March 7, 2006

NEW YORK, N.Y. - For the first time in school history, Villanova brought home two top Big East honors at the conference banquet Tuesday evening in New York City. Senior guard Randy Foye (Newark, N.J.) was named the Big East Player of the Year after a unanimous selection to the conference's first team on Monday. Head coach Jay Wright received Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his five-year career on the Main Line.

Foye is currently leading the No. 2 Wildcats with 20.2 ppg and second on the team in rebounds pulling down 5.4 per game. This ranks him second in the Big East in scoring and 23rd in the nation. The Wooden Award finalist has played an important role in every game this season including a career-high 32-point performance against Oklahoma and two double-doubles for the year. He also notched a career-high ten rebounds against Temple. Foye's game extends to the defensive end as well where he has been given the task of guard the opposition's big men all season despite his 6-4 frame. The product of East Side High School has 34 steals and 17 blocks to his credit showing versatility on both ends of the floor.

Wright came to Villanova in 2001 after working as an assistant for the Wildcats from 1992-94. In his first five years, the Churchville, Pa. native has led the `Cats to a record of 100-57. Last Sunday's win over Syracuse marked his 100th win on the Main Line. Wright has returned the Wildcats to national prominence including their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1999. This season, he has taken Villanova to No. 2 in the polls which ties the best ranking in the Wildcats' history. Their record of 24-3, 14-2 in the Big East, gave the `Cats their first Big East Regular Season Championship since 1997. Villanova has also knocked off the No. 1 team in the country for the first time in program history with its 69-64 win over Connecticut on Feb. 13th.

Villanova has won both awards once before, but never in the same season. Kerry Kittles was the 1995 Player of the Year leading the team to a 25-8 record and a Big East Tournament Championship. Rollie Massimino won Big East Coach of the Year in 1982 posting a 24-8 record and a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

Villanova now gears up for the first round of the Big East Tournament as the two seed. The Wildcats are scheduled to play the winner of Seton Hall/St. John's on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. tipping off from Madison Square Garden.