For openers, ’Cats meet Boston College
Villanova and Boston College have played some epic battles over the years, the last being the Wildcats’ 60
59 victory in the Minneapolis Regional semifinal in 2006.
Jay Wright is looking forward to renewing that former Big East rivalry when the No.
3 Wildcats and Eagles square off in the opening round of the 2K Empire Classic at Mohegan Sun Arena Wednesday night (9:30 p.m., ESPN).
Villanova leads the series,
53-24.
“I love the Villanova-BC rivalry,” Wright said. “I really miss them in the Big East.”
Wright has another reason to be excited about the season opener. It’s the first look to see his team play in a game or scrimmage since last season’s finale against Georgetown. Welcome to the basketball during the coronavirus pandemic.
Usually by this time, Wright would have a better handle on what he has. His team would have played several scrimmages against high-powered opponents, but the NCAA prohibited exhibition games and scrimmages as part of its COVID restrictions. That limited the Wildcats, and all college basketball teams, to intrasquad scrimmages.
“Wednesday is going to be so educational for us,” Wright said. “I hope it’s fun and educational.”
On paper, the Wildcats appear to be built to navigate these strange times where being flexible and able to change in a moment’s notice will be critical. Wright has a veteran team. The only players who did not see action last season are guard Caleb Daniels and forward Eric Dixon. Both sat out as redshirts.
Senior guard Collin Gillespie and sophomore forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl are among the players on the Naismith Award watch list that goes to the national Player of the Year. They’re also up for the Bob Cousy (point guard) and Karl Malone (power forward) Awards, respectively. Senior forward Jermaine Samuels is on the Julius Erving Award watch list for the best small forward and sophomore guard Justin Moore is up for the Jerry West Award, which goes to the top shooting guard.
Junior swingmen Cole Swider and Brandon Slater are well-seasoned, too.
“We got a good number of guys that have game experience,” Wright said. “I’m hoping that can be an advantage for us this year. I’ve talked about this with our staff. If our inexperienced team last year was going through this, I’d be really, really concerned.”
Wright’s biggest concern is the virus, which has already wreaked havoc with schedules throughout the country. He says he lies awake in bed at night worrying about it, especially the three times a week the Wildcats are tested. He only breathes a sigh of relief when the tests come back negative.
“I think all of us, players and coaches, are more excited and anticipate the start of this season more than any season we’ve been involved with,” Wright said. “There’s an anxiety about it. You want to get there without someone testing positive. You have that on the back of your mind.”
The biggest question is who will be the fifth starter. Gillespie, Samuels, RobinsonEarl and Moore are locks. The
6-8 Swider is listed as the fifth starter for the opener, but that could change.
“We go back and forth every day,” Wright said. “That fifth starter could change a lot during the season. It’s not a bad thing. Cole Swider, Brandon Slater and Caleb Daniels have looked good. We might even go where the most potent of those three offensively we use as a sixth man.”
•••
NOTES » Forward Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (shin) and guard Bryan Antoine (shoulder) are out and will not play
early in the season, Wright said. The Wildcats will play the winner/loser of the game between No. 18 Arizona State and Rhode Island. The Rams were a last-minute replacement for No. 2 Baylor, which pulled out of the tournament when head coach Scott Drew tested positive for COVID …. Drexel, La Salle, Saint Joseph’s and Temple also open the season this week. The Dragons visit Penn State Wednesday (1 p.m.) and are at Pittsburgh on Sunday (1 p.m.) The Explorers are at St. John’s Thursday (2 p.m., FS1) and take on Saint Peter’s in Queens, N.Y. on Friday (4 p.m.). The Hawks open their season against Auburn Thursday (4:30 p.m., FS1) in the Fort Myers (Fla.) Tip-Off and then
face No. 6 Kansas on Friday (2 p.m., FS1). The Owls take on Virginia Tech in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Saturday (8 p.m., ESPNews) at Mohegan Sun Arena. Temple was supposed to play Rhode Island Sunday, but that game was canceled when the Rams agreed to take part in the Empire Classic ... Villanova’s women’s basketball team had to adjust its opening schedule. The Wildcats will host Rider on Wednesday (3 p.m.). That replaces the game against Saint Joseph’s that was canceled when the Hawks had to shut down after a positive COVID test. The Wildcats also will travel to New York to play Manhattan on Saturday (2 p.m.)