Ken Davis

Villanova coach Jay Wright doesn’t seem to mind playing the role of Final Four outsider.

You see, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and North Carolina coach Roy Williams each have a national championship ring. Jim Calhoun is pursuing his third title in 11 seasons at UConn. Then there is Wright, whose only connection to a national championship team — at this point in his career — is through former Villanova coach Rollie Massimino.

They are quite a pair. Wright is the handsome young man in the designer suits. And when Massimino won it all in 1985, former Big East commissioner Dave Gavitt described him as the coaching version of “Willy Loman [from Death of a Salesman], all disheveled and so excited” as he celebrated “The Perfect Game” victory over mighty Georgetown.

The old coach still carries off that wrinkled and worn look and Wright, Villanova’s fresh prince, enjoys drawing on the family atmosphere Massimino established on the Main Line more than 25 years ago.

Wright certainly doesn’t need a stamp of credibility, but Villanova’s past success won’t hurt him this weekend in Detroit.

“This is definitely like one of those picture you look at [and] choose which doesn’t belong here, you know,” Wright said of being the Final Four rookie. “When you get to the level that all three of these [coaches] are, there are just certain experiences that you have, certain situations you’re invited to that you have in common, and you get to know each other.

“You watch success. You try to emulate what they do and try to figure out what makes them different.”

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Calhoun, who has watched the Villanova program redefine itself since Wright became coach in 2001, thinks the Wildcats’ coach had it figured out some time ago.

“You know, I think Jay defined his career a long time before this,” Calhoun said. “I do think, rightly or wrongly, that postseason play has become the ultimate judgment of success and failure in this business. And Jay certainly has succeeded now with an incredible win over Pittsburgh [in the East Regional final]. He’ll be looked at a little bit differently now, no question. He should be. He’s a terrific coach.”

Izzo admits a trip to the Final Four changes the way people regard a coaching resume. And that includes other coaches’ perceptions.

“But I don’t think, as a coach yourself, you feel any different,” Izzo said. “I love Jay’s team this year. They play hard. I just love how hard they play. The game the other night [against Pitt] was one of the games of the era.

“I think Jay will be in a few more Final Fours before his career is over. He’s done an incredible job there. And he’s a good guy. Sometimes that’s a hard combination these days.”

That combination includes a tremendous rapport his players, his staff, the Villanova administration, boosters, alumni, and the media. Minutes after Scottie Reynolds drove the length of the court to secure Villanova’s 78-76 victory over Pitt in Boston, Wright was at the top of a ladder, snipping away at the nets with his players. His pinstripe vest was still on, but his jacket was off. A reporter kidded Wright about the championship cap he wore on his head.

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“It was actually a gray cap,” Wright said, pointing to the stripe in the vest. “I was very impressed that the committee here had that prepared to match my suit.”

Those who think Wright is just a sharp-dressed man haven’t observed the way he interacts with his players. Wright’s cool and calm demeanor on the sideline is reflected on the court through Reynolds, who, in turn, is trusted by his teammates. Wright and Reynolds obviously speak the same language.

“It’s amazing what you can do when you listen to just the one voice,” Reynolds said. “And that one voice is Coach Wright.”