Gonzo: Jay Wright on Cats, clothes, and TV

Uh oh. Last year, Villanova got hot at the right time and went on an incredible run to reach the Final Four. This year? This year hasn't gone quite as smoothly. Not lately.

After getting off to a hot start, Jay Wright's Wildcats are reeling. They dropped their final regular season game in overtime to West Virginia, then got bounced from the Big East Tournament by Marquette. Not good. Not if you're part of 'Nova Nation.

In advance of today's NCAA tournament selection show, Wright talked about heightened expectations for the Cats, educating his young players on how to win at the highest level, who should have won the Big East player of the year award, and what qualifies as a successful NCAA tournament for 'Nova.

How do you feel the regular season went? You started 20-1, then slipped and won just two of your last six.

Now that it's over, I'm very pleased. Coming off last season, there were a lot of challenges for this team. We didn't end with wins and losses we wanted, but looking at the season as a whole we're pleased.

Last year's Final Four obviously changed things for the program. You have a relatively young squad now, and yet they're judged against previous success. Are the expectations unfair?

That was something that we had to experience for the first time this year. We lost four great seniors, and we saw we had great expectations put on us. For the first time, we had to say that's all nice and everything, but we have to evaluate how we play now. At the beginning of the year, we struggled to keep our guys humble and hungry. At the end of the year, some people thought we should be disappointed, but we feel the opposite. We had the same record as last year, but the perception is different from last year.

Let's talk about perception. What would be a successful NCAA tournament as far as 'Nova Nation is concerned?

Probably another Final Four. But as long as we're playing the best we can and we're the best team we can be, then we're happy.

You sound a little like my mom: "Just be the best John you can be, and I'll be proud of you."

We really do it. It sounds cliche, but that's what we try to do.

You were right near the top of the polls for much of the season. Some players get caught up in the rankings and the pride associated with being the No. 1 team in the country. Did that distract your crew at times?

Definitely. That was one of our challenges this year. Our older guys, Reggie Redding and Scottie [Reynolds] and those guys, they've been at the bottom of the polls. They knew. The young guys, they were in high school and watched the Final Four, came in and went 20-1 and thought, "This is easy. This is what happens." But at this level, in the Big East, you learn how quickly that can change. It was a lesson we had to learn.

Scottie Reynolds was the only unanimous selection to the Big East's all-conference first team, but Syracuse's Wes Johnson was named Big East player of the year. Who should have won the award?

In my heart, I think Scottie Reynolds is the player of the year. But I do like that the player of the year comes from the league champion. I voted for [Johnson] because I couldn't vote for Scottie, and [Johnson] led his team to a championship.

You're up for the national coach of the year award. Do you want to win it? And who would get your vote? Here at Page 2, by the way, you're allowed to vote for yourself.

I don't want it this year. We did a good job, but it wasn't a great year. My national coach of the year would probably be Jim Boeheim. He had a first-year player in Johnson that just made an incredible impact. But where they were picked [preseason] relative to where they finished was just amazing. It was just a great coaching job - maybe Jim's best ever.

Are you tired of the best-dressed-man-in-basketball stuff yet? It seems like every time you guys are on national TV the announcers mention your clothes.

I don't get tired of it. I know it comes with the business. There are so many positives that come with the job. If the negatives are expectations are high and people are disappointed, then you deal with it. There are worse things in the world. It's uncomfortable when have to talk about yourself, but that's part of the job.

Let's restart the holy war. Better show: "Hawk Talk" or "Inside Villanova Basketball With Jay Wright"?

You know I was a guest on Hawk Talk? That was interesting. Phil is a much better host than me. He has much better TV talent. Now the set, I don't know about that. But he has much more material to work with.

Incidentally, who came up with the title for your show? It's unwieldy. What about "Cat Cabaret" or "The Wright Stuff"?

You're right. You're right. I'll have to talk to someone about that.

Hmm. Why do I feel like you're patronizing me?