2008–09 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team

The Wildcats finished the 2007–08 season 22–13, 9–9 in Big East play to finish in a tie for eighth place. The Wildcats lost in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament to Georgetown. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Clemson and Siena to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. There they lost to the eventual national champions, Kansas.

Source[http://www.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?year=2008&sport=2&school=33 Villanova Class of 2008 – Rivals][http://kansas.scout.com/a.z?s=172&p=9&cfg=bb&c=8&yr=2008 Villanova Class of 2008 – Scout][https://archive.today/20120709131619/http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/school?page=commits&season=2008&schoolId=2305 Villanova Class of 2008 – ESPN]

{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=no|collapse=no|year=2008}}

{{College Athlete Recruit Entry

| recruit = Maurice Sutton

| position = C

| hometown = Upper Marlboro, MD

| highschool = Largo HS

| feet = 6

| inches = 10

| weight = 190

| 40 =

| commitdate = 2008-05-21

| scout stars = 3

| rivals stars = 3

| espn grade = 87

}}

|-

| colspan="7" style="padding-left:10px;" | Overall Recruiting Rankings:     Scout – NR     Rivals – NR {{Cite web |url=http://villanova.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1082109 |title=2008 Team Recruiting Rankings – Rivals |access-date=2011-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005015419/http://villanova.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1082109 |archive-date=2011-10-05 |url-status=dead }}     ESPN – NR 

|}

Before the season began, on October 22, 2008, the Wildcats were selected to finish fifth among the 16 Big East Conference teams in the annual preseason coaches' poll at Madison Square Garden.{{Cite news|url=http://www.villanova.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102208aab.html|title=Villanova Selected Fifth in BIG EAST Pre-Season Coaches Poll|access-date=2018-02-23}} As part of recent tradition, the 2008 Hoopsmania (an on-campus kickoff of the Villanova Basketball season), included a performance by hip-hop artist T-Pain. Previous artists have included 50 Cent, Tony Yayo and MIMS.[http://villanova.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102408aae.html Hoopsmania Kickoff]

The Villanova-Pitt game on January 28, 2009 was the last game to be held at the Wachovia Spectrum which drew a crowd of 17,449.{{Cite web |url=http://villanova.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/020109aaa.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-02-02 |archive-date=2009-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209083529/http://villanova.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/020109aaa.html |url-status=dead }} The Wildcats finished perfect the year at the Pavilion. Villanova's 25 regular-season wins tied a school record. It had been done three times before, but not since 1950–51.

During the 2009 Big East Awards Ceremony, head coach Jay Wright was named the 2009 Big East Coach of the Year. He won the award twice in the previous four years. Villanova senior forward Dante Cunningham was named the Big East's Most Improved Player, and sophomore guard Corey Fisher won the Sixth Man Award. Cunningham, a senior forward, won second-team honors on the all-Big East team, while junior guard Scottie Reynolds took honorable mention.http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/homepage/20090310_Villanovas_Jay_Wright_named_Big_East_Coach_of_the_Year.html Jay Wright Big East Coach of the Year . Accessed 2009-03-12. [https://archive.today/20090607035349/http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/homepage/20090310_Villanovas_Jay_Wright_named_Big_East_Coach_of_the_Year.html Archived] 2009-06-06.

{{CBB schedule start|attend=yes}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Villanova Wildcats}}| Exhibition

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 6, 2008

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 25

| opponent = Northwood

| site_stadium = Wachovia Spectrum

| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA

| score = 75–37

| record =

| attend =

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Villanova Wildcats}}| Non-conference regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 14, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 25

| opponent = Albany

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Villanova, PA

| tv =

| score = 78–60

| record = 1–0

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 17, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 23

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Fordham|team=Fordham Rams|title=Fordham}}

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Villanova, PA

| tv =

| score = 107–68

| record = 2–0

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 19, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 23

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Niagara|team=Niagara Purple Eagles|title=Niagara}}

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Villanova, PA

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 77–62

| record = 3–0

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 25, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 22

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Monmouth|team=Monmouth Hawks|title=Monmouth}}

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Villanova, PA

| gamename = Philly Hoop Group Classic

| tv =

| score = 71–48

| record = 4–0

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 28, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 22

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Towson|team=Towson Tigers|title=Towson}}

| site_stadium = The Palestra

| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA

| gamename = Philly Hoop Group Classic

| tv =

| score = 64–47

| record = 5–0

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Nov 29, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 22

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Rhode Island|team=Rhode Island Rams|title=Rhode Island}}

| site_stadium = The Palestra

| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA

| gamename = Philly Hoop Group Classic

| tv =

| score = 78–65

| record = 6–0

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 2, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 16

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Penn|team=Penn Quakers|title=Penn}}

| site_stadium = The Palestra

| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA

| gamename = Big 5

| tv =

| score = 69–47

| record = 7–0

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 4, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 16

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Houston Baptist|team=Houston Baptist Huskies|title=Houston Baptist}}

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Villanova, PA

| tv =

| score = 93–57

| record = 8–0

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 9, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 12

| neutral = yes

| opponent = Texas

| opprank = 6

| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden

| site_cityst = New York, NY

| gamename = Jimmy V Classic

| tv = ESPN

| score = 58–67

| record = 8–1

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 11, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 12

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Saint Joseph's|team=Saint Joseph's Hawks|title=Saint Joseph's}}

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Vilanova, PA

| gamename = Big 5

| tv =

| score = 59–56

| record = 9–1

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 11, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 12

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=La Salle|team=La Salle Explorers|title=La Salle}}

| site_stadium = Tom Gola Arena

| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA

| gamename = Big 5

| tv =

| score = 70–59

| record = 10–1

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 22, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 16

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Navy|team=Navy Midshipmen|title=Navy}}

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Vilanova, PA

| tv =

| score = 78–68

| record = 11–1

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 29, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| rank = 13

| opponent = Temple

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Vilanova, PA

| gamename = Big 5

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 62–45

| record = 12–1

| attend =

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Villanova Wildcats}}|2008–09 Big East Conference men's basketball season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 1, 2009

| time =

| rank = 13

| away = yes

| opponent = Marquette

| opprank = 13

| site_stadium = Bradley Center

| site_cityst = Milwaukee, WI

| tv = ESPN

| score = 79–72

| record = 12–2

| conference = 0–1

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 6, 2009

| time =

| rank = 17

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Seton Hall|team=Seton Hall Pirate|title=Seton Hall}}

| site_stadium = Prudential Center

| site_cityst = Newark, NJ

| tv = WPHL

| score = 89–85

| overtime = OT

| record = 13–2

| conference = 1–1

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 10, 2009

| time =

| rank = 17

| opponent = Louisville

| opprank = 21

| site_stadium = Wachovia Center

| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA

| tv = ESPN

| score = 60–61

| record = 13–3

| conference = 1–2

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 18

| time =

| rank = 22

| opponent = St. John's

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Villanova, PA

| tv = WPHL

| score = 76–57

| record = 14–3

| conference = 2–2

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 21, 2009

| time =

| rank = 21

| away = yes

| opponent = Connecticut

| opprank = 3

| site_stadium = Harry A. Gampel Pavilion

| site_cityst = Hartford, CT

| tv = ESPN

| score = 83–89

| record = 14–4

| conference = 2–3

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 24

| time =

| rank = 21

| away = yes

| opponent = South Florida

| site_stadium = USF Sun Dome

| site_cityst = Tampa, FL

| tv = WPHL

| score = 70–61

| record = 15–4

| conference = 3–3

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 28, 2009

| time =

| rank = 21

| away = yes

| opponent = Pittsburgh

| opprank = 3

| site_stadium = Wachovia Spectrum

| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA

| tv = ESPNU

| score = 67–57

| record = 16–4

| conference = 4–3

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 1, 2009

| time =

| rank = 21

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=Cincinnati|team=Cincinnati Wildcats|title=Cincinnati}}

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Vilanova, PA

| tv = WPHL

| score = 71–50

| record = 17–4

| conference = 5–3

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 4, 2009

| time =

| rank = 16

| away = yes

| opponent = Providence

| site_stadium = Dunkin' Donuts Center

| site_cityst = Providence, RI

| tv = WPHL

| score = 94–91

| record = 18–4

| conference = 6–3

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 7, 2009

| time =

| rank = 16

| opponent = Syracuse

| opprank = 20

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Vilanova, PA

| tv = ESPN

| score = 102–85

| record = 19–4

| conference = 7–3

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 10, 2009

| time =

| rank = 13

| opponent = Marquette

| opprank = 12

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Vilanova, PA

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 102–84

| record = 20–4

| conference = 8–3

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 13, 2009

| time =

| rank = 13

| away = yes

| opponent = West Virginia

| site_stadium = WVU Coliseum

| site_cityst = Morgantown, WV

| tv = ESPN

| score = 72–93

| record = 20–5

| conference = 8–4

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 19

| time =

| rank = 14

| opponent = Rutgers

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Vilanova, PA

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 82–72

| record = 21–5

| conference = 9–4

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 22

| time =

| rank = 14

| away = yes

| opponent = Syracuse

| opprank = 25

| site_stadium = Carrier Dome

| site_cityst = Syracuse, NY

| tv = CBS

| score = 89–86

| record = 22–5

| conference = 10–4

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 25, 2009

| time =

| rank = 12

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=2008–09|school=DePaul|team=DePaul Blue Demons|title=DePaul}}

| site_stadium = Allstate Arena

| site_cityst = Rosemont, IL

| tv = WPHL

| score = 74–72

| record = 23–5

| conference = 11–4

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 28, 2009

| time =

| rank = 12

| opponent = Georgetown

| site_stadium = Wachovia Center

| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA

| tv = ESPN

| score = 54–56

| record = 23–6

| conference = 11–5

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 2, 2009

| time =

| rank = 16

| away = yes

| opponent = Notre Dame

| site_stadium = Joyce Center

| site_cityst = South Bend, IN

| tv = ESPN

| score = 77–60

| record = 24–6

| conference = 12–5

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 5, 2009

| time =

| rank = 16

| opponent = Providence

| site_stadium = The Pavilion

| site_cityst = Vilanova, PA

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 97–80

| record = 25–6

| conference = 13–5

| attend =

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Villanova Wildcats}}|2009 Big East men's basketball tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 12, 2009

| time =

| neutral = yes

| rank = 13

| seed = 4

| opponent = Marquette

| opprank = 21

| oppseed = 5

| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden

| site_cityst = New York, NY

| gamename = Quarterfinals

| tv =

| score = 76–75

| record = 26–6

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 13, 2009

| time =

| neutral = yes

| rank = 13

| seed = 4

| opponent = Louisville

| opprank = 5

| oppseed = 1

| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden

| site_cityst = New York, NY

| gamename = Semifinals

| tv =

| score = 63–82

| record = 26–7

| attend =

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Villanova Wildcats}}|2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 19, 2008

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| rank = 12

| seed = 3E

| opponent = American

| oppseed = 14E

| site_stadium = Wachovia Center

| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA

| gamename = First Round

| tv =

| score = 80–67

| record = 27–7

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 21, 2009

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| rank = 12

| seed = 3E

| opponent = UCLA

| opprank = 17

| oppseed = 6E

| site_stadium = Wachovia Center

| site_cityst = Philadelphia, PA

| gamename = Second Round

| tv =

| score = 89–69

| record = 28–7

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 26, 2009

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| rank = 12

| seed = 3E

| opponent = Duke

| opprank = 5

| oppseed = 2E

| site_stadium = TD Banknorth Garden

| site_cityst = Boston, MA

| gamename = Sweet Sixteen

| tv =

| score = 77–54

| record = 29–7

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 28, 2009

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| rank = 12

| seed = 3E

| opponent = Pittsburgh

| opprank = 4

| oppseed = 1E

| site_stadium = TD Banknorth Garden

| site_cityst = Boston, MA

| gamename = Elite Eight

| tv =

| score = 78–76

| record = 30–7

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Apr 4, 2009

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| rank = 12

| seed = 3E

| opponent = North Carolina

| opprank = 2

| oppseed = 1W

| site_stadium = Ford Field

| site_cityst = Detroit, MI

| gamename = Final Four

| tv =

| score = 69–83

| record = 30–8

| attend =

}}

{{CBB schedule end

| rank =

| poll=AP Poll

| timezone = Eastern Time

}}

{{Main|2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}

{{Ranking movements

| poll1title = AP

| poll1firstweek = 0

| poll1lastweek =17

| poll1_0= 23

| poll1_1= 23

| poll1_2= 20

| poll1_3= 17

| poll1_4= 15

| poll1_5= 18

| poll1_6= 18

| poll1_7= 15

| poll1_8= 18

| poll1_9= 23

| poll1_10= 20

| poll1_11= 21

| poll1_12= 17

| poll1_13= 13

| poll1_14= 12

| poll1_15= 10

| poll1_16= 11

| poll1_17= 10

| poll1_18=

| poll1_19=

| poll2title = Coaches

| poll2firstweek = 0

| poll2lastweek =18

| poll2_0= 25

| poll2_1= 23

| poll2_2= 22

| poll2_3= 16

| poll2_4= 12

| poll2_5= 15

| poll2_6= 16

| poll2_7= 13

| poll2_8= 17

| poll2_9= 22

| poll2_10= 21

| poll2_11= 21

| poll2_12= 16

| poll2_13= 13

| poll2_14= 14

| poll2_15= 12

| poll2_16= 16

| poll2_17= 13

| poll2_18= 4

| poll2_19=

| poll2_20=

}}

*AP does not release post-NCAA tournament rankings.

{{Reflist}}

{{Villanova Wildcats men's basketball navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2008-09 Villanova Wildcats Men's Basketball Team}}

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Category:Villanova Wildcats men's basketball seasons

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Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons