Basketball Articles
Making a Case for a 1 Seed: Villanova Tops the ‘Neers
Posted by Kevin Berger on February 8th, 2010 under Basketball
Going into the game you would have thought the battle would have been a classic matchup between West Virginia’s frontcourt and Villanova’s backcourt.
The only question is which team could impose their will and dictate the mismatch. Villanova might try to do it by pressing and playing up tempo. West Virginia’s bread was going to be buttered by good shot selection, pounding the ball inside, and dominating the offensive glass.
So who would have thought a Bob Huggin’s coached team would have bailed out an opposing defense like it was an insolvent bank?
Time after time in the first half, West Virginia shooters, ignoring their huge advantage inside, would incomprehensibly shoot twenty foot jump shots off of one pass leaving virtually zero chance for their talented frontcourt to grab a board and a putback.
Look, it’s simple physics, fellas. The longer the shot, the longer the board. Who’s going to grab that long rebound? My money is on the team that plays 3 and 4 guards.
Appreciatively, the Wildcats took this generous gift from the Mountaineers, in lieu of currency, and used these long caroms to start fast break after fast break and transition bucket after transition bucket, until they had a comfortable double digit lead they would never relinquish.
In the second half, the Mountaineers shot the ball a bit better thanks to seldom used gunslinger Casey Mitchell, but WVA also started taking better shots and pounded the paint and offensive glass with Devin Ebanks and Kevin Jones. It proved to be too little too late as Scottie Reynolds, an eighth year senior, it seems, simply took over the game finishing 5-10 from the field and 10-10 from the foul line for 21 points.
His counterpart, Wildcat nemesis Da’Sean Butler, suffered with a frosty 2-12 from the field for 13 points.
Clearly, with this victory, the Wildcats have vaulted themselves right into the heart of the one seed discussion and they’re certainly one of the two best basketball teams in the Big East with a showdown versus Syracuse looming in a little over a week. That game will be an epic battle of teams with contrasting styles and is must see TV for any basketball junkie.
As for tonight, Villanova’s Jay Wright has got it going on. A top five basketball team and George Clooney styled good looks. Some guys have all the luck…and great guard play.
Share This
8 Responses
Leave a Reply
Related Articles
-
0
A Few Thoughts on Villanova @ West Virginia
By Kevin Berger on February 8th, 2010 -
5
Blind Recap: Pittsburgh Panthers Knock Off Villanova Wildcats
By Kevin Berger on February 22nd, 2010 -
4
Syracuse vs. Villanova for All the Marbles
By Kevin Berger on February 26th, 2010 -
8
Villanova Upset by Upstart UConn
By Kevin Berger on February 15th, 2010 -
13
Big Games for Big Seeds
By Kevin Berger on February 26th, 2010
admin said:
February 9th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Enjoyed watching these guys tonight. I was blown away to see Huggy was 5X coach of the year. He seems like a tourney flame out more often than not. That Kenyon Martin leg break didn’t do him any favors.
How do you see them progresing in the tourney?
Barking Carnival — Blog — Texas Hoops vs. Kansas: Post-Mortem said:
February 9th, 2010 at 1:28 am
[...] the way, how much money is Villanova paying Jay Wright? It’s now germane to the [...]
Vasherized said:
February 9th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
The ‘neers. Never heard that one … I’ve heard couchburning rednecks, moonshine swilling forest dwellers, Huggie’s Heroes.
When I lived in Philly I had to get my college hoops fix by attending Nova and Temple games. The Palestra is an awesome gym to watch a game, especially when the Big 5 teams are playing eachother.
Nova has a hell of a coach in Jay Wright. He can do it all and he’s a classy guy. He’s the more refined, ethically grounded version of Calipari. Not sure how long west philly can hang onto him but he loves the Main Line.
He’d be more than welcome down in Austin.
Vasherized said:
February 9th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Kansas
Kentucky
Purdue
Villanova
Vandy flat out depantsed the Vols tonight.
I love how Purdue is looking right now. Hummel, Jones, and Moore are fun to watch.
After a mortal start, John Wall abused Bama in every orifice in the second half. Cat is smooove.
February 10th, 2010 at 7:58 am
The Big East is going to get 3 of the top 8 seeds.
The Hairline of Wade Boggs said:
February 10th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
“So who would have thought a Bob Huggin’s coached team would have bailed out an opposing defense like it was an insolvent bank?”
I’ve always wondered whether or not there is a correlation between a coach’s expanding waistline and an ever growing inability to connect with his team. I was shocked to see clips of Huggins the other night; it looked like he was hiding a basketball underneath his black blazer. Huckleberry, wherefore art thou?
February 10th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Possibly four.
Vasherized said:
February 10th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Calipari has already secured a back alley deal with the committee to deliver a #1 seed regardless of how they finish.
And given the level of competition they’re facing in the SEC this year, they have a sleazy breeze path to a #1 seed anyway.
Where do they stumble?
Vandy
Tenn
uh…Arkansas? Florida?
They already lost the anomaly game to South Carolina.
I think Kansas and Kentucky are locks and the other two #1 seeds will be up for grabs between Purdue, Georgetown, Syracuse, and Nova.