JayVaughn Pinkston’s stunning decision that saved Villanova

Jay Wright got the news and immediately sought out JayVaughn Pinkston.

This was four years ago last December, the coach receiving the news the school has suspended his star freshman, — who wouldn't play a single game his first year on campus — for the spring semester after he was charged with two counts of simple assault and harassment following a fight at an off-campus apartment.

He was expecting Pinkston, a McDonald's All-American from Brooklyn, to say he wanted to look at his options, perhaps transfer. He would have his pick of top Division I programs.

But as the two drove around Philadelphia, Pinkston stunned his coach.

"He immediately said he was staying," Wright recalled. "There was no discussion."

Pinkston, a co-captain on this season's team, said: "I felt since they were loyal to me, I had an obligation to give it back."

He was loyal to Wright and Villanova then and remains that way, loyal to whatever Wright has asked of him, to carry the scoring load early in his career and cede the spotlight later on.

Pinkston's numbers this season — 9.9 points per game, 5.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists — won't land him on any of the all Big East teams. The chiseled 6-foot-7 do-everything forward will be in the background, when teammates like Darrun Hilliard III, Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu get honored next week.

But ask any of his teammates about the year he's having, all the sacrifices he's made, in terms of shot attempts and minutes, and they can't stop raving about the team's unquestioned leader, how hard he plays, how good he's been on the defensive end, how's he's set the tone for another huge regular season.

"Without Jay, this train doesn't go," Hillard said. "Jay is the key for everything. He elevates us all. He'll never complain about that stuff. He'll never be selfish. He'll never be arrogant. All he cares about it is if the team is winning. Without that mind-set, a lot of guys wouldn't have that mind-set. Jay has that mind-set, so everybody on the team has that mind-set. That's one of the greatest assets he brings to the locker room."

Pinkston's past reared its ugly head last week when the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office filed a petition contending Pinkston, 23, violated the terms of his Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, which would have expunged the charges from his record. Wright said Pinkston "is doing the best he can" to adhere to the conditions of the program, requiring 375 hours of community service, and payment of more than $11,000 in restitution and court costs.

On the court, Pinkston doesn't think he's done anything anybody else wouldn't do, because sixth-ranked Villanova is winning, and winning a lot. The Wildcats are 27-2 entering the final week of the regular season, the Big East regular-season champions for the second straight year, and in the running for a No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. And That's why he's such a beloved figure.

"He's the senior, [his teammates] know he's a New York guy who's used to being the star, and yet he's done everything for everybody else his senior year," Wright said. "He's played great defense, set great screens, made the extra pass. He's the best teammate you can ever have.

"He's our leader. He's well respected on this campus, not just as a player, but as a person. He's going to have a great professional career, wherever that is."

Looking back, Wright said it shouldn't have surprised him Pinkston didn't bolt. Loyalty drew Wright to Pinkston during his recruitment. He played for four different high school coaches at Brooklyn's Bishop Loughlin, and while talented teammates transferred, and he was often recruited by prep schools and other New York City powerhouses, he never left.

"That was the most impressive characteristic about him," Wright said.

And it remains that way.

Pinkston stayed and carved out a sensational career at Villanova. He will have played in three NCAA Tournaments. He will graduate this spring, with a degree in liberal arts and a concentration on communications, perhaps reach a Final Four. He wants to coach when his playing days over, give back to people who have given so much to him.

It all began with that mature decision not to run from adversity — the kind of decision few kids make these days.

Perry EllisPhoto: AP

Game of the Week

No. 8 Kansas at No. 16 Oklahoma, Saturday 4 p.m.

The Jayhawks stranglehold on the Big 12 could be in jeopardy in Norman, where they visit the streaking Sooners. Both teams have a difficult game early in the week — Oklahoma visits No. 12 Iowa State and Kansas hosts No. 20 West Virginia — but Bill Self's team has just a one-game lead over Oklahoma and has struggled on the road lately, dropping its last two games. An 11th straight regular-season league title may be up for grabs.

Stock Watch: Up

Steve Lavin

Talks of a contract extension should be coming shortly for the St. John's coach. After a slow start, Lavin has the Red Storm playing as well as anyone in the Big East, winners of six of their past seven, firmly in the NCAA Tournament field for the second time in five years with two regular-season games remaining. And unlike the Johnnies' first trip to the tournament under Lavin, this team appears capable of doing serious damage. The fifth-year coach, who has just one year left on his current deal, has proven he deserves to be well-compensated.

Wichita State

Northern Iowa was the Missouri Valley Conference team that garnered most of the attention, but Wichita State finished with the regular-season hardware, clinching its second straight league title Saturday night. And barring a difficult draw, look for the Shockers to be a dangerous second weekend team in the NCAA Tournament, with the kind of explosive and experienced backcourt — Fred VanVleet, Ron Baker and Tekele Cotton — that will create problems for any team.

Stock Watch: Down

N.C. State

Just when you begin to trust the Wolfpack after impressive road wins at Louisville and North Carolina, they go and lose by 16 at woeful Boston College on Saturday. There may not be a more unpredictable team in the country, and at 17-12 entering the final week of the regular season, a team that will be harder to evaluate for the NCAA Tournament committee.

VCU

The loss of point guard Briante Weber (torn ACL) — as expected — has taken its toll. Without the senior spark plug and key to their "havoc" defense, the Rams are a pedestrian 4-4, and find themselves a game out of first place in the Atlantic 10, behind Dayton, Davidson and Rhode Island, after dominating the league prior to his heartbreaking injury.

Super 16

A prediction of the top four seeds in the NCAA Tournament (listed in order):
1. Kentucky, Duke, Villanova, Virginia
2. Arizona, Wisconsin, Gonzaga, Wichita State
3. Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah, Maryland
4. Baylor, Northern Iowa, Notre Dame, Butler

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Toy monkey behind North West’s front-row freakout spotted in Milan

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Anna Wintour: ‘Everyone should be fired once’

She's the most powerful woman in fashion, and now Anna Wintour is giving away some of the secrets to her success.

The Vogue editor shares revealing tips including how everyone should be fired once, and "even if you aren't sure of yourself pretend you are" in new book "Winners and How They Succeed" by British journalist and political aide Alastair Campbell.

Wintour's suggestions for success, excerpted in the UK's Sunday Times, include getting up every day at 5 a.m.

On self-doubt, "Even if you aren't sure of yourself, pretend that you are . . . most people prevaricate. I decide fast. I think it's helpful to the people who work for you."

Wintour also admits to having been fired from her role as a junior fashion editor for Harper's Bazaar in 1975: "Everyone should get sacked at least once. It forces you to look at yourself . . . It is important to have setbacks, because that is the reality of life. Perfection doesn't exist."

And Wintour, 65, adds that switching off at the weekend is key, "I don't have a high-powered life out of work. I like to go to the country for the weekend with the kids and the dog and play tennis. I am very good at turning off."

And despite her stature, she appears humble, adding, "I can't make anything. I don't know how to make a dress. I couldn't go on a shoot and create an image. I can't write a script. I have so much admiration for people who can do these things, because I would have no idea where to start. I am always responding to other people's talents. I am not the talent . . . I don't write, I am not a writer. I see myself as someone who responds to the times and the culture, to a moment. Is that a journalist? I don't know."

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The Mets’ intangible that has Terry Collins predicting playoffs

PORT ST. LUCIE — The swagger is in place.

That is a good thing. The first step to success is believing in yourself and your teammates.

"I want a little swagger, I want a little swagger in the step,'' Terry Collins said Sunday as he explained the Metsamorphosis he wants his team to go through this season.

"It's time,'' the Mets manager said. "We think we've put some pieces together. Now we've got to go play. Talk is cheap. Now we've got to get it done on the field, but there is no reason why, if we execute, that we shouldn't be playing in the postseason.''

Embrace October expectations. This is not last year's 90-win challenge.

This has much more substance.

"We knew we had to fix a couple things,'' Collins said. "I think we fixed them. It's going to take execution and thinking about the team. Don't worry about your numbers, just worry about where the L and W are.''

There is much more work to be done, and that is what the Mets are trying to start to accomplish this spring training. On and off the field they are attempting to become a playoff team, something they haven't been since 2006.

Asked to pick one word that best describes what he has seen so far in his first Mets camp, veteran outfielder Michael Cuddyer answered quickly.

"Unity,'' he said.

"One of the things we all had in common, all the winning teams,'' Cuddyer said, "is that we were all close. We were close-knit and had the same beliefs on how to accomplish things, too. If you have guys on a different page, it usually doesn't work out.''

Michael CuddyerPhoto: Anthony J. Causi

To that end, the Mets were getting together as a team Sunday night as well, but instead of last year's Sunday spring-training bowling nights they decided to make it more of an event where teammates can talk to one another, yes, even some baseball talk — and not a public night of autographs, this was going to be a night of playing cards and dominoes in a private area instead of a bowling alley.

Collins wants his team to come together as much as possible now. Dealing with high expectations will be "something we will have to deal with during the season,'' he said.

That's a lot better than dealing with no expectations.

"Michael Cuddyer has been in the playoffs, he knows what it takes, he can handle the mental side,'' Collins said. "David [Wright] has played in them, [Curtis Granderson] has been in the playoffs. We have some quality people in that clubhouse who have been in the playoffs.

"There's going to be a week where things aren't going good,'' Collins said of hard times during the season.

That could be the first week of the season, when the Mets open against the Nationals and that excellent pitching staff.

"But if you put guys in the clubhouse who know how to get through those tough times it makes it easier to get through them,'' Collins said. "It's New York, there are going to be some times where you are going to get blasted. It's the big leagues, deal with it.''

A lot of the Mets' swagger is because Matt Harvey is back leading the rotation.

"Even though he has a year-and-a-half experience in the big leagues, he acts like he's got six,'' Collins said. "That's very, very valuable.

"The camaraderie of the guys in the clubhouse is the best I've seen since I've been here.''

Collins said the Mets are going to try to pick up their level of intensity from the start in spring-training games, and added the pitching rotation is so deep, if "someone goes down, we may not even miss a beat. We might even get a guy who is better. We have some pieces.''

It's a question of putting the pieces together.

Let the swagger and unity continue.

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The rise and fall and rise of Knicks’ newest triangle hope

As a rookie in 2012-13 with Minnesota, Alexey Shved started 16 games, averaging 11.2 points and 5.9 assists with the first unit. Not bad.

"I played well," said Shved, a guard currently in the employ of the Knicks.

Shved has not started a single game since, not with the T-Wolves, not with the Sixers, not with the Rockets and not with the Knicks, his third team this season.

"I played a lot and then one moment, I'm just not playing. I have no idea why it happened," Shved said. "Personally, you should ask them not me because I have no idea what happened, and this is true."

In Minnesota at the time, the Timberwolves sought more size in the backcourt. Ricky Rubio was hurt for a while and they tried 6-foot Jose Barea and 6-2 Luke Ridnour. Shved, at 6-6, made sense, but they were using him more off the ball, unlike the role he had with his teams in Russia. Rubio made it back and Shved went back to the bench. The following year, some speculated Shved missed the presence of fellow Russian Andrei Kirilenko, who went to the Nets after mentoring the guard in Minnesota.

Now, Shved is in the process of finding a new opportunity in New York. Coach Derek Fisher labeled Shved a key guy as the Knicks try to withstand the injury absence of Jose Calderon. In his fourth game as a Knick — first at home — Shved had 15 points and five assists in the 103-98 victory over Toronto on Saturday.

Better to be known for things like that, other than being an Internet sensation for his shot/toss/no one really knows what in the fourth quarter in Detroit on Friday, when he flung the ball well over the backboard, causing TV analyst Clyde Frazier to note, "He just threw the ball into oblivion."

Shved atoned.

"Alexey, he's showing you some of the things that we mentioned that we thought he might have in terms of the potential to handle the ball, to make plays, to make shots," Fisher said. "His size and his feel for the game are things that are a good combination to have with this offense."

Oh, yeah, this offense. That would be the triangle, which on some levels is described as only slightly more confusing than the Riddle of the Sphinx uttered in ancient Greek.

Shved and Lou Amundson celebrate on Saturday.Photo: Paul J. Bereswill

"It's a great offense, everybody around plays the ball, passing. It's not really hard to learn. I know maybe 80 percent of the offense," said Shved, who came to the Knicks with a couple second-round picks in the deadline deal that sent Pablo Prigioni to Houston.

"I just want to help our team win some games, play good, play for fans," said Shved, who played the entire fourth quarter against the Raptors, collecting seven of his points and four of his assists in those final 12 minutes.

"Every time, I can play like I play first year, but second year I sit on bench, didn't play a lot. I missed that," Shved said. "I just want to show my best and help for the teammates."

Shved is part of the in-season cast the Knicks have assembled along the way in what is the worst season in team history. But he is part of a group that plays loose and free, with nothing to lose. If they lose, hey, it's not like they have perfection at stake.

"Alexey looks like he can be a solid player within our system," Fisher said. "with Jose being out in the short-term. … Alexey is a guy that we'll have to continue to get up to speed as quickly as possible because he's going to need to be able to handle the ball for us and make some decisions out there."

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Mets’ Collins reveals why he wants Lagares to win leadoff job

PORT ST. LUCIE — In the Mets' search for a leadoff hitter, Juan Lagares will get every opportunity to prove he is worthy of the job.

Lagares, according to manager Terry Collins, is the preferred option over Curtis Granderson, but only if Lagares shows the Mets he is ready to assume such responsibility. To that end, the next month will serve as a test for the 25-year-old center fielder.

"I am going to see how spring training goes, see how Juan adjusts when he gets a chance to lead off," Collins said Saturday. "We are going to get him in there as much as we can. We know that Grandy has done it in the past and that's less of a worry because we know he's done it for quite a while.

"If you can get Juan to be as productive as he can be, with the fact he can run the bases like he can and now all of a sudden you follow him up with Grandy, David [Wright], [Lucas] Duda, [Michael] Cuddyer, [Daniel] Murphy, then all of a sudden it's a whole different middle of the lineup. But that is way down the road."

Granderson, who batted leadoff in 52 games for the Mets last season, has an advocate in hitting coach Kevin Long. The two are reunited after spending four seasons together with the Yankees, and Long has tried to sell Collins on the idea of getting a player with Granderson's offensive potential as many at-bats as possible.

But Granderson was largely a disappointment for the Mets last season, with a .227/.326/.388 slash line with 20 homers and 66 RBIs. The veteran outfielder bounced around the lineup throughout the season.

"When I've seen Curtis, and I've seen him at a very high level, he's able to get on base," Long said. "He's able to drive the ball. Certainly the top of the order, those guys are going to get more at-bats throughout the year than somebody [else]."

By Long's estimation Granderson would lose 70 to 80 at-bats over a full season if he were to hit sixth instead of leadoff.

Curtis Granderson is the Mets' other option for the leadoff spot.Photo: AP

"You want your best hitters and the guys who get on base the most [at leadoff], certainly you do," Long said. "There's some other options, so that is not etched in stone, but we'll see how it plays out.

"Terry is going to have the final say on that. But Curtis has done it before, he's capable of doing it, so we'll see how it plays out."

Long, who signed a three-year contract with the Mets after he was fired as Yankees hitting coach last offseason, said he likes Lagares' demeanor and the confidence he has shown.

Lagares had a .281/.321/.382 slash line last season with four homers and 47 RBIs in 452 at-bats. He batted leadoff in 38 games for the Mets last year and had a .329 on-base percentage from that spot.
But Lagares' penchant for chasing pitches remains a concern.

"He's going to have to hone in on the strike zone and kind of take these chases and these swings out of the zone and be able to lay off some pitches," Long said. "With Juan it's more about, can we maximize his ability to get on base, so we've got some work to do."

At minimum, according to Collins, the Mets would want Lagares to be in the .330-.340 range in on-base percentage for consideration at leadoff.

"We ask him to start pulling the ball, and he started pulling the ball," Collins said. "We asked him to start running the bases and he started running the bases.

"Now we are saying, 'You've got to shrink the strike zone down and be a little more patient at the plate.' He's trying. He's going to try and we're going to give him a look this spring."

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Swedish teen with Asperger’s syndrome goes missing in NYC

A search was underway for a 15-year-old Swedish tourist with Asperger's syndrome who wandered away from his father at a Manhattan McDonald's, police sources said.

Marcus Kerttu was last seen at the fast food joint on Canal Street near Broadway in Chinatown at 7:50 p.m., Friday, officials said.

His father stepped away from their table to use the restroom, and returned to find Marcus gone, sources told the Post.

The father desperately searched the area around the McDonald's, as well as their West 32nd Street hotel, and alerted authorities after his efforts proved fruitless, sources said.

Marcus stands 5-foot-8 and weighs 120 pounds.

He was last seen wearing a black hat, black coat, blue jeans, and black sneakers. Police believe he has been obsessively riding on the 2, 5, and N lines.

Officials couldn't immediately say whether Marcus understands English.

Anyone with information about Marcus' whereabouts should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-8477, or text 'TIP577' to 274637.

Tipsters can remain anonymous.

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Serby Q&A: Chase Headley on A-Rod and defining the Yankee Way

Steve Serby caught up with Yankees third baseman Chase Headley for some spring training Q&A:

Q: How would you describe what it's like being a New York Yankee?
A: You think when you make it to the big leagues everywhere, it's the same — and it's not. You go in that clubhouse and you put on the uniform and you started thinking about the tradition and the players that have come before you and the standard that is playing for the Yankees, and I take that very seriously, I don't take it for granted, I think it's a privilege to be able to do that, to call yourself a Yankee. I'm very, very blessed and very excited to be back in New York and get to call myself a Yankee.

Q: Is there an aura when you walk into an opposing ballpark as a Yankee?
A: I think so. There's an energy. You're always gonna get the best from other teams. You always have a lot of Yankees fans wherever you go, there's always a bunch of them in the stadium. Hopefully we can start winning like New York is used to winning, and bring that back even more. But I think you feel it regardless, whether it's been a couple of years since you've been to the playoffs, or won the World Series last year.

Q: Describe the New York Yankee Way.
A: It's very businesslike, workmanship, team-first. And the goal is to win a world championship, that's the most important thing. I think the beautiful thing about New York, the individual stuff doesn't matter, it's about winning as a team, and that's why I love sports. And I want to experience winning in New York. I talk to certain guys and they say the electricity in the stadium in New York during the playoffs is something that you'll never experience anywhere else, so I look forward to get to experience that.

Q: Did you enjoy New York and being a Yankee more than you thought you would last season?
A: Oh, there's no question. Obviously I [was] in San Diego, which is a much smaller market, and you don't have the attention that you do, especially in New York. You don't know how you're gonna be treated when you come in the clubhouse, but when you get there, you start to meet the guys and see their personalities. That first and foremost was tremendous. … The Yankee family, the way they treat the players, the families, it's first class.

Photo: AP

Q: Can you replicate or approach your monster 2012 season?
A: I sure hope so. I think I've identified some things exactly that went right. … I would love to just say, "Yes I can," but until I do it again, I'm not gonna say that I can. I think regardless of whether I hit 30 home runs or drive in 115, I think I can be more productive than I've been in the last couple of years.

Q: Describe your on-field mentality.
A: I would say I'm intense. … I try to stay [as] even-keeled as I possibly can. … I'm passionate, and there are times where you'll see emotion on the field.

Q: What did you learn about Derek Jeter as a teammate that you didn't know?
A: Derek, no matter what was going on, he was always having a good time, laughing and joking in BP. … To see somebody who's done it as long as he has, and obviously accomplished the type of things he has, it stuck out to me how much he enjoyed playing the game and how much he's enjoying every moment. Because realistically, we never know when our last moment on the field is. To see him really enjoy his last couple of months was a treat for me.

Q: What have you observed about Didi Gregorius, and how can you as a veteran make his transition as the guy replacing Jeter more comfortable?

GregoriusPhoto: Charles Wenzelberg

A: What I've seen from him, and I played against him in San Diego when we were in Arizona, always really liked him as a player. Defensively, he's as good as there is. He's got a strong arm, he's smooth, really got good feet, a lot of range, so defensively, he's tremendous. When I watch his swing, there's a lot of things that I see that I think he does right. I think he's gonna do great. I think as a veteran, somebody who came to New York last year from a different situation, I think I can just try to help him make the transition smoother for him just talking to him, make sure he's just being himself and not thinking about all the other things that come along playing shortstop for the New York Yankees. As long as we can keep him playing his game and not worrying about trying to do too much or trying to replace somebody or whatever … because no matter what he does, he's never gonna replace him. So he just needs to be himself, and if he is that, then I think he's gonna do great.

Q: Why was the old Yankee Stadium your favorite stadium?
A: It was where I hit my first home run in the major leagues.

Q: What do you remember about the home run?
A: Just about everything? (Laugh). That's something that you'll never forget. It was just a special moment [June 18, 2008], I remember it was off Kyle Farnsworth, it was a 97-mile-an-hour fastball, and I hit it to right center. I was in San Diego, so it's not like you played in New York every year.

Q: Describe your home run in 2012 off Matt Harvey.
A: (Chuckle) Well that was a special time in my career where I was as locked in as I've ever been. I remember hearing about him, I think that was his second or third start, and that was really early in his career. I think that day he didn't have the stuff that you've seen the last couple of years from him, but you knew, like you could tell that the stuff was there. I think he hung me a changeup, and I didn't miss it. I'm looking forward to facing him again when he's at his best. I mean, he's as good as there is in the game. As a player, you look forward to those challenges.

Q: Who are third basemen over the years or now who you enjoy watching?
A: Scott Rolen is a guy that really rings a bell to me. … Eric Chavez, another guy that I have a lot of respect for. … Chipper Jones obviously was a guy that I watched as a switch-hitter.

Q: On paper, how do you see this Yankees team?

Headley celebrates a game-winning single last July.Photo: EPA

A: I like it. We have a lot of veteran guys who've had a lot of success in the league. Obviously I think it's gonna be important for us to stay healthy, but if we keep the guys that we expect to be on the field on [the] field the majority of the year, I think we have a really good shot. [we have] a lot of really talented players, a lot of guys who know how to play the game the right way.

Q: Describe the day that you were traded to the Yankees, last July 22, which ended with you hitting a walkoff single in bottom of 14th in your first game in pinstripes?
A: (Laugh). That was a whirlwind of a day, obviously, getting traded and leaving a place that you knew for so long. [San Diego] was the only organization I knew so it was bittersweet. … I remember first and foremost showing up at the field and introducing myself to the guys in the dugout, and then I remember swinging in the cage, and then swinging and missing the first four balls and just wondering where my swing was and then going out and having a tough three at-bats (chuckle). Fortunately, I got the fourth at bat, and got the big hit. … It was awesome to be able to celebrate like that with your teammates, and kinda feel like you contribute right away, I think that's everything you can ask for as a player coming into a new system.

Q: How did you become a switch-hitter?
A: To be honest with you, I started doing it when I was real young. My dad had me swing both ways as early as I can remember, probably 6, 7, 8 years old.

Q: Give me a scouting report on your son, Colt Headley.
A: (Laugh) He's a great kid. He loves anything with wheels. Loves Monster trucks, motorcycles, loves trains, Mickey Mouse, the whole Disney thing. … He's got a strong personality, he's got a lot of energy, but very adaptable. He's good traveling. He's a 3-year-old, he has his moments, but he's a special kid, obviously, for us.

Q: Did fatherhood change you in any way?
A: Absolutely. You realize really what's important. You come home and he's just really excited to see you, you kinda forget about everything else.

Q: A scouting report on your wife, Casey Headley.
A: She's a trouper. She's the rock in the family. She really handled everything that comes with the trade as far as logistics, and meanwhile she was seven months pregnant. She is an amazing woman, she's very independent, very strong, as most wives have to be in the lifestyle that we live. She really makes life easy on me with being able to focus on what I have to do to do my job.

Q: A scouting report on Chase Headley.
A: (Chuckle) Very dedicated to what I do. Not the most gifted athlete that anybody's ever seen that looks extraordinarily flashy or pretty, but I do my homework and put the work in, and I like to say what I do is effective.

Q: What are your thoughts on Alex Rodriguez?

Alex RodriguezPhoto: Charles Wenzlberg

A: Obviously, he's just getting back into shape, but you see him hit in the cage and you see the ball come off his bat, it's different than you see most guys in the major leagues.

Q: Describe the late Tony Gwynn.
A: One of the best hitters of all time. Did things the right way. He spent his entire career in San Diego, he was a hero in that community. Really a hero in all of baseball. When you go to San Diego and you bring that name up, you can just feel the passion and the loyalty and the love that fans have for him. It was fun to be able to be around him a little bit and get to know him. It was a special privilege for me to get to know him a little bit.

Q: Why did you transfer in college from Pacific to Tennessee?
A: There were a number of reasons. I think at that time, I really wanted to get to a place where I had a chance to compete for a national championship, and I didn't see that happening at Pacific the next few years. I enjoyed my time at U. of P., but I knew for me to be able to get to where I wanted to go, that it was probably gonna be best to move on.

Q: What do you remember about your high school valedictorian speech at Fountain-Fort Carson High in Colorado?
A: (Chuckle) I don't even remember, to be honest with you, it's a long time ago. But I think it was short and to the point.

Q: Were you a bookworm?
A: Not really. My parents just really stressed being a good student before being an athlete. I loved all sports, so I knew that to be able to play sports I had to do well in the classroom.

Q: Hobbies?
A: I'm a big bow hunter, I love to fish. I love being outside. … Those are probably the times that I cherish the most, just being out, being away from people. I grew up skiing in Colorado, that's something that when I'm done playing, I dearly miss and hope to be able to make up for it in five, six, seven years, however long I play, I'm looking forward to doing that.

Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Ted Williams, Muhammad Ali, Dan Marino.

Q: Favorite movie?
A: "Top Gun."

Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel Washington.

Q: Favorite meal?
A: Probably just cook my steak on my grill at the house.

Q: Curtis Granderson said the Mets can take the town from the Yankees.
A: I hope that we can stop that from happening. This isn't anything against the Mets — I think they're getting a lot better, they have a lot of young talent, they're on the rise. But it's still the Yankees, don't count us out, we can put a quality team out there, and continue to live up to what past Yankee teams have done.

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Knicks display Anthony Mason-like grit in victory over Raptors

On a night the Knicks honored the late Anthony Mason with a moment of silence and a video tribute, they also honored him by playing the kind of gritty, underdog game at the Garden of which Mase would have been proud.

A mismatched, underwhelming, shorthanded roster gutted out a 103-98 win over the Raptors, the runaway Atlantic Division leaders, for their first back-to-back victories in well over a month.

Before the game, coach Derek Fisher talked about how the Knicks would be well-suited to emulate Mason's tenacity, and Raptors coach Dwane Casey had warned that the Knicks could humiliate a team by outworking it. That's exactly what happened, as a roster more befitting the Developmental League outhustled Toronto and used an 8-0 fourth-quarter run to improve to 12-46.

Tim Hardaway Jr. had a team-high 22 points, Andrea Bargnani added 19 and Alexey Shved came off the bench for 15 points, five assists and some huge late game plays in just 19 minutes of efficient action.

It was the second night of action in a row for the Knicks after they rallied from 18 points down to beat the Pistons, 121-115 in double overtime in Detroit on Friday, but they actually looked fresher … and hungrier. The back-to-back wins marked their first consecutive victories since Jan. 21 and 23.

Granted, the Raptors lost their fifth straight and played without Kyle Lowry. The All-Star guard hadn't missed a single game all season, but Toronto sat him for a much-needed rest Saturday night. He had been battling calf, hamstring and finger injuries, and had averaged just 11.6 points on 29.7-percent shooting over his last five games.

But the Knicks aren't in a position to be picky, or toss back victories.

Toronto's DeMar DeRozan even went for a 360-degree dunk in the open court, and blew it to give the fairly somber Garden crowd something at which to laugh. And the Knicks didn't need to dig out of a big hole, as they had the night before, since they led for most of the game.

It was tied 71-all after Jonas Valancius' layup with 1:09 left in the third quarter, and the Knicks were clinging to an 80-79 lead after Toronto's Lou Williams scored with 9:48 left in the game. But the Knicks scored eight unanswered points to seize command.

Shved drilled a left-wing 3-pointer to put the Knicks up by four. Lou Amundson added a free throw then a jumper for an 86-79 cushion. Point guard Shane Larkin hustled back on defense to break up what should have been an easy fast-break layup for Greivis Vasquez, and when Lance Thomas found Jason Smith for a cutting layup, the Knicks led 88-79.

There were seven minutes left to play, but the game essentially was over.
The Knicks held off Toronto the rest of the way, the Raptors getting within a basket after a turnover and layup with half a minute remaining. But Shved drove and kicked out to Langston Galloway for a dagger 3-pointer — Galloway's first basket since the first quarter — with 13 seconds left.

Fisher said an MRI exam of Jose Calderon's left Achilles tendon confirmed a strain. The point guard didn't dress Saturday.

"We don't know much about a timetable. But we know he wants to get back out there,'' Fisher said.

Knicks president Phil Jackson was not at the game because he was watching No. 1 Kentucky beat Arkansas, 84-67, in Lexington, Ky. The Wildcats have two expected top draft picks: center Karl Towns and forward Willie Cauley-Stein.

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A big year for Jacoby Ellsbury depends on one X-factor

TAMPA — Exhibit A occurred Aug. 1, 2014, at Fenway Park, when Red Sox center fielder Mookie Betts ran and leaped to rob Jacoby Ellsbury of extra bases.

Exhibit B took place three days later at Yankee Stadium, when Tigers center fielder Ezequiel Carrera sprinted to his right, dove and snared another Ellsbury bullet.

"There's potentially six RBIs right there," Ellsbury said Saturday at Steinbrenner Field. "That's a good week, let alone a good two days."

Actually, the first hit took place with the bases empty, and the second, with the bases loaded, scored Ichiro Suzuki tagging up from third base. So the total damage was two RBI. Yet Ellsbury has won the right to Brian Williams-ize his maiden Yankees voyage, for the numbers back up Ellsbury's assertions he suffered from bad luck last year.

For this 2015 Yankees season to avoid being a disaster, the club needs improved health and/or better performances from its players both young (Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda) and old (Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira). What it needs and wants from Alex Rodriguez remains murky.

In order not to counterbalance such surges, the Yankees' few quality performers from last year could help by duplicating their contributions. And in the case of Ellsbury, a duplication of approach should equal better results.

Ellsbury kicked off his seven-year, $153-million contract by playing in 149 games and tallying 635 plate appearances, quieting those (like me) who had pointed out his prior durability issues. He put up a .271/.328/.419 slash line while playing decent defense, making him and his fellow speedy outfielder Brett Gardner the Yankees' most valuable everyday players. However, it represented a drop from his platform 2013 season with the Red Sox (.298/.355/.426), the one off which the Yankees committed major dollars to Ellsbury while allowing Robinson Cano to go to Seattle.

Jacoby Ellsbury runs the bases during Saturday's workout.Photo: Charles Wenzelberg

The 31-year-old Ellsbury, often hitting third for the Yankees, increased his power production from 2013, as his home runs jumped from nine to 16 and his RBI from 53 to 70. Although you might want to attribute that to Yankee Stadium's friendly right-field porch, Ellsbury hit seven homers at home and nine on the road. His doubles dipped from 31 to 27 and his triples from eight to five. In all, his total extra-base hits went from 48 to 49.

So the noticeable drops in Ellsbury's batting average and on-base percentage happened because he hit considerably fewer singles — 124 in 2013, 107 in 2014. Interestingly, Ellsbury's groundball percentage (50.8 percent to 41.8 percent) decreased, according to FanGraphs, while his rates for line drives (21 percent to 24.7 percent) and fly balls (28.2 percent to 33.5 percent) went upward.

"There were times where I felt like I was lining out a lot more than normal," Ellsbury said. "That's part of the game. … There are going to be times when you do everything right, you square the ball up, you hit a line drive, and the outfielder runs and tracks it down."

Ellsbury's batting average on balls in play dropped from .341 in 2013 to .296 in 2014. He likely didn't get hurt by improved defensive positioning, as occurred with the shift-victimized McCann and Teixeira.

"I guess I'm a tough guy to position, because I spray the ball around the field," Ellsbury said. "It's not like you can really play me to pull. If you play me to pull, I'm going to go the other way, or I'm going to lay down a bunt."

No, the best guess is simple baseball misfortune. And the best strategy is to ask Ellsbury to just do what he did last year.

"I think that's why they call it 'a career,' " Ellsbury said. "How did his career go? You could look at it: How did the week go? How did the month go? How did the year go? I think if you're doing the right things, if you're hitting line drives, that's really all you can do. It's going to even out eventually."

Evening out, all over their roster, is the Yankees' best shot at avoiding the odd sight of a third straight October vacation.

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