28 January 2009

'Nova looks for first good win v. Pitt tonight

posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com
1/28/2009 03:50:00 PM

#21 Villanova (15-4) vs. #3 Pittsburgh (18-1)
7 p.m., 28 January 2009 at the Wachovia Spectrum

TV: ESPNU (Justin.tv likely will have the online stream of the game.)

Line: Villanova +3.5

Villanova returns to action tonight with a Wachovia Spectrum game against third-ranked Pittsburgh. The Wildcats are still looking for their first quality win on the season, and the Panthers would certainly qualify.

I will be attending the game, so if you'd like to read my live updates from my mobile phone, refresh this site and keep your eye on the top right sidebar.

Pitt is an intimidating opponent. Pittsburgh is 18-1 on the year, with its only loss coming to a red-hot Louisville team in Kentucky. Since then, the Panthers have won two straight, completely demolishing Syracuse and West Virginia in the last nine days.

Villanova has been struggling, notching a 3-3 record over the past six games. The Wildcats have been able to pick up wins against the basement dwellers South Florida, Seton Hall, and St. John's, but have not won a game against anyone likely to make the NCAA tournament all season.

VBTN, the new IBBW, VUhoops, and Nova News (all linked at right) also run previews for the game. Evan Dorey of Collegehoopsnet pens a nice, long analysis of the game from a non-partisan viewpoint.

Kenpom gives 'Nova a 38 percent chance to win tonight, predicting a 3-point loss to the Panthers. Oddsmakers have installed Pitt as the 3.5-point favorite.

Try to predict the final score of the game in the comment thread below. If anyone guesses the exact score of the game, I will stop criticizing Jay Wright for one week, at his or her request.

Labels: online video, Pitt, pittsburgh, predictions, preview, stream

28 Comments:

At 4:13 PM, January 28, 2009, Pete @ LetsGoNova.com said...: Pitt 70
Nova 58
At 4:50 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: Nova 66
Pitt 63
At 4:52 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: Nova 64
Pitt 78
At 5:00 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: Nova 67
Pitt 66
At 5:01 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: Nova 61
Pitt 60
At 5:41 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: Villanova 69
Pittsburgh 61
At 6:27 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: pete i'm shocked that you think villanova is gonna lose. that is SO unlike you!

nova 64
pitt 60
At 6:28 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: anyone know of a Villanova/ardmore/Haverford bar that has espnu?
At 7:02 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: anyone find a streaming feed for this??
At 7:05 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: No...I've looked in a lot of places and the people on the espn message board don't know. If somebody does know where to see it, please tell us.
At 7:06 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: nothing at justin.tv or channelsurfing
At 7:17 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: I still can't find anything either. I should have went out to watch it.
At 7:40 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: anyone know of a bar in suburban philly that's showing the game?
At 9:00 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: I should have gone
At 9:14 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: Oh yeah!!!!!
At 9:27 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: This win just proves what a crappy coach Wright is. As talanted as the team obviously is (how else could they have beaten Pitt?), the fact that they previously lost 4 games is proof of Wright's lousy coaching.
At 9:40 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: Hey Pete... Now what will the complaint be. We didn't win enough or that we go to many lucky calls
At 9:41 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: Pete ... dying to read your negative spin ... Wright outcoached, Pitt is an overrated #3 ... Malcolm Grant would have had 30 if he played instead of Reggie ... Clark does not deserve one minute of court time
At 9:48 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: Wright was clearly clearly out coached this game. Redding is the worst player to ever put on a Nova uniform. How dare he score 18 points against the #3 team in the nation?
At 10:52 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: BOOYAKASHA!!!
At 11:57 PM, January 28, 2009, Anonymous said...: REGGIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At 12:01 AM, January 29, 2009, pete said...: Looks like the negative Nancies are out in force tonight.

Great win for the team -- puts us on the inside track for an NCAA berth in a tough Big East. Very happy we were able to beat Pitt.
At 12:02 AM, January 29, 2009, pete said...: @11:52 anon --

Yeah, I dislike Villanova basketball so much I waste 100s of hours a year devoting a blog to it. Makes a lot of sense.
At 12:21 AM, January 29, 2009, Pete @ LetsGoNova.com said...: I have been a huge Reggie Redding fan his entire career -- you can accuse me of a lot of things, but get your facts straight on Redding.
At 12:56 AM, January 29, 2009, Anonymous said...: Pete - The anons are quite deranged, keep up the good work.
At 2:23 AM, January 29, 2009, Anonymous said...: Pete, good coaching decision by Jay Wright i hope you noticed, Pitt up 19-9, subs in 4 non starters because of a mix of foul trouble and rest and jay responds with the press, immediatly we're back in the game, +1 point Jay
At 1:50 PM, January 29, 2009, Anonymous said...: Wait wait .. the people criticizing Pete for his negativity are ... negative nancies?

Head explodes.
At 7:29 PM, February 25, 2009, Anonymous said...: VILLANOVA sUCKS SOO BAD I have seen little league is better than That team