VILLANOVA LOOKS TO STAY HOT VS. HOYAS

February 28, 2009


An old school Big East battle is rekindled at the Wachovia Center at high noon on Saturday as the Villanova Wildcats will host the Georgetown Hoyas. This game was expected to carry much more meaning in the Big East standings, but the struggles of the Hoyas have left them down and out of the Big East race.

Villanova is still in the mix for a top-four seed for the 2009 Big East Tournament as they enter Saturday’s contest 11-4 and with a 23-5 overall mark. The Wildcats have been one of the hottest teams in the nation, winning nine of their last 10 games. They will look to keep the pressure on UConn, Louisville, Pitt and Marquette by claiming an early afternoon win on Saturday.

Georgetown, on the other hand, has been mired in a head-scratching slump, losing nine of their last 11, with wins coming against South Florida and Rutgers. Last weekend’s Saturday/Monday dual losses at home to Marquette and Louisville have dropped the Hoyas to 5-10 in the Big East and 14-12 overall, not very impressive for a team that boasts former McDonald’s All-American recruits such as Greg Monroe, Chris Wright and Austin Freeman in their starting line-up along with DaJuan Summers, who was also a very highly regarded recruit when he signed with the Hoyas.

Georgetown certainly has high-end talent, the problem has been that that talent sees a significant drop-off in level and experience following the starting five. As the losses began to mount, the team’s confidence and chemistry seemed to erode rapidly. Guards Wright and Jesse Sapp had a much-publicized halftime confrontation in a loss to Duke and Sapp has also been benched for his attitude toward the coaching staff in another game.

Georgetown showed some signs of snapping out of the funk, nearly stealing a win at Syracuse and then blowing out USF, but last weekend’s pair of losses seemed to take the final wind out of their sails.

Villanova had a classic letdown performance on Wednesday as the DePaul game followed their frantic win over Syracuse in the Dome last weekend, a game where SU missed four game-tying attempts in the last seconds and the Wildcats escaped with a win over a big rival.

The Wildcats will need a better performance on Saturday to beat Georgetown. Look for Jay Wright’s crew to extend defensive pressure and force Chris Wright to make proper decisions in pushing the ball or pulling it back out to run the Hoya offense. This defensive philosophy will also make it difficult for Georgetown to go inside to freshman Greg Monroe, an under-used weapon in their arsenal. Coach John Thompson III acknowledged the Hoyas problems this week during the Big East coaches conference call with their decision-making within their intricate offensive system.

“We always have given guys a lot of freedom to play,” JTIII told reporters. “You have to make the right decisions, you have to share the ball.”

It has been a long season for Georgetown since the calendar has flipped from 2008 to 2009. Playing a hot Villanova team on the road is unlikely to make things any better after the crushing defeats of last weekend. This could be a very tough game for the Hoyas to big themselves back up for.

NBE Blogger Preview:

Villanova 78
Georgetown 66

Georgetown Could Learn from Nova (Washington Times)

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From West Africa to the City of Brotherly Love

Mouphtau Yarou impresses at Primetime Shootout, next stop 'Nova


By Matt Whitfield

Villanova has perhaps the brightest outlook of any team in the Big East conference. Currently sitting at 11-4 this season with talented underclassmen such as Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher leading the charge of late, next year’s squad will add highly touted Duke transfer Taylor King as well as a recruiting class rated in everyone’s top five of incoming classes. It would not be a shock to many if Villanova didn’t make a serious tournament run next year.

Headlining the recruiting class is soft spoken, 6-9 big man from Montrose Christian in Mouphatau Yarou. Yarou, who does not play like your typical 6’9 player, recently came to the United States from Benin, West Africa. After his team’s victory over Shabazz in the 2009 Primetime Shootout, Yarou caught up with NBE and discussed the future and what it’s like for him now living in America.

Yarou committed to Jay Wright’s program and signed a letter of intent back in November, but that didn’t come without the nudging of Montrose teammate and fellow ‘Nova signee Isaiah Armwood, who influenced his decision to sign with the Philadelphia-area program. Yarou was said to have offers from other big time programs including Connecticut, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, and St. John’s. In the end, however, Yarou choose Villanova because he felt it was the total package, mixing both good academics and basketball. Yarou says he’s hasn’t talked to his other fellow recruits except for his teammate; however, he says he has communicated with future teammates Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher. Yarou, who has shown to be a tremendous rebounding machine, told NBE he feels he can bring more defense and rebounds to next year’s squad.

For all the hype and fanfare Yarou just arrived in the United States a little over a year ago in January of 2008. He is still adjusting telling NBE, “It’s really hard because everything is new for me. The language, because I speak French in my country, and the weather, the food, everything is different.”

While he enjoys American food saying his favorite dish is pasta and shrimp, he says the basketball couldn’t be any more different in the two countries. Yarou stated to NBE that, “here it is more physical,” and that, “[basketball] here is better than Africa.”

Despite being in the country for such a short period, Yarou speaks English fairly well and speaks the international language of basketball even better showing people he is not a timid big man on the court. Yarou, who led his team with 21 points, countless rebounds, and earned MVP honors in the win over Shabazz, told NBE he would like to be more comfortable on offense and improve his defense. For a player who calls Kevin Garnett his favorite NBA player, and is as tenacious as he is on the court, Yarou should hold his own next year, and eventually be a force to be reckoned with as he adjusts to the American game and grows into his large frame.

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VILLANOVA LOOKS TO KEEP DEPAUL WINLESS IN BIG EAST

February 25, 2009


Jerry Wainwright and his DePaul Blue Demons are running out of chances to avoid an 0-18 record in Big East play. Currently sitting at 0-14, the Blue Demons have a home game tonight against red-hot Villanova and wrap-up their home schedule this weekend with St. John's before finishing on the road against West Virginia and Georgetown.

Villanova continues to play for NCAA seeding and are coming off a very impressive road win at Syracuse on Sunday afternoon. Their athletic and deep backcourt looks to be a nightmare for the Blue Demons and the experienced front court led by Dante Cunningham also matches up well with DePaul. At 10-4 in the Big East and 22-5 overall, getting a top-four Big East seed for the Big East tournament is a real possibility for the Wildcats and should keep them focused in what could be a classic sandwich game.

With Georgetown up next and coming off the thrilling 89-86 win at Syracuse, a letdown may be very natural for Jay Wright's squad. Making the cold trip to the midwest in the middle of the week is never a fun prospect, even for college kids, so getting their intensity level up in a near-empty Allstate Arena might be a challenge.

Led by junior Scottie Reynolds and senior Dante Cunningham, and also getting increased productioin from sophomore corey Fisher and senior Dwayne Anderson, the Wildcats seem to be coming together quite well as February rolls ahead towards March. Their penchant for extending defensive pressure deep into the backcourt will test the very weakness of DePaul that has been the biggest cause of their 0-fer Big East record: ball-handling. With Jabari Currie lost for the season, freshmen Jeremiah Kelly and Mike Bizoukas handle most of the duties at the point. Scoring wings Will Walker and Dar Tucker will also have pressure to produce against the 'Nova defensive specialists.

At some point you have to beleive something goes right for DePaul. Players like Mac Koshwal and Dar Tucker can be productive players in the Big East and Will Walker has shown he could score in the Big East. The problem is the rest of the roster will have to play over their heads to give a Big East-level performance, something that can very much happen, but has yet to do so. Nobody wants to be that first victim, and although I think they put up a fight, I do not see 'Nova being the first to fall either.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Villanova 79
DePaul 67

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DOME SWEEP DOME FOR VILLANOVA

February 23, 2009


Villanova and Syracuse highlighted Sunday's Big East schedule with an afternoon showdown at the Carrier Dome televised by CBS nationally. The Wildcats withstood a late flurry of potential game-tying three's as Villanova Survives Syracuse, 89-86 (Philadelphia Daily News), sweeping the season two-game home and home with the Orange.

Senior Dwayne Anderson led six Wildcats in double figures with 22 points.

In front of an excited crowd of nearly 27,000 partisan to the home team, Villanova Turns on the Defense Against Syracuse (Philadelphia Inquirer) to ignite an 11-0 run to answer an Orange run that saw them erase a 10-point deficit to take a 59-57 lead midway through the second half.

Reggie Redding was the defensive catalyst, picking up two of his six steals at the beginning of the run, in helping 'Nova regain control of the game. Redding also added 11 points and a team-high 7 assists in the game.

Villanova, 10-4 in the Big East and 22-5 overall, also got 15 points from senior Shane Clark and sophomore Corey Fisher and 12 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists from senior Dante Cunningham. Scottie Reynolds added 10 in the win.

Nova finishes up the regular season with a trip to DePaul this week before a Saturday-Monday pair with Georgetown (home) and Notre Dame (road) before closing with Providence ahead of the 2009 Big East Tournament.

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: VILLANOVA @ SYRACUSE

February 22, 2009


Syracuse looks to get revenge for an earlier loss to Villanova when the two teams tangle Sunday afternoon in the Carrier Dome. Just two weeks ago, Syracuse went to Philly and were smoked by the Wildcats from the get-go in a 102-85 loss. The Orange had lost five of six and six of eight prior to a win last Saturday against Georgetown, pushing them back above .500 in Big East play at 7-6. Their 10-game gauntlet of top Big East teams comes to a close on Sunday. In this current stretch, SU has shown to be a notch or two below the top teams in the Big East, a win against Villanova should close the gap.

Villanova had been one of the hottest teams in the country, let alone the Big East, until a Friday night in Morgantown slowed some of their momentum. VU bounced back on Thursday with a 10-point home win over lowly Rutgers and currently sit at 9-4 in the Big East, two games ahead of SU, but two games behind the conference leaders.

Orange Scouting Report: Syracuse vs. Villanova (Post-Standard)
End of the Gauntlet (Post-Standard)
Orange Try for No. 20 (Syracuse.com)

Syracuse has picked up their game at the Dome on a few ‘must-win’ occasions and the expectation they will do so again in this situation. Having eight days off to get Andy Rautins and Arinze Onuaku healthier and allow nagging injuries to Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf heal should give the Orange a huge lift against ‘Nova.

The Wildcats have been playing very well and that is likely to continue on Sunday. It should be an outstanding game, but a healthier Onuaku will make things a little more difficult for Dante Cunningham inside. Cunningham torched SU for 30+ points in the first meeting. The SU zone will put the pressure on the Villanova perimeter shooters, but look for some man-to-man as well and a Dome crowd feeding the ‘Cuse energy level.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Syracuse 79
Villanova 72

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VILLANOVA WINS ON SENIOR NIGHT OVER RU

February 20, 2009


Villanova got back in the win column following a loss in their last game by extending the misery of Rutgers under Fred Hill. Villanova Shakes off Loss With Win over Rutgers (Philly Daily News) as the Wildcats Claw Past Knights (Asbury Park Press) on 'Senior Night' for Villanova.

A 24-7 run by Villanova put the game in their control after Rutgers took a brief 54-52 lead around the 10-minute mark of the second-half. Twenty turnovers were the biggest downfall for the Knights as Rutgers Loses to No. 12 Villanova, 82-72 (Star-Ledger).

Scottie Reynolds had a game-high 21 points for 'Nova as the Wildcats improve to 9-4 in the Big East and 21-5 overall. Corey Stokes added 17 and Corey Fisher 14 in the win. The sophomore duo played their high school basketball in New Jersey and came off the bench to key the big run that decided the game for VU.

Freshman Mike Rosario had a team-high 19 for Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights shot a season-best (in Big East play) 52% from the field and found the range from three-point range, shooting 10-22, but Villanova forced 20 turnovers and out-rebounded RU on the offensive boards 14-5, which led to 13 more shot attempts for Villanova and the difference in the game.

Seniors Dante Cunningham (12 points), Dwayne Anderson (8 points), Shane Clark (6 points) and Frank Tchuisi (0 points) were all in the starting line-up last night for 'Nova.


Villanova, who was smacked by WVU in their previous game, 93-72, meets Syracuse Sunday afternoon in the Dome for a nationally televised contest on CBS.

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: RUTGERS @ VILLANOVA

February 19, 2009



Villanova's hot streak was interrupted on Friday night when they were thumped by West Virginia in Morgantown. The Wildcats had won six games in a row entering that game, including hanging 102 points on Syracuse and Marquette in back to back wins before the 93-72 loss at WVU.

Jay Wright's squad is now 8-4 in the Big East and 20-5 overall. They returned everyone of signficance from a club that last season went to the Sweet 16 as a 12-seed and this year they should certainly be looking at a seed anywhere between a 3 or a 6 in the NCAA Tournament.

On the other side of tonight's ledger is Rutgers. It is another disappointment for Fred Hill's squad, although this season was supposed to be different. Expectations were rising for Hill's program as he entered his third season with some solid returning players and some highly regarded recruits. Unfortunately, results on the court have not come very quickly and RU is in real danger of having their worst season yet under Hill.

Rutgers is currently 1-11 in the Big East and suffered out of conference losses, at home, to St. Bonaventure, Lehigh and Binghampton. In three season as Rutgers' head coach, Hill is 6-42 in Big East conference games. OUCH!


Here are some pregame stories and previews from the web:

Villanova's Wright Hopes Big Loss Woke Team Up (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Villanova's Reynolds Gives Team Whatever it Needs (Philadelphia Daily News)
Colonia's Donnely Now Helping 'Nova (mycentraljersey.com)

Not so long ago, Fred Hill recruited New Jersey to the benefit of Jay Wright. Hill was a key part of Wright's staff and was the lead recruiter fr players such as Randy Foye, helping Villanova reach the Elite 8. Now Hill is recruiting Jersey for the benefit of his own program and had some impressive success the last couple years with players such as Corey Chandler, Greg Echenique and Mike Rosario. However, recruiting success has not brough success on the court as of yet and the Scarlet Knights are scuffling through another losing season. The continued losing has also slowed down the recruiting momentum as well.

Last season, Rutgers surprised a nationally ranked Villanova squad in the RAC. With everyone back for the Wildcats, they will certainly remember that result as they prepare to meet the Knights this season. This time the game is at the cozy Pavilion on the VU campus.

Villanova is likely to attack the ballhandling and decision-making defeciencies of Rutgers directly. Guards Corey Fisher, Scottie Reynolds and Reggie Redding are all strong defensively and they will extend pressure to take RU out of their offense. In the paint, Dante Cunningham will use his shooting touch to move inside and out to score points.

Rutgers will need a hot-shooting performance from Mike Rosario as well as other players to step up offensively. The interior players such as Echenique, Hamady N'Diaye and JR Inman should be able to find some success in the paint against a smaller Villanova line-up, but the trick is to get them the ball, something the RU guards have been unable to do with any consistency this season.

Villanova is an 18 1/2-point favorite tonight on their home floor. Their combination of hot shooting and pressure defense will be a very tough combination for RU to handle away from home.

NBE Blogger Preview:

Villanova 90
Rutgers 68

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VILLANOVA LOOKS TO CONTINUE ROLL, VISITS WVU

February 13, 2009


Last night we saw how a desperate team could react on their home floor in a must-win situation. West Virginia has much of the same necessity for a win tonight when they host Villanova for a Friday night Big East conference special.

Friday the 13th in Morgantown for a 9 PM contest, that is a scary proposition for an opponent. The red-hot Villanova Wildcats, winners of six in a row, look to continue their winning ways against a WVU squad that has lost three of their last four games and fallen below .500 in the Big East at 5-6.


Here are some pregame stories and previews on tonight's contest:

Nova-WVU Not Lacking Intrigue (Times West Virginian)
Rare Friday Night Gem Kicks Off Full Weekend of Hoops (ESPN)
WVU Faces Elite Villanova (Daily Mail)
WVU Looks to Cage Wildcat Offense (Journal-News)
Streaking Villanova Visits (Charleston Gazette)
WVU to Host No. 13 West Virginia at its Hottest (Times West Virginian)
Difficult Stretch Continues for WVU (Metro News)
Wildcats Hopes to Open Tourney Close to Home (Philadelphia Inquirer)

During the 'Nova six-game winning streak, they have gotten big games from Scottie Reynolds (31 at PC, 27 vs. Marquette) and Dante Cunningham (31 vs. SU), but the consistent play of Corey Fisher, averaging 13 points, shooting over 56% and stepping up his defensive efforts, might be the biggest lift the team has had.

Fisher came to Villanova amidst much hype, but he struggled in his freshman season. He battled injuries as well as finding his place in the backcourt alongside Scottie Reynolds as both seemed to be scoring point guards. Fisher finished the Big East schedule last season shooting under 25% (15-61) from the field over the last eight games and averaging 5.6 points a game and in the Big East Tournament, he scored just two points in two games.

His play of late seems to indicate he finally is getting 'it' in Jay Wright's system and finding his place. His 21-points in this week's win over Marquette was another display of a more efficient Fisher on offense while still helping with the little things at the other end of the court when needed.

With Reynolds and Cunningham consistently leading the offense, Fisher finding a role to excel at in a complimentary position has helped take VU to new heights.

The schedule has been pretty brutal for WVU and they begin a crucial two-game homestand with Villanova on Friday and then Notre Dame coming in on Wednesday. For a team fighting to stay on the right side of the NCAA Bubble, they must pick up wins that will serarate them from other NCAA hopefuls. Following the pair of home games, they hit the road for Rutgers, the anticipated return of Bob Huggins to Cincinnati and a game at South Florida before finishing at home with DePaul and Louisville to close the regular season.

Offensively, WVU has shown they can struggle mightily in Big East play. Villanova will look to concentrate on Alex Ruoff and Da'Sean Butler, the two most responsible for making the WVU offense go. The experienced guard corps of VU will also target freshman point guard Darryl Bryant and try to disrupt the flow of the Mountaineer offense by making everything tough on him. This might be the key development. WVU has not dealt well with the pressure and physical defense of Louisville, UConn, Pitt and Marquette, and the Wildcats will look to unleash their attack as well.

For WVU to win, the x-factor will likely have to be Devin Ebanks. The much-hyped, 6-foot-9, multi-talented freshman forward needs to be a consistent source of offense in support of Ruoff and Butler. Ebanks has scored in double figures in four of the last five games, including a career-high 16 in Monday's loss at Pitt.

West Virginia, unranked, is a 4 1/2-point favorite tonight against the 13th ranked team in the country. While the WVU computer numbers remain very strong, led by a tough defense, their play in the Big East does not give one a lot of confidence in this match-up, mostly because of their youth at key spots, especially at point guard.

Villanova is averaging 99 points a game in their last three outings as they have been able to play in a free-flowing environment, averaging over 81 possessions a game, an astounding number. WVU plays at an average pace nearly identical to the national average of 66.7 possessions a game. With a freshman point guard, controlling that tempo will decide the game. However, in the ebb and flow of college hoops over the long season, 'Nova is due for an off game and with a raucous crowd and a desperate team coached by Bob Huggins, WVU should squeek one out.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

West Virginia 68
Villanova 65

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VILLANOVA STAYS HOT, OUTGUNS MARQUETTE

February 11, 2009


Heading into the game last night between Villanova and Marquette it seemed perfectly reasonable that each team had a backcourt that would make scoring tough on the other. That assumption turned out to be incorrect as Villanova Lights it up Again (TimesHerald) in a convincing 102-84 win over the Golden Eagles.

Just days after scoring 102 in a win over SU, Villanova Pads It's Resume With Win over Marquette (Philadelphia Daily News), their sixth win in a row as they move to 8-3 in the Big East and 20-4 overall. The Red-Hot Wildcats are Clicking on All Cylinders (Evening Bulletin) offensively as they got a game-high 27 points from Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher added 21 with Shane Clark (16), Dante Cunningham (15) and Dwayne Anderson (10) also reaching double figures.

Jerel McNeal led Marquette with 23 points and became the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Golden Eagles' illustrious program, however, the Defense Falters on McNeal's Record Night (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) as 'Nova shoots 59% from the floor and hits 13 of 24 three's. The Wildcats also had a 32-7 advantage in bench scoring and outrebounded the Golden Eagles by a 37-29 margin.

Lazar Hayward had 22 points and 9 rebounds for MU with Wesley Mathews adding 16 and Dominic James scoring 14 and adding 9 assists. However, after the main four, only nine points were contributed fromt he rest of the team as Villanova Outruns No. 10 Marquette (Philadelphia Inquirer).

While the guard trio of Marquette continues to get a lot of well-deserved recognition and attention, the Villanova group of backcourt players definitely were up to the challenge and their defense and improving offensive production is definitely making it clear that the Guards are Making 'Nova a Threat (phillyburbs.com) in the Big East and nationally.

Not a lot of rest ahead for the Wildcats who have a 9 PM Friday night date against West Virginia in Morgantown.

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: MARQUETTE @ VILLANOVA

February 10, 2009



The big game in the Big East for Tuesday night takes place in Philadelphia with a top-15 match-up between Villanova and Marquette. This is a rematch from a New Year’s Day match-up in Milwaukee that saw the Golden Eagles win 79-72 and start their nine-game Big East win streak. That streak game to a stunning halt on Friday night when South Florida upended Marquette, 57-56, down in the Sun Dome.

Villanova has been on fire of late, winning five straight games to move to 7-3 in Big East play. The lone losses for the Wildcats have come against Marquette, Connecticut and Louisville, the only teams with one-loss in Big East play. The highlight of their winning streak was a 67-57 win over Pittsburgh, their most impressive win of the season.


Here are some pregame stories and previews found on the internet this morning:

’Nova Forward is Stepping Out of Shadows (Gloucester County Times)
Williams Succes at MU Doesn’t Surprise Crean (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
Clark Adds Experience at Villanova (DelCoTimes.com)
Villanova in Good Position Heading into Homestretch (Philly Daily News)
Nova Braces for Marquette’s Backcourt Trio (Philadelphia Inquirer)
McNeal Not Distracted by Scoring Title (Journal Sentinel)
Game 24: Villanova (Journal-Sentinel)

Villanova and Marquette is a classic match-up of strength versus strength as each team boasts talented backcourts that fuel their game plans. Marquette features three seniors in their starting backcourt: Jerel McNeal, Wesley Mathews and Dominic James. The ‘three amigos’ helped spark the Golden Eagles to a 9-0 conference record and a 12-game winning streak overall under new coach Buzz Williams. All three players are quick and athletic, dictating the flow of the game with their ability to push the basketball, attack the basket and extend defensive pressure on the ball. The importance of their roles are multiplied by the lack of inside strength and numbers of the Golden Eagles. Their line-up is completed with 6-foot-6 Lazar Hayward playing power forward and 6-foot-8 Dwight Burke playing center. Often time, Hayward is their most productive rebounder and interior defender, although he is playing out of his natural position at power forward and used as their de-facto center. Out of necessity, Hayward has developed into a solid post contributor, but against the bigger Big East teams ahead on their schedule, this could be an area that is exploited in league play and beyond as the seasons gets tougher here on out.

Another weakness of the Golden Eagles is they do not shoot very well as a team. McNeal has improved his three-point shooting by leaps and bounds this season (career 30% shooter from three coming into the year), shooting 47% from beyond the arc and has been unreal in Big East play, but their 4-24 from beyond the arc against USF was a major reason for their first conference loss, not to mention their 10-23 performance from the foul line.

McNeal is a definite Big East Player of the Year candidate. He continues to fill the stat sheet and has eclipsed 20 points in nine of 10 Big East contests and is shooting 50% (33-60) from beyond the arc in conference games.

Villanova is one of the few teams in the nation that has three guards that can match-up with the Golden Eagles’ trio. They may not be as explosive offensively, but Reggie Redding and Corey Fisher are quickly elevating themselves into position of one of the best defensive backcourt tandems in the country. Scottie Reynolds still has a big hand in the offense averaging 15 points and 4 assists and has a 40-point performance (at Seton Hall) and a 31-point performance (at Providence) in a couple tough road wins, showing the veteran can carry the load when needed.

The difference in this ‘Nova squad and the last couple years has been the consistent inside play of Dante Cunningham. The unsung senior has flown under the radar and is scoring a team-best 17 points a game and leading the club with over 7 rebounds a game. He is coming off a 31-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Wildcat’s weekend washout of Syracuse. Cunningham, along with Antonio Pena, Shane Clark and Dwayne Anderson give ‘Nova some depth and versatility in the frontcourt, even without real Big East-level size, and in this game, it very well could be the difference in Nova picking up a big home win.

The oddsmakers have made Villanova a 4 ½-point favorite on their home floor. Both teams will look to push the basketball and really get after it defensively, Villanova has just enough inside to control the rebounding and get a couple second chance points to turn the tide in this game.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Villanova 74
Marquette 67

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VILLANOVA SERVES ORANGE CRUSH AT WACHOVIA CENTER

February 7, 2009


Speaking of a Big East stunner. Jim Boehiem had to be absolutely stunned at his team's lack of effort on the defensive end as Syracuse watched Villanova score early and often against little resistance in what turned out to be a 102-85 blowout win for the Wildcats.

Dante Cunningham Helps Bury SU (Post-Standard) as the 'Nova senior pours in 31 points and Villanova Comes Up Big Against Syracuse (Philadelphia Inquirer).

The Wildcats shot 55% from the field and out-rebounded SU 46-35. Corey Stokes had 16 and Corey Fisher 14 off the bench and Shane Clark added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds helping 'Nova move to 7-3 in the Big East with their fifth win in a row.

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: SYRACUSE @ VILLANOVA

February 7, 2009


Another big game in the Big East matches 6-3 Villanova against 6-4 Syracuse at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. The Wildcats, since dropping an 89-83 decision at No.1 Connecticut, have reeled off four consecutive wins, including a 10-point victory over Pittsburgh. In their last game, Scottie Reynolds scored 31 and Dante Cunningham, Reggie Redding and Dwayne Anderson all had double-doubles as the Wildcats held off a late Providence rally for a 94-91 win on the road.

Syracuse looked to be headed in the opposite direction as the Orange had dropped four of five following a 4-0 conference start. Syracuse got back on the right track Wednesday night with a 74-61 home win over West Virginia in the Dome.

Here are some pregame stories and previews found on the internet:
Wildcats Pace Appears to be Good Enough (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Syracuse has been hit hard by injuries, but are slowly coming back to health. Andy Rautins returned from an ankle injury to play 21 minutes in the win versus WVU and Arinze Onuaku was a little more productive in Wednesday’s game than he was in the loss to Providence a week earlier. Still, Onuaku’s problems with tendonitis in his knee are likely to linger and figuring out how healthy he is from game to game will be a chore. It is not good news for the Orange as the junior big man is tough to move in the paint and is the only player SU has to bang against some of the beef found in the Big East.

With Onuaku limited and Rautins finding his stroke from the perimeter again, the offensive burden falls back to the SU guards and against WVU Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf were up to the task, combining for 44 points in the win. They will find things much tougher against a physical defensive unit that makes up the ‘Nova backcourt. Sophomore Corey Fisher is starting to make his name as a top-notch defender and Reggie Redding already enters the game known as one of the better perimeter defenders in the Big East. Syracuse will likely try to isolate Paul Harris and have him use his size and strength to over power his defender to score points.

Syracuse will employ their standard 2-3 zone defense. The veteran Reynolds should have a better idea of how to attack and find the gaps than WVU did, setting up perimeter shooters like Corey Stokes and Anderson to knock down some three’s on their home floor.

With a gimpy Onuaku, Villanova’s ability to extend pressure in the backcourt is even more of an advantage as SU is more unlikely to take advantage of one-on-one mismatches inside. Paul Harris is likely to have a good game if he can put the ball on the floor under control and get into the lane, but the Villanova defense is likely to control other SU options. Offensively, ‘Nova will look to hit the gaps of the zone and knock down their shots when the opportunity arises.

It should be a good game, but in the end, Villanova’s defense carries them to a win.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Villanova 70
Syracuse 65

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VILLANOVA FIGHTS OFF FRIAR RALLY TO WIN

February 5, 2009


This one was not looking like it was going to come down to the wire, but Villanova Escapes Providence With a Win (Philadelphia Daily News) after PC's Furious Rally Falls Just Short Against Villanova (Providence Journal), 94-91.

Villanova seemed in control of this one throughout, leading 49-34 at the half and stretched it to as much as 20 in the second half before Providence began to rally. The Friars cut the lead to just a point, 92-91, on a Weyinmi Efejuku three-pointer with two second left. However, the Wildcats were able to get the ball into the hands of Scottie Reynolds who sunk two free throws and PC did not get off a final shot before the buzzer.

The Cats Hang on to Post a Victory Over Providence (Philadelphia Inquirer) with the junior Reynolds scoring 31, making 13 of 15 from the foul line. Senior Dwayne Anderson added 19 points and 10 rebounds and Dante Cunningham and Reggie Redding each provided 12 points and 11 rebounds as 'Nova won the battle of the boards, 50-38.

Villanova is now 6-3 in the Big East and the No. 17th ranked Wildcats host Syracuse on Saturday and then welcome in Marquette on Tuesday.

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: 'NOVA LOOKS TO DROP FRIARS

February 4, 2009


Providence College will host the Villanova Wildcats in a Big East conference match-up tonight at the Dunkin Donuts Center. This game will be a moment of truth of sorts for the Friars, who stand at 6-3 in conference play, but are coming off a 94-61 pummelling at the hands of UConn over the weekend.

The Wildcats have won three in a row, including a victory over Pitt last Wednesday in the finale of the Spectrum in Philadelphia. Villanova is now 5-3 in the Big East and looking to put some seperation between themselves and the crowded middle of the pack, and this pushing the Friars closer to conference mediocrity.

Here are some pregame stories and previews found on the internet:

'V' is for a Villanova Team that is Very Tough to Beat (Philadelphia Daily News)
Villanova is PC's Next Big East Challenge (Providence Journal)
Capsule Preview: Villanova at Providence College (Providence Journal)

Before their home win over a crippled Syracuse squad last week, the best win registered by the Friars game against in-state rival Rhode Island from the Atlantic 10. Their best Big East win was their road victory over Cincinnati, a team that 'Nova decimated themselves this past Sunday.

The Friars desperately want to be included in the NCAA Tournament talk and their 6-3 Big East record might have some talking in that manner. However, their lack of out of conference quality wins will force games like this one to be a must-win.

The Wildcats are playing well, especially on the defensive end, and Corey Fisher is becoming a more consistent weapon on both ends of the court. The 'Nova defense will pressure the PC guards, who can be shaky with the ball and their decision making is not always the best. This strategy is usully used for Villanova to cover their lack of strength in the paint, but led by Dante Cunningham and Antonio Pena, Villanvoa matches up favorable with the Friar frontcourt.

The college basketball betting odds have 'Nova listed as a 3 1/2-point favorite on the road. They are the better team and their match-up should allow them to get the job done in this contest.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Villanova 75
Providence 68

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: CINCINNATI @ VILLANOVA

February 1, 2009


Villanova will look to follow-up Wednesday night’s emotional victory over No. 3 Pittsburgh in the Spectrum finale as they welcome surging Cincinnati to the Pavilion on Sunday afternoon. The Bearcats are also coming off a big win as the knocked off Georgetown on their home floor Wednesday.

One Wednesday night, Villanova pulled the energy from the 17,000+ fans gathered for the final college basketball game at the Spectrum and some timely foul trouble on DeJuan Blair to gain control and then their defense did the rest as the Wildcats knocked off Pitt. It was the first significant in for Jay Wright’s squad this season.

The same can be said for Cincinnati, although Georgetown has been in a freefall of late. Still, the Bearcats came through with a win that still holds some weight on their resume and have won four of their last five after starting conference play 0-3.

The Bearcats are led by junior guard Deonta Vaughn, who is averaging a team-high 15.6 points a game. The emergence of Texas transfer Mike Williams, who also missed last season to an injury, has also keyed their recent run. Williams is averaging 10.2 points a game on the season, but that number is up to 14.8 in the last seven contests. The 6-foot-7 Williams also teams with 6-foot-9 frosh Yancy Gates (10 points/game), 6-foot-8 JUCO transfer Stephen Toyloy and 6-foot-11 sophomore Anthony McClain to give Mick Cronin’s team a much deeper frontcourt than his previous UC clubs.

Villanova is led by 6-foot-8 senior Dante Cunningham, who is enjoying a breakout season. The big forward averages team highs in scoring (16.5), rebounding (7.1), blocks (1.4) and steals (1.7). Junior Scottie Reynolds also adds his normal scoring punch, averaging 14.5 points a game and a team-high 4.2 assists a game. Reynolds also shows he can still carry the club, evidenced by his 40-point outburst in an OT win over Seton Hall earlier.

The oddsmakers have Villanova as an 11 ½-point favorite. The number seems slightly generous with the Wildcats prone to a letdown as they are in the midst of a very tough stretch of games and this being a follow-up to the Pitt win. UC is prone to some offensive slumps and the Villanova defense is strong, especially on the perimeter, where they will make it tough on Vaughn, but the UC size could keep this one pretty close throughout.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Villanova 69
Cincinnati 60

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