2000-01 record: 20-12; 8-8 in Big East (t3rd in East) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: Lost to Detroit 67-61 in second round of NIT. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Buchanan 13.4 ppg | Rebounds: Sales 6.2 rpg | Assists: Buchanan 3.3 apg | FG %: Sales 59.9% | 3pt %: Buchanan 34.1% | FT %: Buchanan 94.2% 00-01 Stats: Villanova | Big East

		Monday, Oct. 29 The loss of big Michael Bradley for a mediocre team is devastating. Gary Buchanan must develop a dribble-drive mentality to compliment his tremendous perimeter game. Brook Sales must develop a presence down low. The Wildcats need leadership on the floor and the development of their juniors as contributors. New coach Jay Wright must change the team culture from turnover-prone to a disciplined and focused unit.

Outlook
New coach Jay Wright's first season at Villanova would have gone a lot more smoothly had 6-foot-10 center Michael Bradley not entered the NBA draft. As it is, Wright will try to cobble together a winner from a group that returns three starters from an 18-13 team, but not its star (Bradley averaged 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds) or its point guard (Jermaine Medley graduated).

Beyond replacing those guys, Wright's first order of business ought to be addressing the Wildcats' scoring defense (74.9 points allowed, last in the Big East) and ball protection (minus-4.39 turnover margin, also last).

While the Wildcats don't return the leading field-goal shooter in the country last season (Bradley, at 69.2 percent), they do have back the No. 1 foul shooter in 6-3 junior Gary Buchanan (94.2 percent), who made 73 straight in one stretch. Buchanan (13.4 ppg) and 6-foot sophomore point guard Derrick Snowden (4.2 ppg) give Villanova a decent starting backcourt, while 6-7 small forward Ricky Wright (8.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg) is adequate.

Beyond that, though, are questions.

How good will 6-10 senior Brooks Sales (9.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg) be after battling a hand injury last season? Who else plays in the paint on this team? Candidates include 6-7 junior Andrew Sullivan, 6-8 sophomore Andreas Bloch, 6-10 sophomore Jair Vedhuis and two newcomers, 7-0 Chris Charles and 6-9 Marcus Austin.

What we like: Wright, a former Villanova assistant from 1990-93, ought to have a galvanizing effect on the Villanova community and the team's mood. And he ought to have a couple of pretty decent players in Buchanan, Sales and Wright.

What we don't like: That's about all Wright has. Snowden might be a year away from being truly dependable, and there is no scoring to speak of inside 10 feet other than Sales -- who is a question mark at this point because of last season's injury.

The bottom line: If Wright's first team wins 18 games, the school ought to give him a raise and a contract extension.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Brook Sales	Sr.	F	6-10/220	PTS: 9.0 | REB: 6.2 | AST: 1.6
Gary Buchanan	Jr.	G	6-3/200	PTS: 13.4 | REB: 4.8 | AST: 3.3

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Michael Bradley	F	6-10/245	PTS: 20.8 | REB: 9.8 | AST: 2.6
Jermaine Medley	G	6-0/165	PTS: 10.3 | REB: 1.8 | AST: 3.8

Villanova Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Marcus Austin	F	6-9	Elizabeth/St. Patrick's (N.J.)
Chris Charles	F	7-0	Crispus Attaucks (Pa.)/Milwaukee, Wis.