Mikal Bridges, from Redshirt to ‘Vital Part’ (Mikal Bridges) Csnphilly.Com, Reuben Frank, 3/15/16)
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Villanova Clip File On the following pages is a selection of feature stories and news articles related to Villanova basketball from the 2015-16 season. The articles are grouped into categories for team features, individual player features and game recaps. Each category is sorted in reverse chronological order, with the newest items first. Team Feature Stories 1. Why We Should Expect Big Things From Villanova Philadelphia Daily News, Marcus Hayes, 3/28/16 2. For ‘Ugly’ Game, Villanova Gets Beautiful Reward of Final Four Trip Delaware County Daily Times, Terry Toohey, 3/27/16 3. Villanova’s Toughness Produces a Final Four Berth Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Juliano, 3/27/16) 4. Villanova’s Trip to Final Four Has a Familiar Look Philadelphia Daily News, Mike Kern, 3/27/16 5. Cats Deep Run Making the Big East Proud Delaware County Daily Times, Terry Toohey, 3/27/16 6. Villanova Showing an Elite Status As They Brace For Showdown with Kansas Delaware County Daily Times, Terry Toohey, 3/25/16 7. Villanova Tosses Elephant Out of the Room Philadelphia Daily News, Mike Kern, 3/20/16 8. Villanova’s Walk-Ons Have Enjoyed ‘Opportunity of Lifetime’ csnphilly.com, Dave Zeitlin, 3/8/16 9. Jay Wright and Villanova Believe They’ve Found the Perfect Balance For a Deep NCAA Tournament Run si.com, Brian Hamilton, 3/1/16 10. Villanova Can’t Hide From NCAA Tourney Failures ESPN.com, Dana O’Neil, 2/24/16 11. Why Is Villanova No. 1? Defense Plays Big Role Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Juliano, 2/23/16 12. Villanova Won’t Be Undone By Three-Point Issues Philadelphia Daily News, Dick Jerardi, 2/22/16 Team Feature Stories (continued) 13. Baker Dunleavy: Nova Basketball’s Chief of Staff Philadelphia Inquirer, Mike Jensen, 2/7/16 14. In Case We Needed Reminding, Villanova Displays Why It’s A Final Four Favorite Foxsports.com, Reid Forgrave, 2/6/16 15. Villanova Still in the Grind Philadelphia Inquirer, Bob Ford, 1/29/16 16. Villanova Finding Ways to Win on the Road Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Juliano, 1/21/16 17. Will Big East Prepare Villanova For NCAA Tournament? (Philadelphia Daily News, John Smallwood, 1/6/16 Player Feature Stories 1. Arcidiacono Leads, and Wildcats Follow (Ryan Arcidiacono) Philadelphia Daily News, Mike Kern, 3/24/16 2. Jenkins and ‘Nova Are Hottest of Shots (Kris Jenkins) Philadelphia Inquirer, Bob Ford, 3/24/16 3. ‘Nova’s Big Man Delivers in Big Way (Daniel Ochefu) Philadelphia Inquirer, Bob Ford, 3/18/16 4. NCAA Tournament: Mikal Bridges, From Redshirt to ‘Vital Part’ (Mikal Bridges) csnphilly.com, Reuben Frank, 3/15/16) 5. Villanova’s Trio Brings Energy Off the Bench (Phil Booth, Mikal Bridges, Darryl Reynolds) Delaware County Daily Times, Terry Toohey, 3/15/16 6. ‘Nova’s Arcidiacono Gets Glory and Bruises (Ryan Arcidiacono) Philadelphia Inquirer, Bob Ford, 3/11/16 7. Nova’s Josh Hart Even Better This Season (Josh Hart) Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Juliano, 2/16/16 8. Ochefu Crucial to Villanova Success (Daniel Ochefu) Philadelphia Inquirer, Mike Sielski, 2/16/16 Player Feature Stories (continued) 9. Darry Reynolds Emerging For No. 1 ‘Nova (Darryl Reynolds) Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Juliano, 2/12/16 10. Ryan Arcidiacono a Shining Star For Super ‘Nova (Ryan Arcidiacono) Philadelphia Daily News, Dick Jerardi, 1/26/16 11. How Jalen Brunson Was Shaped By His Father’s Lessons and His Scandal Sports Illustrated, Lee Jenkins, 11/30/15 12. Gifted Freshman Jalen Brunson Lifts Villanova’s Hopes Philadelphia Inquirer, Mike Jensen, 11/14/15 Game Recaps 1. All Systems Go: ‘Nova Books Trip to Houston Delaware County Daily Times, Terry Toohey, 3/27/16 2. Villanova Falls to No. 7 Oklahoma in Hawaii Philadelphia Inquirer, Jason Kaneshiro, 12/8/16 Team Feature #1 March 28, 2016 Why We Should Expect Great Things From Villanova Marcus Hayes, Philadelphia Daily News Villanova and its faithful deserve every calorie of joy earned and spent on the run to the Final Four. Those who remained steadfast in their support of coach Jay Wright through the second-round losses the previous two years should take an extra measure of satisfaction in the team's appearance in Houston. It is important, though, to view Villanova as it is, rather than what current perception seems to be making it out to be. The Wildcats are a deep, seasoned team filled with pedigreed recruits who entered with four or five stars next to their names. They are not a ragtag group of spunky overachievers bucking long odds, beating superior programs. Any such thought is not only wrong, it is patronizing. They are back in the Final Four after a six-year absence, which is the fringe of acceptability for Philadelphia's power program. They are not the Little Engine that Could. They're the Big Program that Should. They are a No. 2 seed, the third time in the last three years they were a 1 or 2. They entered the season ranked 11th, never dropped below 17th and spent three weeks at No. 1 late in the season. They entered the Big East Tournament as its top seed and its defending champion. A two-point loss in the title game cost it a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Their Elite Eight "upset" of Kansas, the top overall seed in the NCAA, might not have been considered an upset had the teams met a month ago on a neutral court. They play in a conference better known for its past than its present, but the name has value and they are its class. Wright has adjusted to the realities of a one-and-done NCAA culture. He has nurtured a core group of seniors and juniors and complemented them with sophomores and freshmen. This is a program that routinely should play past the first weekend, and it is situated to do so in the tournament for at least the next two seasons. So, as they bask in their recent achievements the next few days, remember that these Wildcats had every bit as much reason to expect to get to Texas as the Kentucky Wildcats ... or the Jayhawks, or the Tar Heels, or the Sooners, who they face Saturday. Expect them to win that one, too. They expect it. They have all year. Team Feature #2 March 27, 2016 For ‘Ugly’ Game, Villanova Gets Beautiful Reward of Final Four Trip Terry Toohey, Delaware County Daily Times LOUISVILLE, Ky. >> The on-court celebration was long over and the formal media obligations complete. Once he got off the dais, all Ryan Arcidiacono wanted to do was get back to the Villanova locker room as quickly as possible and wrap his arms around the South Regional championship trophy the Wildcats had just won with a stunning 64-59 triumph over Kansas, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. In a second, it was in his grasp. Arcidiacono cradled the trophy close to his chest like a small child clings to a favorite stuffed animal. He would not let it go. The scene was reminiscent of Scottie Reynolds holding the game ball he used to score the winning basket in the final seconds to lift the Wildcats over Pittsburgh in the 2009 East Regional final in Boston. “I’ll lose in the first two rounds the last two years to get to a Final Four,” Arcidiacono said with a huge smile on his face. All of Villanova’s past shortcomings in the NCAA Tournament — the loss to UConn as the No. 2 seed in the East Regional two years ago and the crushing defeat at the hands of North Carolina State as the No. 1 seed in the East Regional last season — were a distant memory. “It’s a surreal feeling,” Arcidiacono said. A few lockers to his left, fellow senior Daniel Ochefu had an even bigger grin on his face and the championship net dangling from his neck. “I may never take this off,” Ochefu said. After blistering the nets at a 59 percent clip overall and 53 percent from 3-point range in the first three rounds of the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats shot 40.4 percent (21-for-52) and 22.2 percent (4-for-18) against a Kansas defense determined to take away the 3-pointer. Yet Villanova still beat the No. 1 team in the land, something most pundits didn’t think possible. The Wildcats trailed by five points, 45-40, with 10 minutes, 50 seconds to play, and their leading scorer in the tournament, Kris Jenkins, on the bench with four fouls. Less than three minutes later, after back-to-back threes by Arcidiacono and Josh Hart, Villanova was up, 50-45, and on its way to the Final Four for the fifth time in program history and first since 2009. They did it by being tougher than the Jayhawks, defending as if their season depended on it, which it did, protecting the ball, making free throws down the stretch. Villanova came up with nearly every loose ball. The Wildcats had 11 steals, five by redshirt freshman Mikal Bridges. Two of his thefts came in the final 34 seconds as Villanova desperately clung to the lead. “We knew coming into the game that it was going to be a battle,” Bridges said. “It wasn’t going to be an easy game, and we just had to fight and scrap for 40 minutes.” Villanova swarmed Kansas at every turn and did not give the Jayhawks room to breathe, especially leading scorer Perry Ellis. The 6-8 senior came into the game averaging 23 points per game.