Villanova Wildcats: Jay Wright is one win away from immortality

After capturing his first National Championship two years ago, a win on Monday night, and a second National Championship will catapult Jay Wright into the conversation as one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time.

Back in 2001, the Villanova Wildcats brought in a young, up and coming head coach from Hofstra by the name of Jay Wright. A guard at Bucknell in the early 1980’s, Wright was widely unknown around the Philadelphia area, but after resurrecting Hofstra over his seven-year tenure, Villanova looked to Jay to do the same to them.

A former assistant under Rollie Massimino, Wright had returned to the Main Line as the lead man of their basketball program, and with that came lofty expectations. Villanova fans hoped that Wright could coach as well as he could dress.

The program that Wright inherited was mediocre at best, and aside from an unlikely run at a title in 1985, they didn’t have much to hang their heads on. A school that already struggled to get recognized as a “Philly school” saw themselves continually being distanced from the city’s “Big Five” basketball community.

Foundationally sound

Early on in Wright’s tenure, he didn’t do much to win over the support of those who had doubted him and the Villanova program. And after three straight mediocre seasons that resulted in trips to the NIT tournament, many wondered if Wright was the right man to turn Villanova around after all.

But what many didn’t see though, was that in the years that the Wildcats failed to reach the big dance, Wright was laying down the groundwork and building a foundation for the future teams to come at Villanova.

Even nowadays, when Villanova enjoys a plethora of success, Wright always makes it a priority to say that the current players are playing for those who came before them, and all the success the Wildcats are enjoying would not be possible for all the players that donned the Wildcats blue and white prior.

In large part, Wright is absolutely correct. The success that Villanova has enjoyed, especially over the last five seasons is thanks in large part to the players who came to Villanova prior and helped lay the foundation that has now turned into a college basketball powerhouse.

Related Story: The Villanova Wildcats are heading to the NCAA Finals!

From Scottie Reynolds, Reggie Redding, Corey Fisher, Dante Cunningham and Randy Foye; these guys helped to lay the foundation for Wright and helped him establish a winning culture at Villanova. Guys that took a chance on an up and coming coach, and even though they never won a national championship, they still played large roles in developing the culture that led to the Cats victory in 2016.

Another guy who I did not forget to add, was someone also very responsible for the rise of Villanova and that was Philly’s own Kyle Lowry. Lowry coming to Nova as a Philly kid helped to finally put Villanova on the map as a Philly school that top-level players from the area would consider going forward.

All of these guys that took a chance on an up-and-coming program just outside of Philadelphia are the reason that so many high-level guys are now considering Villanova. Those players helped Wright become an elite level coach, and helped to finally put this small school outside of Philly on the map.

Nowadays, everyone around the country knows who Villanova is. But I can bet you not many people know where it is. Some may say, Philly, others may say near Philly, but one thing I can tell you for sure is that a whole lot more people know what Villanova is then they did 18 years ago when Jay was first getting started.

The Villanova Wildcats are Philly Tough

More from Villanova Wildcats

• Villanova: Point guard Jalen Brunson is about to get paid
• Philadelphia 76ers: Omari Spellman needs a serious look from Daryl Morey
• After finally leaving “Bubbleville” Villanova wonders what comes next
• Jay Wright was never going to coach the Philadelphia 76ers
• Philadelphia 76ers: Looking at 5 possible head coaching candidates

Many old-time Big Five fans are still reluctant to cheer for Villanova, citing the old claim that it just isn’t a Philly school. Alums from schools such as Temple and St. Joes have this hatred for Villanova because they aren’t in the city limits. Well, even though Villanova is just 20 minutes outside of the city, they play a style of basketball that resonates with Philadelphia. They play more “Philly Ball” than any of the other teams in the city.

Flip on a Villanova game and you’ll see Wright has his guys battling for every loose ball and fighting for every rebound. It could be a 20 point game and Jay is still coaching hard from the sidelines and the players are still laying their body on the line to make a play. Toughness is just in their DNA, and that Philly toughness is something Wright has continued to instill in his team.

Maybe they despise from the other Big Five fans comes from jealousy, which is understandable, but you can’t hate this team for how they play. Year-after-year, Villanova plays the right way and those around the city should be proud to have a program like this represent them.

Not many teams can combine supreme talent with toughness and commitment, but Wright has found a way to do it. He has found a way to get blue chip guys to stay for four years and has found a way to get future first round picks to throw their body on the line to help their team win.

One minute you’ll see Jalen Brunson draining step back three pointers or show off dazzling moves en route to the hoop, and just seconds later he will be diving over the scorers’ table to save a loose ball. That is what Wright refers to as “attitude,” and that is the style of play that shows the true toughness of this team. They are “Philly tough.”

Related Story: Wildcats had look of championship team vs Kansas

Over the last five years, Villanova has been on an unprecedented run. Since the start of 2013, Villanova has lost just 21 games, won four Big East regular season championships, three Big East tournament championships, and yeah there was that 2016 National Championship as well.

Every time you think Villanova is going to take a step back, they get even better. When Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu left in 2016, Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins stepped up. When the latter two graduated last year, Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges stepped in and took charge.

The ability to improve every year shows how much credit Wright deserves for his ability to recruit and then develop players. Brunson and Bridges weren’t super-stars two years ago, but now they lead the best team in the country. Bridges went from a lanky high upside recruit to one of the best wing players in the country.

Jay Wright’s legacy

All of this success has been unusual in this day and age of college basketball. So many of your blue blood programs have just a constant rotation of one-and-done guys coming in year-in and year-out. Villanova, on the other hand, has been the exception to the rule. Wright has his guys come in and buy into his program, and that is what makes Villanova so special: their reliance on upperclassman.

When you look at Wright’s resume, you can see why he has a case to be a part of the college basketball Hall of Fame. 13 NCAA tournament appearances, a handful of Big East regular season and tournament championships, three Final Fours, and of course the 2016 National Championship.

A win over Michigan on Monday night will give Wright his second title in three years. A second National Championship will make it all but certain that Wright will earn himself a spot in Springfield in the future.

Wright’s second national championship will give him the same number as Mike Krzyzewski, and Jim Calhoun since 2002 (Wright’s first year at Villanova), and more than John Calipari, Bill Self,  Rick Pitino, and Jim Boeheim in that same time frame.

Related Story: Philadelphia Eagles show support for Villanova Wildcats before Final Four

Even if Villanova loses on Monday night, Wright’s case for the Hall of Fame is still cemented. But with a win, it becomes a no-brainer. If you are still hesitant to believe Wright is a Hall of Fame coach, a win over Michigan should be enough to change your mind.

Wright has built Villanova into a national powerhouse, and one that is built for many years to come. Five years after this dominant run began, Wright has his best team ever, and it may even be one of the best teams ever in college basketball. The way they have steamrolled teams on their run has been remarkable, and it’s amazing how they have gotten even better from where they were when they won it all in 2016.

Next: Villanova Wildcats: 5 takeaways from Final Four win over Kansas Jayhawks

A win on Monday night will cement Wright as one of the best coaches ever, and will effectively eliminate any lingering memories of the Wildcats’ early exits or poor tournament showings of yore. No, Wright will be remembered for taking a program no one wanted a part of, not even its own city, and turning it into one of college basketball’s best by playing the game the right way.