Nova Report
The 19-5 Villanova Wildcats are in Omaha to play the 13-12 Creighton Bluejays. Tip is 2:30 pm eastern on Fox. Nova is -3.5/145.5. When these teams last met on January 7 in Villanova, Creighton shot 73% and scored 49 points in the second half to best Nova 76-72. Creighton is coming off a last second loss to DePaul while Villanova outlasted Marquette by 3.
The Bluejays outsmarted the Wildcat defense in January and while Villanova is seeking revenge, Creighton would love nothing more than to sweep the ‘Cats.
Both clubs live and die with the 3. Creighton scores 40% of their points outside of the arc while Villanova is the best 3 point shooting club in the Big East. Creighton goes 10 deep but it’s the following players that get the majority of the minutes: Austin Swartz 11.5 ppg 40% from 3, Jasen Green 10.8 ppg 35% from 3, Josh Dix 11.9 ppg 31% from 3, Isaac Traudt (6’10”) 6.9 ppg and Nick Graves 9.2 ppg 32% from 3. The Bluejays don’t foul a lot, not great defensive rebounders, don’t create a lot of turnovers and defend the 2 better than the 3. They play at about the same pace of play as Villanova which is not fast.
The Cardiac ‘Cats needed heroics from Acaden Lewis and Tyler Perkins to pull out their last two games. Making 50% then 58% from the free throw line in their last two made them close games. That type of performance will do them in vs Creighton. The ‘Cats continue to shoot below their season average. Bryce Lindsay continues to be in a slump. On the flip side, Creighton hit 14/27 3’s vs DePaul. That’s tough to repeat.
What will happen on Valentine’s Day? Pretty sure both clubs will fire away from beyond the arc. The Bluejays will test their offensive set that destroyed Nova when they last played to see what adjustments were made. They will make adjustments once they see them. It will be a chess match between 2 elite Coaches. When it comes down to it, if both teams shoot their season averages, Nova wins. I believe that will happen.
Nova Pick: Villanova-3 (bought 1/2 point)
Nova Pick Record: 12-11-1