The date is Thursday, November 7th and it is peculiarly warm for the start of college basketball season in the Northeast. The scorching sun shines much harder than usual this year as we weave our way through the traditionally cool and frigid non-con season.
The cause? Unknown to scientists and laymen alike. Some say global warming, deterioration to the ozone, a spike in irregular temperatures caused by man-made waste and rapid misuse of our natural resources. Others on opposite of the sociopolitical aisle call coincidence, happenstance even!
I reject both premises. I believe I’ve found the true reason for this unusually hot November.
There are two seats separated by about seven miles in the greater Philadelphia area, each emitting enough heat to warm the Earth’s entire environment. One has a blowtorch blasting sweltering flames directly under it, the other — an older flame — a wick candle that’s burn intensifies year after year.
The seats are hot, ladies and gentlemen. The stakes are high. On Tuesday, November 12, there’s the chance for one of these seats to become a whole lot hotter.
Years back, there were prominent calls to axe the name of the historic battle between Saint Joe’s and Villanova. The term “Holy War” was essentially canceled. In fact, many journalists covering the Big 5 no longer use this phrase, as priests and figureheads of both institutions suggested against the verbiage.
However, in my opinion, what is done cannot be undone. The Holy War is synonymous with the Big 5. This tradition is exemplary of our special community — one that values rivalry, competition, and respect. To me, the Holy War is the epicenter of why we love college basketball. Two titans of yesteryear — one that reached unprecedented heights in the modern sport and another who faded backward into irrelevance. Regardless of their respective successes or failures in the last decade, the game just means something to a lot of people. As Billy Lange said last year after beating Villanova at the Finn, “I know a lot of people down the beach who’s Manco and Manco’s pizza is gonna taste a little better this year,”
I’ve written before that many see SJU/NOVA as the Hawks’ Super Bowl. Well, not many teams get to play in the Super Bowl every year, and I think the Hawks have as good of a shot as any year to win this Super Bowl. On paper and from what I’ve seen in just a small sample size so far this year, I think this Holy War will be among the most competitive of them all.
Villanova is not what they were, obviously. We can talk about unrealistic expectations set forth by unparalleled success, rumors of potential sabotage, spending millions on players that don’t fit the scheme, and so on. In reality, Villanova is currently at their worst. Perhaps a sad reality for St. Joe’s fans, for this game to be the most competitive it can be, it simply requires Villanova to be at their lowest and St. Joe’s to be at their peak. This is where we are today, I believe, at least in terms of talent alone. Hawks trending upward, Cats trending downward — meet in the middle. This is that finite gap of time, a Goldilocks zone if you will, that St. Joe’s can at least temporarily stake their crimson flag in the battleground.
Now I am not an X’s and O’s guy. I’m a story guy, if you couldn’t tell thus far. The stories are there for this game. As per my lede, the main story is one of coaching, one of job security and prosperity. I’m not saying that this game in particular will make or break one of these coaches, but I am implying that this annual competition carries a good amount of weight around these ole parts — especially for the Hawks. Billy wins two in a row against big brother? We might find him immortalized with his hands up behind the steps at the Museum of Art. If you’ve ready any tweets or headlines today, you’d find that Kyle Neptune certainly has more to lose and less to gain in this matchup.
Next we have the players of course, they are relatively important to this game too I guess…
Two legends for each perspective program — a Battle of ERIC/K PROPORTIONS. Erik Reynolds — one of the best to ever put on a Saint Joseph’s jersey and someone who should undoubtedly (barring injury) break Jameer Nelson’s scoring record this year — has never played in an NCAA Tournament game, nor has he been particularly close. Eric Dixon is approaching Perry Ellis territory in his Nova tenure. A hometown kid who certainly has a claim to best player in the Big 5. With him returning, this season clearly means a lot to him. The surrounding casts are popular and plentiful. Make no mistake there will be plenty of NBA talent on that Hagan Arena floor Tuesday night.
As for the game itself, who the hell knows what to expect? I personally expect a close one and a sloppy one. Neither of these teams seem to be in a particularly good form right now, with SJU barely sneaking by Navy/losing to Bucknell in a charity match and Villanova losing to Columbia at home last night.
In conclusion, on that November Tuesday night at 5pm (primetime), local legends will be made. As with every game, there are two possible outcomes that can illicit two possible “statements.”
For St. Joe’s that statement could represent a transitional force. One that might have fans feeling less like the perennial scrappy underdogs and more like the big dawgs in town. If Villanova wins, the statement is simple. “We’re still Villanova and you’re still St. Joe’s,”
I wish you all a merry Holy War.
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