'Cats head to D.C. to renew rivalry

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Villanova Wildcats (14-8, 4-6 BE) at
#6 Georgetown Hoyas (19-3, 9-2 BE)

Date: Monday, February 11, 2008
Location: The Verizon Center (Washington, D.C.)
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
Television: ESPN

Official 'Nova coverage: game notes (PDF)
Georgetown coverage: Van Buren Boys || Hoya Saxa

Villanova travels down to Washington, D.C. as 13-point underdogs to the Big East's best team Monday, as the 'Cats look to push their record to 7-0 at the Verizon Center versus Georgetown.

The Hoyas are reeling after a loss to Louisville this past Sunday. Rick Pitino drew up an excellent game plan that limited Georgetown's offense.

After allowing nearly 81 points per game in their five game skid, the 'Cats limited Seton Hall to 28 percent shooting in the second half. Hopefully the 'Cats have turned the corner defensively just in time. Villanova is 12-2 when holding opponents under 75 points, and if Villanova can slow down GU by pressuring the guards in the backcourt, the game will slow down considerably.

Georgetown is led by Roy Hibbert, fueled by the stoic and stable guards Jonathan Wallace and Jessie Sapp, and has considerable contributions from freshman Austin Freeman and sophomore forward DaJuan Summers. Through and through, Georgetown is bigger and more experienced at nearly every position.

Keys to the game

Contain Hibbert: The Hoyas use Roy Hibbert in the same way the San Antonio Spurs employ Tim Duncan: the offense runs through the center position. Hibbert essentially acts as a second point guard for the Hoyas, because nearly every offensive possession starts with Hibbert getting the ball down low and either kicking it out to his guards or creating his own offense. While Jay Wright's in-game planning has been under attack recently, there is no denying that he can stop Hibbert, as 'Nova limited the projected lottery pick to one shot attempt in their first meeting last year.

Limit GU offensive sets: Under Coach John Thompson III, the Hoyas run a very deliberate offense. In order to beat Georgetown, Villanova must limit the amount of time the Hoyas are in their offensive sets. Last season Villanova had success in pressuring the Hoyas' inbounding passes, and once they got past half court and called a set, the shot clock was already down to 15-20 seconds. Saturday night, Rick Pitino employed an effective press, forcing GU into 15 turnovers en route to a Louisville victory.

Protect the ball: Villanova must play a nearly flawless game in order to come out of tonight victorious. If Villanova is able to limit the Hoyas' offense, the game then comes down to Villanova's offensive capabilities. Limiting turnovers and taking quality shots are just some of the things the 'Nova coaching staff must emphasize throughout the game.

X-factors

Frontcourt: Hibbert and Patrick Ewing Jr. make up one of the most formidable forward combinations in all of the Big East, and Villanova's frontcourt will be hard-pressed to limit the damage. As the nation's premiere low post player, Hibbert has an assortment of pump fakes and back-to-the-basket moves. Drummond, Pena, and Cunningham must be careful to not get into foul trouble and play solid defense. Ewing Jr., an explosive player, is more athletic and physically imposing than Cunningham, and is a defensive force as a rebounder and shot blocker. Look for the 'Nova guards to take it to him looking for contact.

Final thoughts

Villanova will have its hands full tonight, but this team has surprised me more than once this season. Look towards the bench during the game, to see if Malcolm Grant has traveled with the team, amidst speculation of a possible transfer. Grant has already lost one year at prep school, and if he were to transfer again he would likely sit out another season, making him a sophomore a full two years older than the rest of his peers. Here is to hoping these rumors are not true.

As always, you may predict the final score of the game in the comments section below. The author of the closest prediction will receive a mention in the game recap.