Nova Report
The 15-4 Villanova Wildcats are in Hartford, CT to take on 18-1 #2 UCONN. The Huskies are -10.5/136.5. Tip is 12:30 eastern on Fox.
UCONN has one loss: to #1 Arizona by 4 when they were down 2 starters including their Best player: Tarris Reed. They have beaten BYU, Florida, Texas, Illinois and Kansas. Their last game was a 2 point win at Georgetown where the Huskies shot 31% overall and 19% from 3. They have the #5 overall defense and hold teams to 27% from 3. They shoot 57% from 2 while holding opponents to under 45% from 2. They rebound with a vengeance but are foul prone. They’ve had a week off and are due to score closer to their season average of 79 points.
Tarris Reed (6’11”) averages 14.5 ppg. Solo Ball averages 14.1 ppg. Alex Karaban averages 13.6 ppg and shoots 42% from 3. These three are all returning players. Silas Demary plays guard, shoots 42% from 3 and averages 10.2 ppg. Braylon Mullins shoots 36.5% from 3 and averages over 10 ppg. They can put in 7’1” Eric Reibe as a sub averaging 7.6 ppg. Their strength defensively is where Villanova likes to score…from 3. So…what can the Cats do?
Bryce Lindsay, Nova’s leading scorer, has been in a scoring slump. Nonetheless, UCONN will shadow him. Hodge, Perkins and Askew will need to start hot from 3. UCONN will then have to pay attention to them which would free up Lindsay who will have to start shooting well. 6’11” Duke Brennan will need to pull down every rebound he can. The Cats may need to run on offense as opposed to play half court. Can they do all this?
Coach Hurley has, in the press, said he wants to run Nova out of the building and prove they are the Beast of the Big East. The Wildcats have been slow starters all season with their coaches making adjustments at halftime making them a second half team. Can they stay within 5 or 6 at the half?
Oh, I wish they were playing well so there would be some hope in this one. They just aren’t. Just in case the Cats wake up, I’m going with a teaser.
Nova Pick: 5 point teaser UCONN -5.5/Over 131.5
Nova Pick Record:9-9-1