Villanova made it to the Sweet 16 a year ago in a transition season. Now that his team is a year older, coach Jay Wright is hoping that the Wildcats can go even farther in 2008-09.

All five starters return for Villanova, with the key figure being point guard Scottie Reynolds. Reynolds, still only a junior, was dominant late in the season and was the difference-maker of getting the team into the NCAAs as a No. 12 seed and then helping lead it past Clemson in the opener. He averaged 16 points a game to go with 3.2 assists, and was the one figure who made the offense go.

In Philly college basketball, the two Coreys isn't the name of a reality tv show, but rather the sophomores competing to play alongside Reynolds in the Nova backcourt. Corey Fisher had the better season a year ago and is the better ballhandler, while Corey Stokes came on late in the season and can shoot the lights out. Both will play a lot, especially when Wright goes with a smaller lineup.

The wing will feature senior Dwayne Anderson and junior Reggie Redding, both of whom serve as glue guys who do the dirty work that helps their teammates get the glory.

Dante Cunningham anchors the frontcourt, as the senior enters his third year as the starting forward. Alongside him, however, are the questions. Can center Cassim Drummond stay healthy? Will Shane Clark, who was ineffective for much of his junior year because of his own health issues, be back in the form he showed as a sophomore? Will redshirt sophomore Antonio Pena be able to build on his strong freshman campaign? And what can freshman Maurice Sutton provide?

This will be a typical Jay Wright team, one that can race past anyone if given half a step and rebound better than its size may indicate. It can go as far as Scottie Reynolds takes it, and if past is prologue, that could lead the Wildcats a long way in March.

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