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For Villanova’s Reynolds, the tears of joy say it all
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 is among a band of locals leading the Wildcats into the Sweet 16. — AP','pp'))
Villanova sophomore Scottie Reynolds (Herndon High) is among a band of locals leading the Wildcats into the Sweet 16. — AP
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - As he walked off the floor, headed to the locker room and the Sweet 16, Villanova sophomore guard Scottie Reynolds caught sight of his mom. And he noticed the tears.
Which summed up his feelings as well as any words could.
“She’s seen me go through so much and work hard,” said Reynolds, a Herndon High graduate, “and seeing her face and knowing why she was crying, said it all.”
Two years ago at this time, Reynolds was headed to Oklahoma, lured by his relationship with then-coach Kelvin Sampson. That is, until Sampson bolted for Indiana. Thus started Reynold’s journey that included another intense, and too quick, recruiting period. Three months later Reynolds landed at Villanova.
And now he’s in the Sweet 16, preparing to face Kansas on Friday. It hasn’t been easy. “You understand a lot more about what this is all about and you understand why people shed tears,” he said, “and why they’re so emotional after wins and losses.”
Reynolds joined a starting unit as a freshman that included four seniors. By season’s end he had established himself as the go-to player, scoring in double figures in the last eight games, averaging 14.8 ppg overall. But the transition was not smooth, partly because he did not know his new coach, Jay Wright, as well as he knew Sampson. Reynolds remains close with his high school coach, Gary Hall.
“We both wanted that, but you just can’t create it immediately,” Wright said. “We’re both at a point where we have great confidence in each other. It’s tougher doing it as you go through the season.
“Then we went through USA basketball and that wasn’t the easiest experience. I was the coach and I wanted him to be a leader, but he was with seniors and playing against 25, 30, 35-year old pros. He handled it like a star and that’s why he is where he is today. He takes responsibility on himself.”
Reynolds likes that responsibility, one reason he’s comfortable at point guard — a spot he was moved to permanently three weeks ago. In the postseason, Reynolds has averaged 20.3 points per game — four more than his season average — while shooting 61 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
“He’s meant everything to us,” Wright said. “He’s made the transition and completed the development of being a high school scoring point guard to a big-time college point guard. One of the most important things that our team has developed is leadership from the point guard position.”
Reynolds said, “[Wright] demands a lot of you ... . The process was tough, but you look back and see everything that happened and you know you made a good decision. I feel fortunate to be in this position.”
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2:47 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 12, 2008 re: "Steinmetz: An NBA guy’s take on Kansas-Memphis"
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Jim Steinmetz said:
It's particularly unfair to say that Hurley was a nice college player but a marginal pro - he was in a gruesome accident that essentially destroyed his NBA career. What's next? Are you going to say Jay Williams was a disappointment?
9 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I'm still scratching my head trying find any similarities between Kevin Love and Larry Bird. Love is a low post player who can hit an outside shot if he's left unguarded, Larry Bird was a great outside shooter who could penetrate. Love lumbers down the court like a Clydesdale, Bird could run like a quarter horse. Other than the fact that they're both white and both are good, they're as different as could be.
9 agree | 11 disagree
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notme said:
Also, USC playing better as the season progressed? As shown by their 6-4 record in the last 10 games? Or their 12-8 record over the past 20 games? Oh, wait, USC actually was most successful EARLY in the season.
9 agree | 8 disagree
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notme said:
Did Dickey even watch the Pac-10 finals? Only a little help from Love? I guess, if only offense counts. Of course, the real reason UCLA won the game is that Love totally shut down Brook Lopez in the second half.
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Larry Williams said:
How can you talk about a resurgence of college hoops in the area and not mention the only school from Baltimore to win a National Championship ad has the best chance to reach the NCAA Division I tourny this year: Morgan State University!! Is it because Morgan plays in the predominately Black college MEAC. or have you become conditioned to disregard any accomlishments by this great university, just like the rest of the sports journalist in this city?
79 agree | 75 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Joe Mclean is like a breath of fresh air,especially in a time when the very life we live seems to be suffocating from the nonsensical stinch that's presently being emitted from a misguided generation of African/american youth that somehow seems insurmountable and even far too complex for the creator Himself to resolve. Joe is one of the most well rounded young brothers I know. He's a possitve role model and a gift to any parent. That's why I'm overwhelmed at the very fact of his existance and forever grateful to my Lord for allowing me to be his POP-POP. Thanks Joe, keep up the good work.
513 agree | 248 disagree
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Great story, Ron!!!! said:
Ron, I love this story on the Terp freshmen WBB players getting ahead, as well as the other tidbits you wove into the story. Thank you very much for writing this one. If you need another idea, how about one on the three outstanding Lady Terps that won gold medals this summer playing for the USA?!? Keep up the great work. Thanks, again.
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Examiner Reader said:
i thank that this is going to be a good thing for mason ,cam is a will rounded player he wiil add big games in the wins .
607 agree | 366 disagree
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