th-seeded American. A 13-5 Big East record and 26-7 overall mark earned Jay Wright's squad a third seed in this year's tournament and the honor of playing in the city of Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center, which doubles as a home court for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats are a veteran squad, led by seniors Dante Cunningham, Dwayne Anderson, Shane Clark and Frank Tchuisi, who are looking to finish their college careers on ann ultimate high.

"We're very grateful to be in this position four years in a row," Anderson said of appearing in the Big Dance each year he has been at 'Nova. "We know what it takes."

Classmate Dante Cunningham agreed and takes pride in the legacy his class is leaving on the program. The Wildcats leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 16 points and 7.2 rebounds on the season, told reporters this week that "We definitely understand what it takes to get here. Our seniors, previous years, taught us well. Hopefully we're teaching our younger guys, you know, how to continue this tradition that we've set."

The tradition includes a trip to the Elite 8 in their freshman season, on a team led by Randy Foye, Kyle Lowry, Allan Ray, etc. and a surprising run to the Sweet 16 last year. Will this season yield even better results?

"Last year we were the No. 12 seed," said Anderson. "We had the underdog mindset. So we're going to have the same mindset for this year."

The journey begins Thursday at home, or very close to it, the Wachovia Center, against American, the champions of the Patriot League. Riding a 13-game winning streak and winners of 19 of their last 20, American is not just happy to be 'dancing' this season. They feature four senior starters that were also starters on last year's NCAA team that played Tennessee relatively tough in the opening round before falling 72-57. Leading scorer Garrison Carr, who is averaging nearly 18 points a game this season, scored 26 in last year's loss to the Vols.

"I think it's pretty much true," senior forward Brian Gilmore said of last year's initial experience of the NCAA Tournament. "There were some of our teammates who were just kind of caught by that big atmosphere that we hadn't been in."

Gilmore, who averages 12.4 points and a team high 5.4 rebounds, believes this year's team is better equipped to handle the bright lights of March.

"This time around I think we're prepared for that [atmosphere]," said Gilmore. "We know this is another big stage. Obviously it's our last go round as seniors. We
can't afford to be taken aback and on our heels like we were last year."

American has played some big conference foes this year, but with little success. Jeff Jones' Eagles have lost by an average of 23 points to Oklahoma, Georgetown and Maryland, all played on the road. Villanova is right there with any of those foes, and like those games, this will also be played in enemy territory.

What might be even tougher to handle for American is the challenge posed by the 'Nova guard crew, one that a Patriot League team is not going to get to see very often.

"I think it's going to be a challenge for both
Garrison and I," said senior point guard Derrick Mercer, who played his high school ball for the legendary Bob Hurley at St. Anthony's High School in Jersey City (NJ). "We usually don't go in and play against players with that type of caliber, like Corey Fisher and Scottie Reynolds."

It has been since December 22nd, a 67-51 loss at Maryland, since American has faced a quality opponent. Although they have experience with an excellent group of seniors with a team that has been in the NCAA Tournament before, they face a Villanova squad that has been battle tested night in and night out in the Big East. The college basketball odds show Villanova as a 16 1/2-point favorite to end the Eagles' season and squash their dream of a first round upset. While the American strength is in their backcourt, a need for March success, the 'Nova backcourt will be up to the challenge and Dante Cunningham should be too strong underneath.

It is fully expected that "nova cruises past American on Thursday night to set up a highly anticapted second round match-up between the winner of the 6/11 game between UCLA and VCU.


NBE Blogger Prediction:

Villanova 82
American 59