City of Basketball Love

Marley Paul (@MarleyPaul22)
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NEW YORK — Jay Wright was a popular face in the World’s Most Famous Arena. He’s roamed Villanova sidelines for the past 15 seasons as a perennial power in the Big East, which will celebrate its 35th postseason tournament at Madison Square Garden next March.

After his national championship-clinching shot — one Wright calls the best in college basketball history — Kris Jenkins' profile has skyrocketed since arriving on campus as a four-star recruit. Wright took Jenkins and fellow seniors Josh Hart and Darryl Reynolds to the Garden Monday night to support Daniel Ochefu as the former Wilcats’ Washington Wizards faced the New York Knicks. (Ochefu didn’t see the court, despite appearing in the first two preseason contests).

The reception from people they ran into was like none they’ve ever experienced prior to a storied 35-5 season that culminated in the program’s first national championship since 1985.

“Nobody said to us ‘Good luck this season,’” Wright said Tuesday at BIG EAST Media Day. “We’re here to start the new season, but everybody wanted to talk about the (championship) game, take pictures with Kris. I guess that’s just part of it, that’s part of your challenge the next year. And I don’t think it’s going to end until we play games.

“If I’m with somebody and I say this is Kris Jenkins, their eyes pop and they know who he is,” Wright said. “I think he’s getting used to it, I think he’s handled it really well. We had to make sure on the court it doesn’t affect him. I don’t think it will but it’s something we talk about a lot.”

The 2015-16 season will be ingrained on Jenkins' brain forever, edging his adopted brother Nate Britt and UNC on the largest stage either has stepped on in their basketball journey. But as best as he can, the unanimous conference first-team selection vows reflection on the historic campaign will seize until at least April, when he no longer dons the No. 2 Wildcat jersey.

Until then, the 6-foot-6, 240-pound forward is embracing the new challenges the forthcoming season will bring, including filling the void of the aforementioned Daniel Ochefu and beloved Ryan Arcidiacono.

“My role has changed every year,” said Jenkins, whose minutes per game have increased over 50 percent each season at Villanova. “Being a senior leader with Darryl and Josh, that’s a whole different responsibility in itself.”

Hart, who enjoyed every moment of a “crazy” offseason, which spanned from NBA pre-draft workouts to becoming a peer to his favorite player, Dwayne Wade, as ESPYs attendees, was candid about the transition from being one of many voices to being one of THE voices in the locker room.

“Growing,” Hart said, offering a faint chuckle. “There are a lot of growing pains. Obviously losing those two great leaders, Ryan was a captain since his freshman year, so when you lose somebody that’s a four-year starter and four-year captain and Daniel was a captain two of the years, those two combined you have six years of being captains and leaders in that regard.

“That’s tough. So us three, we weren’t captains last year. We were leaders in our own way but we weren’t the main leaders. We’re having a lot of growing pains but the biggest part about that is we’re growing.”

After showcasing their value on the court last, commanding the focus of a reigning national champion-locker room is the next task for Hart, Preseason Player of the Year, and the growing celebrity Jenkins has became.

And the tone has been set early. “Honestly, we aren’t defending champions,” Jenkins said, “that’s what everybody’s going to say, but we have a totally different team.”

While encouraging his star players to be the go-to voices, Wright likened the serious demeanors of senior captain Reynolds and rising sophomore Jalen Brunson to that of the “irreplaceable” Arcidiacono.

“If we’re successful this year,” Wright said, “it’s going to be very different way from last year’s team just because these guys are such different guys.

“You look at Josh’s outfit, he’s got a bowtie, no socks, glasses coming out of his pocket. (In addition to the sizeable championship ring, which Hart says ‘gets lighter’ with each wear). It’s stylish you know what I mean? Arch would never wear anything like that, Daniel would never, but you embrace it. He’s a great kid and so we have to find our way with these guys leading the team.”

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Omari Spellman’s Role as a Redshirt:
“Obviously it’s tough with him being out, but he’s going to have the same role that Donte [Divincenzo] and Eric [Paschall] had last year and that’s getting us ready. I don’t think anyone, at least in my three years, did a better job than Eric and Donte, especially with the tournament.

“You know Donte was Buddy Hield (in practice). If you were at our practices before that Final Four game, you would be like: ‘Oh my God, these guys are in for a long one. They got a little trouble on their hands,’ … he practices like it’s a game and he got us prepared for every situation. So that’s what Omari’s going to have on his plate this year.” – Josh Hart

White House Visit:
“It’s crazy. Going to the White House was crazy. But once President Obama walked in, it was just quiet, everybody was like ‘whoa, this is the president.’ So I wish people were able to see the reaction when he walked in. I wish I had a still-frame on everybody’s face cause everybody was just wide-eyed in amazing.” - Josh Hart

Competition in the BIG EAST:
“I think Georgetown is going to be really good, I think Creighton is going to be really good. Probably more teams capable of winning it this year than any of other year before. Those top 5 teams have a chance of winning it and the other teams all have a chance of being in the NCAA tournaments so this could be the best year for our league.” – Jay Wright