I know it's still a couple days away but I'm excited for the game Monday! 2 teams with very different strengths and whichever team can impose their style on the other will likely win. I think Villanova are the rightful favorites.
To me, the game will come down to our ability to defend their guards and perimeter. Josh Hart is a stud who can get to the hoop, but he can drain the long bomb as well. Same goes for Brunson (not as good as Hart, but very very good). They still have Booth, who had an amazing championship game as well. Can't forget Jenkins who is their stretch 4 and hit the championship winning 3. I'm not a Villanova expert, but from what I saw last year (which wasn't much other than the tourney), I remember they played a 4 guard lineup (I count Jenkins, a stretch 4, as a guard) around Ochefu. Ochefu is in the NBA and they don't seem to have a 7 foot stud this year. From the early box score in their 1st game, they get other big (center/forward) minutes from Reynolds (6-9, 240 - good rebounder, but not much of a scoring threat) and Paschall (6-7, 250).
They are quick, move well without the ball and move it around on offense and are a skilled, good shooting team. They defend well.
Our advantage is inside. Biggie and Haas have to have good games in my opinion. Make them pay down low and get them in foul trouble. They don't seem to have much front court depth (much like us now that Taylor is out indefinitely). We have to keep our turnovers low and win the rebounding battle.
I think our guards aren't as quick as theirs pretty much across the board, so staying in front of them will be a problem. I think having Basil back for this game will help defensively and being a pest. I worry that they will get past their man and put us in tough defensive rotations and then find easy looks or pick up fouls on Haas/Biggie. Having Basil back this game will at least give us someone who can stay with these guys.
We have to somehow limit or disrupt their guard play enough and punish them down low. I'm almost of the thought that we should sag off their guards an extra step and give up the perimeter shot. They may make them, but if they miss, we'll be in better rebounding position (e.g. not so out of position due to defensive rotations).
Regardless if we win or lose, this game will be good for us. Even if we lose, competing against one of the best teams in the country gives ourselves and good idea of what an elite team is like. Losing, we can focus on the weaknesses to improve upon and the next time we face such a team, have a collective visualization of what type of team performance is required to win such a game.
To me, the game will come down to our ability to defend their guards and perimeter. Josh Hart is a stud who can get to the hoop, but he can drain the long bomb as well. Same goes for Brunson (not as good as Hart, but very very good). They still have Booth, who had an amazing championship game as well. Can't forget Jenkins who is their stretch 4 and hit the championship winning 3. I'm not a Villanova expert, but from what I saw last year (which wasn't much other than the tourney), I remember they played a 4 guard lineup (I count Jenkins, a stretch 4, as a guard) around Ochefu. Ochefu is in the NBA and they don't seem to have a 7 foot stud this year. From the early box score in their 1st game, they get other big (center/forward) minutes from Reynolds (6-9, 240 - good rebounder, but not much of a scoring threat) and Paschall (6-7, 250).
They are quick, move well without the ball and move it around on offense and are a skilled, good shooting team. They defend well.
Our advantage is inside. Biggie and Haas have to have good games in my opinion. Make them pay down low and get them in foul trouble. They don't seem to have much front court depth (much like us now that Taylor is out indefinitely). We have to keep our turnovers low and win the rebounding battle.
I think our guards aren't as quick as theirs pretty much across the board, so staying in front of them will be a problem. I think having Basil back for this game will help defensively and being a pest. I worry that they will get past their man and put us in tough defensive rotations and then find easy looks or pick up fouls on Haas/Biggie. Having Basil back this game will at least give us someone who can stay with these guys.
We have to somehow limit or disrupt their guard play enough and punish them down low. I'm almost of the thought that we should sag off their guards an extra step and give up the perimeter shot. They may make them, but if they miss, we'll be in better rebounding position (e.g. not so out of position due to defensive rotations).
Regardless if we win or lose, this game will be good for us. Even if we lose, competing against one of the best teams in the country gives ourselves and good idea of what an elite team is like. Losing, we can focus on the weaknesses to improve upon and the next time we face such a team, have a collective visualization of what type of team performance is required to win such a game.
