Bentil named Big East Player of the Week

Villanova had won 22 straight Big East games prior to Sunday’s loss and had not dropped a home game since Doug McDermott’s Creighton team won in Philadelphia two years ago.

Senior guard Ryan Arcidiacono led Villanova with 19 points, and came up especially big in crunch time, hitting a game-tying 3-pointer with 9 seconds left to tie it at 66-66 and force overtime. Flanked by the ultra talented Ben Bentil and Rodney Bullock, the Friars can beat anyone on any night.

“This is an unbelievable win for us, ” Providence coach Ed Cooley said.

“It’s a challenge to win and keep getting better”. Very well-coached, and tough, tough, tough.

Villanova uses a bus service to transport the pep band, cheerleaders and mascot, as well as students from campus, but the company was unable to provide that service because its busses were snowed in. Nor they should have been.

Since that XU outing, which was part of a six-game skid, DePaul has claimed its first league win.

Cooley’s motivational tactics proved effective, and that process he spoke of was two-fold.

Providence also hit three three-point baskets during the run, including one from the right corner by Ryan Fazekas that gave the visitors a 35-34 lead with 20 seconds remaining until halftime.

Villanova also stayed in a hotel for three nights, one night longer than expected.

“‘I’d still rather be answering those questions. This will help us get better”.

Arcidiacono got a rebound off a Mikal Bridges missed three and was able to find space for a pull up jumper putting Nova back up 2.

I would imagine that Wright spends a good portion of the week – The team’s next game is a week from today at St. John’s – working on zone offense. Xavier shot 45.5% from the field and 81.8% (18-22) from the FT line.

The Friars had a chance to win it in regulation, but Dunn’s stepback 3-point attempt at the buzzer clanked off the rim.

The Big East, despite the absence of the big name schools that once made up the conference, still has potential first round National Basketball Association talent in the likes of Kris Dunn (Providence) and Henry Ellenson (Marquette). Assists_Providence 21 (Dunn 14), Villanova 21 (Jenkins 7).

For Villanova, center Daniel Ochefu didn’t start the game due to a minor disciplinary issue after losing his cool in a practice. A reverse layup by Phil Booth off a nice feed from Arcidiacono one minute later restored the 11-point advantage.

The Wildcats will be idle until next Sunday when they visit Madison Square Garden to meet St. John’s at noon (Fox 29/610 Sports Radio WTEL). The Musketeers defeated Seton Hall over the weekend after an upset loss to Georgetown last week. “You lose one and you have to come out and try to get better”. “(In) league play, everybody knows what they’re going to do. “I think we’ve been trending toward this, and these guys played a great game”.