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Happy Wednesday Nova Nation! After what could be loosely described as a “rough” week, we could all use a little cheering up. What better way than to enjoy Villanova Basketball in the happiest place on Earth. The Wildcats are in Orlando this week for the AdvoCare Invitational, which happens to be played at Disney World.
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a HUGE fan of both the Villanova and Disney, so how I’m not down there is a terrible tragedy. But because I know just as much about the Mouse as I do the Cats, I’m happy to let you know that both have a rich basketball tradition. And so today I’m going to put together my starting five of an all Disney Basketball team.
Quick note, I’m only using animated characters. That knocks out most of the Disney basketball movies like Air Bud, High School Musical, Flubber, or Glory Road to name a few. Now, let’s move on to the team.
Point Guard - Mickey Mouse
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For Walt Disney, it all started with a mouse. And that’s where my team starts too. He’s small and quick to blow by defenders, he can hear his teammates from anywhere on the court, and he’s a part owner of the Orlando Magic. He’s the head of one of the biggest distribution organizations in the world, so that’s like passing, right? Then again, maybe I should have watched some tape before making this pick.
Shooting Guard - Merida of DunBroch
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Super athleticism, deadly accuracy, and more competitive than anyone else on the court. Princess Merida might even be my number one pick given that I’d probably run Villanova’s offense and rain threes all day. She’d be my sharp shooter, and if you’ve seen the movie you know she can hit her mark in any pressure situation.
Small Forward - Tigger
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Think Donte DiVincenzo but with stripes. Tigger is going to be crashing the boards, slashing through the paint, and of course dunking like he’s an NBA Jam character. On defense he’s good for blocks and steals, basically he can do it all. If only he wasn’t the only one.
Power Forward - Hercules
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I can’t say it enough, every team should have a demi-god on it. In this case, Hercules can outmuscle anyone in the paint, but still has the range and accuracy to step outside the arc, And on top of all that, he has his own shoe line called Air-Herc. How don’t you go with him?
Center - Genie
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I don’t think there’s a better rim protector in the Disney Universe than the Genie from Aladdin. Capable of becoming the size of the entire stadium, I think blocking a shot at the rim would be almost a minor task. He’s also capable of multiplying himself to give the team extra players on the court. This one almost feels like cheating... because it probably is.
That’s my Disney lineup, but let me know in the comments who you’d put on the court. At this point, maybe Villanova should see if some of these guys are available. I’d rather the team spend the rest of the year in Disney than watch another game like this.
In other “news”, Eric Paschall is still a first round pick, more fun with Villanova’s neighbors, and next year we could see a matchup of Top 5 rookie classes. Enjoy!
Villanova’s Slow Start
Villanova basketball: What's wrong with the Wildcats? | SI.com
After losing back-to-back home games to Michigan and Furman, what's wrong with the defending champs? Our staff weighs in on that and more in this week's college hoops roundtable.
Hinsdale's Matt Rafferty helped Furman upset 2 of the 2018 Final Four teams in 9 days: 'It was quite a surreal feeling' | Chicago Tribune
Furman forward Matt Rafferty, a Hinsdale Central graduate, scored 18 points against Loyola and 15 points against Villanova as the Paladins recorded a pair of early-season upsets.
The Return of Maui Magic, Villanova’s Rough Start, and Virginia Tech’s Statement Win - The Ringer
Titus and Tate preview the Maui Invitational before discussing Villanova’s early struggles and more.
Editor's Note: If you like podcasts and college basketball, I can't recommend this highly enough!
NBA
2019 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Duke Trio Headlines First Picks | Yahoo! Sports
In a draft class ripe with talent, Duke's three superstar freshmen appear poised to take the 2019 NBA Draft by storm. The Front Office projects the first 30 picks. Eric Paschall is projected as a late 1st rounder.
Villanova Adjacent Stories
No, Temple hasn’t forgotten that football loss to Villanova | The Inquirer
Villanova won the season opener, but Temple's season took off while the Wildcats floundered.
Radnor commissioner castigates Villanova University over stadium light glare | Mainlinetimes
RADNOR — What had been a routine meeting between Villanova University officials and nearby residents turned testy when the issue of stadium lights glaring into people’s windows arose.
Ashley Howard, Mo Howard, and a father-son hoops journey | The Inquirer
Basketball has long tightened the bond between Mo Howard, former NBA player, and his son, La Salle's new coach.
Trio of Duncan brothers finally join forces with Vermont basketball | Courier & Press
Ernie, Everett and Robin Duncan are the fourth trio of brothers to play on the same Division I team. It's the first brother trio since Villanova's Herron brothers, and they're playing at Rollie Massimino's alma mater.
Other College Basketball Stories
Is There Any Room for a Big Man Who Can't Shoot in Modern Basketball? | OZY
Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ is a big man without a jump shot, but he does everything else.
The Penny Payoff: James Wiseman’s commitment proves Memphis made the right move | SBNation.com
Some people thought Memphis was crazy to fire Tubby Smith and hire Penny Hardaway. James Wiseman’s commitment proves the unconventional move was worth it. Villanova and Memphis could meet in Myrtle beach with a pair of Top 5 freshman classes.