Nova Report
Yes, college basketball is back!  
The unranked Villanova Wildcats are in Las Vegas to take on #8 BYU at 9:30 eastern on TNT.  BYU is -9.5/153.5.
BYU secured the #1 high school recruit, AJ Dybantsa who is expected to be the #1 NBA lottery pick.  They return their #1 scorer, Richie Saunders, brought in high scoring transfers Rob Wright and Kennard Davis, throw in rebounding menace Keba Keita plus a bench that will allow Coach Kevin Young to go 10 deep and you have a legitimate national title contender.  Said differently, Villanova does not have one player that could start for BYU.
For the Wildcats, their projected leading scorer Devin Askew is out with a knee injury and may be out until Christmas time.  Their projected 3rd leading scorer, Zion Stanford, is out with an ankle injury.  And..Malcolm Flaggs is out with an Achilles.  Nova has a new Coach, Kevin Willard, and just one player from last year’s team (Tyler Perkins).  They DO have a top 50 high school recruit in Acaden Lewis who will have to shoulder the scoring load until Askew and Stanford return.  BYU is a rebounding machine as they are athletic and pound the glass.  Unfortunately, Nova is less athletic and rebounding is their big weakness.  6’10” Duke Brennan will have to step up the boards for the ‘Cats.
Can Villanova stay in this game?  In BYU’s two exhibition games, they shot just 25% from 3 and gave up 36% from 3 to their opponents (Nebraska and North Carolina).  BYU has talent but can they play as a team yet?  The Cats have 3 guys who can shoot 3’s well.  If they are hot and BYU is not?  Can BYU handle a Big East style defense?  Will they pile up fouls?  For Villanova, can they play as a team yet?  Will they stay close in rebounding?  Will they catch on to Coach Willard’s defensive schemes?  Can freshman Lewis handle the big stage?  We’ll find out tonight.  
I am betting Under 153.5.  Yes, Coach Willard has said this won’t be the Villanova of old offensively as he wants them to run.  But…he has a small bench due to injuries and BYU wants to run them out of the gym.  He’s got to slow it down.
My Nova Pick: Under 153.5 Go ‘Cats!