Reynolds Recognized

Scottie Reynolds was chosen to be one of 16 finalists for the 2010 Oscar Robertson Trophy for National Player of the Year. Given by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, it is the nation’s oldest basketball award. A Wildcat has never won the trophy, however. This is the second consecutive year a Villanovan has been nominated, with Dante Cunningham receiving a nomination in 2009. More than 900 journalists will vote for the winner, who will be recognized on April 2 in conjunction with the NCAA Final Four.

Reynolds was also named the Big East Player of the Week for the week ending on Feb. 14.  This is his third time winning the honor this season and the fourth time in his career. With high-scoring second halves last week, Reynolds was a huge asset in matchups against West Virginia and Providence.

His second-half heroics have become legendary. This season alone Reynolds’ play was the reason for wins against Marquette, Louisville and Notre Dame, not to mention his infamous drive last season against Pittsburgh that sent Villanova to the Final Four.

 

Familiar faces

 

National recognition of the men’s basketball program this season has been attracting more and more distinguished alumni to home matchups. Wildcat fans have been brushing shoulders with the likes of ‘Nova notables Howie Long, Dwayne Anderson, Randy Foye, Allan Ray, Malik Allen and Ed Pinckney, all of whom have been spotted in the past week.

Foye caught the game against Providence while enjoying the NBA All-Star break and Ray has been a regular at the games while he continues to rehabilitate his knee on campus.

 

Football team applauded

 

The football team was recognized during halftime of Monday’s men’s basketball game versus Connecticut for their 2009 NCAA Division 1 Championship win. 

Followed by a short video of the final game’s highlights, the title trophy was presented by notable ‘Nova alumnus, former NFL player and sports broadcaster Howie Long. Seniors and award-winning players were recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to the team.

This was the program’s first national title and its first appearance in the title game. The ‘Cats were led by junior wide receiver Matt Szczur and junior quarterback Chris Whitney. The upset came against a Montana squad that had far more postseason experience than the ‘Cats. Villanova returns most of its key players and is expected to be named the preseason favorites.

 

Men go green, 

women go pink

 

Exelon Energy partnered with Villanova and the Wachovia Center to make the energy used at Monday night’s men’s basketball game versus Connecticut “green.” Exelon sponsored the game by supplying Villanova with Renewable Energy Certificates to balance out the energy used during game time.

While the men were going green at the Wachovia Center, a few days earlier the women’s basketball team went pink in the Pavilion. Saturday’s game against Rutgers was the annual “Pink out the Pavilion” to benefit the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund.