2011-12 Villanova Basketball Predictions

Written by Jack Jones - Google +

2010-11 Results
Overall: 21-12
PAC-10: 9-9
Conference Tournament: tied 9th
Postseason: Lost in 2nd round to George Mason

For Villanova, just two years removed from an appearance in the Final Four, the 2010-11 season was strangely reminiscent of the previous campaign.

The Wildcats rushed off to a 20-1 record and a No. 2 ranking two-thirds of the way through the 2009-10 season before a 3-6 finish that ended with a second-round NCAA loss to No. 10 Saint Mary’s. The same scenario presented itself last year, when the ‘Cats got to No. 7 in the polls and went into their Martin Luther King Day game at Storrs against Connecticut with a 16-1 mark.

They lost that one on a late shot by the Huskies’ Kemba Walker, then posted what would be their best win of the year at Syracuse. But a heavy loss at Providence hinted at what was to follow, and an incredible series of events in the final seconds at Rutgers would send Villanova tumbling.

Leading the Scarlet Knights by three, Villanova sought to deny a last-second three-point basket. But Corey Fisher got to Rutgers’ Jonathan Mitchell a fraction late and fouled him as Mitchell’s shot swished through with 0.8 seconds to play. Mitchell made the free throw to snatch an unlikely result and the Wildcats slumped to a 2-8 finish, including losing their last six games.

Included in there was an incredible collapse from a 16-point halftime lead in the Big East Tournament against USF and a heavy loss to George Mason in the second round of the NCAAs.

The final record was 21-12. Although it was Villanova’s seventh-straight season winning 20 games and making the NCAA Tournament, it was still a big disappointment. Coach Jay Wright blamed injuries to Stokes and Fisher for disrupting the team. Wright has shuffled his coaching lineup in the offseason, bringing back two former members of his staff, Billy Lange and Doug West.

Roster

Seniors
Dallas Ouano

Juniors
Isaiah Armwood
Dominic Cheek
Maurice Sutton
Maalik Wayns
Mouphtaou Yarou

Sophomores
James Bell
Nick McMahon

Freshmen
Darrun Hilliard
Ty Johnson
Markus Kennedy
JayVaughn Pinkston
Achraf Yacoubou

Head Coach
Jay Wright

Key Losses

The Wildcats have lost Fisher, Stokes and Antonio Pena. Their departures leave Villanova without a single scholarship senior, meaning that the three players who were part of the storied 2009 recruiting class have to step up and take leadership roles as juniors.

Schedule

Date	Opponent / Event
11/8/2011	vs. NYIT #
11/11/2011	vs. Monmouth N.J.
11/15/2011	vs. La Salle
11/18/2011	vs. Delaware
11/24/2011	vs. UC Riverside
11/25/2011	76 Classic
11/27/2011	76 Classic
12/3/2011	vs. Penn
12/6/2011	vs. Missouri
12/10/2011	at Temple
12/13/2011	vs. Boston University
12/17/2011	at Saint Joseph’s
12/22/2011	vs. American
12/28/2011	at West Virginia
1/1/2012	at Marquette *
1/5/2012	vs. USF *
1/8/2012	vs. DePaul *
1/11/2012	vs. Syracuse *
1/14/2012	at Cincinnati *
1/18/2012	vs. Seton Hall *
1/21/2012	at St. John’s *
1/25/2012	at Louisville *
1/28/2012	vs. Marquette
2/5/2012	at Pittsburgh *
2/7/2012	vs. Providence *
2/15/2012	at USF *
2/18/2012	vs. Notre Dame *
2/20/2012	vs. Connecticut *
2/25/2012	at Georgetown *
3/1/2012	at Rutgers
3/3/2012	vs. Cincinnati *
3/6/2012	2012 BIG EAST Tournament
3/7/2012	2012 BIG EAST Tournament
3/8/2012	2012 BIG EAST Tournament
3/9/2012	2012 BIG EAST Tournament
3/10/2012	2012 BIG EAST Tournament
*Conference Game

2011-12 Preview

It is difficult to predict what Villanova have in store for the coming season. After last year’s dramatic collapse, this will be a year for rebuilding. The Wildcats don’t have a single senior on their roster who will be part of their regular rotation. They could also be offensively challenged with Wayns their only returning offensive threat. Wright will be looking to instil some mental toughness in his players this season to avoid a repeat of last year.

Backcourt

The Wildcats will be looking to point guard Maalik Wayns again this season. Wayns, the team’s leading returning player in scoring, assists, steals and free-throw shooting, will be carrying a lot of responsibility. Wayns led the Wildcats in scoring nine times last season, establishing a career-high with 27 points at Pittsburgh in the final regular-season game. He handed out seven or more assists in a game on six occasions.

The other juniors, Dominic Cheek and Mouphtaou Yarou, will also have to stand up to be counted. Cheek has been a streaky shooter, watching his numbers drop from 45.3 percent as a freshman to 36.0 percent in 2010-11. Yarou had a decent year, starting all 33 games, tying Pena for the team lead in rebounds and shooting nearly 50 percent. More will be expected from both this season.

Frontcourt

Sophomore James Bell was slowed last season after surgery to repair stress fractures in the tibias of both legs. His season’s highlight came against Seton Hall when he scored 21 points. Bell played over summer on USA Basketball’s U19 squad at the world championships in Latvia, where he started every game and aided the U.S. victory over Canada with a 16-point, eight-rebound effort. The experience gained there should benefit Bell in the tough Big East.

Isaiah Armwood, unexpectedly announced his intention to transfer at the end of Villanova’s summer exhibition tour through France and the Netherlands. He enrolled at George Washington.

One of the Wildcats’ five freshmen, JayVaughn Pinkston, returned to campus following his suspension for violating Villanova’s code of conduct in an off-campus altercation. The former McDonald’s All-American accompanied the team on its European tour and showed himself to be a versatile, good passer with three-point range who can bang inside.

The Wildcats’ bench is young. The only scholarship upperclassman is junior center Maurice Sutton, probably the team’s best shot blocker. Guard Tyrone Johnson, probably the biggest “get” in the ‘Nova Class of 2011, was sidelined after breaking a bone in his foot during a June pickup game, an injury expected to heal in time for the start of preseason. With Johnson out, Wright looked at another point guard option, Darrun Hilliard, in Europe and liked what he saw. Backing up Wayns at the point, Hilliard showed flashes of promise and could be a useful acquisition. Markus Kennedy, a 6-9, 260-pound forward, averaged 18 points and nine rebounds last season.

More Resources on Wildcats Basketball

More Big East Basketball Predictions

Syracuse Orange	Marquette Golden Eagles	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	Georgetown Hoyas
Cincinnati Bearcats	South Florida Bulls	Louisville Cardinals	West Virginia Mountaineers
Seton Hall Pirates	Connecticut Huskies	Rutgers Scarlet Knights	St. Johns Red Storm
Pittsburgh Panthers	Villanova Wildcats	Providence Friars	DePaul Blue Demons

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