Villanova’s Paschall enjoying the ride

BUFFALO, N.Y. >> A year ago, Villanova forward Eric Paschall had to make his own way to Brooklyn, Louisville and then Houston because as a redshirt he was not allowed under NCAA rules to travel with the team during its run to the national championship.

The 6-7 sophomore doesn’t have that issue this season.

“It’s a lot different knowing that I’m playing,” Paschall said. “I love being on the court. Last year was rough sitting out, but this is what it’s all about.”

Not being able to play after transferring from Fordham may have been tough, but it was an educational experience even though he was not on the court or in practice once the Wildcats left campus.

“Just being around it helped,” Paschall said. “I got to see what it takes to be a great team, so I feel like it has helped me this year.”

Paschall has been an integral

part of Villanova’s run to the No. 1 seed, as a reserve and as a starter. He filled in when Darryl Reynolds missed five games with a rib injury and the Wildcats did not skip a beat. When Reynolds came back Paschall went back to his reserve role and that made Villanova that much deeper.

“I know what I have to do,” Paschall said. “I have to defend and rebound.”

••• One person who did not make the trip to Buffalo with the team was associate head coach Baker Dunleavey.

Dunleavy, though, had a valid excuse for not being on the flight or being with the team at practice Tuesday. His wife, the former Chrissi Ingelsby, gave birth to a daughter named Caroline Claire, which the family is calling Cece, Monday.

Dunleavy is expected to join the team Wednesday.

“Chrissi’s great,” Wright said. “She timed it perfectly.”

••• The Wildcats had quite a few impressive visitors to practice at Canisius Tuesday. Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott stopped by and so did former St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island and Canisius coach Jim Baron.

Baron and Wright both got their coaching starts at Rochester, but not at the same time. Baron coached there from 197879, while Wright was an assistant at Rochester from 1984-86.

“It was awesome,” Wright said. “I loved it. “Those guys scare me when they retire and they look this good. (Baron) looks 100 times better than he did when he was coaching. It’s tells us all what this business is all

“Those guys scare me when they retire and they look this good. (Baron) looks 100 times better than he did when he was coaching. It’s tells us all what this business is all about.”

about.”

Princeton practiced at the Koessler Athletic Center after Villanova and that gave coaches and players time to catch up with Wildcat great Kerry Kittles, who is an assistant with Tigers.

Kittles spent several minutes talking to Villanova assistant coach Ashley Howard and Big East MVP Josh Hart, who shares the distinction with Kittles as the only players in Villanova history with more than 1,800 points, 750 rebounds, 250 assists and 150 steals.

“It was great to see Kerry,” Wright said.

••• NOTES » Villanova’s trip to Buffalo was uneventful, but getting off the plane was tough for one member of the traveling party. Rick Finfrock, who is in charge of security for the team, slipped and fell as he walked down the jetway as he got off the plane. But he dutifully reported he was “OK.” ... The weather forced all of the teams playing in Buffalo to alter their travel plans. West Virginia was scheduled to fly in from Morgantown but chose to travel by bus. The Mountaineers arrived in Buffalo Wednesday. Wisconsin, which could be Villanova’s opponent in Saturday’s second round, flew in Tuesday afternoon.