Sunday, March 6, 2011
Posted: 4:01 p.m.
By Reuben FrankCSNPhilly.com
The consensus best backcourt in the country has been reduced to the most injured backcourt in the country.
This was supposed to be a season of triumph and glory for Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher. Instead, its turned into a season of sprains, strains and tendinitis.
Stokes and Fisher, praised by many -- including highly regarded ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas -- the best starting guard tandem in college basketball, were both on the brink of stardom last year and with Scottie Reynolds gone, they were primed to take over one of the Big Easts power programs and lead Villanova to another unforgettable season.
It hasnt quite gone that way.
Fisher is hobbled. Stokes is hobbled. Villanova is struggling. And two years after going to a Final Four, Stokes and Fisher could be winding down their careers in obscurity if things dont turn around quickly.
Villanova, 21-10 and losers of nine of their last 14, is the No. 10 seed in the Big East tournament, which opens Tuesday in New York. The Wildcats were ranked higher in the nation six weeks ago (No. 7) than theyre seeded in their own conference tournament next week.
How important are these two guards to what Villanova does?
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When Fisher and Stokes both score in double figures, Villanova is 12-1. When one or neither does, theyre 9-9.
With Stokes and Fisher both involved, Villanova scored wins over nationally ranked UCLA, Temple, Louisville, Syracuse and West Virginia.
When both are healthy, this is a very good basketball team. Its just that nobody knows when theyll both be healthy again.
On Saturday night in Pittsburgh, Villanova battled the No. 4 Panthers much of the game and even led with 12 minutes left. But with Stokes out after aggravating the hamstring injury at practice on Thursday and Fisher limping his way to just seven points on 1-for-8 three-point shooting, 'Nova just couldnt keep up with powerful Pitt and lost 60-50 in their regular-season finale.
Whole second half of the year, both of them at the same time have been hurt, said sophomore guard Maalik Wayns, who scored a career-high 27 points at Pitt. Corey missing games, Fisher missing practices, both of them missing practices.
You dont want that use it as an excuse. They keep playing through it. Theyre great senior leaders. They just keep fighting through it. We get them both healthy, well back to where we were at the beginning of the year.
Stokes has battled turf toe -- a foot injury thats far more serious than it sounds -- and a pulled left hamstring. Hes missed four games and parts of two others with his various injuries and is questionable for Villanovas Big East tournament game against South Florida Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Fisher is struggling with tendinitis in his right knee. Although he hasnt missed any games, hes clearly not capable of doing the same things now that he was doing earlier in the season.
Its tough, me and Stokes, being senior leaders of the team, but we just got to get over that, Fisher said. Cant ever let them see you down. Our teammates look up to us. Stokes wanted to play against Pitt, but save it for the Big East tournament.
Stokes averaged 17.3 points in 'Novas first 14 games and is scoring 12.4 points per game since. Obviously facing Big East defenses every night is part of the reason but the injuries are a bigger reason.
Fisher was at 16.3 per game two weeks ago but with his tendinitis severe enough to require an MRI last week, he averaged just 9.8 points during 'Novas regular season-ending four-game losing streak and made just four of 24 from three-point range.
Im playing through it, Fisher said. I think Im going to get over the hump. I know what Im capable of doing, and so do my teammates and so do my coaches. Well be fine.
Some teams can overcome injuries by going to their bench or playing a different style of basketball. But the Wildcats have little depth, thanks in part to JayVaughn Pinkstons season-long suspension and Taylor Kings transfer, and they lack an inside game, so have no choice but to lean heavily on their guards.
Novas three leading scorers are guards -- Fisher (15.5), Stokes (14.9) and Wayns (13.7). Their leading front-court player, senior forward Antonio Pena, averages 10.1 per game.
For the Wildcats to do anything in the Big East tournament or NCAAs, those guards have to be great.
Fisher said nobody in the 'Nova locker room has given up on the season, despite the injuries and second-half skid.
The coaches just letting us know just stay focused on our team, dont worry about anything on the outside, we cant control what people say about us, Fisher said. Not really worrying about it. Just continue to play as a team. Stokes hopefully coming back this week, me getting better, Maalik getting better. Just got to keep gelling together.
When those guards arent healthy, it can be ugly. Especially in a conference with eight teams in the top 20 and two others that were ranked earlier this year.
Fish and Stokes have just played hurt the whole second half of the Big East season, Wright said. Weve got to be 100 percent healthy for us to be healthy to play against these types of teams.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com