Soft Pretzel Logic

Note: Latest updates are at the bottom.

Preamble: Greetings from the rafters of an absolutely sweltering Palestra, which is already rocking in anticipation of the 65th Holy War game between Villanova and Saint Joseph's.

There's still well over half an hour to go before tip as I start writing this, and it's as hot in here as it's ever been. The only saving grace is that my seat in the upper press row is not right in front of one of the heaters.

I am, however, right under a bag weight that helps support the loudspeaker apparatus over the court, and I've hit my head on the thing twice three four times already when standing up.

(I've also been up since 5 this morning working, so if you see any errors in the post, please feel free to email me.)

Those of you who've seen me at games before know that I always wear short sleeves when covering games here because of how hot it gets, even on night when the place is 2/3 empty.

Well, because this game is such an occasion, I decided to show up in long sleeves and a sportjacket.

Big mistake.

The jacket has been consigned to sitting on the back of my chair for the rest of the night, and the sleeves have been rolled up. I really should have known better.

Anyway, as is the custom here on the blog, I'll be bringing you all the highlights of the atmosphere: the rollouts, chants, and whatever else comes along. The game is on CSTV, and while I know a lot of you don't have it at least someone's broadcasting it. You could also listen to the radio, which I know for sure because Villanova analyst Whitey Rigsby is sitting right next to me.

I'm going to head back downstairs and get a few extra bottles of water, and I'll rejoin you again in a bit.

Preamble, part 2: If you needed any further proof of what kind of a basketball town this is, consider the fact that the buzz in the building right now has next to nothing to do with tonight's game. Bobby Knight has resigned as head coach of Texas Tech, and all of a sudden that's what everybody is talking about.

None of the media here seem to know why. And that might actually be saying something, considering that in the house tonight are ex-Villanova coach and CSTV analyst Steve Lappas, St. Joe's color analyst and ESPN.com bracketologist Joe Lunardi, and Dana O'Neil, formerly of the Daily News and now with ESPN.com.

Preamble, part 3: Seven minutes to go and already the St. Joe's students have unfurled two rollouts. The first one said "FREE LEE!" and was rather discreet. The second one was much more for public consumption, and read, "CAUSE OF NOVA VIRUS: CAFE FOOD OR RU LOSS," with the "RU" in appropriate red.

By the way, even though I usually sit courtside, I actually quite like sitting up high, especially when the building is sold out. It's great to be able to look over the whole scene, with th ecorners full and everyone looking straight down at the court. On nights like this, the place becomes a theater as much as it does a sporting venue.

Preamble, part 4: Paging Father Lannon? Yet another St. Joe's rollout, and this one gets caught by the old shot clock pole in the stands and has to get torn up before it hits the lower level: "WE'RE SORRY YOUR MASCOT IS A PUSSY."

Just reporting what I see, folks.

The starting lineups:

... and hasn't a lot already happened even before the game starts.

Villanova

C So 5 Casiem Drummond
F Jr 33 Dante Cunningham
G So 1 Scottie Reynolds
G Fr 10 Corey Fisher
G So 15 Reggie Redding

St. Joseph's

F Sr 52 Rob Ferguson
F Sr 12 Pat Calathes
C Jr 34 Ahmad Nivins
G So 13 Darrin Govens
G Jr 0 Tasheed Carr

15:40 1st, 10-4 St. Joe's: We knew the crowd was going to be overwhelmingly in the Hawks' favor, but the place is really roaring at the first media timeout. St. Joe's is 4-for-5 from the field to Villanova's 2-for-5, with the loudest shot so far a three by Pat Calathes just now. Tasheed Carr also had a nice jumper from the right corner just inside the arc with a man pretty well in his face.

Here comes a St. Joe's rollout with a not too surprising theme: "EVEN TIM DONAGHY BET ON SJU"

For or against?

8:30 1st, 24-18 St. Joe's: A rollout during play, which isn't something you see every day: "ST. JOE'S INVADES NOVA NATION!"

I have a hunch there's more too that.

... And there is: "BIG 5: PENN TEMPLE LA SALLE ST. JOE'S DREXEL"

Given the numbers of people on the Main Line over the years who would agree with that, I'm not so sure how good an idea it is to put that on a rollout. But that's just me.

A bit about the game, by the way: 'Nova had cut the Hawks' lead to 19-18 with a three from Corey Fisher, but Darrin Govens answered with a three of his own at the other and and that was as close as the Wildcats have come.

4:07 1st, 35-20 St. Joe's: A classic Rob Ferguson three from the top of the arc, and Jay Wright has seen enough of that. Timeout Villanova, and it's all one way traffic on the floor and in the stands.

3:46 1st, 35-20 St. Joe's: A media timeout, and a St. Joe's rollout: "HAWK D [in red] WRAPS REYNOLDS [in black]." For the record, Reynolds is 2-for-8 and 2-for-4 from three, with seven points total.

2:36 1st, 42-22 St. Joe's: Another Villanova timeout, this one caused after Pat Calathes grabs a Wildcats turnover and races away for a deafening slam. This thing is getting out of hand in a hurry.

HALFTIME, 42-26 St. Joe's: What a half for the Hawks, capped off by a ridiculous off-balance heave by Darrin Govens for a shot clock-beating three with a few seconds left. I thought St. Joe's would be winning, but not by this much. I'll report the full stats in a bit, but let's start with 11 Villanova turnovers and St. Joe's shooting 15-for-19 from the free throw line.

Okay, here are the numbers.

For Villanova: 10-for-26 from the field (38.5%), including 2-for-8 from three-point range (25.0%) and 8-for-16 from two-point range (50.0%). Seven offensive rebounds, eight defensive rebounds, three assists, 11 turnovers (how's that for a ratio), two blocks, three steals and 13 fouls committed.

That adds up to 33 possessions and 0.780 points per possession.

For St. Joe's: 12-for-22 from the field (54.5%), including 6-for-12 from three-point range (50.0%) and 6-for-10 from two-point range (60.0%). Four offensive rebounds, 11 defensive rebounds, eight assists, six turnovers, five blocks (wow), six steals and seven fouls committed.

That adds up to 33 possessions and 1.363 points per possession. Almost double Villanova's. Wow.

Off we go in the second half.

16:22 2nd, 53-29 St. Joe's: Whoa. Rob Ferguson ball fakes Shane Clark at the top of the arc, Clark goes sailing by him and Ferguson easily drains a three.

15:51 2nd, 53-29 St. Joe's: A media timeout after Shane Clark is whistled for his first foul. A rollout: "2 COREY'S DON'T MAKE A WRIGHT"

14:36 2nd, 56-31 St. Joe's: This is the kind of night it's been for Villanova: St. Joe's tries to trap Scottie Reynolds at the perimeter with under ten seconds on the shot clock. Reynolds drives a bit, but can't get too far because Ahmad Nivins is in his way. He finds Dante Cunningham underneath with two seconds left, Cunningham just gets the layup off, it goes in the basket -- and he's called for a charge. On top of that, it's Cunningham's fourth foul.

11:42 2nd, 58-35 St. Joe's: It wouldn't quite be right to say that the atmosphere has gone flat, but there's a definite sense that this game is pretty close to being done.

A rollout: "nOVA DIET... NO MSG." Fair enough. I would like to know why the first n is lowercase, if any St. Joe's students see this.

9:24 2nd, 61-40 St. Joe's: Dwayne Anderson pokes the ball free at the arc, and as it bounces away he goes chasing after it. Anderson can't run fast enough to get to the ball, so upon crossing the foul line he basically pulls a Slip N' Slide move on the well-polished hardwood and goes sailing all the way from there into the photographers behind the basket. Applause from both ends of the floor.

7:30 2nd, 65-42 St. Joe's: A few Villanova fans are starting to leave. Not that there were many to begin with, but in all fairness most of them are staying. Lest you Hawks fans try to start something.

5:59 2nd, 70-42 St. Joe's: Garrett Williamson soars to block a Scottie Reynolds three. He dishes it up the court to D.J. Rivera, who can't quite get the fastbreak layp to go, but Pat Calathes puts it back. Jay Wright calls timeout. This is getting a bit ridiculous.

A rollout: "HOW DOES VU GET TO B.E. TOURNEY?"

The answer follows: "CALL TICKET MASTER"

3:56 2nd, 70-44 St. Joe's: The last media timeout. Commemorated by my hitting the sandbag above me for the sixth time tonight. Joe Lunardi bet the over when I told him I had already hit it three times, which just goes to prove once again how smart he is.

No rollouts during that timeout, though. I figure there's one left.

3:23 2nd, 73-44 St. Joe's: My goodness. The Hawks beat the shot clock yet again, this time on an NBA-range three from the top of the arc by Rob Ferguson that went in off the backboard.

2:20 2nd, 75-44 St. Joe's: Okay, enough with the shot clock-beating already. This time, Ferguson at the arc feeds Pat Calathes, who drives a step or so with a second left and lays it in off the glass. Timeout Villanova.

The St. Joe's fans start chanting "This is our house!" and the Villanova fans who two years ago chanted "This is Penn's house!" don't even bother doing anything.

A rollout: "WHAT THE BIG 5 MEANS ON THE MAIN LINE..."

and part two: "5 STRAIGHT LOSSES"

0:57 2nd, 75-48 St. Joe's: Phil Martelli points to the Hawks fans and pumps his fist. A few seconds later, a rollout comes down from the top of the St. Joe's student section that says "REDRUM." Explain that one?

FINAL, 77-55 St. Joe's: It's over, finally. Some St. Joe's fans rush the court and mug for the TV cameras. I have a hunch that they didn't have to, but they did stop Villanova's record Big 5 win streak.

Now to get through the throng and down to the press room, and who knows how long that will take.

Back with stats and more later.