Paul Guenther and his good friend from the neighborhood, Jay Wright, have defense in common.
They learned it from their dads playing ball in the Burholme section of North Philadelphia, back when they played half ball in the backyard in games to this day Guenther calls “Bloodbaths.”
And that was even before Guenther grew up to coordinate defenses in the AFC North for Cincinnati and Wright grew up to coach Philly’s own Villanova Wildcats into this weekend’s Final Four after scratching through the Big East.
“I’m his No. 1 cheerleader,” Guenther says at his desk Thursday.