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Jay Wright and the sixth-ranked Villanova Wildcats open up their highly anticipated 2010-11 season, as they play host to the Bucknell Bison at the Pavilion this evening.
The Wildcats finished the 2009-10 season with a 25-8 record, including a 13-5 mark in the Big East. The team was poised for a strong run in the NCAA Tournament, but was bounced in the second round by Saint Mary's after barely getting by Robert Morris in first-round action (73-70 in OT). Needless to say, the way the season finished left a bad taste in the mouth of Wright and the returning players and making good on the team's potential is something that everyone to a man is determined to do this season.
The Bison are guided by third-year head coach Dave Paulsen. Bucknell only won 14 games last season, but that was double the victories from Paulsen's first season (7-23 in 2008-09). While a similar jump is probably too much to ask for, Bucknell could be much more competitive in the Patriot League this season.
This is the 24th meeting between these two teams, with Villanova holding a 14-9 series advantage.
Sophomore forward Mike Muscala is the focal point of the Bison attack. Named a preseason All-conference selection, Muscala (9.9 ppg) gives coach Paulsen a solid force in the paint, averaging almost five rebounds per game. He was also responsible for 65 of the team's 113 blocked shots. Bryan Cohen will once again don the Bucknell thread after he won the league's defensive player of the year award last season. Senior guard Darryl Shazier led the team in scoring last season with 10.1 ppg and also accounted for both 3.2 rpg and 3.8 apg. Rounding out the starting five will be sophomore forward Joe Willman (5.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and sophomore guard Bryson Johnson (9.5 ppg).
losing All-American Scottie Reynolds would really hurt most teams, yet the Wildcats are right back in the thick of things thanks to a solid core of returning talent. Despite losing the second-leading scorer in program history, Villanova still has enough to win the Big East, thanks in large part to the senior trio of Corey Fisher, Antonio Pena and Corey Stokes. Despite not being household names on a national level yet, these guys can produce. Fisher, with his 13.3 ppg and team-best 3.9 apg a year ago, was an All-Big East Third Team selection last year. Pena, a 57.7 percent shooter from the floor, who accounted for 10.5 ppg and was responsible for a team-best seven rebounds per outing should improve those numbers this season. Stokes (9.5 ppg) gives Villanova its best option out on the perimeter after knocking down 38.3 percent from three-point range last season.
Wright is Bucknell alum, but that won't keep him from emptying out the arsenal on the Bison. The Wildcats would like to make a statement early on this season and will get off to a good start with a lopsided win here.
Corey Fisher Scores 25 As Villanova Beat Bucknell In Season Opener
Villanova, PA (Sports Network) – Corey Fisher scored 24 points, and the sixth- ranked Villanova Wildcats built an early lead and finished off the Bucknell Bison late in a 68-52 season-opening win at The Pavilion.
Maalik Wayns added 15 points for the Wildcats (1-0), who earned a No. 2 seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament before falling to 10th-seeded Saint Mary’s in the second round. Corey Stokes added 11 points in the victory.
Darryl Shazier tallied 12 points for the Bison (0-1), who only won 14 games last season, although that doubled their win total from 2008-09. Mike Muscala and Cameron Ayers added 10 points apiece in defeat.
Villanova struggled to get its offense going in the first half, but it held Bucknell to just 16 first-half points to remain the frontrunner.
The Bison had an early 8-5 lead after a Bryson Johnson three 3 1/2 minutes into the contest, but the Wildcats scored 11 of the next 13 points to move ahead permanently.
Stokes’ three ended the surge with Villanova holding a 16-10 lead at the midway point of the period, and Bucknell couldn’t cut into its deficit after going nearly the final seven minutes of the half scoreless.
The Wildcats scored only seven points during that timeframe, but a free throw by Fisher with 2:21 left extended the margin to 28-16 at the break.
Villanova still had a comfortable lead at 43-31 with 12 1/2 minutes to play, but Bucknell scored seven of nine points to trim their deficit to seven, 45-38, on a Ayers bucket two minutes later.
The Wildcats, though, responded with the next six points — five by Fisher — before three-pointers by Ayers and G.W. Boon again got Bucknell within striking distance at 54-46 with just over six minutes left.
Villanova finally took complete control, scoring nine of the next 11 points over two minutes, and Wayns hit a pair of shots, including a layup with four minutes left that pushed the advantage to 63-48.
The Bison did not recover from the deficit.
Villanova leads the all-time series, 15-9…The Wildcats next action comes in the first round of the 2010 NIT Season Tip-Off against Marist on November 16. They are one of the four top seeds, along with Tennessee, Wake Forest and UCLA.
Nov 13 12:43p by Jason Brewer - 0 comments