Getting a first look at Villanova

Villanova's basketball team will unofficially begin its season Thursday at the Wachovia Center with a 7 o'clock scrimmage against Kutztown, which is ranked as high as 16th in several preseason Division II polls.

The Wildcats, of course, are No. 5 in Division I, coming off their first Final Four appearance in nearly a quarter-century. Picked to finish first in the Big East, they have to replace three starters.

But five players from their rotation are back, led by senior guard Scottie Reynolds. Coach Jay Wright has also added four highly regarded freshmen, and Duke transfer Taylor King is eligible. They'll be without senior swingman Reggie Redding for the first semester (10 games); he was suspended by the university for violating its student code of conduct following an on-campus incident last summer.

Kutztown has two starters back from a team that went 28-5. One of them is 6-6 senior Stephen Davis, from West Chester, who averaged 21.7 points per game (he has 1,529 for his career) and is a Player of the Year candidate. The Golden Bears reached the D-II Sweet 16 last season, and are picked to win the PSAC East.

Villanova's first game is Nov. 13 at the Pavilion against Fairleigh Dickinson.