2007-08 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The Villanova Wildcats
entered the 2007–08 season with much uncertainty, after losing star Curtis Sumpter
, guard Mike Nardi, and center Will Sheridan to graduation. The departure of three experienced starters leaves the Wildcats a young team with no seniors. Villanova has replenished the ranks with three talented freshmen: Parade All-American Corey Fisher
, McDonald's All-American Corey Stokes
, and Malcolm Grant. Returning players include sophomore
Scottie Reynolds
and juniors Shane Clark and Dante Cunningham. The team will be further augmented by Antonio Pena and Andrew Ott, both returning from redshirt
freshman years.
The Wildcats are known for their guards, having seven on their roster. Coach Jay Wright
often puts up to four guards on the floor simultaneously, including multiple point guard
s. Returning sophomore Scottie Reynolds
is joined by fellow-sophomore Reggie Redding, and freshmen Corey Fisher
, Malcolm Grant, and Corey Stokes
.
Villanova's frontcourt is anchored by veterans Shane Clark and Dante Cunningham. Sophomore Cassiem Drummond and freshman Antonio Pena complete the frontcourt.
The Wildcats' quickness and guard-oriented style of play creates matchup problems for opponents, but can leave them vulnerable to a talented team with a tall frontcourt.
The 2007–08 schedule includes 18 Big East contests, a trip to Orlando, Florida
for the Old Spice Classic
, a home game against LSU
in the Big East/SEC Invitational, four games against Big Five
rivals, and home games against Stony Brook, Bucknell
, Hartford
, and Columbia
.
Villanova finished the regular season with a record of 19–11 overall and 9–9 in the Big East.
The Wildcats received a #12 seed in the 2008 NCAA Tournament
in which they defeated the #5 seed Clemson Tigers
and the #13 seed Siena Saints. They reached the Sweet Sixteen before they were defeated by #1 seed Kansas 72–57 on March 28, 2008. This was the third time in 4 years that Villanova was eliminated from the tournament by the eventual champion. In 2005, Villanova reached the Sweet 16 before being defeated by eventual tournament champion North Carolina. In 2006, Villanova reached the Elite Eight before being defeated by eventual champion Florida. The team finished with a 22–13 record, and 10–10 record in the Big East.
| colspan="7" style="padding-left:10px;" | Overall Recruiting Rankings: Scout
– 20 Rivals
– 12 ESPN
– '
|}
– Head Coach
Brett Gunning – Associate Head Coach
Patrick Chambers – Assistant Coach
Doug West
– Assistant Coach
Two free throws by Dante Cunningham with 10.3 seconds remaining lifted the number 17 Villanova Wildcats over the number 13 Pitt Panthers. Freshman Malcolm Grant came off the bench to score a career-high 22, and Antonio Pena added twelve points and three steals.
DePaul 81-Villanova 76, Chicago, IL, January 3, 2008
Villanova dropped the first game of the Big East season to DePaul, 81–76. Corey Fisher
scored 23 for the 17th-ranked Wildcats. Dante Cunningham added 14 points and seven rebounds.
Villanova 71-La Salle 58, Villanova, PA, December 29, 2007
18th-Ranked Villanova won its 14th consecutive Big Five
game with a 71–58 victory of La Salle. Scottie Reynolds
led the Wildcats with 19 points, and freshman Corey Fisher
contributed with 18 points and five assists. The win lifts Villanova's Big Five record to 3–0.
Villanova 72-Columbia 56, Villanova, PA, December 22, 2007
20th-Ranked Villanova defeated Columbia 72–56 at Villanova. Shane Clark led the Wildcats with 15 points. Scottie Reynolds
added 14, and Dante Cunningham registered nine points and twelve rebounds.
Villanova 103-Hartford 75, Villanova, PA, December 14, 2007
Villanova scored over 100 points in two consecutive games for the second time in school history as the Wildcats defeated Hartford 103–75. Five Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Scottie Reynolds'
21. Dante Cunningham contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Corey Fisher
scored 18, including four 3-pointers.
Villanova 101-Temple 93, Philadelphia, PA, December 9, 2007
Villanova set a Big Five
record with its 13th consecutive Big Five victory, a 101–93 win over Temple
at Temple University
. The Wildcats were led by sopohmore Scottie Reynolds
, who posted 27 points and nine assists. Freshman Antonio Pena scored a career-high 17 points. Villanova's 101 points is the most ever allowed by Temple at the Liacouras Center
.
Villanova 68-LSU 67, Philadelphia, PA, December 6, 2007
Villanova's first lead came in the game's final seconds as the Wildcats scored an improbable come-from-behind victory against the LSU Tigers. Led by freshman Malcolm Grant, who scored 13 points in the final three minutes of the game, the Wildcats overcame a 21-point deficit in the Big East/SEC Challenge. Grant finished with 18 points, and Dante Cunningham contributed 13 for Villanova, including the winning basket with 5.9 seconds remaining. The Wildcats' comeback came after LSU's Anthony Randolph foulded out with four minutes remaining.
Villanova 87-Pennsylvania 61, Villanova, PA, December 1, 2007
The Wildcats tied a record with their 12th consecutive Big 5
victory, an 87–61 win over Penn. Scottie Reynolds
led Villanova with 21 points, Corey Fisher
added 13, and Antonio Pena contributed with 12 points.
North Carolina State 69-Villanova 68, Orlando, FL, November 25, 2007
Villanova suffered its first defeat of the season, as North Carolina State
won the championship of the Old Spice Classic
68–68. Gavin Grant sealed the victory for N.C. State as he sunk two of three free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining following a controversial foul call. Villanova's Dante Cunningham tipped in a missed shot with 2.2 seconds remaining to bring Villanova to a one-point lead. Grant, receiving the long inbounds pass at the three-point line, launched a shot. Referee Jim Burr ruled that Cunningham hit Grant on the left arm, resulting in three free throws.
Villanova's effort was marked by poor free throw shooting, and only two successful three-point attempts. Freshman Corey Fisher
scored 21 points, and sophomore Scottie Reynolds
contributed 13. Cassiem Drummond grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds.
Villanova 84-George Mason 76, Orlando, FL, November 23, 2007
20th Ranked Villaova, led by Scottie Reynolds'
21 points, defeated George Mason
84–76 in the semi-final round of the Old Spice Classic
. Malcolm Grant and Shane Clark each added 13 points, and Clark grabbed ten rebounds in the victory. The Wildcats will face N.C. State
in the championship game.
Villanova 76-UCF 68, Orlando, FL, November 22, 2007
Scottie Reynolds
led Villanova with 19 points, and freshman Corey Fisher
scored 18 in his second collegiate game as Villanova topped UCF
76–68 on Thanksgiving
night in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic
. Sophomore Reggie Redding added 14 points for the 20th ranked Wildcats. Villanova's win sets up a second-round matchup with George Mason
, which upset 18th ranked Kansas State
. This game marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Villanova 70-Bucknell 64, Villanova, PA, November 18, 2007
Shane Clark posted 17 points and 12 rebounds, as number 24 Villanova held off Bucknell
. Scottie Reynolds
added 15 points, and sophomore
Reggie Redding had a career-high 12 points.
Villanova 86-Stony Brook 64, Villanova, PA, November 9, 2007
Shane Clark scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the Wildcats won their 40th consecutive home opener. Freshman Malcolm Grant scored 16 points, including four three-pointers, in his college debut. Dante Cunningham registered 14 points and six rebounds, and Scottie Reynolds
added 13 points and six assists.
Villanova Wildcats men's basketball
This is the article about the men's basketball team from Villanova University. The team has competed since the 1920–21 season. Nicknamed the "Wildcats", Villanova is a member of the Big East Conference and the Philadelphia Big Five. The Villanova Wildcats have appeared in the NCAA...
entered the 2007–08 season with much uncertainty, after losing star Curtis Sumpter
Curtis Sumpter
Curtis Marcus Sumpter is an American professional basketball player who is a free agent who last played for Maroussi from the HEBA A1....
, guard Mike Nardi, and center Will Sheridan to graduation. The departure of three experienced starters leaves the Wildcats a young team with no seniors. Villanova has replenished the ranks with three talented freshmen: Parade All-American Corey Fisher
Corey Fisher
Anthony Guy Corey Fisher is an American professional basketball player. A point guard, he attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Fisher decided on Villanova due to its combination of athletics and academics. Fisher played high school basketball for St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New...
, McDonald's All-American Corey Stokes
Corey Stokes
Corey Stokes is an American basketball player, formerly for Villanova University, best known for his three-point shooting. , he's under contract with Bundesliga club BBC Bayreuth.-High school:...
, and Malcolm Grant. Returning players include sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
and juniors Shane Clark and Dante Cunningham. The team will be further augmented by Antonio Pena and Andrew Ott, both returning from redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
freshman years.
The Wildcats are known for their guards, having seven on their roster. Coach Jay Wright
Jay Wright (coach)
Jerold Taylor "Jay" Wright, Jr. is an American basketball coach. He is currently the men's coach at Villanova University. He was born in Churchville, Pennsylvania, U.S., and is married to a former Villanova cheerleader...
often puts up to four guards on the floor simultaneously, including multiple point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
s. Returning sophomore Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
is joined by fellow-sophomore Reggie Redding, and freshmen Corey Fisher
Corey Fisher
Anthony Guy Corey Fisher is an American professional basketball player. A point guard, he attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Fisher decided on Villanova due to its combination of athletics and academics. Fisher played high school basketball for St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New...
, Malcolm Grant, and Corey Stokes
Corey Stokes
Corey Stokes is an American basketball player, formerly for Villanova University, best known for his three-point shooting. , he's under contract with Bundesliga club BBC Bayreuth.-High school:...
.
Villanova's frontcourt is anchored by veterans Shane Clark and Dante Cunningham. Sophomore Cassiem Drummond and freshman Antonio Pena complete the frontcourt.
The Wildcats' quickness and guard-oriented style of play creates matchup problems for opponents, but can leave them vulnerable to a talented team with a tall frontcourt.
The 2007–08 schedule includes 18 Big East contests, a trip to Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
for the Old Spice Classic
Old Spice Classic
The Old Spice Classic is an annual college basketball tournament played over Thanksgiving weekend. The inaugural tournament was held November, 23, 24, and 26, 2006. The tournament is played at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. In the current format, the...
, a home game against LSU
LSU Tigers basketball
The Louisiana State Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The team is currently coached by Trent Johnson and has enjoyed recent success, including a Final Four run in the 2005–2006 season. Past coaches include John Brady, Press...
in the Big East/SEC Invitational, four games against Big Five
Philadelphia Big 5
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a conference; indeed the five schools that are members of the Big 5 are members of three separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and the Ivy League.The five...
rivals, and home games against Stony Brook, Bucknell
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
, Hartford
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
, and Columbia
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
Villanova finished the regular season with a record of 19–11 overall and 9–9 in the Big East.
The Wildcats received a #12 seed in the 2008 NCAA Tournament
2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season...
in which they defeated the #5 seed Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers men's basketball
The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA Division I. The current head coach is Brad Brownell.-Team history:...
and the #13 seed Siena Saints. They reached the Sweet Sixteen before they were defeated by #1 seed Kansas 72–57 on March 28, 2008. This was the third time in 4 years that Villanova was eliminated from the tournament by the eventual champion. In 2005, Villanova reached the Sweet 16 before being defeated by eventual tournament champion North Carolina. In 2006, Villanova reached the Elite Eight before being defeated by eventual champion Florida. The team finished with a 22–13 record, and 10–10 record in the Big East.
Class of 2007
|-| colspan="7" style="padding-left:10px;" | Overall Recruiting Rankings: Scout
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
– 20 Rivals
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
– 12 ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
– '
|}
Roster
| Villanova Basketball 2007–08 Roster |
|||||
| G/F | 22 |  |
Dwayne Anderson Dwayne Anderson Dwayne Anderson, Jr. is a former American college basketball player who most recently played for BG Göttingen in German Basketball League. He played as both a forward and a guard at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.-Early life:... |
JR | Washington, DC (St. Thomas More) |
| F | 20 | |
Shane Clark | JR | Philadelphia, PA (Hargrave Military Academy) |
| G | 4 | |
Jason Colenda | FR | Fairfax, VA (Bishop O'Connell) |
| F | 33 | |
Dante Cunningham Dante Cunningham Dante Cunningham is an American professional basketball player who plays for the Charlotte Bobcats. Dante was drafted in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA... |
JR | Silver Spring, MD (Potomac) |
| C | 5 | |
Cassiem Drummond | SO | West Orange, NJ (Bloomfield Tech) |
| G | 10 | |
Corey Fisher Corey Fisher Anthony Guy Corey Fisher is an American professional basketball player. A point guard, he attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Fisher decided on Villanova due to its combination of athletics and academics. Fisher played high school basketball for St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New... |
FR | Bronx, NY (St. Patrick's, NJ) |
| G | 3 | |
Malcolm Grant | FR | Brooklyn, NY (Winchendon Academy, MA) |
| F | 0 | |
Antonio Pena | FR | Brooklyn, NY (St. Thomas More) |
| G | 15 | |
Reggie Redding | SO | Philadelphia, PA (St. Joseph's Prep) |
| G | 1 | |
Scottie Reynolds Scottie Reynolds Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA... |
SO | Herndon, VA (Herndon) |
| G | 24 | |
Corey Stokes Corey Stokes Corey Stokes is an American basketball player, formerly for Villanova University, best known for his three-point shooting. , he's under contract with Bundesliga club BBC Bayreuth.-High school:... |
FR | Bayone, NJ (St. Benedict's) |
| F | 42 |  |
Frank Tchuisi | JR | Douala, Cameroon (St. Benedict's) |
Coaching staff
Jay WrightJay Wright (coach)
Jerold Taylor "Jay" Wright, Jr. is an American basketball coach. He is currently the men's coach at Villanova University. He was born in Churchville, Pennsylvania, U.S., and is married to a former Villanova cheerleader...
– Head Coach
Brett Gunning – Associate Head Coach
Patrick Chambers – Assistant Coach
Doug West
Doug West
Jeffery Douglas "Doug" West is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6'7" shooting guard/small forward from Villanova University, West was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 1989 NBA Draft...
– Assistant Coach
2007–08 Schedule and results
| Date | Opponent | rank | Location | Time | Result | Overall | Conf. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
|||||||
| November 9, 2007 | Stony Brook | 25 | Villanova, PA Villanova, Pennsylvania Villanova is a community in the United States Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It straddles Lower Merion Township of Montgomery County and Radnor Township of Delaware County. It is located at the center of the Pennsylvania Main Line, a series of highly affluent Philadelphia suburban towns located... |
7:00 PM ET | W 86–64 | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| November 18, 2007 | Bucknell Bucknell University Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of... |
23 | Villanova, PA | 5:00 PM ET | W 70–64 | 2–0 | 0–0 |
| November 22, 2007 | @ UCF UCF Knights The UCF Knights are the athletics teams of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. All of UCF's varsity sports teams are known as the Knights, with the women's teams sometimes referred to as the "Lady Knights." The Knights, which includes the university's 16 varsity sports teams,... (Old Spice Classic Old Spice Classic The Old Spice Classic is an annual college basketball tournament played over Thanksgiving weekend. The inaugural tournament was held November, 23, 24, and 26, 2006. The tournament is played at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. In the current format, the... ) |
19 | Orlando, FL Orlando, Florida Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States... |
7:00 PM ET | W 76–68 | 3–0 | 0–0 |
| November 23, 2007 | George Mason George Mason Patriots men's basketball The George Mason Patriots men's basketball team represents George Mason University and competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of NCAA Division I... (Old Spice Classic) |
19 | Orlando, FL | 5:00 PM ET | W 84–76 | 4–0 | 0–0 |
| November 25, 2007 | N.C. State NC State Wolfpack men's basketball The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Wolfpack currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member.... (Old Spice Classic) |
19 | Orlando, FL | 6:30 PM ET | L 68–69 | 4–1 | 0–0 |
| December 1, 2007 | Pennsylvania | 21 | Villanova, PA | 7:00 PM ET | W 87–61 | 5–1 | 0–0 |
| December 6, 2007 | LSU LSU Tigers basketball The Louisiana State Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The team is currently coached by Trent Johnson and has enjoyed recent success, including a Final Four run in the 2005–2006 season. Past coaches include John Brady, Press... (Big East/SEC Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama... Invitational) |
21 | Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,... |
9:30 PM ET | W 68–67 | 6–1 | 0–0 |
| December 9, 2007 | @ Temple Temple Owls Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a very long-running athletic program. The school's sports teams are called the Owls, originating from the university's early days as a night school. The current athletic director is Bill Bradshaw.... |
21 | Philadelphia, PA | 7:00 PM ET | W 101–93 | 7–1 | 0–0 |
| December 14, 2007 | Hartford University of Hartford The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of... |
18 | Villanova, PA | 7:00 PM ET | W 103–75 | 8–1 | 0–0 |
| December 22, 2007 | Columbia Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the... |
17 | Villanova, PA | 7:00 PM ET | W 72–56 | 9–1 | 0–0 |
| December 29, 2007 | La Salle La Salle University La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554... |
16 | Villanova, PA | 7:00 PM ET | W 71–58 | 10–1 | 0–0 |
| January 3, 2008 | @ DePaul DePaul University DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul... |
16 | Chicago, IL | 9:00 PM ET | L 76–81 | 10–2 | 0–1 |
| January 6, 2008 | #13 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games in... |
16 | Villanova, PA | 12:00 PM ET | W 64–63 | 11–2 | 1–1 |
| January 12, 2008 | @ Cincinnati Cincinnati Bearcats The Cincinnati Bearcats are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Cincinnati. Since July 1, 2005, the school's athletic teams have been members of the Big East Conference.... |
17 | Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's... |
7:00 PM ET | L 66–69 | 11–3 | 1–2 |
| January 16, 2008 | DePaul DePaul University DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul... |
21 | Villanova, PA | 9:00 PM ET | W 76–69 | 12–3 | 2–2 |
| January 19, 2008 | @ Syracuse Syracuse Orange men's basketball The Syracuse Orange men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball team representing Syracuse University. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference... |
21 | Syracuse, NY Syracuse, New York Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603... |
12:00 PM ET | W 81–71 | 13–3 | 3–2 |
| January 23, 2008 | @ Rutgers Rutgers University Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American... |
18 | Piscataway, NJ | 7:00 PM ET | L 68–80 | 13–4 | 3–3 |
| January 26, 2008 | Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I... |
18 | Philadelphia, PA | 12:00 PM ET | L 80–90 | 13–5 | 3–4 |
| January 30, 2008 | @ #21 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pitt men's basketball team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their home games in... |
Pittsburgh, PA Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States... |
7:00 PM ET | L 57–69 | 13–6 | 3–5 | |
| February 2, 2008 | Syracuse Syracuse Orange men's basketball The Syracuse Orange men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball team representing Syracuse University. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference... |
Philadelphia, PA | 12:00 PM ET | L 73–87 | 13–7 | 3–6 | |
| February 4, 2008 | @ St. Joseph's | Philadelphia, PA | 8:00 PM ET | L 55–77 | 13–8 | 3–6 | |
| February 9, 2008 | Seton Hall Seton Hall University Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the... |
Villanova, PA | 6:00 PM ET | W 72–70 | 14–8 | 4–6 | |
| February 11, 2008 | @ #8 Georgetown 2007-08 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team The 2007–08 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team were an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big East Conference representing Georgetown University. The team finished with a regular season record of 27–5, and again won the conference regular season title on March 8, 2008.... |
Washington, DC | 7:00 PM ET | L 55–53 | 14–9 | 4–7 | |
| February 16, 2008 | @ St. John's St. John's University (New York City) St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant... |
New York, NY New York City New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and... |
8:00 PM ET | W 60–42 | 15–9 | 5–7 | |
| February 20, 2008 | West Virginia West Virginia Mountaineers The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams of West Virginia University. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference. On July 1, 2012 the Mountaineers will switch conferences, moving from the Big East to the Big 12, becoming... |
Villanova, PA | 8:00 PM ET | W 78–56 | 16–9 | 6–7 | |
| February 23, 2008 | #13 Connecticut Connecticut Huskies The Connecticut Huskies, also known as the UConn Huskies, are the athletic teams of the University of Connecticut in the United States. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Big East Conference for all sports except Men's Ice Hockey and Women's Ice... |
Philadelphia, PA | 12:00 PM ET | W 67–65 | 17–9 | 7–7 | |
| February 25, 2008 | #21 Marquette Marquette Golden Eagles The Marquette Golden Eagles are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Marquette University.... |
Philadelphia, PA | 7:00 PM ET | L 75–85 | 17–10 | 7–8 | |
| March 2, 2008 | @ #18 Louisville Louisville Cardinals men's basketball The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is the 18th winningest college basketball team in NCAA Division I history and has the 10th best winning percentage in college basketball history. Currently coached by Rick Pitino, the Cardinals of the University of Louisville have been to 37 NCAA... |
Louisville, KY Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096... |
4:00 PM ET | L 54–68 | 17–11 | 7–9 | |
| March 5, 2008 | USF | Villanova, PA | 8:00 PM ET | W 72–59 | 18–11 | 8–9 | |
| March 8, 2008 | @ Providence Providence Friars The Providence Friars is the name of the athletic teams of Providence College. They compete in the Big East Conference for every sport except for ice hockey, where they compete in Hockey East and in women's volleyball, where they compete in the America East Conference... |
Providence, RI Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region... |
7:30 PM ET | W 73–63 | 19–11 | 9–9 | |
| 2008 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament The 2008 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament, a part of the 2007-08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, took place from March 12–March 15, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Its winner received the Big East Conference's automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament... |
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| March 12, 2008 | Syracuse | New York, NY | 12:00 PM ET | W 82–63 | 20–11 | 9-9 | |
| March 13, 2008 | #9 Georgetown | New York, NY | 12:00 PM ET | L 63–82 | 20–12 | 9-9 | |
| 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2007–08 basketball season... |
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| March 21, 2008 | #22 (5*) Clemson Clemson Tigers men's basketball The Clemson Tigers men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA Division I. The current head coach is Brad Brownell.-Team history:... |
(12) | Tampa, FL | 9:50 PM ET | W 75–69 | 21–12 | 9-9 |
| March 23, 2008 | (#13*) Siena Siena Saints men's basketball The Siena Saints men's basketball team represents Siena College in Loudonville, New York, United States. The Division I program competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Saints are coached by Mitch Buonaguro who just completed his first season as head coach at Siena after serving as... |
(12) | Tampa, FL | 12:10 PM ET | W 84–72 | 22–12 | 9-9 |
| March 28, 2008 | #4 (1*) Kansas | (12) | Detroit, MI | 9:40 PM ET | L 72–57 | 22–13 | 9-9 |
| Big East regular season games in bold. • Philadelphia Big Five games in italics. • * represent seedings in NCAA Tournament. | |||||||
Game Summaries
Villanova 64-Pittsburgh 63, Villanova, PA, January 6, 2008Two free throws by Dante Cunningham with 10.3 seconds remaining lifted the number 17 Villanova Wildcats over the number 13 Pitt Panthers. Freshman Malcolm Grant came off the bench to score a career-high 22, and Antonio Pena added twelve points and three steals.
DePaul 81-Villanova 76, Chicago, IL, January 3, 2008
Villanova dropped the first game of the Big East season to DePaul, 81–76. Corey Fisher
Corey Fisher
Anthony Guy Corey Fisher is an American professional basketball player. A point guard, he attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Fisher decided on Villanova due to its combination of athletics and academics. Fisher played high school basketball for St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New...
scored 23 for the 17th-ranked Wildcats. Dante Cunningham added 14 points and seven rebounds.
Villanova 71-La Salle 58, Villanova, PA, December 29, 2007
18th-Ranked Villanova won its 14th consecutive Big Five
Philadelphia Big 5
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a conference; indeed the five schools that are members of the Big 5 are members of three separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and the Ivy League.The five...
game with a 71–58 victory of La Salle. Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
led the Wildcats with 19 points, and freshman Corey Fisher
Corey Fisher
Anthony Guy Corey Fisher is an American professional basketball player. A point guard, he attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Fisher decided on Villanova due to its combination of athletics and academics. Fisher played high school basketball for St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New...
contributed with 18 points and five assists. The win lifts Villanova's Big Five record to 3–0.
Villanova 72-Columbia 56, Villanova, PA, December 22, 2007
20th-Ranked Villanova defeated Columbia 72–56 at Villanova. Shane Clark led the Wildcats with 15 points. Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
added 14, and Dante Cunningham registered nine points and twelve rebounds.
Villanova 103-Hartford 75, Villanova, PA, December 14, 2007
Villanova scored over 100 points in two consecutive games for the second time in school history as the Wildcats defeated Hartford 103–75. Five Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Scottie Reynolds'
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
21. Dante Cunningham contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Corey Fisher
Corey Fisher
Anthony Guy Corey Fisher is an American professional basketball player. A point guard, he attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Fisher decided on Villanova due to its combination of athletics and academics. Fisher played high school basketball for St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New...
scored 18, including four 3-pointers.
Villanova 101-Temple 93, Philadelphia, PA, December 9, 2007
Villanova set a Big Five
Philadelphia Big 5
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a conference; indeed the five schools that are members of the Big 5 are members of three separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and the Ivy League.The five...
record with its 13th consecutive Big Five victory, a 101–93 win over Temple
Temple Owls
Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has a very long-running athletic program. The school's sports teams are called the Owls, originating from the university's early days as a night school. The current athletic director is Bill Bradshaw....
at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
. The Wildcats were led by sopohmore Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
, who posted 27 points and nine assists. Freshman Antonio Pena scored a career-high 17 points. Villanova's 101 points is the most ever allowed by Temple at the Liacouras Center
Liacouras Center
The Liacouras Center, a 10,200-seat multi-purpose venue, is located on the Temple University campus along North Broad Street in North Philadelphia. The venue is a full entertainment arena featuring concerts, family shows, Temple Men’s and Women’s Basketball games, Philadelphia KiXX games, and other...
.
Villanova 68-LSU 67, Philadelphia, PA, December 6, 2007
Villanova's first lead came in the game's final seconds as the Wildcats scored an improbable come-from-behind victory against the LSU Tigers. Led by freshman Malcolm Grant, who scored 13 points in the final three minutes of the game, the Wildcats overcame a 21-point deficit in the Big East/SEC Challenge. Grant finished with 18 points, and Dante Cunningham contributed 13 for Villanova, including the winning basket with 5.9 seconds remaining. The Wildcats' comeback came after LSU's Anthony Randolph foulded out with four minutes remaining.
Villanova 87-Pennsylvania 61, Villanova, PA, December 1, 2007
The Wildcats tied a record with their 12th consecutive Big 5
Philadelphia Big 5
The Philadelphia Big 5 is an informal association of college athletic programs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It is not a conference; indeed the five schools that are members of the Big 5 are members of three separate conferences: the Atlantic 10, the Big East, and the Ivy League.The five...
victory, an 87–61 win over Penn. Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
led Villanova with 21 points, Corey Fisher
Corey Fisher
Anthony Guy Corey Fisher is an American professional basketball player. A point guard, he attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Fisher decided on Villanova due to its combination of athletics and academics. Fisher played high school basketball for St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New...
added 13, and Antonio Pena contributed with 12 points.
North Carolina State 69-Villanova 68, Orlando, FL, November 25, 2007
Villanova suffered its first defeat of the season, as North Carolina State
NC State Wolfpack men's basketball
The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Wolfpack currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member....
won the championship of the Old Spice Classic
Old Spice Classic
The Old Spice Classic is an annual college basketball tournament played over Thanksgiving weekend. The inaugural tournament was held November, 23, 24, and 26, 2006. The tournament is played at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. In the current format, the...
68–68. Gavin Grant sealed the victory for N.C. State as he sunk two of three free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining following a controversial foul call. Villanova's Dante Cunningham tipped in a missed shot with 2.2 seconds remaining to bring Villanova to a one-point lead. Grant, receiving the long inbounds pass at the three-point line, launched a shot. Referee Jim Burr ruled that Cunningham hit Grant on the left arm, resulting in three free throws.
Villanova's effort was marked by poor free throw shooting, and only two successful three-point attempts. Freshman Corey Fisher
Corey Fisher
Anthony Guy Corey Fisher is an American professional basketball player. A point guard, he attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Fisher decided on Villanova due to its combination of athletics and academics. Fisher played high school basketball for St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New...
scored 21 points, and sophomore Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
contributed 13. Cassiem Drummond grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds.
Villanova 84-George Mason 76, Orlando, FL, November 23, 2007
20th Ranked Villaova, led by Scottie Reynolds'
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
21 points, defeated George Mason
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
84–76 in the semi-final round of the Old Spice Classic
Old Spice Classic
The Old Spice Classic is an annual college basketball tournament played over Thanksgiving weekend. The inaugural tournament was held November, 23, 24, and 26, 2006. The tournament is played at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. In the current format, the...
. Malcolm Grant and Shane Clark each added 13 points, and Clark grabbed ten rebounds in the victory. The Wildcats will face N.C. State
NC State Wolfpack men's basketball
The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Wolfpack currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member....
in the championship game.
Villanova 76-UCF 68, Orlando, FL, November 22, 2007
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
led Villanova with 19 points, and freshman Corey Fisher
Corey Fisher
Anthony Guy Corey Fisher is an American professional basketball player. A point guard, he attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Fisher decided on Villanova due to its combination of athletics and academics. Fisher played high school basketball for St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, New...
scored 18 in his second collegiate game as Villanova topped UCF
UCF Knights
The UCF Knights are the athletics teams of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. All of UCF's varsity sports teams are known as the Knights, with the women's teams sometimes referred to as the "Lady Knights." The Knights, which includes the university's 16 varsity sports teams,...
76–68 on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
night in the opening round of the Old Spice Classic
Old Spice Classic
The Old Spice Classic is an annual college basketball tournament played over Thanksgiving weekend. The inaugural tournament was held November, 23, 24, and 26, 2006. The tournament is played at the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. In the current format, the...
. Sophomore Reggie Redding added 14 points for the 20th ranked Wildcats. Villanova's win sets up a second-round matchup with George Mason
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
, which upset 18th ranked Kansas State
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
. This game marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Villanova 70-Bucknell 64, Villanova, PA, November 18, 2007
Shane Clark posted 17 points and 12 rebounds, as number 24 Villanova held off Bucknell
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
. Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
added 15 points, and sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
Reggie Redding had a career-high 12 points.
Villanova 86-Stony Brook 64, Villanova, PA, November 9, 2007
Shane Clark scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the Wildcats won their 40th consecutive home opener. Freshman Malcolm Grant scored 16 points, including four three-pointers, in his college debut. Dante Cunningham registered 14 points and six rebounds, and Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds
Scottie Reynolds is an American professional basketball player who will play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. The Huntsville, Alabama native played for Villanova University in the Big East Conference of the NCAA...
added 13 points and six assists.