Jay Wright

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Steve Addazio called the three proposals on divisional alignment presented to the Big East football coaches and athletic directors at the conference's spring meetings a win-win-win situation for Temple. One proposal would split the league into East and West divisions beginning in 2013. Another called for North and South divisions. And the third would have a non-geographic alignment, splitting the West Coast schools, the Texas schools, and the Florida schools.

Jay Wright knows that last season wasn't just a failure on paper for Villanova, but an unwatchable debacle. When Wright's past teams made deep NCAA runs, "the stars all aligned," as the Wildcats coach put it. This time, it was more like space junk falling from the sky. "There were some recruiting decisions, there were some decisions on style of play for this year, there was development of players . . . a little bit of each," Wright said of...

Jay Wright's voice was scratchy as he greeted writers and broadcasters Thursday at the Davis Center, and the Villanova coach explained that the hoarseness came from being under the weather, not from yelling at his players. "This isn't a group that needs yelling," Wright said. "This is a group that needs loving. " The Wildcats have been off from practice for two days, or since their dramatic collapse in the first round of the Big East tournament, when they blew a 16-point lead and were upset by South Florida for their fifth consecutive loss.

The college experience could have gone so differently for Shane Clark. Had it not been for a clerical error, Clark would have spent the last four years exhibiting his versatile basketball skills and easygoing manner at Maryland. He'd be grabbing rebounds, draining the occasional basket, and guarding the likes of Tyler Hansbrough. Instead, the pleasure of Clark's talent and personality over that time has belonged to Villanova, the school he initially spurned but where he was accepted by his teammates and coach Jay Wright after fate intervened.

The more Jay Wright watched television in the days after Villanova's stunning 70-69 loss to South Florida in the Big East tournament, the better he felt about the Wildcats' chances of advancing to the NCAA tourney for the seventh consecutive year. And when Wright and his players watched Villanova come up as the fifth team on the 68-team bracket during the televised selection show, he felt better still. Despite a five-game losing streak, the 11/2-point underdog Wildcats drew a No. 9 seed in the East Region and will meet eighth-seeded George Mason of the Colonial Athletic Association on Friday at 2:10 p.m. in Cleveland.

The basketball season will begin earlier than usual for St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli, Villanova coach Jay Wright, and Drexel coach Bruiser Flint. USA Basketball yesterday announced that Martelli will coach the under-21 national team that will play in the World Championships from Aug. 5 to 14 in Argentina. Martelli will be assisted by Flint and Georgia coach Dennis Felton. The selections were made by a committee chaired by Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. Although it has not been announced, Wright is expected today to be named coach of the U.S. team that will compete in the World University Games from Aug. 11 to 21 in Turkey.

Mike Holland remembers growing up in Ardmore and sneaking into Villanova men's basketball games. With his friends in tow, Holland would find a way - any way - into the university's old fieldhouse. But Holland should have no trouble finding a way to watch a Wildcats game next season. He has an in with the new coach. Jay Wright, who had been the head coach at Hofstra University since 1994, was named yesterday to the same position at Villanova. He replaces Steve Lappas, who stepped down Friday.

Moving quickly to procure Villanova's No. 1 choice for the vacant head coaching position, athletic director Vince Nicastro said last night he had offered the job to Hofstra basketball coach Jay Wright. Wright, 39, a former Villanova assistant coach who led the Pride to NCAA tournament appearances in the last two seasons, met with Nicastro yesterday morning at an undisclosed location in southern New Jersey. Wright was offered the job before the meeting ended. Nicastro and Wright did not finalize a contract, but they were expected to do so during another meeting today.

Congratulations to coach Jay Wright and his Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team for their stirring run through March Madness. The team's tournament run ended Friday with a loss to mighty North Carolina, after a really, really, really awful referee's call cost them a chance to tie the game with two seconds left. Wright and his players were most impressive after the final horn blew, as they refused to whine about the call, blast the refs or blame anyone but themselves for the defeat.

Villanova assistant basketball coach Doug West is leaving the school for a business opportunity, according to a source. West, a 1989 Villanova graduate, spent 3 years on Jay Wright's staff. He will be replaced by Keith Urgo, who is being promoted from manager of basketball operations. Baker Dunleavy, who played at Villanova from 2002 to '06, will replace Urgo. Dunleavy is the son of former Sixers player and NBA head coach Mike Dunleavy. An official announcement is expected today.

Jay Wright knows that last season wasn't just a failure on paper for Villanova, but an unwatchable debacle. When Wright's past teams made deep NCAA runs, "the stars all aligned," as the Wildcats coach put it. This time, it was more like space junk falling from the sky. "There were some recruiting decisions, there were some decisions on style of play for this year, there was development of players . . . a little bit of each," Wright said of...

DOMINIC CHEEK comes from a rough part of Jersey City, N.J., where he became a McDonald's All-American at St. Anthony's High. Now he wants to start helping his parents, grandmother and three brothers (two younger) by playing basketball for a living. Wherever that might take him. "I know it could be a bumpy road," he said Thursday at Villanova, where the Wildcats' junior guard, as expected, made it official by announcing he's making himself available for the NBA draft. "But I'm willing to face that challenge, do whatever I have to do to . . . pursue my dream of a pro career.

SOURCES HAVE confirmed Internet rumblings that junior swingman Dominic Cheek could leave Villanova early for the NBA draft. The Wildcats already are losing junior lead guard Maalik Wayns, their leading scorer (17-plus points a game) and a second-team all-Big East selection. Neither Cheek nor coach Jay Wright, who was out of town recruiting, could be reached for comment. The 6-6 Cheek averaged 12.5 points in 30 minutes per game, both second-best on a team that finished 13-19 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004.

Sources have confirmed Internet rumblings that junior swingman Dominic Cheek could be leaving Villanova early for the NBA draft. The Wildcats are already losing junior lead guard Maalik Wayns, their leading scorer at 17-plus points a game and a second-team all-Big East selection. Neither Cheek nor coach Jay Wright, who was out of town recruiting, could be reached for comment. The 6-foot-6 Cheek averaged 12.5 points in 30 minutes per game, both second-best on a team that finished 13-19 and missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2004.

VILLANOVA'S Maalik Wayns, as most figured all along, has made it official. The junior lead guard from Roman Catholic High will not be coming back for his final season of eligibility. Instead, he will keep his name in the NBA draft. "We've been hearing all the rumors, so there was no reason to wait any longer," said Wayns, a second-team All-Big East selection and the leading scorer (averaging more than 17 points a game) on a team that finished 13-19. "The best thing was to get it out. "It's kind of a relief.

JAY WRIGHT knows South Florida. Unfortunately, at least this season, for mostly the wrong reasons. His Villanova team played the Bulls (20-13) three times and lost them all. First by 17 points on the Main Line on Jan. 5, then by 14 in Tampa on Feb. 15 (without injured leading scorer Maalik Wayns) and finally by nine last week in the second round of the Big East Tournament in New York. The games were tough on the eyes, because that's the way USF prefers to play. It's no secret that the Bulls are offensively challenged, or that they'll defend you for the full 40. They're physical, particularly on the boards, and try to use those things to their advantage.

EVEN IN A perfect world, Villanova coach Jay Wright figured his seniorless Wildcats, with five first-year guys, "might" be an NCAA bubble team. "If everything went well," he said. Turned out that was a huge if. So his Wildcats, 3 years removed from a Final Four appearance and 2 years removed from being a No. 2 seed, will not be going to the four-letter tournament for the first time since 2004. "We could never get our team defined," Wright said, after Wednesday night's 56-47 loss to South Florida (20-12)

Seven consecutive 20-win seasons and a like number of NCAA appearances generated a lot of praise for Villanova, so Jay Wright understands how that admiration can change quickly to criticism during a year when the Wildcats tied a school record for most defeats. "You know, 13-19, it is what it is. You are what you are," Wright said early Thursday morning, leaning against a wall in a corridor at New York's Madison Square Garden after the Wildcats' season ended with a 56-47 loss to South Florida in the Big East tournament.