by Jack Kerwin  |  [email protected]

Tired of it. Really, just tired of it.

For me, it takes more energy than this aging, maybe even maturing individual is willing to muster in order to hate, dislike or even hold any modicum of distaste for the Villanova University men’s basketball program.

Just don’t care anymore about your hang-ups, prejudices or preconceived notions with how the school is for elite snobs, how Jay Wright is a fraud or how the Wildcats’ fan base is the most obnoxious thing going in the world of sports.

Yo, get it. Wasn’t smart enough or rich enough to get into ’Nova, either, and neither coach of my alma maters (in and out of town) merits much more than a yawn outside of #FireHim dissent. The fans? Look in the mirror sometime.

Seriously, Temple people, Saint Joe’s people and any other people in, around and beyond Philly, grow up. This infantile jealousy trying to masquerade itself as some “come hell or high water” loyalty to whatever faction you’re claiming as your own is so worn out … and forever misguided.

You’re frustrated. Unsatisfied. Unfulfilled with what your school, your team, your coach is doing, or not doing. So you focus all that venom brewing inside in the direction of the school, the team and the coach who has given every program in the country a template on how to succeed.

​Really? Why not learn instead, and demand the following from your own ...

It’s pretty simple. Just a couple steps:

1. Stop with the limitations and excuses. If you’re a Division I program, then your ultimate goal every season is the same – to win the whole damn thing. Not saying it can happen, or will happen, but if you’re not striving for that – regardless of budget or conference affiliation or TV money – then you have no biz being in the biz.
2. Get the right individual to run the show. None of this restrictive “connection to the program, the school, the area” garbage. In Philly, we are blinders-wearing provincial on so much stuff that we fail to realize that there is a world outside of the city that actually can add to things here should it come, oh, say, in the form of a blue-chip recruit from 2,500 miles away.

’Nova hit a home run with Wright, not because of his previous stint at the school or his growing up in the Philly ’burbs, but because he can coach – in practice and in games – and he can recruit like few others. He didn’t hone his skills along the Main Line before grabbing the reins in 2001. He did so at Hofstra, an afterthought on Long Island that he made relevant by adhering to Step 1. The dude went after it. Ultimately nailed down back-to-back NCAA berths before bolting for greener pastures along Lancaster Avenue.

The real beauty is, everyone who points out their perceived flaws of him, from him being phony to him being lucky, falls to realize how brilliant a coach he is. With creating a culture for the program and going out and getting the players to fit in it. With instilling a tenacity and desire in his players, even the most talented among them, to go all-out on the court, especially on the defensive end. With demanding peak performance and not accepting when it isn't there.

Hey, they guy has failed more than he has succeeded when you look at the bottom line of the sport: how you do in the NCAA tournament. ’Nova, even with winning a title in 2016 and making two Final Fours under Wright’s watch, has been a high-seeded disappointment most seasons.

But the Wildcats keep coming because they stick to No. 1 and have No. 2.
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Nothing less than respect is deserved for that.
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Let the Madness begin
​Support stops here for Dunphy
Remembering Rollie
Wildcats own Philly, huh?
​Elite status never in question

It’s a subjective game of projection at this point.

Who gets in? Who doesn’t?

​What about seeding?

Of course, most important, who can win it all?

That’s where Villanova comes in at this point, especially for sports fan in the Philly area, with the 24-3 Wildcats currently holding top billing in the nation as the 2015-16 college basketball regular season winds down and teams from conferences far and wide, and big and small, vie for spots in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. You have to wonder, can they?

Beyond that, will they?

The reality is, the “can” and “will” of this process are not forever intertwined. Yeah, you certainly have to have the former in order to have the latter. But it ain’t a given that having the former would result in the latter.

Point being, ’Nova certainly has the goods to get it done. Fueled by talent galore, including a starting five that all average in double figures, and battle-tested by playing in one of the country’s best basketball conference, the Big East, the Wildcats are poised to make a title run.

But, really, how many times has that not been the case for them during Jay Wright’s tenure?

After rescuing the program from the fair-to-middling status to which it had sunk under Steve Lappas, Wright began pumping life and blue-chip recruits into Villanova immediately, prepping it for a return to prime-time performance by 2004-05, his fourth season in charge on the Main Line.

Starting then and continuing through the time this tournament is announced, the ’Cats will have been dancing 10 of the last 11 years, and one of the NCAA’s featured performers in more than half of ’em.

The first five of those years, they rattled off two Sweet 16s, an Elite Eight and a Final Four. The next five? They missed the tournament once, and got bounced from it four other times on the first weekend despite having squads in 2009-10 and last year to contend for it all.

Frankly, the subjective take here is that these ’Cats are better, much better, than the Scottie Reynolds-led 2008-09 group that reached the national semis only to get embarrassed by North Carolina, and, conversely, not as good as any of the four groups, headlined at one point or another by Randy Foye, Kyle Lowry, Allan Ray and Curtis Sumpter, previous to that one.

With the addition of ballyhooed freshman Jalen Brunson, who almost single-handedly shot down Big Five rival Temple last week, they might be better than last year’s 33-3 team, too.

Then again, anyone rooting for ’Nova or just some success for a Philly area team, would hope that, considering that record and a No. 1 seed in the tournament yielded nothing more than an early ouster against eighth-seeded North Carolina State.

The ’Cats have one of the best all-around players in the sport in Josh Hart, the toughest one in Ryan Arcidiacono, Brunson, depth and the ability to play big, small, fast or slow and anything in between.

Can they win it all? Heck yeah. They got everything needed to do so.
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But will they? History, their own recent history, says no.

​- Jack Kerwin  |  [email protected]

Hard to believe
Temple may or may not receive an NCAA bid, but the fact it’s even in the conversation is astounding. The Owls are just not that good as a team, even though they do have some individual talent and currently lead the American Athletic Conference. They started 8-7 but have rattled off nine wins in their last 11, including Sunday night’s miraculous comeback at Houston in which sophomore F Obi Enechionyia tallied a career-high 26 points. Whether coach Fran Dunphy wants to admit it or not, Easy-O is his best player, and freshman G Trey Lowe is No. 2. Both should be utilized in those roles if the Owls really want to make a run.

Reality check
Saint Joseph’s has been a revelation this season, checking in at 22-5 right now even after a disappointing loss at Davidson on Saturday. That pretty much offset the season highlight of beating then-No. 15 Dayton in the Hawks’ previous outing. They are sparked, clearly, by the F tandem of Isaiah Myles (17.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and DeAndre Bembry (16.8, 7.9 and 4.4 apg). Unfortunately, their second-place standing in the Atlantic 10 doesn’t exactly hold the same kind of sway as it would have back when Temple was still in the conference. Or Xavier. Or Butler. In short, perception is a problem with their NCAA hopes, at least the at-large ones.

Ummm, oops
It was just three years ago that we were about to get treated to La Salle’s unexpected Sweet 16 run, the Explorers capturing much of the region’s imagination along the way. But, wow, how times have changed – rather quickly. Sunday’s 40-point loss – yes, that’s right, FORTY POINTS – at George Washington was the apex of embarrassment, even for a team that now stands at 6-19. Makes those fun times celebrating Tyrone Garland’s “South Philly Floater” seem long ago.

These opportunities don’t come around here often.

Even in a city that likes to claim such a rich history in college basketball and actually has a bit of merit to make such a claim, a No. 1 ranking for one of its schools is a rarity.

Rarer still is when a local squad sitting atop the polls takes on another from Philly.

So, please forgive any serious hoopheads out there the next few days for interrupting the latest updates on Shady’s arrest warrant, Sam’s contract status, the Phillies’ upcoming spring training and the Flyers’ looming implosion with a bit of excitement and verbiage about Wednesday night’s Big Five encounter at the Liacouras Center.

It pits host Temple, making a serious late-season push for a spot in the NCAA tournament with five straight wins and eight in its last nine games, against the nation’s top team, Villanova.

It’s just one game, you say. What’s the big deal, you wonder?

Well, consider …

• Before the Wildcats’ current two-week run as No. 1, the city’s six Division I schools combined only managed a total of 11 weeks there the previous 66 years of polls.
• ​Prior to this latest showdown, only once before had two Philly schools squared off with one of them being No. 1.

By the time the two tip off this time, it will have been 28 years and 7 days since the top-ranked Owls hosted No. 20 Villanova at McGonigle Hall. Perhaps it is fitting that this go ’round pits the same two schools against one another, since, really, their rivalry has evolved into the most fair fight among all the Philly schools.

Both programs have remained regional powers, with ’Nova becoming even more of a consistent presence on the national scene.

Back then, the Owls were on the cusp of greatness that never truly materialized. The sixth edition of John Chaney outfits in Cherry & White, they were in the process of finishing an incredible five-year stretch of 140-23 for the legendary coach and about to be the first of five Elite Eight teams for him from 1988 through 2001.

Two future NBA lottery picks – Tim Perry and Mark Macon – started for Temple that night, but it was Howie Evans who stole the show, dishing out 20 assists, many of them arriving in the hands of Macon (31 points) and Mike Vreeswyk (19), and adding 15 points.

Thing is, the final score, a 98-86 win for the home team, wasn’t indicative of the evening. Indeed, in typical Big Five fashion, ’Nova made the favorite earn everything it got. The ’Cats, behind Doug West’s 27 points, actually led 65-61 with 10:42 to go and kept it close before running out of gas.

In short, the two teams put on a good show. A comparable effort this time would not surprise.

- Jack Kerwin  |  [email protected]
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LA SALLE 1952 & 1954
The Explorers started atop the polls to start the 1952-53 and 1954-55 seasons, and stayed there two weeks each time, thanks in large part to the incomparable Tom Gola, who still holds the NCAA record for career rebounds with 2,201. Ironically, it was between those two campaigns that the Explorers actually won their only NCAA championship as Gola earned national player of the year honors.

TEMPLE 1988
The Owls lost one game in the 1987-88 regular season … by a single point at Nevada-Las Vegas. Other than that they were spotless before ultimately falling to Duke in the NCAA East Regional final, which is why they grabbed hold of the No. 1 spot on February 9 and kept it the remaining six weeks of polling. Freshman Mark Macon led the charge, averaging 20.6 ppg. en route to second-team All-America honors.

SAINT JOSEPH’S 2004
The Hawks were perfect in the regular season, running the table at 27-0 to capture the No. 1 ranking for a week before the postseason. Xavier derailed any thoughts of an unblemished campaign in the Atlantic 10 tournament, but Saint Joe’s, behind national player of the year Jameer Nelson and fellow future NBA first-round draft pick Delonte West, still reached the NCAA East Regional final before bowing out.

VILLANOVA 2016
Talented and deep, the Wildcats have five players average double-figure scoring, led by junior Josh Hart’s 15.2 ppg. Ironically, their most ballyhooed player, freshman Jalen Brunson, is the son of former Temple standout Rick Brunson. After getting whipped by Oklahoma (78-55) and Virginia (86-75) before the Christmas, the Wildcats have won 14 of 15 in 2016, the lone loss coming in OT.

All the hype surrounded Temple back in 1987-88, from when the Owls squared off against Villanova as the No. 1 team in the country until they lost to Duke in the NCAA East Regional final as the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Funny thing is, few people remember that the Wildcats got just as far as the Owls did, reaching the Elite Eight before falling to Oklahoma.

Temple’s Mark Macon (1991) and Tim Perry (1988), two pivotal players for the Owls the last time a No. 1 team from Philly played against another team from Philly, ended up as NBA lottery picks, but neither had the pro career Villanova’s Doug West did. A second-round selection by Minnesota, he played 12 years in the NBA, averaging a career high 19.3 ppg. while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor.

Thursday night. Heading home.

Listening to the radio. Sportstalk, as usual.

A caller checks in and actually touches on what me and my son had just witnessed, Temple topping Connecticut in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball game at the Liacouras Center. Talks about what a tremendous win it was. Against a pretty big-time, national program.

All positive stuff. Complimentary. Even hopeful.

Then it hit me. Again. Like a sledgehammer to the cerebral cortex.

Philly. Is. Just. Not. A. College. Sports. Town.
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Football, hoops, men’s or women’s, it doesn’t matter. For a city that prides itself on knowledge of athletic endeavors, including those outside the professional spectrum, that, in fact, raves about such “genius” every stinkin’ opportunity it has, or creates in almost narcissistic “look at me, look at me … no, seriously, look at me, I am great” fashion, the reality is just as scary as the self-perceived view.

Seriously.

Not for nothing, but that aforementioned caller represented just how uninformed the typical Philly sports fan is. Nicer than most, he certainly didn’t bring any more insight to the table.

Thing is, he was right. The Owls’ victory was tremendous. Especially when you consider they trailed by 12 with 5:40 to go before closing things out with a 21-4 run highlighted by Daniel Dingle’s trio of tricfectas and Quenton DeCosey’s circus “and one” shot that led to his go-ahead free throw with 70 seconds remaining.

But the effort wasn’t earth-shattering or “put ’em on the map” type stuff. Or, frankly, even unexpected.

Not for nothing, Philly, but you’re a little late to the party on one of your own. Temple’s on the map. Been on the map. For decades. Or, if you don’t wanna go all old-school and bring up the long-ago past, don’t.

The caller made a big deal about that night’s opponent being UConn. How it’s a storied program, and it is. It also fell prey to the Owls back on January 5. In Hartford, Conn., no less, when the Huskies ranked 23rd in the country.

In addition, mentioned how this could be the start of something, maybe a return back to those glory days when Temple “once” went to a Sweet 16. You know, remember that?

Well, yeah, if you mean 2001, when the Owls went on to the Elite Eight as well. Which kinda rivaled similar trips to the regional finals in 1999, 1993, 1991 and 1988.

Old news?

Maybe the fact Temple has beaten a top-10 team seven of the last eight seasons might float your boat a bit more. Heck, even the campaign in that stretch the Owls failed to do so, one in which they posted the worst record in program history, they still managed to upset No. 23 SMU.

The Mustangs were Temple’s “top 10” skin this season. Ranked eighth and arriving in North Philly as the nation’s only remaining unbeaten, they left the night of January 24 at 18-1.

Thing is, Temple ain’t the only area college squad whose exploits escape the Philly masses.

While LeSean McCoy’s latest “night out” has dominated the news and apparently the entire region’s consciousness, Villanova has emerged as No. 1 in the country … with barely a Philly breath wasted on mentioning that, never mind truly acknowledging, or celebrating, it. Last time a city school topped the regular-season polls was 2004 when Saint Joseph’s did during an Elite Eight season. Before that? Temple in 1988.

Ironically, the Wildcats visit the Owls this coming Wednesday in a for city bragging rights.

Sort of …

Should the Owls win, and Saint Joseph’s beat La Salle tonight, that would give the ’Cats, Owls and Hawks a share of the Big 5 title.

Since Saint Joe’s already beat Temple … and did you know the Hawks 20-4 this season, Philly?

Didn’t think so.

- Jack Kerwin  |  [email protected]
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While the nation seems to have a decent grasp of the goings with college hoops in Philly, perhaps it is time to give the locals a refresher.

​SAINT JOSEPH'S
​Current: 20-4 record, 9-2 in the Atlantic 10. Second in the conference behind No. 19 Dayton, which it hosts this coming Wednesday at Hagan Arena.
Biggest wins this season:  Temple, Rhode Island (twice) and George Washington.
Looking back a bit: The Hawks were the darlings of the Big Dance in 2004 after going 27-0 in the regular season and reaching No. 1. Ultimately, they got bounced by Oklahoma State in the East Regional final by two points. Since then, they’ve posted five 20-win seasons, including this one, with two NCAA tournament appearances.

​TEMPLE
​Current: 15-8, 9-3 in the American Athletic. Tied for first in the conference with No. 16 SMU, which it beat 89-81 on January 24 at the Liacouras Center.
Biggest wins this season:  Cincinnati (then No. 22), Connecticut (No. 23) and SMU (No. 8).
Looking back a bit: The Owls earned NCAA berths every year from 2008 through 2013, and reached the NIT’s final four last season, but they haven’t made a big postseason splash since 2001, when last making an Elite Eight. That visit capped a “5 regional finals in 13 years” run that highlights the program’s modern era – well, that and the current seven in eight seasons stretch of wins against top-10 teams (then-No. 8 SMU this season, No. 10 Kansas last season, No. 3 Syracuse in 2012-13, No. 5 Duke in 2011-12, No. 9 Georgetown in 2010-11, No. 3 Villanova in 2009-10, No. 8 Tennessee in 2008-09).

​VILLANOVA
​Current: 20-3, 11-1 in the Big East. Stands atop conference standings, with a game at second-place Xavier, ranked fifth, remaining on February 24.
Biggest wins this season:  Xavier (then No. 6), Butler (No. 18) and Providence (No. 11).
Looking back at bit: Not exactly sure why the Wildcats are No. 1 at the moment, aside from playing in arguably the best hoops conference in the country. They did get smoked by both Virginia and Oklahoma earlier this season and split a pair of games against Big East rival Providence, which is ranked 18th. Or, perhaps, No. 1 is due to their rich, relatively recent history, which includes Elite Eights in 2006 and 2009 as well as Sweet 16s in 2005 and 2008. They have been to the NCAA tournament 10 times in the last 11 years, and, going back a bit further, were the last Philly team to win it all, in 1985.