The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Young subs gaining valuable experience for Wildcats
RADNOR >> If the players who came off the bench for Villanova in the first two games of the season looked a little young, well, that’s because they are.
Freshman guard Mark Armstrong was the first reserve to check into the game for the No. 16 Wildcats (1-1) in their 81-68 seasonopening victory over La Salle last Monday. He made his Villanova debut less than three minutes into the contest.
Less than two minutes later, sophomore forward Trey Patterson checked in. A little over two minutes after that, redshirt freshman guard Angelo Brizzi made his first appearance as a Wildcat.
Four nights later, in Friday’s 68-64 loss to Temple, Patterson came off the bench first, followed by Armstrong and Brizzi a few minutes later.
Some may say that the youthful makeup of Villanova’s bench, at least in the early going, is a by-product of the injuries to senior guard Justin Moore (Achilles) and freshman forward Cam Whitmore (right thumb), both of whom have no timetable for return. But that’s not the case. It seems to speak more to where the team is in the larger picture.
“Our thought in the beginning of the season was to play those guys regardless,” Villanova coach Kyle Neptune said after practice Sunday in preparation for Monday’s game
against Delaware State at the Pavilion (6:30 p.m., FS2). “We really believe in those guys. They had great summers and great falls, and I think they’re going to be staples in our lineup.”
Armstrong and Patterson came to Villanova as highly rated recruits. Armstrong was ranked No. 43 in the Class of 2022 by Rivals.com, No. 56 by 247sports.com and No. 61 in the ESPN 100. Patterson was No. 34 in the ESPN 100 Class of 2020 after reclassifying and entering Villanova early, and No. 44 by 247sports.com. Brizzi didn’t have that recruiting pedigree. He was No. 167 in the Class of 2021 by 247sports.com.
And yes, it’s way too early to call the sub rotation a success. Armstrong is still adapting to the college game.
“It’s been great, learning from the older guys, learning from the coaches, learning about the Villanova culture,” Armstrong said. “This has been great, taking it all in. It’s been a great experience for me right now.”
Although Brizzi didn’t play in any games last year, he was at practice every day and has a little better understanding of the culture and what is expected of him. The same for Patterson, who joined the team in the second semester of the 2020-21 season. He appeared in two games that season and 16 last year during Villanova’s Final Four run.
And while they’re not lighting the world on fire, statistically, all three have made contributions early.
Armstrong is averaging 4.0 points, and 1.0 assists in the first two games.
He’s averaged 15 minutes per game and is shooting 60 percent overall (3-for-5) and 100 percent from the 3-point line (2-for-2). He scored six points, handed out two assists and made one steal in his debut against the Explorers.
Brizzi also is averaging 15 minutes, 2.5 points and 3.5 rebounds, while hitting on two of the three shots he’s taken. Brizzi hit a 3-pointer in the first half against Temple and had two steals, the second led to three free throws by Caleb Daniels to give the
Wildcats a 47-45 lead midway through the second half.
Patterson has not scored and has just two rebounds, but at 6-9, 225 he gives Neptune size and physicality in 9.5 minutes off the bench.
“All these younger guys are mixing in very well and they’re bringing great energy off the bench,” said graduate forward Brandon Slater, the elder statesman of the team. “I think that is something that can be really helpful for us toward the end of the season as we get better and try to be the best team we can be.”
The Wildcats will be severely tested in the next couple of weeks. After taking on Delaware State at home on Monday, it’s off to Lansing, Michigan for a date with Michigan State Friday night. The Spartans took No. 2 Gonzaga to the limit before the Zags rallied from a 13-point deficit to win, 64-63.
Then the Wildcats take on Iowa State in the first round of the Phil Knight Invitational in Oregon.
The field also includes
No. 1 North Carolina, No. 20 Alabama, No. 21 Oregon, and Connecticut and Michigan State, which are receiving votes in the Associated Press top 25.
Inevitably, the rotation and substitution patterns will change when Moore and Whitmore come off the injury list. Neptune could choose to go 10 deep or keep a tight, seven- or eight-man rotation. That will all play out as the season progresses.
Either way, though, the experience Armstrong, Brizzi and Patterson are getting at this early juncture is invaluable and will pay dividends down the road.
“Patterson’s young, but he’s been around a little bit now,” Neptune said. “He brings a lot of knowledge. He knows what we’re doing. He’s a big body out there. He’s physical out there. He’s kind of that defensive presence. Mark and Briz bring a lot of skill. Both of those guys in their own right and in their own way bring a lot of skill and talent. I think those guys have a lot of room to get better and develop. I’m really excited by where they end up at the end.”