Wright gives ’Nova fans chance to bid adieu to junior stars
PHILADELPHIA » Jay Wright wanted to get Mikal Bridges out of the game so the 6-foot-7 redshirt swingman could receive a proper sendoff in Villanova’s final home game of the season. The problem was, the Wildcats were out of timeouts. So Wright had to improvise.
He ordered freshman guard Collin Gillespie to deliberately throw the ball out of bounds so Wright could get Bridges out of the game. Gillespie’s reaction was typical of someone who treasures possession of the basketball, even at the end of a 24-point blowout.
“He looked at me and said no,” Wright said. “I said, ‘Throw it out of bounds.’”
Gillespie eventually followed Wrights orders and threw the ball out of bounds so Bridges could leave to a thunderous ovation with 36 seconds left after scoring 24 points and grabbing six rebounds in Villanova’s 97-73 romp over Georgetown at the Wells Fargo Center.
“It was a nice feeling,” Bridges said of the reaction he received. “We had a good win tonight. We played well. It was cool.”
Wright purposely left Bridges and junior point guard Jalen Brunson in the game when he took Donte DiVincenzo, Eric Paschall and Omari Spellman out of the game with 1:19 left so they could receive a special reception from the 18,523 in attendance. Brunson was the first to leave. He came off the floor with 59 seconds left to a huge reception from the fans and a hug from his coach. It was the same for Bridges 23 seconds later.
“I’m pretty sure it’s going to be their last home game,” said Wright, who tied Al Severance for first place in program history with 413 career wins. “They do have the choice, which is nice. That’s the way you’d love it to be for every guy. They’re going to get their degree. They have their prospects so in my mind, they should go, but they have a choice so it’s pretty cool.”
Wright isn’t pushing Bridges and Brunson out the door. He would love to have both back next season, but he’s just being a realist. Players have to strike when they can and Bridges and Brunson are hot right now.
Bridges’ stock has risen every year since his sophomore year to the point where he is projected to be a lottery pick this year, depending on which mock draft you believe. The Sporting News has him going eighth in its mock draft. Bballinsiders.com has him going ninth and nbadraft. net has Bridges at No. 12.
“I don’t really look at that stuff,” Bridges said. “A lot of people ask me that and I really don’t mind (that they ask) and I don’t care. I just try to go out here and lead this team, try to be the best leader I can be.”
Bridges may not it, but Wright does.
“If that comes to fruition in the end, we’re just going to kick him out,” Wright said. “We’re not going to give him a decision.”
That’s what happened back in 2006 when guard Kyle Lowry decided to test the waters after his sophomore year. At the time, it was widely expected that Lowry would come back for his junior season until he and Wright learned that several teams were interested in taking Lowry in the first round. Lowry gave up his eligibility and was taken with the 24th pick in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Brunson’s situation look is at a little more intriguing. He’s a candidate for national Player of the Year and All-America honors, but is not projected to go as high as Bridges. CBSSports.com has Brunson going No. 25 to the Cavaliers. Other mock drafts have him going in the mid-to-late second round. Brunson’s name does not appear on other mock draft lists.
So why leave? Odds are his draft stock is not going to go up that much with another year in college. And he’s done everything a college player can do, including winning a national championship. And that’s why Wright made sure Brunson and Bridges to be the last to leave the court.
He wanted Brunson and Bridges to receive a reception usually reserved for seniors.