NEW YORK — Brandon Slater’s birth name is James, and when he’s playing well, Villanova coach Kyle Neptune calls him “Jimmy.”
“When I play like Brandon, he gets on me,” Slater said.
In the first half Friday night, it was Brandon who showed up. Slater was forced to watch the final 10 minutes from the bench. He hadn’t yet scored, but had two fouls, and had to look on while his already undermanned Villanova team engaged with St. John’s in a physical Big East game inside Madison Square Garden.
