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College Basketball  |  Villanova's Wright certainly worthy of honor

1/3/2020

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Jay Wright, named the AP's College Basketball Coach of the Decade for 2010-19 on Friday, shares a moment with the most important player to his Villanova program, Ryan Arcidiacono, during their run to a national championship in 2016. Wright won another in 2018.
by  Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com
Villanova University's Jay Wright  was named College Basketball Coach of the Decade by the Associated Press on Friday for one incontrovertible reason: He’s worthy of the honor.

Oh, he’s not alone. There were others worthy of it, chief among them being Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and Kentucky’s John Calipari, and perhaps even more deserving. Frankly, Coach K’s two national titles and five Elite Eight appearances overall in the 10 years probably trump Wright’s two nattys, and Coach Cal’s one championship and seven Elite Eights may.

But, really, it just depends which narrative you prefer when it comes to nailing down the best when you’re talking about the giants of the profession.

Make no mistake, either. Wright is a giant in the profession anymore … and his story to achieving undeniable success from 2010 through 2019, frankly, is a nice change from hum-drum, basketball factory production tales that can be attached to both K and Cal.

A former ’Nova assistant, Wright was a proven head coach before he ever returned to the Main Line, having taken mid-major Hofstra to the NCAA tournament his final two years at the Long Island school in 2001. Now, while the Wildcats had a strong history, which included winning an NCAA crown in 1985 and playing for one 14 years prior to that, it never would have been confused with the likes of those at Duke, Kentucky or North Carolina.

But Wright made them players against the big boys almost immediately. By his eighth season, they already had two appearances in the Sweet 16, one in the Elite Eight and another in the Final Four.

Then something happened, and, to me, it is what truly sets Wright apart from all other the last 10 years.

The upward swing stopped. Cold. The ’Cats, following a trip to the national semifinals in 2009, started going backward. Their win total dropped from 30 to 25 to 21, before, finally, it dropped their record below – gasp – .500 in 2011-12: 13-19.

Truth be told, yours truly thought he was done at that point. The magic touch seemed to be gone. The interest in the program had waned. Heck, it wasn’t ’Nova hanging with the big boys at that time, it was Big Five rival Temple doing so against Duke, even beating the top-5 Blue Devils midway through that losing campaign for the ’Cats before a packed house at Villanova’s own home away from home, the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly.

But it was during this time of doldrums for the Villanova program that Wright made his two greatest decisions as its leader: 1) he realized that he needed to make toughness, physical and mental, as much a priority in recruiting as talent, and 2) he went about implementing that philosophy by signing the most physically and mentally tough player arguably in the school’s history.

Yes, there have been, and will be, more skilled and productive players than Ryan Arcidiacono in Wildcats’ lore. But his decision to attend his parents’ alma mater truly was a seminal moment for Villanova … and Wright.

His impact was felt immediately in terms of how the Wildcats played and how much they achieved. Taking their point guard’s lead, they backed down from no one – win or lose – beginning in the fall of 2012 and, really, haven’t stopped since.

A national title in Arcidiacono’s senior season in 2016 seemed the ultimate, only two years after his graduation the Wildcats earned another one. In dominating fashion. With Wright looking dapper as always, diagramming Xs and Os to allow his players to pick apart the opposition and relying on what had become the backbone of his program: toughness.

Spearheaded by that, Wright led the ’Cats to nine NCAA tournament bids and nine 20-win seasons, including four of 32 or better, and, of course, those two championships.

Roll your eyes, make a case for others you feel were more deserving, or scoff at him or his non-blue blood program as much as you want, the reality remains the same:

Wright is worthy of being named coach of the last decade. No doubt about it.
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College Football | Oh, thank God, you're back

9/2/2018

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WEEK 1 RECAP
by Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

Been too long.
 
Oh, college football, how you have been missed.
 
Fortunately, when you return, you never seem to disappoint, either – save, of course, a stomach-turning effort usually given by one of my alma maters.
 
So, without further ado, we take a look at Week 1 — the real Week 1, not the half-baked, less than a handful of games, preseason-ish one offered in the final stages of families cramming in vacations before the start of school.
 
HEISMAN HYPE
It’s pretty much become a QB-only award, so looking at the first full weekend of action, this is what we know:
 
West Virginia’s Will Grier (career-high 429 yards passing 5 TDs in 40-14 win against Tennessee) and Central Florida’s McKenzie Milton (346, 5 in 56-17 win at Connecticut) are for real, Arizona’s Khalil Tate probably is not … and the jury is still out on Penn State’s Trace McSorley and Oregon’s Justin Herbert.
 
A couple newcomers to keep an eye on are Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, whom the media will push relentlessly, much in the Saquon Barkley mold of last fall, and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins, who actually shined brighter than Double-T on Saturday.
 
For me, it was Grier and everyone else coming into the season … and he only cemented that belief against the Volunteers.
 
HARD 2 BELIEVE
 
It’s not often you see a team lose when it has a quarterback toss two TDs (with no INTs), a running back bust loose for 168 and two TDs (on just 11 carries) and a receiver rack up 104 yards and two TDs.
 
But by 46 points? C’mon, Oregon State. Ohio State is potent, for sure. Especially at home. The Buckeyes, though, also trotted out a new starter behind center, a new leader on the sidelines and have an entire nation of “should’ve” moralists casting a scornful eye in their direction.
 
Johnathan Smith’s first year directing the Beavers may be his only one doing so if such efforts prove the norm in 2018, regardless of his high standing among the administration and alums with his being a former star signal-caller for Oregon State.
 
UMM, YEAH, ABOUT THAT
 
Much was made of fast-rising Florida Atlantic’s visit to Oklahoma prior to Saturday’s game, mostly in the context of “hmmm, wouldn’t be surprised if the Lane Kiffin’s crew went up there and upset the Sooners.”
 
Just in case some weren’t convinced by halftime at what a farce those thoughts were, OU posted the first two scores of the third quarter to go up 56-0.
 
Baker who?
 
ENJOY IT NOW
 
Long-struggling Illinois barely got by potential Mid-American cellar-dweller Kent State, but the Illini at least got to witness the emergence of two standouts in a 31-24 victory. Fifth-year transfer QB AJ Bush was a revelation, throwing for 190 yards and rushing for 139 more and showing a subdued confidence that belied this being his first start. Meanwhile, sophomore LB Jake Hansen played like the second coming of Dick Butkus, registering 15 tackles, including a program-record six for losses.
 
That last stat posted would have led the team’s defense for the entire 2017 season.
 
ENOUGH ALREADY
 
We got it. Nick Saban heads the top program in the country and Brian Kelly leads the most recognizable one around the globe. They have some serious cachet, and with that, a lot of rope, too. Still, cut out the egomaniacal crap, guys.
 
Ahead by an insurmountable five scores against Louisville and Saban goes off Saturday night on one of his Alabama players — way past the point of making a point — for committing a completely inconsequential penalty. Later, Kelly provides his typical condescending commentary after Notre Dame posts a “meh” 24-17 win over equally overrated Michigan.
 
All, of course, for the national-TV audiences to soak in — despite the claims of not caring by both.
 
Yo, just give it a rest.
​
UNI VERSE
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College Basketball  |  Honestly, what's not to like about Villanova?

3/27/2018

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 by Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

Here it is: Like Villanova. No joke. Like it a lot.

​Not just in the Final Four. Not only to win the NCAA men's basketball championship again, for the second time in three years and third overall. But, in general – ya know, the campus, the school, its Catholic tradition, the whole shebang, Jay Wright’s stellar program included.


Here’s the thing. Like Saint Joe’s, La Salle and Penn, too. Heck, Drexel as well.

Why not? Being a Temple alum has never altered a lifelong affinity for college hoops in my hometown of Philadelphia and all five schools set within the city limits, not to mention that neighboring suburban entity that, well, basically has set the standard for the nation the last several seasons.

No envy here, just pure, unadulterated admiration for what the Wildcats have become since Wright started landing the likes of Randy Foye, Allen Ray and Curtis Sumpter back in 2002. The core signified the genesis of a true national power, the type of blue blood in the sport that doesn’t need to do a double-take when finding itself lined up against a Duke or a Kentucky or a Kansas, as it will this Saturday night in San Antonio when it squares off against the Jayhawks, the other remaining No. 1 seed, in a national semifinal.

Keith Herron was the first ’Nova cat who caught my attention, bridging the mid-‘70s gap between beasts Howard Porter and John Pinone. Led by those three, the Wildcats racked up eight NCAA bids, five Sweet 16s, five Elite 8s, a Final Four and a title-game appearance. Heady stuff, and then came the original coup de grace, the 1985 national championship squad that made Rollie Massimino a legend when, really, love him or “he broke up the Big Five” hate him, he probably already deserved to be one before then.

But, under Wright, they’re even better now, and, frankly, think that’s great. If anything, actually wish my alma mater would follow the Wildcats’ lead.

Definitely wish my fellow Owls would at least grasp what it is.

Here’s the thing, everyone around wanting to root against Villanova with a vim and vinegar your teams rarely seem to have when they play against it: you, and your schools, mine along North Broad included, miss the point. You’re living in the past. You’re thinking small. Real small.

The game ain’t about winning Philly. It’s to win the whole damn thing. To be the best in the country.

Focusing all your energy on local rivalries and the often silly minutia that goes with them, the big picture gets lost. The big-time recruits, too.

Drexel’s best pitch: We play in Philadelphia.

Penn’s: We offer an Ivy education.

La Salle’s: Tom Gola played here and we had that South Philly floater a handful of years ago.

Saint Joe’s: We reached the Final Four … in 1961. Doesn't count due to a gambling scandal. But, still, we were there.

Temple: Coach Fran Dunphy is a great guy.

Hey, yo, it’s time to step it up at each and every one of those places.

None of them may be able to use Villanova’s for quite some time, if ever: We’re one of the best teams in the country … every year.

But, not for nothing, give it an effort, will ya, over in North Philly, West Philly and City Line? Jeez …

Maybe all that misguided distaste for/disgust with ’Nova then could be redirected into a more productive, positive way – such as deserved support for your basketball programs instead of some mutated joy in seeing the Wildcats fail, a rarity anyway.
​

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JALEN BRUNSON

ONE THAT GOT AWAY

For Temple fans who harbor ill will toward
Villanova, the last three years have to be especially disturbing.


It wasn’t that long ago that the son of the one of the Owls’ all-time greats ranked among the nation’s top recruits, and was considering the idea of taking his talents to North Broad.

But then Rick Brunson’s candidacy to be a Temple assistant went “poof,” and Jalen Brunson opted for the Main Line.

A national title and Final Four later, the younger Brunson can lay claim to being one of the country’s best players … and, arguably, the biggest thorn in current Owls head coach Fran Dunphy’s side.

Just imagine where Temple would be with Jalen …

We’ll never know.

But the Wildcats are pretty damn good thanks in large part to their junior point guard, who averages 19.2 points per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the floor, including 41.4 from beyond the arc, and 81.1 from the line. Toss in 4.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds and his calming influence every time out, and you’ve got an All-American, and very well a national player of the year.

Funny thing is, while experts with NBA draft thoughts dancing around in their head try to draw comparisons to current and former pros, they miss the boat continuously on his most obvious one: his father.

A lefty who could dominate the flow of a game with his handle and physicality just like his son does now, Rick handled the point for John Chaney’s Elite 8 squad in 1993. He later played nine years in the NBA.

Expect a similar pro career for Jalen.
​
You know, once he finishes up at Villanova … instead of Temple. ​
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College Basketball  |  Sticking with Kentucky and Coach Cal

3/22/2018

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Love him or hate, Kentucky head coach John Calipari has his Wildcats making a push for the Final Four again.
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​by Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

Not going with Duke or Villanova.

Not changing a damn thing from my original bracket, frankly, despite the trendy, cheesy, second-chance reseeding/re-picking way of doing things now that we've completed one weekend of the NCAA Tournament to get down to the Sweet 16.

Why bother? See no need. My national champion pick is alive and well and overall No. 1 Virginia never made it this far in my projections anyway.

Biggest upset of all-time, my arse. Never witnessed such a highly rated squad more ripe to fall off a cliff with just the slightest of nudges, or even the threat of one.

But we digress …

Just gonna continue to roll with Kentucky, the South Region's 5-seed. Ever since taking pen to paper and marking down my selections, have felt pretty good about that.

To me, not a single reason to adjust.

Sure, Duke and Villanova, the popular favorites to win it all at this point, have been impressive thus far. But Duke isn't the most talented team remaining. Kentucky is, and if Kentucky isn't, and that's a big IF, then Texas A&M is – not Duke.

The Aggies toyed with 2-seed North Carolina in the West. Absolutely freakin' toyed with it, while looking like a bunch of 6-10 guys making like Ben Simmons is routine stuff.

'Nova? Gotta be honest, don't envision the Wildcats getting past West Virginia in the East Region Friday night at Boston. The Mountaineers have the tenacity and athleticism to match whatever Jay Wright puts out on the floor, and more length. Yeah, 'Nova has national player of the year candidates in Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges. WVU counters with the best defender in the country (Jevon Carter) and a lineup that never has any fewer that three 6-8 or taller gazelles who can jump out of the building on the floor at one time.

Wouldn't mind a second title making its way to Philly's Main Line in the last three years, just not feeling it is going to happen. More of a vibe similar to last season's upending by Wisconsin, another matchup nightmare for 'Nova, than that one from 2016.

Thus far, UK hasn't been dominant at all. Even got lucky with draws, and still struggled a lot with 12-seed Davidson and a little with 13-seed Buffalo. But believe in John Calipari, in his ability coach in game and to motivate heading into a game. His Wildcats were young this season and showed it, and just now are starting to display a toughness and confidence to match their skill.

UK's biggest threat appears to be A&M. Without question. Forget upset wins by University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC to all you acronym loyalists) and aforementioned Buffalo, the former benefiting from Virginia's shakiness and depleted roster and the latter from Arizona's willingness to quit. The most dynamic performance of the tournament was turned in by the Aggies, whose size-skill combo absolutely decimated UNC.

For their efforts, tonight they get Michigan, which posted the most dynamic performance in conference-tournament action just a week earlier with its destruction of Purdue.

Tough draw. So much so that, to me, if the Wolverines prevail they then become the biggest threat to UK. After them, it is Gonzaga, the most overlooked returning national semifinalist this deep in a tournament since fellow mid-major monster Butler.

Duke? 'Nova? The consensus can have them. Not seeing either here, even as threats.


SWEET 16 SLATE

TONIGHT
7:07
(11) Loyola-Chicago vs. (7) Nevada, CBS
SOUTH REGION | ATLANTA

7:37
(7) Texas A&M vs. (3) Michigan, TBS
WEST REGION | LOS ANGELES

9:37
(9) Kansas State vs. (5) Kentucky, CBS
SOUTH REGION | ATLANTA

​10:07
(9) Florida State vs. (4) Gonzaga, TBS
WEST REGION | LOS ANGELES
​
FRIDAY NIGHT
7:07
(5) Clemson vs. (1) Kansas, CBS
7:37
MIDWEST REGION | OMAHA

(5) West Virginia vs. (1) Villanova, TBS
EAST REGION | BOSTON

9:37
(11) Syracuse vs. (2) Duke, CBS
MIDWEST REGION | OMAHA

10:07

(3) Texas Tech vs. (2) Purdue, TBS
​EAST REGION | BOSTON

FROM THIS POINT ON ...

FAVORITE TEAM
Clemson
BEST TEAM
Kentucky
FAVORITE COACH
Jim Boeheim, Syracuse
BEST COACH
Jay Wright, Villanova
FAVORITE PLAYER
Donte DiVincenzo, Villanova
BEST PLAYER
Jalen Brunson, Villanova
FAVORITE STORY
Loyola-Chicago
BEST STORY
Gonzaga
MOST OVERHYPED COACH
Mike Krzyewski, Duke
MOST UNDERHYPED COACH
Mark Few, Gonzaga
MOST OVERHYPED TEAM
Duke
MOST UNDERHYPED TEAM
Nevada


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College Basketball  |  Dear Temple prez: Dunphy's time done

3/21/2018

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by Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

Those of us in the Temple University community have been encouraged to contact school president Richard M. Englert in regards to the men's basketball program and its current head coach, Fran Dunphy, following a 17-16 campaign. Below is my attempt to share my take with Temple's top doc, professor and official all rolled into one.

President Englert:

It is my understanding that you want input from alumni and fans about the state of the program, specifically as it stands under current head coach Fran Dunphy.

I qualify as both ... or at least I used to qualify as both.

Frankly, I was never a fan of Fran's hiring by the university -- not because I didn't think he was a great guy, or would be a great representative of the school, but because I never saw him as a "fit" at Temple. I'd been in the sports media business quite some time by then, been a beat writer for major college basketball and football teams, and thought it was ill-advised to have him succeed John Chaney. In truth, I thought it weakened two programs in the city -- ours and Penn's.

That being said, I supported "my school," my alma mater (B.A., Journalism, 1990), albeit grudgingly at times because I could see the writing on the wall for the program under Fran all along, right up until the Villanova game this past December. That confirmed to me just how low things had gone.

It is very difficult to justify to myself paying hard-earned dollars to see an Owls squad quit before the opening tip. The Cherry & White were completely unprepared and thoroughly uninspired ... and that speaks volumes, to me, about coaching. It doesn't matter how great the opponent is. That was a disgrace, at home no less, and something I have chosen to never be a part of again.

So I stopped supporting the program from that moment on, and will not support it as long as Fran remains coach.

I've been there for some great wins under his watch: Duke, Xavier, Syracuse, VCU, Kansas, SMU, UConn. All upsets. All wonderful. All, sadly, just fleeting exhibitions of something the program really isn't anymore -- relevant, to the point of being known on a national scope.

This is not some spur-of-the-moment demise of a program. This has been brewing all along since Fran took over. He is a great guy. He is a great representative of the school. He's even a good coach -- just not at Temple, which, to really succeed, needs to step outside the box and take chances and go after the big-time recruits and have the personality to actually get some of them.

That isn't Fran. He was the safe choice. He was going to be accepted by the Philly media and Temple fans, and the administration hopped on that ... and this is the end result of opting for safe then, and repeatedly since with contract extensions given him.

As you can see, even with rationalizations aplenty, that move either hasn't worked out, or it has run its course.

I wish you well in how you handle things with regard to this matter. I love my school, and I'd love to get back to supporting it, in person, as a season ticker-holder again. But that won't be happening in regard to basketball unless the Owls get a different coach.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, Jack Kerwin

P.S.: Here is some of my more heartfelt blogging about the Owls under Fran.

Exhibit A
Exhibit B

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