Flying solo isn’t style for Brunson

RADNOR » Kansas was still celebrating its overtime victory over Duke in the Midwest Regional final Sunday when the hype began.

The 85-81 win over the Blue Devils set up a semifinal match Villanova, the only other No. 1 seed still alive in the NCAA tournament.

It didn’t take long for the TV types, people on Twitter or bloggers to bill the matchup Saturday night at the Alamodome as a showdown between All-American point guards Jalen Brunson of Villanova and senior Devonte’ Graham from Kansas. Brunson is used to it by now. Villanova’s win over Alabama in the second round was hyped as a matchup between Brunson and Crimson Tide freshman Collin Sexton. The story line continued when Brunson squared off against his former AAU teammate Jevon Carter and West Virginia in the East Regional semifinals and again when the top-seeded Wildcats (344) took on Keenan Evans and Texas Tech in the regional final Sunday.

Brunson doesn’t allow himself to get caught up in such trivial matters.

“I just think it’s bigger than individual matchups,” Brunson said after practice Tuesday. “It’s Kansas versus Villanova. Obviously, there are times we’re going to be guarding each other during the game, but it’s not about me going against him. It’s us playing our style and them playing their style, and that’s the only thing that is important.”

Before the Alabama game, Villanova coach Jay Wright was a little concerned that Brunson would get caught up in the singular hype because it was the first time that a game was billed as an individual showdown between Brunson and another player on a national level.

Any fears Wright had, though, were quickly dispelled as Brunson went out and collected 12 points, four assists and no turnovers in Villanova’s 81-58 romp over the Crimson Tide. Sexton did finish with 17 points and three assists to lead Alabama, but that was far from enough to change the outcome. Brunson was better and Villanova rolled. “I think he’s so focused on this team that nothing is going to bother him,” Wright said.

Wright believes that has to do with Brunson’s upbringing. His dad, Rick Brunson, was a standout at Temple before he went on to toil for nine teams in a nineyear NBA career. Jalen Brunson spent a lot of time with his father and grew up in NBA locker rooms.

“I just think he’s so wise beyond his years,” Wright said. “He’s been in the arena when Michael Jordan was playing the Knicks. He’s there watching Michael Jordan live with his dad playing, going against, say, Patrick Ewing. He’s seen guys have to go through this so much that he has such great basketball knowledge and experience beyond anybody he plays against.”

It’s what you’d expect out of a consensus All-American and a national Player of the Year candidate, which is what Brunson is. The 6-3 junior picked up his fourth major All-American award Tuesday when the Associated Press released its college basketball team. Brunson also received first-team honors from the U.S Basketball Writers Association, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Sporting News.

He was also named Player of the Year by the Sporting News, and is a candidate for the top honor from AP and the NABC, which will be announced later this week in San Antonio. Teammate Mikal Bridges was a third-team All-American selection by AP.

“It’s definitely rewarding,” Brunson said of his latest All-American honor. “It’s something that has been a goal of mine, but not necessarily a focus. I’ve been focused on trying to find ways to make this team successful, trying to find ways to make sure this is the best Villanova basketball team we can be, make sure we’re playing together for 40 minutes, sticking to our core values. With that being said and done, all the individual stuff came with it.”

The 6-2 Graham is a consensus All-American and a national Player of the Year candidate, too. Like Brunson, Graham also is a unanimous conference Player of the Year. Graham beat out fellow All-American Trae Young of Oklahoma for the top honor in the Big 12.

So this is a matchup of All-Americans and two of the best point guards in the country, but that isn’t the matchup Brunson is focused on.

“Are you just going to go one-on-one against a guy because everyone is hyping it or are you going to do what’s best for the team?” Brunson said. “I’m going to be aggressive and try to make plays for myself and my teammates at both ends of the floor and I’m pretty sure that the leader (Graham) is, he’s going to do the same thing for his team. You just can’t get caught up in the other stuff.”

To contact Terry Toohey email ttoohey@21st-centurymedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TerryToohey.