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Hart's career-high night lifts Villanova past Akron, 75-56

11/22/2015, 8:00pm EST
By Teddy Bailey

Teddy Bailey (@TheTeddyBailey)

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Following the graduation of senior guard and current Detroit Piston Darrun Hilliard, the Villanova Wildcats were searching for a consistent source of scoring on the wing as they entered the 2015-2016 season.

After three straight double-digit scoring outputs to start the year, junior guard Josh Hart broke out in the Wildcats’ 75-56 win against Akron on Sunday afternoon. The 6-foot-5 wing had a career-high affair, scoring 27 points on 11-21 shooting to go along with nine rebounds.

The Zips, boasting ten-consecutive 21+ win seasons, faced the Wildcats with three starters over 6-foot-7. Hart was able to knock down a pair of 3-pointers in the first half and draw the forwards out.

“It was just something that I just felt,” Hart said. “Coach [Wright] always preaches catch and shoot, but they just came out on our shooters, so we were able to get downhill and to the rim. It was just seeing how they played it, and after that we knew how we were going to play just off instinct.”

“Josh hit some threes and pulled their guys out,” Villanova head coach Jay Wright said. “When they came out, he took them to the lane and got to the rim. It’s hard to do that against teams with length. He’s the best on our team at that, If he doesn’t recognize it, we’re in trouble. Tonight, he did, and it was really effective.”

Hart immediately became a member of Jay Wright’s rotation as a freshman, averaging nearly eight points and five rebounds a game. Last season, the Silver Spring, Md. native scored ten points per game for the ‘Cats. Hart’s prior career-high came against Syracuse in 2014-2015, where he scored 21 points in a thrilling overtime victory.

Hart scored an early 15 points in the opening twenty minutes, an important start for Nova’s wing as Akron jumped out to a 16-8 lead. The Wildcats finished the half on an 9-0 run to take the 38-31 halftime lead.

“If that was anyone else, we would have been happy with that,” senior guard Ryan Arcidiacono, who tallied 15 points and eight assists, said. “But It just so happened to be Josh tonight, that’s what’s tough about our team. You can’t really defend one person to hold them under a certain amount. If you try to double someone, another guy will go for 20. We’re just really well-balanced but Josh definitely helped out in the first half.”

Arcidiacono continued this season’s trend of a high turnover-to-assist ratio. The Wildcats turned the ball over just seven times in the win against Akron, winning the turnover battle by nine. Individually, Arcidiacono has 22 assists on the season, with just one turnover.

“It’s incredible numbers,” Wright said. “I don't want to jinx him, but I think he’s playing the best offense since he’s been here. The numbers might not been here, but his efficiency is off the charts. He’s really playing well.”

The Neshaminy product credited senior forward Daniel Ochefu for creating the separation near the basket and limiting Akron’s forwards. Unlike young players Jalen Brunson, Phil Booth, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo, the upperclassmen have experience with losing in Radnor Township, which has been a focal point as the 'Cats near stronger competition. 

“I think one thing Daniel [Ochefu] and I always try and tell the younger guys and even Josh,” Arcidiacono said. “We’ve been here for so many years and Daniel and I were really the only ones to actually lose some games at Villanova. We’ve been through it all, the good and the bad. We always try to keep everyone even keeled and just stick to what coach preaches.”

The Zips served as Villanova’s toughest test before the ‘Cats head to Brooklyn in the Preseason NIT to face high-major teams in Stanford and either Georgia Tech or Arkansas. Prior to Akron, the Wildcats cruised past Fairleigh Dickinson and East Tennessee State, as well as the Big Ten’s Nebraska.

“That was a good win, that’s a good team right there,” Wright said. “We didn’t start slow today, they’re just really good, they know how they want to play. They came in, executed and were tough and physical. I think that’s going to be an NCAA Tournament team.”


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