Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
After fine time and fine wine, Wright is back on Main Line
RADNOR >> Jay Wright picked up quite a bit of basketball knowledge, not to mention a few extra pounds, during his time with the USA men’s national team that finished a disappointing seventh at the FIBA World Cup in China but did qualify for the Olympics next year in Tokyo.
The basketball knowledge came from spending 45 days alongside three of the top coaches in the NBA: Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs), Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors) and Lloyd Price (Atlanta Hawks). Popovich has won five NBA titles, and Kerr three.
“I could go on forever, but specifically attention to detailed offensive execution,” Wright said Tuesday after Villanova held its first official practice of the season. “You’re working with a couple of geniuses there, and Lloyd Price is right up there with them. He’s a really impressive guy. Their ability to answer any defensive situation with an offensive response is something I learned from being with them, amongst a ton of other things.” Like? “I learned a lot about wine,” Wright said. “I knew nothing going in. I just knew I liked the taste of it. I can tell the difference a little bit, but I learned a lot about leadership. We lost some games. We played in some tough environments and just watching him handle every situation was really helpful to me.”
As for the added weight, that was a result going out to dinner with noted wine connoisseur Popovich on a nightly basis.
“He finds the best restaurant in every city, Sydney, Melbourne, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, it’s unbelievable,” Wright said. “He knows where they all are and I loved it every night. … I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been.”
Wright’s said his dining experience with Popovich was different than spending time with famed broadcaster Bill Raftery after games.
“He doesn’t stay out as late as Raf,” Wright said of Popovich. “He enjoys wine as much as Raf. He just doesn’t do it as long.”
As far as basketball was concerned, Wright called himself the “scrub coach” on the staff, which is pretty amazing considering that he has two national championships and 448 wins on his resume.
“I was the college guy with the NBA guys,” Wright said. “They were very respectful, but it was very clear that I was the college guy and I enjoyed that role. I must say that. I had a lot of fun. We split up the scouts. We each had our own teams that we were responsible for. I was responsible for the defense. Steve and Lloyd were the offense and substitutions during games. I charted minutes during games, what segments they played, so it was fun being an assistant again.”
While he was away, Wright left the team in the capable hands of his assistant coaches, Kyle Neptune, George Halcovage, Mike Nardi and Dwayne Anderson. Wright said he communicated with his staff daily by text and by phone every few days.
“One of the things that I’ve learned being away is I really wasn’t missed that much,” Wright said. “Our assistant coaches did a really good job. I can see in the two weeks our assistant coaches spent with them before I returned they improved a lot. We had a great summer, spending time with them, but I think our assistants did a great job.
“As Patty, my wife, said to me, 45 days away and Villanova is still standing. You’re not as important as you think. And then I watched the team and they looked better and I’m thinking I’m really not that important because our assistants have done a great job while I was away.”
Wright plans to use the knowledge he gained as he heads into his 19th season at Villanova, which could be one of his most challenging as a head coach. The only senior on the roster is walk-on Tim Saunders. The team is led by juniors Collin Gillespie, Jermaine Samuels and Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree, and sophomores Saddiq Bey, Cole Swider and Brandon Slater.
The Wildcats are also counting on immediate help from a highly touted freshman class of forwards Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Eric Dixon, and guards Bryan Antoine, Justin Moore and Chris Arcidiacono, the younger brother of Villanova great Ryan Arcidiacono.
“Usually, we’re able to move quickly and let the freshmen learn by watching the older guys and catch up,” Wright said. “We’re not moving as quickly. We’re teaching a lot more. We’re slowing down. We’re staying more basic because we know these freshmen are going to be counted on to play a lot.”
There are some injury concerns. Gillespie was in a walking boot with plantar fasciitis and did not participate in practice, though Wright said it was largely precautionary. Antoine is out following shoulder surgery, which will take longer.
“He’s progressing really well,” Wright said. “There have been no glitches at all so we would be on the positive side of him getting back practicing, I don’t know, probably early December, but being fully healthy, but that’s a guess right now.”
And Wright is back and his full attention is on making Villanova the best team it can be by the end of the year.
“It’s nice to be home,” Wright said. “It’s nice to be in Philly. I’m a Philly guy. Traveling’s not big for me. I enjoyed the trip, but I love being back with our guys and being back home.”