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Villanova not focused on past NCAA Tournament failures

03/13/2016, 9:30pm EDT
By Eugene Rapay

Villanova coach Jay Wright (above) hasn't had a team in the second weekend of the tournament since 2009. (Photo: Tug Haines/CoBL)

Eugene Rapay (@erapay5)
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Villanova has faced its own type of madness over the last few years when it comes to March--the various punchlines and conversations about the Wildcats not being able to advance past the Round of 32.

The Wildcats haven’t graced the Sweet 16 since 2009, when they reached the Final Four thanks to the last-second heroics of Scottie Reynolds in the Elite 8 against Pittsburgh.

For Villanova, which earned a No. 2 seed in the South region on Sunday, it’s not just about getting to the NCAA Tournament--but rather how it can stay alive into the second weekend.

“We want to get the elephant out of the room,” Villanova senior point guard Ryan Arcidiacono said. “Everyone knows what that is. If we don’t prepare like we have all season, then we’re not going to have the opportunity to get past that game.”

Despite achieving recent success in the regular season, evidenced by Villanova’s three straight Big East regular-season titles, that momentum hasn’t necessarily translated over to the postseason--and more importantly, the NCAA Tournament.

Each of the last two years, the Wildcats have faltered early in the NCAA Tournament, wiping away all that was accomplished in the regular season and not living up to the expectations they have established in the months leading up to March.

It has felt like an eternity since the Wildcats advanced past the first weekend, a weight that has grown heavier on their shoulders given the upset losses in the last couple of years.

First came a loss as a 2-seed to eventual national champion UConn in 2014, when the Wildcats were overwhelmed by a 25-point performance from Shabazz Napier. They fell 77-65 to the Huskies in the Round of 32.

Then, there were high hopes for the following season when Villanova was given a 1-seed, only to have its dream of a deep tournament run dashed by a nightmarish loss from North Carolina State in the Round of 32. The Wolfpack held off a final rally attempt to go onto win 71-68.

“We do try to keep it business as usual,” Villanova head coach Jay Wright said. “Each team is different, so naturally your approach is different. We approach it based on the team, more than we do based on the history."

The disappointing early exits are something that the Wildcats can’t ignore, but they're something the team looks to overcome.


Ryan Arcidiacono (above) and the Wildcats get UNC-Asheville in the first round, with either Iowa or Temple waiting. (Photo: Josh Verlin/CoBL)

“It’s been a challenge for our players during the regular season, when people would say this doesn’t matter anyway, you have to get past the second round,” Wright said. “The closer we get to it, we don’t have to answer it--it’s here. People were talking about it all year and we couldn’t do anything about it, we had to get to the tournament. Now we’re getting closer to getting that opportunity.”

Villanova (29-5) has another chance at redemption, but they'll have to earn it.

The Wildcats will get UNC-Asheville (22-11), out of the Big South conference, to open tournament play. Should they win, they will have to play either Iowa (21-10) or Big 5 rival Temple (21-11) in the Round of 32.

However, they won’t look that far ahead at the potential hype that would surround a battle between the Philadelphia schools.

“It would be extremely special to have a Big 5 matchup in the NCAA Tournament, very special for the city,” Villanova center Daniel Ochefu said. “It would be crazy. It would be fun to do that, but we have to take care of the first game and the one after that. The first game, UNC Asheville, that’s all we’re thinking about right now.”

Villanova has been caught looking too far ahead in anticipation before. With the increasing pressure, the Wildcats have not dwelled upon past failures. Their main focus is on taking the each opponent and game one at a time.

With a new year and another chance to prove themselves in the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats are eyeing that first game, as opposed to what has already happened.

“I haven’t thought about that really all year,” Arcidiacono said. “We definitely would like to, I think it’s something that all the fans would appreciate. We just try to take it one game at a time. If we beat UNC Asheville, we’ll focus on the next game, but we can’t take anything for granted in this tournament. We know how quickly it can go if you don’t come prepared.”


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