Think you could win a few games with that lineup?

It's some club. And by the end of this season, Scottie Reynolds could be joining the ranks.

"Wow, I didn't realize that," was Villanova coach Jay Wright's reaction to the history lesson. "That's really something, when you think about it."

Especially for someone who wasn't even supposed to come to the Main Line. Then Kelvin Sampson made a mess of things at Oklahoma. It's been a gift that's never stopped providing.

The 6-2 guard has scored 1,620 points in his first three seasons. If the 'Cats, picked to finish first in the Big East and ranked fifth in the nation coming off their first Final Four trip in nearly a quarter-century, can get to at least the second week of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in six seasons, he could even make a run at Kerry Kittle's program high of 2,243.

Not that Reynolds' worth has ever been measured solely by any numbers.

"He came at a time when we were in transition," Wright said. "We'd lost Randy [Foye], Allan [Ray], Kyle [Lowry] and all those guys. His first year, he kind of willed us into the tournament. He helped those seniors keep that tradition going. Then he started a new tradition with Dwayne [Anderson], Dante [Cunningham] and Shane [Clark]. It will be kind of interesting to see how he leaves this program, what kind of state we're in. He's been a big part of our resurgence. I'll never doubt him, I'll tell you that. He always has something big-time in store."

Like last March's East Regional final, when he took a pass from Cunningham in full stride, went more than half the length of the floor in four dribbles and made a short lane leaner to beat Pitt at the horn. Hello Detroit. It was the shining moment of the Madness, one that will be replayed for as long as they're tossing the ball up.

Now the former Big East Rookie of the Year is on the preseason all-conference first team. He elected to come back after testing the waters by putting his name into the NBA draft. Whatever his eventual worth as a pro may be, there's no denying his value at this level.

"Sometimes I feel like he almost gets publicized too much, but doesn't get respected enough as a player," Wright said. "If you look at USA Today or ESPN, it's always Scottie Reynolds, Scottie Reynolds. He's the face of the program, which is great. I love him for that. But when they talk about his ability, I never hear them say he's one of the great guards [ever] at Villanova, or in the country, which I think he is.

"He might put people in a position where they have to rate him as one of the best. I hope he gets that kind of recognition. He's been a great player and a great leader. I always think that if you give him a chance you never know what he's going to do."

Reynolds dropped 40 at Connecticut as a freshman. He did the same last season at Seton Hall. Which can make some folks start thinking maybe he should be doing that most, if not all, of the time. So when he only averaged 15 and change per game for basically the third consecutive season there were those who didn't necessarily see it as being enough.

Perhaps it shouldn't happen, but it does. Just because. If it bothers him, it doesn't show.

"The only thing people remember is the last game," he said. "I think my individual success is the team's success. It's not really about what I do. It's about how good this team can be at the end of the season. It's my job to push us to that limit. You concentrate on the next game, the next practice, the next time you step on the court, and just putting it all out there, letting everything else take care of itself.

"Nobody comes here thinking they're going to be this or that. That's just not being realistic. If you play every possession like it's your last, good things will happen. To hear the names [on the list], I didn't even know that could be a possibility. That's not the mind-set coach Wright puts on you. It's really not about first team, or how many points, or whatever people want it to add up to. The guys here understand. It's way more bigger than yourself, you know.

"You always think about being in a situation like this. You never know how it's going to turn out. Every year's been different. That's the beauty of basketball, of the new season. Everybody's got to run their own race, have their own journey. Players change, so do people. That's the way it is. The obligation is to carry on that great tradition that was here before I arrived . . .

"It's about loyalty, and respect for what was already in place, and the guys that made that possible," he continued. "We move on. That's life. I'm not going to be here next year. It'll be up to those next guys in line. Hopefully I can pass it on, like it was handed down to me. I want to be someone they can look up to, so they can do the same thing when the time comes."

Someday, his jersey will be hanging from the rafters of the Pavilion, for future generations to appreciate. He already has represented via the addition to the Final Four banner that was unveiled several weeks ago.

The Wildcats need to replace three starters but they return five players from their rotation (although senior Reggie Redding has been suspended for the first 10 games). They also have a handful of highly regarded newcomers. Last season the upperclassmen assumed ownership, and the underclassmen followed.

That team displayed an abundance of chemistry and leadership, which ultimately meant everything. That now will begin mostly with Reynolds. Starting with the next game, straight through the last one, whenever his college career finally winds down.

"My legacy is up to whoever wants to talk about it," Reynolds said. "Hopefully, for coach Wright, when I leave, the stories he'll tell is that he gave it up for his teammates and became a Villanova basketball player. He didn't have all the best athleticism, he wasn't the strongest, fastest or quickest, but when he stepped on the court he got it done as a Villanova basketball player.

"Hopefully, in the future, guys will look back at our class saying the things I've said about Dante, Dwayne, Shane and Frankie [Tchuisi]. And Randy Foye, Allan Ray, Kyle Lowry, Jason Fraser, Mike Nardi, Curtis Sumpter, Chris Charles, Michael Claxton, Baker Dunleavy. I could go on and on. If we're remembered for that . . . "

An exclusive club could have a worthy addition.