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Happy Veterans Day Nova Nation! First off, a heart-felt thank you to all of our country’s service men and women. And a special thank you to those Villanova Alumni who have served or are serving. Words are not appreciation enough for the sacrifices you have all made, or continue to make on a daily basis. Sincerely, thank you for your service. And for anyone looking to engage more with veterans from a Villanova angle, I highly suggest giving our friends at Villanova Vets a follow on Twitter. And with that said, back to the far less important distraction of basketball.
This week marks the first two of four games Villanova has scheduled against teams from Ohio this season. First up is Ohio State, a team Villanova hasn’t been matched up with since 2003. The Wildcats are 1-1 all time against the Buckeyes, with both games being decided by a single point. But it’s not the schools or the players that are the central story line in this contest, it’s the coaches.
Chris Holtmann is now in his third season at Ohio State, but before that he spent three years at Butler as a member of the Big East. Holtmann took over just one year after the Big East realigned, a milestone that has also marked Villanova’s dominance in the conference. Jay Wright hasn’t just ruled over the Big East, but has won two National Championships during that time and is arguably one of the best coaches in the country. Don’t take my word for it, Chris Holtmann agrees.
But since that 2013-14 realignment season, Holtmann holds a very unique distinction. He’s the only coach that currently has an active winning streak against Jay Wright in the last seven years. Hotlman’s Butler Bulldogs defeated Wright’s Wildcats twice in the 2017 season, and then Holtman left for Ohio State before facing Villanova again. Only Creighton’s Greg McDermott (2014) and Seton Hall’s Kevin Willard (2014-15) have managed to beat Wright in consecutive games, but neither was able to do it a third time. On Wednesday, Holtmann will get the opportunity to be the first coach to accomplish that feat since Wright has been elevated into the conversation for the nation’s best coach.
I don’t love his chances.
In other “news”, Myles Powell suffers a serious ankle injury, Jay Wright reflects on Eric Paschall’s time at Villanova, and Villanova Football returns to its winning ways with a 4th quarter comeback. Enjoy!
Villanova vs The State of Ohio
Evidence of Talented Ohio State Team in Early Stages of Development Apparent in Blowout of UMass Lowell | Eleven Warriors
There'll be more to learn on Wednesday against Villanova, but even in a blowout win over UMass Lowell, the pieces of a talented and developing Ohio State team were readily apparent.
Ohio State Wins in Advance of Villanova Visit on Wednesday | Sports Illustrated
18th-ranked Buckeyes will play No. 10 Wildcats in Gavitt Games
Ohio State forward Andre Wesson to miss time for fractured eye socket | Buckeyes Wire
According to a report from the Columbus Dispatch, Ohio State forward Andre Wesson will miss two weeks with a fractured eye socket.
Ohio Men's Basketball: 'Cats Blow Past Heidelburg | WOUB Public Media
Ohio University is 2-0, and will head to Philadelphia to take on the Wildcats on Saturday.
Men's Basketball: Numbers that mattered in Ohio's 88-50 win over Heidelberg | The Post
Ohio is 2-0 this season.
Big East
Seton Hall star Myles Powell out indefinitely with 'serious' ankle injury, facing 'prolonged absence' | CBSSports.com
Seton Hall is expecting a prolonged absence from its best player after he sustained an injury on Saturday.
Big 5
With new head coaches at Temple and St. Joe's, it's a whole new era for college basketball in Philly | Billy Penn
If you’re a local sports fan but aren’t following Big 5 hoops, you’re missing out.
Ashley Howard’s second La Salle team is young and doesn’t have stars, but expectations are higher | Philadelphia Inquirer
The Explorers look to improve from last year’s 10-21 season with the help of two experienced seniors, some strong transfers, and four promising freshmen.
Owls rely on Pierre-Louis and defense to go 2-0 and beat Morgan State | Philadelphia Inquirer
Temple scored 27 points off turnovers in a 75-57 win.
NBA Wildcats
VIDEO: Villanova coach Jay Wright shares impact Eric Paschall made on the program | NBCS Bay Area
Eric Paschall transferred to Villanova after one season at Fordham, and Wildcats coach Jay Wright explains the championship-level impact the now-Warri
Jay Wright details Eric Paschall’s rise from Villanova to the Warriors | The Athletic
The high-scoring rookie's college coach invoked a familiar name to Warriors fans: "I've used the comparison of Bernard King."
Raptors' Kyle Lowry diagnosed with left thumb fracture, Serge Ibaka out indefinitely with ankle sprain | CBSSports.com
The Raptors suffered multiple injuries on Friday that could slow them down in the coming weeks
Omari Spellman exits Warriors-Thunder game with sprained left ankle | Yahoo! Sports
The Warriors finished Saturday's game in Oklahoma City with eight healthy players.
Dallas Mavericks: What is going to happen with Jalen Brunson? | The Smoiking Cuban
The Dallas Mavericks beat the Orlando Magic, but they had to turn to J.J. Barea to survive the first half. Unfortunately, Jalen Brunson's minutes suffered.
Former Villanova Basketball Players
Former LI Lutheran star Ash Yacoubou comes full circle with LI Nets | Newsday
It’s around a 12-mile drive from Long Island Lutheran’s campus in Brookville to NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum. On a good day, it’s doable in less than 20 minutes. Ash Yacoubou’s journey took a bit longer.
Villanova Women’s Basketball
Women’s City Six: Penn routs Siena, Greenberg dominates for Drexel again | Philadelphia Inquirer
The Quakers opened their season with a 48-point blowout of the Saints and Bailey Greenberg matched her career-high 31 points for the second straight game in the Dragons' win over Davidson.
VILLANOVA LOSES HARD FOUGHT BATTLE TO JAMES MADISON | Villanova University Athletics
VILLANOVA, PA. – The Villanova Wildcats gave a valiant effort, but came up a little short in tonight's 56-52 loss to the James Madison Dukes. With the setback, the
Villanova Football
Villanova dominates Richmond in fourth quarter to snap three-game losing streak | Philadelphia Inquirer
After trailing by seven entering the fourth quarter, the Wildcats put together back-to-back scoring drives to win, 35-28.
Takeaways from Villanova's impressive win over Richmond | Philly Sports Network
The Wildcats came away with a huge win by taking down Richmond 35-28.
Villanova's football championship run remembered 10 years later | Delcotimes.com
RADNOR — As Tony Canci rummaged through his closet Saturday looking for something to wear to the 10th anniversary celebration of Villanova’s 2009 national championship in football, he found the
Fourth Quarter Rally Completes Second Half Turnaround in 35-28 Win Over Richmond | Villanova University Athletics
VILLANOVA, Pa.—It took a fast start and a fourth quarter rally for No. 18 Villanova (7-3, 4-3 CAA Football) to snap a three-game losing streak and tally a 35-28
Villanova Athletics
Villanova Upsets No. 9 Creighton in Straight Sets | Villanova University Athletics
Villanova, Pa. - Villanova volleyball pulled off the upset downing No. 9 Creighton in straight sets Friday night in front of a raucous crowd in Jake Nevin Field
Wildcats Sweep the Weekend, Down Providence in Straight Sets | Villanova University Athletics
Villanova, Pa. – Villanova volleyball (20-6, 11-3) won its seventh straight match thanks to a straight-sets victory over Providence (6-21, 1-13) Saturday night in
Villanova Golf Wraps Up Fall Season at City 6 | Villanova University Athletics
Huntingdon Valley, Pa. – Villanova golf wrapped up its fall season with a fifth place finish in the one-round City 6 Tournament at Huntingdon Valley Country Club
Villanova University
Villanova University plants 1,000 flags for Veterans Day | Delcotimes.com
RADNOR — Villanova University and its Office of Veterans and Military Services planted 1,000 flags on Friday in the shape of a "V" for Veterans Day. Michael Brown, the director
Villanova students win Student Academy Award for ‘Sankofa’ | WHYY
The student-produced documentary, “Sankofa,” won a Student Academy Award in October. It was one of just 15 student films in the world to win the award.
College Basketball
Texas might have turned the corner and other hot takes I can prove | ESPN+
Texas' road win at Purdue was among the eye-opening performances of an eventful first week in college hoops.
Like it or not, a major NCAA rule appears to have been broken in James Wiseman case — but Memphis will fight | CBSSports.com
There might be a gray area here, but even the agreed-upon facts are problematic for Wiseman