Nova Report
The VILLANOVA Wildcats have not lost yet. One would think so after listening to all the experts. They actually have to play the game at 9:57 pm eastern time. Nova is -6/143. Amazingly, the line opened at -6 and is still at -6. Where is all the Winthrop money? Curious.
Yes, they play 23-1 Winthrop who are in the Big South Conference. These Rock Hill, South Carolinians? ran roughshod over their opponents in their Conference tournament beating each by double digits. They possess the Big South Player of the year in Chandelier Vaudrin. They have a 6?9? wide body in DJ Burns and get solid performance from Sr. Point Guard Charles Felders. They play at the 11th fastest pace in the country (think like St. John?s). They also play 11 different players.
The dead and buried Wildcats, as everyone knows, lost Senior leader Colin Gillespie for the season. Since that game, Nova lost at Providence by 2 (tip in at the buzzer) and to Georgetown by 1 (23-23 on the foul line). Additionally, Justin Moore went down in the Providence game with a high ankle sprain. Yes, they are not as good as they were before these injuries.
Nonetheless, the Cats have Jermaine Samuels, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (destined for the NBA in a few months), Cole Swider, Brandon Slater and Caleb Daniels all who were Power 6 team recruits. It is true they are still searching for the right chemistry but they have the talent to more than compete in this game.
What will happen: Winthrop will move quickly after Nova made baskets and push the ball up the court; they?ll press their guards and run their offense through Vaudrin and Burns. Nova will send Samuels and JRE to the basket and try to get Burns out of the game as he is their only glass defender. It should be a close contest. Winthrop is not good at the foul line and I expect Nova will win this at the stripe.
My Play: 5 point teaser Nova-1/Over 138
My Nova Pick Record: 15-7