Randy who? Allan what? Kyle what's-his-face?
Villanova basketball fans do not need to reminisce anymore about their team's dazzling guards of yesteryear. In fact, Scottie Reynolds is playing so well that fans may forget his predecessors altogether.
The freshman point guard re-energized a once-struggling Wildcats team that has won four of its last five games. During this stretch, Reynolds averaged 20.6 points and 4.4 assists per game, up from his season averages of 12.2 and 4.1.
Furthermore, all four wins came against quality opposition, with victories at Georgetown and Providence, and home wins over Notre Dame and Texas. In the win over the Longhorns, Reynolds (26 points) outplayed Texas forward and fellow freshman sensation Kevin Durant (12 points).
What makes Reynolds' emergence more important is the uncertain health of Villanova's injury-plagued star forward Curtis Sumpter (18.3 ppg). Sumpter, who sat out the 2005-'06 season with a torn ACL, missed the Texas game with a bruised knee and played just 16 minutes off the bench Tuesday at Providence.
Although Villanova's success last year behind guys named Foye, Ray and Lowry influenced the team's difficult conference schedule this season (repeat opponents are Georgetown, Syracuse and Notre Dame … goodness gracious), the newcomer at point guard looks primed to lead the Wildcats back into the postseason.
Don't forget about the Hoyas just yet
Georgetown has underachieved so far, but because no team other than Pittsburgh has separated itself from the Big East pack, the Hoyas are still in the hunt for a top-three finish.
But Georgetown still needs better play from its touted frontcourt duo of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert.
In a game at Seton Hall over the weekend, Georgetown out-rebounded the undersized Pirates 38-8, but Green and Hibbert were relatively quiet, combining for only 18 points. Hibbert took just three shots. Here's a hint: If you have a guy shooting 70.9 percent on the season, get him the ball.
Green, meanwhile, has looked like a budding star since he was named Co-Big East Freshman of the Year along with Rudy Gay in 2004-'05. Although Green's court vision fits well in coach John Thompson III's Princeton-style offense, the forward's scoring and rebounding averages have decreased each year since his freshman campaign.