Villanova's Reynolds will leave winning legacy

Scottie Reynolds has played in 41 games at the Pavilion. Villanova has won 39, including the last 36. Tonight, he'll play there for the final time, as the seventh-ranked Wildcats (22-4, 11-3 Big East) try to end their first losing streak in just over 2 years against South Florida (16-10, 6-8).

Before the tip, he and fellow seniors Reggie Redding and Russell Wooten, who could become the winningest class in program history, will be honored. Reynolds, who could become Villanova's career scoring leader before he's through, is expected to be greeted at center court by his parents and three sisters. A brother might not be able to make it. But several close friends also are expected to attend.

As usual, it figures to be emotional. Even if Reynolds probably will do his best to mask his feelings.

"It's the next game, and we need a win," said the 6-2 guard, who's averaging 19 points a game. "That's where I'm trying to keep the focus. I know I can [show it]. I just don't think I'll allow myself to do it. When the game's over, I might. I'm not sure. I'm not really a guy to let myself go like that out in public. But I wouldn't put it past myself if I [eventually] shed a tear here or there.

"I don't think I have to, to appreciate what the Pavilion has signified for us. But I just want to be there for my teammates. I don't want them to get caught up in Senior Night, especially right now. We need to play Villanova basketball. So I want to keep it regular as much as possible. Maybe after. That's a different story."

It's hard to quantify exactly what Reynolds has meant to the Main Line. But coach Jay Wright tried.

"He's so confident with his place in this program," he said. "He's the beacon, all the time. That's hard to do. I don't even want to think about what the last 4 years would have been like [without him]. It's scary, really.

"It usually doesn't hit me until the last game of the year . . .

"I think he's going to be thought of as one of the great winners. More so than the individual, I think it's about his teams. Seasons. Freshman year, after Randy Foye and all those guys left, and we all worried about what was going to happen since we were starting all over again. But he kind of carried us to the NCAA Tournament. Then, as a sophomore, he got hot and took us to the Sweet 16. His junior year, he hits the shot to get us to the Final Four. He came back this year and made himself an even better player, just willed this group to where they are."

Some legacy. And the ending still hasn't been written.

Reynolds was a McDonald's All-American out of Herndon High in Virginia who originally signed to play at Oklahoma, but was released from his commitment when coach Kelvin Sampson left for Indiana.

"It's been awesome," Reynolds said. "It's been a roller coaster at times. But I wouldn't want it any other way. We've gone through a lot. It's all been positive. Not all the time, but everything as a whole. It hasn't gone by fast, like everybody says it does.

"I had my circumstances, coming from Oklahoma, not really trusting people, just kind of following. Now I'm the one that people follow, on and off the court. The person I've become, I'll be able to stand for something."

It says a lot about him. And about his legacy. It's something worth acknowledging, dry eyes or not.

"We still have a long way to go before we play our last game," Reynolds said. "We feel like we have more to accomplish. Until then, our jobs as leaders and captains isn't done. It won't be until we take off that jersey for the last time.

"[Last night], we do a little thing where each senior gets up and talks about their experience to the team. I think that'll be more emotional . . . I think being a winner is never liking to lose. You may like to win, but you just hate to lose.

"It doesn't always mean you win. But there's a quote: 'Full victory if full effort.' That's something I've learned. It's something I started to live by."

It's something that 'Nova Nation should appreciate, and celebrate, for as long as it can.