Cries For Help

I just found your story about the Nova vs. Fordham game on the Rivals board. Congratulations. You're living proof that any egotistical, misinformed jackass with a computer and an internet connection can spread bullsh*t without any consequences. Your "recap" and "history of Villanova basketball" is so full of factual errors and erroneous biased bile, I don't even know where to begin. So I'll just say you're a real inspiration. Thank you, jackass.

l--@v--.edu

at the end you mentioned that you are coming to the game against albany next week. ill advised, my friend, ill advised. I am 6 foot 4 and 230 lbs and my buddies and me [sic] will be scanning the crowd for dorks taking pictures with digital cameras. then we will follow you out to the parking lot and beat the living f*ck out of you. please make sure you wear a drexel dragon sweatshirt so we can pick you out of the crowd better.

a--@f--.com

(12-22) 23:42 EST VILLANOVA, Pa. (TMM) - Allan Ray scored 26 points and Randy Foye added 23, as Villanova defeated Albany 86-72 on Wednesday in an early-season guarantee game.

Albany (4-4), an America East squad with only 37 total victories in its first five years of Division I competition, used the three-pointer to stay close with their disinterested Big East hosts. Their coach said that his team came to the Pavilion looking for more than just a quick $40,000.

"We did not come down here to collect a guarantee check," said Will Brown*. "We came down to win the basketball game."

The game was particularly notable for being the 19th installment of the 100 Games Project, an ambitious attempt by "weblogger" Kyle P. Whelliston to attend a hundred NCAA college basketball contests during the 2004-05 season.

"I'm really out of it right now," said Whelliston at an impromptu press conference held on the SEPTA platform as he waited for the R5 train back to Philadelphia. "Can we make this quick?"

From the opening tip, the Wildcats could not get into an offensive rhythm against a rare 2-1-2 full court zone defense presented by the Albany squad.

"They were all just moving down the floor like a big amoeba," said Whelliston. "I was trying to remember the last time I'd seen a defense like that. Then I remembered the time I was up at 3 a.m. drunk off my ass, watching a Euroleague game on NBA TV."

Albany entered the game with the second-best three-point shooting percentage in the nation (46.8%), and hit 7 of 10 from long range in the opening half.

"Coach said coming into the game that Albany would be a tough opponent," said Ray*. "They came out with a lot of confidence in their game. The whole team made some shots at the beginning of the game and that really got their confidence going."

"I mean, geez, they just kept hitting shots," said Whelliston. "They have this big white guy, Brent Wilson? He moved like a Sherman tank, but he just kept nailing threes like he was unconscious."

Wilson would close the game with 15 points on five long bombs. Jamar Wilson (no relation) led the visitors with 19 points.

The Danes' effort on both ends paid off in the first half, and their deficit at the break was only 33-32.

"This proves how good we could be," said Jamar Wilson*. "At halftime, we started to think that we could win this game."

"Yeah, halftime. I was getting excited at that point," said Whelliston. "While I was standing in the condiment line with my soft pretzel, I allowed myself to think, 'You know, what if the Danes pull this off? Now that would make for a really good recap tomorrow.' But then I had to help a guy operate the mustard dispenser, and my mind got sidetracked."

The second half found Villanova alternating between short bursts of intensity and multi-minute stretches of lacksadaisical play, frustrating coach Jay Wright.

"We were sloppy with the ball," said Wright*. "We had times where we made some runs but then had lapses. Overall, I wasn't entirely pleased."

"The second half reminded me a lot of my childhood," Whelliston opined. "We had this cat, Moosey, right? He'd catch a mouse, then he'd play around with it. He'd let it escape for a second, then he would catch it again and bat it around some more. So I finally just yelled out, 'Just kill the damn mouse, Moosey.' The people in my section didn't really understand what I was talking about."

Guards Ray and Foye tag-teamed to spark a 15-2 Wildcat run in the middle stages of the second stanza. Ray became the 46th Villanova player in history with 1,000 points when he hit a three in the middle of a burst that opened the lead to 68-50.

"That Ray three-pointer? I think that was the point when I took a ball of chewing gum from the bottom of the seat in front of me," Whelliston recalled. "I made it into a die, and used my house key to make the dimples. I rolled mostly fives, but I got six a few times."

"Then I just got bored with it and ate the gum."

The Wildcats dominated the smaller Danes inside. Junior forward Curtis Sumpter led all rebounders with nine and added 23 points for good measure.

"Yeah, Sumpter was really good, mostly 'cause there were three of him," said Whelliston. "I mean, there were like 35 guys on the court at one point. You know, I'm not completely sure what kind of gum that was."

Albany did not fold their tents despite the looming deficit, and used the three-pointer to open an 18-5 run against a defense that was filling out and mailing last-minute Christmas cards from an impromptu post office in the middle of the key. The Wildcat lead was only five with 4:29 remaining.

"I vaguely remember that Albany run," said Whelliston. "But by then, I was tripping so hard that I mistook my left arm for a Polish kielbasa. It looked so tasty, so scrumptious. So inviting."

"And the weird part is that I'm a strict vegetarian."

Villanova again put a toe on the gas in the waning moments, pushing the lead to fourteen with a 9-2 run keyed by the muscle of Sumpter. Insodoing, they succeeded in making the score sound like a respectable blowout when it was announced in other Big East arenas.

When the contest was finally over, the Villanova players had to marvel at the pluck of the Great Danes. Their 72 points were the most scored against the Wildcats so far this season.

"We're supposed to be the quote-unquote big school, the big-time program," said Foye*. "I don't look at them as a bus team, but I could see why they'd be hyped up. If I were them, I'd be excited to play against us, too."

Two of the players on Albany's roster, including three-point specialist Brent Wilson, were not yet alive on April 1, 1985 - the day upon which Villanova won its national championship.

"I only wish I'd come away with this with some sort of quality insight about either team," Whelliston lamented. "I mean, anything. If it wasn't for the Project, I'd never subject myself to another Villanova guarantee game ever again. Contrary to popular belief, I do have a life. I'm a man of many interests, you know. There are a bunch of 'Kim Possible' episodes on my TiVo that I'd been meaning to catch up on, but instead I came out here."

After a quick break for the holidays, Villanova (5-1) will return to action next Monday with a home contest against Middle Tennessee State (6-2). MTSU is an emerging power in the Sun Belt Conference.

"Shit," Whelliston said softly, his lip quivering before he broke into sobs. "Are you saying that I have to do this again?"

I think I speak for all of Nova Nation when I say YOU SUCK.

n--@v--.edu

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