Jay Wright's game plan was simple."I told the guys Jeff Schiffner starts on any Big East team," the Villanova coach said following his team's 73-63 victory over Penn last night at the Palestra. "That was the guy we had to stop."
For the Quakers, who saw their hopes for a city series title dashed against the resurgent Wildcats, last night's result may prove ominous -- especially if Wright's defensive blueprint proves consistently effective against them.
Corralled mostly by sophomore Randy Foye, Schiffner struggled to find his touch during the first half as Villanova raced to an early, permanent lead. Only a handful of garbage-time baskets by the co-captain salvaged a bearable 4-for-15 performance from the field.
"Scouting reports," stated Foye plainly. "The coaches did a good job with the scouting reports, letting us know all their plays. When he tried to come off the screens, we knew."
The Quakers looked flaccid in both halves against their Main Line rivals, who closed in on their first city series title since 2001. Never mind the final score: Wright's Wildcats never relinquished control of this contest.
Penn appeared lost during extended stretches of the second half, visibly confused by Villanova's rapid transition game -- and rendered unable to counter on offense.
The globetrotting Wildcats --playing their seventh road game of the year -- looked right at home at the Palestra, where they previously topped La Salle in Saturday's Big 5 Classic, 74-61.
"We're getting comfortable with this court," Villanova freshman guard Mike Nardi said.
By the time Penn forward Eric Heil dragged Villanova forward Curtis Sumpter to the floor as the Wildcats attacked the basket in transition late in the game -- a play that had the 'Nova fans up in arms -- it was clear that the Quakers were frustrated.
For the Red and Blue, Villanova's defensive approach can't be unexpected. Schiffner is the best three-point shooter on a team that lives and dies by the longball. Wright's defensive game plan was hardly unorthodox.
"That's who we are," Dunphy said of his team's long-range propensity. "When they do try to guard our perimeter guys like they did tonight then we have to step up and do a better job of running our sets."
Schiffner received little help from his supporting cast. Senior Adam Chubb deposited 17 points, mostly from the charity stripe. Junior Jan Fikiel's three field goals provided some limited pluck. And senior Charlie Copp made several plays -- including a brave foray into the lane with 1:12 remaining that cut Villanova's lead to 65-60.
But like Penn's last-minute run Saturday against Saint Joseph's, the effort was too little, too late.
"If teams are going to do those kinds of things to him, then when we do get an opportunity, we've got to take advantage of it," Dunphy said.
When Penn opens its Ancient Eight title defense against Yale in just under eight weeks, Penn's all-Ivy sharpshooter won't be any less targeted. If the Quakers expect to make it three in a row, somebody must answer the call when Schiffner is smothered -- lest their speedy demise in this year's city series prefigures their Ivy fate.
