Villanova

[MKE_GoldenEagleFan]

So what do we know about Villanova and how we match up, I know they have had an up and down year but have shown flashes while beating some good teams like Cuse and Louisville... They are fighting for what little hope they have to make the tournament and obviously for them beating MU would be huge for their résumé. I really hope that MU isn't sleeping on this one and looking at the big matchup on Monday.

[kneelb4zerg]

I would say there is no way in hell we are sleeping on anybody. This team pretty clearly wants to win the Big East title.

[Markedman]

Nova has some talent. Yarou, Pinkston, Hilliard, Bell and the frosh point guard are all good players. Big game for them and for us. We will have to play well to win.

According to Pomeroy they are better then us defensively but not as good on "O".

[warriorfan4life]

So what do we know about Villanova and how we match up, I know they have had an up and down year but have shown flashes while beating some good teams like Cuse and Louisville... They are fighting for what little hope they have to make the tournament and obviously for them beating MU would be huge for their résumé. I really hope that MU isn't sleeping on this one and looking at the big matchup on Monday.

Nova has more then little hope to make the tourney. If it started today, I think they would be in, though a good chance that they would be in a play-in game. Beating us could damn near punch their ticket, though they could still take two out of their final three afterward to get to the magical 10 Big East wins (after us, they have Georgetown at home, Hall and Pitt on the road).

Their strength is on defense, as they are 38th in defensive efficiency on the year (MU is 64th) and third in conference play (MU is 8th). On offense, they do not shoot it well and do not take care of the ball (296th in turnover percentage). However, they lead the country in free throw rate, so we have to be careful not to foul them.

We have yet to win at the Pavillion, and I am not ready to predict that the streak ends. I think this game is a true toss up, as both teams badly need the game and are fairly evenly matched. Recent play has me a bit more optimistic about our chances, but deep down I am probably expecting a loss.

[kneelb4zerg]

The game is at the Pavilion, not the Wells Fargo Center, which I have to say I'm not thrilled about.

[MUAlphaBangura]

Nova has some talent. Yarou, Pinkston, Hilliard, Bell and the frosh point guard are all good players. Big game for them and for us. We will have to play well to win.

According to Pomeroy they are better then us defensively but not as good on "O".

Like the fact that their talent, as far as big guys go, is not that which will be a bad match up for Davante. He should be able to compete well on Saturday given the Villanova bigs don't have superior length like Louisville. Our guards will need to play well. Please bring your A game Junior!!!!!

[MKE_GoldenEagleFan]

Nova has more then little hope to make the tourney. If it started today, I think they would be in, though a good chance that they would be in a play-in game. Beating us could damn near punch their ticket

Not sure that's the case, even following ESPN's weekly chat with their basketball writers they are still saying Nova's out, they just do not have a good résumé right now, granted they have a lot of opportunities left.

[Nukem2]

Like the fact that their talent, as far as big guys go, is not that which will be a bad match up for Davante. He should be able to compete well on Saturday given the Villanova bigs don't have superior length like Louisville. Our guards will need to play well. Please bring your A game Junior!!!!!

Davante will have a chip on his shoulder since he was injured by Nova's Yarou last year.

[WindyCityGoldenEagle]

Not sure that's the case, even following ESPN's weekly chat with their basketball writers they are still saying Nova's out, they just do not have a good résumé right now, granted they have a lot of opportunities left.

I think he was commenting on your comment of saying Nova has "little hope of making the tournament" which isn't correct.

[warriorfan4life]

Not sure that's the case, even following ESPN's weekly chat with their basketball writers they are still saying Nova's out, they just do not have a good résumé right now, granted they have a lot of opportunities left.

Nova is currently the last team in on the Bracket Matrix. Also, I think they have an edge over a couple of SEC teams listed ahead of them (Ole Miss and Kentucky without Noel).