Links: Guy Fisher

With the big matchup against Duke tonight, Villanova has received a lot of media attention, both locally and nationally. VUhoops and I Bleed Blue and White have been posting links to these stories all week, and you should definitely check them out. But if you can only read one, make it this amazing story by Dana O'Neil at ESPN about Corey Fisher and his uncle Guy. Truly inspirational stuff.

Randy Foye, Links

Hoopsworld had an interview with Randy Foye recently.  Foye feels very confident this season: 

"I feel as though I can do better.  I came off the injury last year averaging 13 points and four assists on half a leg, basically.  This year I'm looking to do big things.  This year you're going to see a lot of me, man.  Just write that.  I know deep down inside the way I am when there's a lot of controversy or when my back is against the wall.  I'm going to look competition right in the face, I'm not going to run from it.  You're going to see a lot of me this year."

Randy backed up those strong words with a fantastic 12 point, 15 assist preseason game last Sunday. All signs point to Foye having a breakout year.

Lowry Preview

Memphis Grizzlies blog 3 Shades of Blue did a nice season preview of the team by position.  Here is what they had to say about point guard Kyle Lowry:

"The former Wildcat has become a bulldog on the Grizzlies roster. Kyle lit the city on fire on opening night of his rookie campaign when he announced his presence with authority posting 6 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in leading the Grizzlies 2nd half charge. Suddenly Kyle Lowry was the most exciting rookie in franchise history (which is pretty impressive consideringShane Battier, Shareef Abdur Rahim andPau Gasol had preceded him). Just as suddenly he was gone for the year after breaking his wrist in the 10th game of the season. His sophomore season was a struggle as he fought for playing time behind veteran Damon Stoudamire and rookie Mike Conley. Kyle's wild play energizes the team on the defensive end but his lack of control hurts the team on the offensive side of the ball. Still Kyle produced at a rate similar to Conley in nearly the same amount of time on the court and usually with inferior players around him. While his game seems best suited for a backup role right now Lowry's grit and determination means that no one is going to take the starting spot without a fight. "

Link: http://3shadesofblue.blogspot.com/2008/09/previewing-point-guards.html

Randy Foye Interview

Here's an audio interview with Randy Foye on Timberwolves.com. Foye spent his offseason improving his point guard skills by watching tape of Tony Parker and Chris Paul. He also had very good things to say about new teammates Mike Miller and Kevin Love. Despite the team's poor record last season, Randy has high hopes for 2008-2009.

New Highlight Video

Villanova Runnin' Wild
Created by: Sean Donovan
Song: Airbourne - "Runnin Wild"
Highlight Video of 2007-08 season, including post-season footage from the Big East and March Madness Tournaments.

Up Close With Kyle Lowry

Here's a video interview of Kyle Lowry with HoopsWorld at Adidas Nations.

Links

"Duke freshman Taylor King is leaving. According to sources close to the situation, the 6-foot-6 forward has decided to transfer. King, who averaged 5.5 points and two rebounds this season while averaging 9.7 minutes per game, will likely wind up at either Gonzaga or Villanova — two schools he was considering before he committed to Duke."

"Marist is said to be taking a long look at Villanova assistant Brent Gunning, who is definitely ready for a head coaching job in Division I."

"Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon is the latest NBA player to be selected to the fledgling British basketball team that's trying to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.... Other American-based players on the roster are... forward Dante Cunningham from Villanova..."

Scottie Reynolds - (Rank: #53) - Draft Projection: Late first to early second

Kansas vs. Villanova

Get in the mood for an upset...

Foye gives back to community

Here's a great story about Randy Foye working out with local high school basketball players over the summer. Foye resides in Rumson, New Jersey for the summer, and was looking for a gym to practice in. He didn't have to, but Randy offered to practice with the players on the local team and help develop their skills. The story shows a lot about Randy's character.

Foye is averaging 11.7 points this season for the Timberwolves. The other night in Portland Foye flirted with a triple-double, scoring 9 points, dishing 8 assists, and grabbing 10 rebounds.

2007-2008 Highlights

The Malcolm Mystery

Interesting article about Malcolm Grant. In it Grant dispels the rumors floating around about his lack of playing time.
Notable Quotes:
Grant: "People were telling me that, and I was laughing, like, 'Are you serious?' People were saying, 'Your grades,' or 'You were talking back to Coach,' all this and that. I'm laughing like it's crazy, but that's college. You live through it and you block that stuff out."
"It's been tough, but I just stay positive. My teammates have spoken to me, telling me to stay positive and that they need me out there. I just try to give positive energy to the team. If I don't play, then it's the coach's decision. I know he knows what's best for the team."
"I want to improve my defense... I knew coming in I was the underdog and I had to prove myself. I used that as motivation."
"I haven't gotten into trouble. I haven't done anything wrong in school. I'm doing excellent in school. I haven't talked back to my teacher. I haven't done any of that. It's crazy."

Jay Wright: "It's just that we've struggled playing young, small guards together. That wasn't something we anticipated, but it's become a problem for us. I think when those guys are older, they're going to be able to do it better."

I understand Jay's reasoning, but the situation still seems skeptical to me. If there was no deliberate reason for benching Grant, why wouldn't Wright play him in the Georgetown game when Corey Fisher was struggling (1-16 fg). They were just one Malcolm Grant 3-pointer away from winning the game. Also why wouldn't he play Grant more than one minute in the St. Joseph's game when everybody was struggling. At least Malcolm is staying positive through all of it.

Links

It appears red-shirt freshman Andrew Ott will be transferring to Penn State.


From Mike Jensen of the Philadelphia Inquirer: "Multiple people I respect ...Consider Memphis to be the front-runner for American Christian star Tyreke Evans, and thought that was true before the legal events of the last two months in Chester."


Randy Foye participated in a scrimmage the other day at practice and is nearing a return.


Post-game audio from the Notre Dame loss. When asked if he wished he had gotten Malcolm Grant involved earlier in the game, Jay Wright kind of dodged the question with his response: "It's tough sometimes because McAlarney was shooting over Scottie early... We put Reggie Redding on him... He did a good job for a while, and then you're not as good offensively, but Reggie did a good job defensively."


Chad Forde did a nice breakdown of the Big East on ESPN.com. On Villanova he wrote, "A penchant for slow starts has caught up with Nova. This looks like an NIT team."


Joe Lunardi has Villanova in the "next four out" column in his Bracketology. He currently has eight Big East teams making the Big Dance.

Lowry just misses triple double

Kyle Lowry had 14 points, 9 assists, and 9 rebounds for the Memphis Grizzlies in last night's overtime loss to the New Orleans Hornets. He was 1 rebound and 1 assist short of a triple double. He also had 1 steal and 1 block after getting the first start of his NBA career with Damon Stoudamire out with a stomach virus. Lowry proved he could run the team as a starting PG in the league, but he still needs to work on his 3-point shot, as he went 0-4 from downtown in the game. His performance wasn't enough to win though as they lost 118-116 in overtime. Chris Paul had a great game for the Hornets with 43 points and 9 assists. Other people are starting to recognize Lowry's greatness. In his ESPN.com column Bill Simmons, "The Sports Guy", wrote "Reason No. 12,811 why I love the NBA: Lowry. I just love him. You'll see him on a great team at some point -- we're about two or three years away from the Spurs sneaking him onto their roster somehow." Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas also mentioned Lowry in his popular blog. "Then we go down to Memphis and they got that kid Navarro. Him and Lowry, they kicked our butts. We probably looked at them and took it lightly."