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Fairleigh Dickinson-Villanova Preview

Nov 12, 2009 - 9:26 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Fairleigh Dickinson (0-0) at Villanova (0-0), 7:00 p.m. EDT

It's the 25th anniversary of Villanova's lone national championship team. The Wildcats believe they have the squad to duplicate that feat a quarter century later.

The preseason Big East favorites and fifth-ranked Wildcats begin the new season Friday against Fairleigh Dickinson, and they're happy Scottie Reynolds is back.

In 2008-09, Villanova put together its best season since the famed 1984-85 team upset Georgetown for the national title, reaching the Final Four and losing to eventual national champion North Carolina. The successful season and major personnel losses by other Big East teams have made the Wildcats the favorites.

"I never think we should win the Big East," coach Jay Wright said. "I always want us to win the Big East... It's such a grind. It's like a mini-NBA season."

Wright turned down overtures to coach the Philadelphia 76ers because of the history at Villanova. He believes this team can add to the accomplishments of last season's club and Rollie Massimino's title-winning team.

"There's a real sense of pride here, there really is," Wright said. "We've always had it. It's kind of on another level right now. There's also more responsibility that goes with that. We have to maintain that tradition (that previous classes) set. That's where the pressure comes for us, not from the outside."

Villanova will have to replace two frontcourt starters, but its backcourt is secure with Reynolds back for a senior season. Reynolds is a Big East preseason first-team pick who withdrew from the NBA draft after learning he likely wouldn't get selected in the first round.

Reynolds' place in school history is secure after his winning layup with 0.5 seconds left against Pittsburgh sent Villanova to the Final Four. He's back to try to provide leadership as well as improve upon a career 40.0 shooting percentage.

"He's trusting that a year of just getting better, getting smarter, making better decisions, being a leader is going to make him an NBA player," Wright said.

Leading scorer Dante Cunningham is gone, but the Wildcats will have a true center replacing the 6-foot-7 Cunningham in freshman Mouphtaou Yarou. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound center who hails from Benin has been named a starter.

Guard Reggie Redding was suspended after an offseason arrest for marijuana possession and is out until mid-December. Wright said Reynolds, guards Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher and forward Antonio Pena will have to pick up the slack for Redding, who started 22 games last season.

Friday will mark the first time in 27 years Fairleigh Dickinson will open a season without Tom Green as coach. Green was let go June 4 after posting a 407-351 record during his tenure.

His replacement, Greg Vetrone, is best known for his involvement in a scandal surrounding the recruitment of Lamar Odom as an assistant at UNLV in the late 1990s.

Vetrone inherits a team that went 7-23 last season and finished tied for ninth in the Northeast Conference.

Villanova is 2-0 against Fairleigh Dickinson, winning 85-63 Dec. 12, 2000, in the last meeting.