Nova collapses

March 27, 2006 | By Dennis Bakay | Discuss

We've been here before.

A team on the cusp of greatness is ready to take the next step forward only to have their hopes come crashing down.

Sound familiar?

This is a broken record with teams in this area. The Flyers have lost 3 times in the Cup, the Sixers once in the finals, the Eagles once in the Super Bowl (and 3 times in the NFC title game), the Phillies in 1983 and 1993 in the World Series, and countless elite 8 visits by Temple, 'Nova, and St. Joe's; only to see nothing happen and seasons end in ruin.

Anyone who followed this team knew that they would have their hands full once they were paired against a team with an inside presence. All year long they played without Curtis Sumpter---who was an invaluable inside presence up until the end of the year last before being injured. Jay Wright has shifted and worked the lineup to perfection. That wouldn't be enough to stave off two bad shooting performances in a row.

The Wildcats shot a dismal 25 percent from the field. Randy Foye followed up his MVP-like performance on Friday with 25 points, but on only 7 of 18 shooting. Allan Ray had another bad game only netting 11 points on 5 of 19.

This game was like having your wrists slashed and slowly bleeding to death. At least it didn't end like the St. Joe's debacle two years ago, in which John Lucas Jr. stole the game aways in the final second of the game.

A loss is a loss though or as fans in these parts acknowledge; the inevitable.

And, so it goes another great team has fallen short of greatness.

It was a fun ride indeed. The peak came Friday night when the Willdcats defied all odds by surging back into the game when nothing would fall down. Their defense prevailed, led by the seven steals of Lowry.

But, Randy Foye brought his A+ game. Today he had his B game and his teammates brought an F to the table. Added to that, the defense was absent and the Gators hammered them inside behind the dominant Joakim Noah. He put on a performance that was reminiscient of Antonio McDyess in the 1995 NCAA tournament.

It was simply too much to overcome. And, this one really hurt to watch.

One has to feel for Ray and Foye who will graduate empty handed.

Now, it's up to Wright to assemble a new team with a hopefully rejuvenated Curtis Sumpter who will finally return next year after redshirting this season for another year of eligibility.

They will be back, but Foye, Ray, and Lowry will be missed.

It was a joy to watch, but we knew deep down the end was coming because we're Philadelphia fans. That's what we do, we expect to see hopes dashed. This is our miserable 21 year broken record.

And, it hurts more and more each time.