One of my favorite sub-plots of Villanova’s National Championship run – that sentence will never get old – is watching Fran Dunphy and Phil Martelli force themselves to go on local TV and talk about Villanova’s success. Hell, it’s seeing other local programs in general be forced to congratulate Nova. Yeah, yeah, I know, they’re all frenemies, but it’s akin to having to be the color analyst for the sex techniques used by your rich, successful swinger friend as he porks your wife. I mean, sure, you know what works and what doesn’t better than anyone, but talking about it just has to hurt, especially when you’re only one of 75k people watching live. So how difficult it must’ve been for Phil Martelli to “accept” the Big 5 Coach of the Year Award at the Palestra last night, when everyone in attendance probably just wanted to hear from Wright, mostly because that’s the only media availability they’re going to get from someone who is now considered one of the best coaches in college basketball.*

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Side note 1: I love Martelli cracking about Jay living in a gated community (I don’t believe he does). Martelli makes almost $900k per year. He’s doing just fine. But sure, Phil, keep playing up that Philly working class thing.

Side note 2: I know Martelli is joking and “FRIENDS” and all. But I saw his Nova hate firsthand. During one of St. Joe’s whoopings of Villanova at the Palestra, he scampered in front of the Nova student section, giving a sarcastic, fuck you, rich boys clap as he walked off at halftime with the lead. I could see the disdain in his eyes, feel it in his fingers. This must burn Phil. BURN. I love it. This is how your small, Catholic program maintains success, Phil. We ’bout done here, dawg?

*My list, in order: Coach K (dick), Tom Izzo, Roy Williams, John Calipari, Jay Wright, Bill Self.