City of Basketball Love

Matthew Ryan (@matthewryan02)
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PITTSBURGH, PA — When Daniel Ochefu returned home from South Korea about two weeks ago, the 2016 Villanova graduate started to make his fair share of visits to his younger brother Anthony Ochefu at Delaware, hanging with him and his teammates.

Last Sunday, those trips came to an abrupt end.

During the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, Villanova was announced as the No. 2 seed in the South region, its first game No. 15 seed Delaware. After the matchup was revealed, one of Daniel’s friends reached out to him regarding the game. At first, Daniel was confused but then came to the realization that his alma mater would be facing his younger brother in the big dance.

Following the selection show, it was Anthony who reached out to Daniel first. He sent him a text simply saying “No good at the crib until after the game.”

Daniel said he knows the text is a joke, but it’s no coincidence that he hasn’t been to Delaware since.

“I feel like they’re treating me as their enemy right now,” he said by phone Thursday, “so I’m going to just keep my distance.

“Since (Delaware) found out, I kind of haven’t been there,” he added. “I haven’t pulled up on them to say what’s up or anything. So I’m going to wait till after the game.”

For Anthony, a 6-foot-8 forward, this will be his first time playing in the NCAA Tournament, but, because of his brother, he’s been to March Madness numerous times as a fan.

Daniel Ochefu started his career on the Main Line in 2012 as an immediate impact player for Jay Wright. In his freshman season at Villanova, the big man was a reserve for the team that started the current nine consecutive tournament appearance streak. His scoring improved every season and, as a senior, he was a captain on the Wildcats’ second-ever championship team.

Since then, Daniel has had stints in the NBA, G League and now overseas, and through that time has stayed connected with Villanova.

Both Anthony and Daniel played high school ball at Westtown, and when Anthony graduated in 2017, he went on to play three seasons at Stony Brook. With the Seawolves, he averaged two points per game in 76 appearances, transferring to Delaware in April of 2020.

In his first season with the Blue Hens, Anthony missed the start of the year waiting for his waiver and averaged 2.1 ppg and 2.6 rebounds per game in 8.1 minutes per night once he was eligible to play. This year, he’s been buried behind a solid frontcourt tandem of Dylan Painter, Andrew Carr and Jyare Davis, playing a total of four minutes.

Growing up watching Daniel at Villanova, Anthony, a sociology major, by default became a fan of the program. He still checks in on the Wildcats from time to time, and when the matchup was announced, it was a special experience for him.

“It was an exciting moment,” Anthony said on finding out he’s playing Villanova. “[For] me, myself, and then just like all the history we've had with ‘Nova; obviously, my brother going there, winning a national championship. So it was exciting.

“It was definitely an interesting feeling when we found out they were on the screen, but it's just another game.”

With Daniel being a part of Villanova for more than a decade, and the program’s emphasis on family and community, the entire Ochefu family has a relationship with the university, which may make things interesting on Friday.

“My family and coach Wright are really close,” Anthony said. “My brother always keeps up with them, so he's always at home, talking about it. We have a bunch of Villanova stuff at the house.

“Interesting to see what gear (my parents) [will] have on because my mom is still really like tied in with ‘Nova still. […] She was talking with Jay Wright a couple of days ago, so it should be fun. 

“I'm not sure what gear they'll be wearing. Hopefully Delaware.”

Daniel won’t be at the game, but he’ll be tuning in. And his answer for who he’s going to root for is pretty simple.

“I’m going for the winners,” he said.