March 23, 2005

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  03/23/2005

  Villanova has faith in backup trio with Sumpter out

  By TERRY TOOHEY , ttoohey@delcotimes.com

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  

  VILLANOVA – Life after Curtis Sumpter’s season-ending knee injury officially got under way at Villanova Tuesday afternoon. As the 6-7 junior forward worked out on a stationary bike, his teammates began preparation for Friday night’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup with top-seeded North Carolina (29-4) at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. There was no sign of panic. No dejected faces as Sumpter watched from the sideline. Basically, it was business as usual for the fifth-seeded Wildcats (24-7). “We feel bad for Curt,” point guard Mike Nardi said. “You hate to lose anyone, especially at this time of year, but we have to move on and that’s what we’re going to do.” Overcoming adversity has been a familiar refrain for the Wildcats. They have been down this road many times in the past three years and have always found a way to bounce back. This time, though, the challenge is a little more difficult. The Wildcats must replace a young man who leads the team in rebounding (7.2) and is second in both scoring (15.3) and minutes played (32.1). That job will fall to 6-10 junior center Jason Fraser, who is expected to start against the Tar Heels, 6-9 junior forward Marcus Austin and 7-0 junior forward/center Chris Charles. All three, especially Austin and Charles, are up to the task. “Charles and I are confident that we’ll do the job Coach (Jay) Wright wants us to do,” Austin said. “That’s what teams are supposed to be about. If one guy goes down the next is expected to step in and do the job.” Fraser is the known name in that group. As a McDonald’s All-American, he is the most heralded member of Wright’s most celebrated recruiting class that also included Sumpter and guards Randy Foye and Allan Ray. Injuries have slowed Fraser’s progress, but the Long Island native has been a solid contributor off the bench, averaging 6.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.4 blocked shots and 21 minutes per game. Fraser came up big after Sumpter left the Florida game with a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He scored 21 points and pulled down 15 rebounds to lead the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1988 with a 76-65 victory over the Gators. “Jay was a monster,” Ray said. “He would not be denied.” If Fraser starts, and that most likely will be a game-time decision, Austin and Charles will have to fill Fraser’s role off the bench, even though both players have seen limited action this season. Austin averages 10.1 minutes and just under two points and two rebounds per game. He has played in 29 of Villanova’s 31 games. Austin recorded career highs in both points (15) and rebounds (seven) in a 110-89 victory over Rutgers Jan. 18, 2003. His best effort this season was six points against La Salle and Penn. Charles has seen action in 19 games and averages 7.3 minutes as well as just under two points and two rebounds per game. His career highs are 10 points against Ohio State and 12 rebounds versus Chaminade in 2003. He had eight points, five rebounds and three blocked shots in 18 minutes against the University of Maryland Baltimore County. “Not many people know us because we don’t play a lot of minutes, but we’re confident we can do the job,” Charles said. “We work every day in practice to be ready for the game and this is an opportunity to show what we can do.” The Wildcats are certain that Austin and Charles are up to the challenge. “No doubt about it,” sophomore forward Will Sheridan said. “We see them every day in practice. There are times when they dominate in practice. The only reason they haven’t played that much is that there are only so many minutes in a game, but we know what they can do and we have a great deal of confidence in them. We have confidence in everyone on this team.” It is that kind of faith that has the Wildcats thinking good thoughts even though they are a decided underdog. “Carolina‘s a great team,” Ray said. “They have five or six future NBA players, but they’re not unbeatable and we’re confident that we can beat them. It won’t be easy. We have to play well. We have to defend, rebound and make shots, but we’ve beaten some of the top teams in the country this year so we know we’re capable of beating anyone.” Terry Toohey is the assistant sports editor of the Daily Times.

  
  

   

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