Villanova faces American in tourney opener
posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com3/19/2009 03:23:00 AM
#11 Villanova (26-7) vs. American (24-7)
7:20 p.m., 19 March 2009 at the Wachovia Center
TV: CBS
Line: Villanova -17
After a full season of resume building, RPI watching, bubble debating, seed calculating, and bracket plotting; of wishing, hoping, thinking, praying, planning, and dreaming, the NCAA tournament is finally here.
Villanova, a 3-seed in the East region, draws the best possible geographic assignment for tonight's game against the 14th-seeded American Eagles.
The Wildcats need only take a short bus ride down 476-south and I-95, three-quarters an hour at most, to reach their first-weekend tournament site at the Wachovia Center in South Philadelphia.
Villanova has already played the NCAA-maximum three games here this season, and will try to make it an even five this weekend before potentially advancing to Boston.
American University itself has a relatively short trip from Washington, DC, and will try to pull off the upset.
The Eagles feature a senior-laden team that pushed 2-seed Tennessee to the edge of elimination for 35 minutes last year.
American's biggest weapon is a pair of sub-6-foot guards, Garrison Carr and Derrick Mercer, who each typically play 90 percent or more of available minutes. Stopping these quick guards will be the main focus of Villanova's celebrated back-court of Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher, Reggie Redding, and Corey Stokes.
The Eagles have another pair of major contributors, two 6-8 forwards: Brian Gilmore and Stephen Lumpkins. Gilmore, in particular, is dangerous on offense. Dante Cunningham, Antonio Pena, Dwayne Anderson, and Shane Clark will look to shut those two down.
Villanova will be favored in every possible way: talent, experience, home-court, seeding, and expectations.
American will have nothing to lose, everything to gain, and the relevant memory of staying right with Tennessee for 88 percent of its tournament game last year.
Oddsmakers favor Villanova by 17, which I think is a tad high, even for a pseudo home game. It is the NCAA tournament, after all, and American has lost just seven games all year. The Eagles are also winners of 13 in a row, one of the nation's longer win streaks.
Of course, the best win on the season for American was a road victory against Jacksonville four months ago, so Villanova really should be in the driver's seat.
Stats oracle KenPom predicts a 12-point Villanova victory, with a 90 percent chance for a Wildcats win.
Take a look at more previews than you can shake a stick at!
7:20 p.m., 19 March 2009 at the Wachovia Center
TV: CBS
Line: Villanova -17
After a full season of resume building, RPI watching, bubble debating, seed calculating, and bracket plotting; of wishing, hoping, thinking, praying, planning, and dreaming, the NCAA tournament is finally here.
Villanova, a 3-seed in the East region, draws the best possible geographic assignment for tonight's game against the 14th-seeded American Eagles.
The Wildcats need only take a short bus ride down 476-south and I-95, three-quarters an hour at most, to reach their first-weekend tournament site at the Wachovia Center in South Philadelphia.
Villanova has already played the NCAA-maximum three games here this season, and will try to make it an even five this weekend before potentially advancing to Boston.
American University itself has a relatively short trip from Washington, DC, and will try to pull off the upset.
The Eagles feature a senior-laden team that pushed 2-seed Tennessee to the edge of elimination for 35 minutes last year.
American's biggest weapon is a pair of sub-6-foot guards, Garrison Carr and Derrick Mercer, who each typically play 90 percent or more of available minutes. Stopping these quick guards will be the main focus of Villanova's celebrated back-court of Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher, Reggie Redding, and Corey Stokes.
The Eagles have another pair of major contributors, two 6-8 forwards: Brian Gilmore and Stephen Lumpkins. Gilmore, in particular, is dangerous on offense. Dante Cunningham, Antonio Pena, Dwayne Anderson, and Shane Clark will look to shut those two down.
Villanova will be favored in every possible way: talent, experience, home-court, seeding, and expectations.
American will have nothing to lose, everything to gain, and the relevant memory of staying right with Tennessee for 88 percent of its tournament game last year.
Oddsmakers favor Villanova by 17, which I think is a tad high, even for a pseudo home game. It is the NCAA tournament, after all, and American has lost just seven games all year. The Eagles are also winners of 13 in a row, one of the nation's longer win streaks.
Of course, the best win on the season for American was a road victory against Jacksonville four months ago, so Villanova really should be in the driver's seat.
Stats oracle KenPom predicts a 12-point Villanova victory, with a 90 percent chance for a Wildcats win.
Take a look at more previews than you can shake a stick at!
If Villanova is able to come away with the win, the Wildcats will face the winner of tonight's UCLA/VCU game on Saturday afternoon, also at the Wachovia Center.
Try to predict the game's final score in the comment section below.
Try to predict the game's final score in the comment section below.
Labels: american, brackets, NCAA tournament, NCAAs, predictions, preview, Villanova vs. American, Villanova-American
135 Comments:
Villanova 70
American 60
Villanova 81
America 80
OT
American 56
Villanova 72
how many people here think Lappas could've motivated, inspired our four seniors to work hard and improve their individual games as much as they have? Jay had nothing to do with that, I'm sure. If Lappas were coaching these guys, they'd all probably end up as NBA lottery picks. DUH!
Nova 87
American 77
However, if we were so lucky as to have Lappas coaching this team, it would be a clear 30-pt. blowout.
Nova 70
American 52
Nova 84
American 67
NCAA tourney 5 years in a row...lets bring Lappass back....unreal
Nova 70
American 59
Villanova 76
American 60
Nice plan, Jay -- let's trade jumpers with the low-major team.
Has Jay Wright ever seen a dry-erase board in his life?
Nice to see we have 7 turnovers in 9 minutes against "American," too.
This is an embarrassing display of basketball.
What are people's thoughts?
This is crazy.
Is anyone around right now? I can't watch this. Reynolds and Fisher are absolutely blowing the game right now.
i'm scared
This will be the ultimate test of the coaching ability of Jay Wright. I agree IMKL
This is worse than Forde's worst-case. Don't see how you can blame it on Scottie, though.
Villanova does not even deserve to win this game even if the Wildcats can come back....
Also, why is this stadium not rocking with Nova fans?????!!!!!
0 pts, missed the front end of a 1 and 1. TOs and bad passes. Not strong with the ball.
Fisher has pretty much matched him.
Because, Gregg... Nova didnt take out American early. Now all the other fans in there of the 7 other schools in Philly start to go crazy for American
This is an opponent full of small quick players... Fisher has to be the guy for us.
Why are we taking so many jumpers? What happened to the full court press? Why is Jay not forcing them to pound it inside?
Why is Shane Clark leaving the perimeter to double down on a 6-7 guy every possession -- Clark has allowed about 4 threes.
I swear, I could go in there and coach this team to a 15-point win over American.
Jay Wright's lack of X and O knowledge is getting EXPOSED big time on a national stage.
"Coach of the year" trailing to a PATRIOT LEAGUE team by 10 at the half at home in the NCAAs.
Disgusting.
Maybe this is what it will take to get some changes going -- like a coach who either learns the fundamentals of basketball or goes back to the minor leagues
41 pts to a friggin Patriot League team is awful too.
Gut check time for this team
John Calipari's team was shooting jumpers all day vs CS Northridge too.
Let's not make it all about the coach Pete... c'mon, the game is painful enough to watch. I am looking for a support group here!!!
This is nauseating. Shame on Nova.
Villanova should be able to come back...
but what a terrible half.
Look, we're shooting over 50%. Our 3-point shooting has been phenomenal outside of Stokes, go figure.
The offensive scheme that we're using is not the problem. It's the TOs and our inability to force TOs and defend the perimeter.
But I will be very very very down on Jay Wright if Clark plays significant minutes in the 2nd half. This is not a game he should be in. Anderson, Dante, and 3 guards the rest of the way.
And even though American shoots 3s, I think a zone would help, just close out further on the line. They only get open by running around screens, with a zone that won't work. Just have to be sure that zone is extended allll the way out. Let them try to burn us with the dribble drive.
All you have to do to beat this joke of an American team is guard the perimeter and go inside on offense.
Is everyone in the world aware of this but Jay Wright?
We will come back...no doubt...cunningham and anderson will simply not let this fiasco happen.
Think we should press & trap?
WHERE IS PENA???????????????
We should be pressing and staying home on the perimeter -- do that and their offense collapses.
American looks to be a pretty lousy FT shooting team (65%). Carr shoots 78%, Borden 70%, everyone else is below 70%... most WAYYYYY below.
So if we can come out with intensity in the 2nd half, we'll be in good shape.
Yeah, they dont have a guy taller than 6-8 in their rotation and Pena is nowhere to be seen -- instead we have Shane Clark who has the amazing ability to lose to any competition.
I don't think Pena is the answer, but agree, GET CLARK OUT VS THIS TEAM!
redding airballs a wide open layup....
malcolm grant where are you?
TO's are the killers. In the midwest and getting the Michigan v. Clemson game here, it's a dagger watching the score change.
This is trouble.
Reynolds has been average from the FT line lately.
finally, a good possession... but Clark still cannot score
nice pass clark!!!!! now be replaced by fisher please
nice work by shane & dante
Where is the so-called Jay Wright defense?
Pete, can you just refrain from making this game entirely about Jay Wright for the next hour?
here we go Scottie
I sense some life...
This is a huge possession... need to get the ball in low to Dante or DA.
Really need to see Fisher in place of Clark. Wright needs to give him a chance despite his horrible play.
I agree, IMKL,
Get fisher in for clark permanently
Ok well Fisher is in. Time to go to work, and fast!
Keep this line up out there permantely please!!!!!!! Only use Stokes to spell Fisher/Reynolds when needed.
WHAT a play by Fisher! The steal, pushing it up the floor, and finding the open man for the layup after a fake!
American is holding the ball for 35 secs every possession - we need to push push push
Anderson is HUGE tonight
Ugh why couldnt that 3 have fallen... 6 point swing there
We need Scottie back in there.. I don't care how cold he has been. We need him.
Dante CANNOT shoot outside the paint STOP SHOOTING
nice move by stokes
Fisher great calm under pressure to draw the foul
Why is Clark in again????? WTF!!!!!
why is redding taking that shot?
Our open 3s aren't falling... Fisher and Redding.
This is our 2nd half, but can't get over this hump it seems.
Carr is pissing me off.
Agreed IMKL
That was a great timeout by Jim Jones.
We need to be attacking the rim... not jacking threes.
How many people wish they took UCLA to the sweet 16 right now in their bracket.... I know I do.
We have no foul trouble at all, we need to be more physical on defense.
Let's see how these midgets react.
Awful foul by clark... cost us some points probably and another minute off the clock.
terrible foul
I just want to get out of this game with a win!!!!!!!!!! come on nova
Pete, they are down 6 with plenty of time. You need to stop coming to conclusions so early.
Where is PENA? Shane Clark is beyond awful, I might prefer playing 4 on 5.
Need to keep getting to the FT line at all costs.
Terrible shot by Dante, wtf!!!!!
oh great, id much rather dante shoot that outside j than scottie
WTF
not a good shot
our shot selection is terrible... drive to the hoop please get some fouls
big follow by Dwayne -- now get a turnover!
Reynolds and Fisher starting to realize that this is THEIR game to takeover.
come on corey these are big ones
That should count, there was a worse continuation play in the friggin Maryland game with Vasquez.
UGHHHHHHH wish that dropped for an And 1!!!!
Gotta hit Free throws ,,, missed last 2!!
4 fouls on carr is big!!! cant believe we need them to have foul trouble ha ha ha ha
HERE WE GO GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm liking the crowd
Time to take over!!
Does Carr really have 4? I can't find a site that confirms this....
Reynolds and Fisher!!!!!!!!!!! FINALLY realizing what we need to do.
LETS GOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
ESPN shows Carr with 4. Sweet.
Keep the foot on the gas pedal!!!!!
Ok, there goes a foul cushion, WTF
Is that the first American TO? Seems like it
Lucky that wasn't a travel on Dante....
I cant believe how loudly im screaming at the tv rooting for nova against... american
DA!!!!! "Kid's got alligator blood!!!"
go go go nova
scottie needed to take that 3 -- would have been a dagger -- that was a big turnover
Fisher and Reynolds with some indecision, then a Reynolds stupid TO.
Why couldn't they just continue to do what they've been doing.
LOL Pete... I am doing the same thing. I'm like a crazy person right now, I'm giving myself a headache.
jay bilas is on point about scottie's decision making this game
incredibly dirty play by gordon... not even going for ball there
haha PLEASE dont run our offense thru shane clark
Sick defense by Redding and Carr still scores.... I can't stand him!
Hit these Clark
fish and dwayne carrying us
Carr doing his best Stephen Curry impression right now...
I HATE CARR!!!!!!!
if this is still close in the last minute we are going to lose -- we need to put them away now
+10 rebound advantage (+4 off boards). and.... 8 blocks!!!!!!
When was the last time Nova had 8 blocks? Dante with 4 and Redding with 3.
I agree Pete. We need to have a 7 pt lead going into the final minute. Force them into putting us on the line.
What's happening? CBS moved away from the game
nova just has to hit FTs to win now
CBS philly still has it...
Nova up 9, American ball, 90 seconds left.
pete - how far do you have nova going in your bracket, i think it will say a lot
"fish and dwayne carrying us"
Fish? Are we watching the same game? Or is this an attempt at intentional self parody?
Fish is one of the players carrying us... what game are you watching #117????
Purnell... 0-10 in the NCAA tournament now I think??? Awful.
Nova up 11, American ball, 72 seconds left...
Nova up 13, American ball, 58 seconds left...
Nova up 11 now... Guess we wont be covering the spread ha ha
It's back on CBS for me. THanks
Almost right on target for the KenPom projection, though.
CBS NY is not continuous coverage.
CBS Philly is.
haha i cant believe this game.... thank goodness we woke up in the second half.
also thank goodness they cooled down and carr got 4 fouls.
I wonder what would have happened if he didnt get in foul trouble.
Box score says Drummond entered the game. WTF?
Anything could've happened. Carr is a fantastic player, wow.
Why is American calling a timeout down 13 with 29 seconds left?
#128
Drummond made this difference in this game.
I was never worried. :-)
What a 2nd half. Still, this is 3 games in a row that we haven't played a consistent 40 minutes.
So glad we advanced though.... wow
Let's not forget -- this wasn't a Big East contender we just came back and beat. This was a low-major Patriot League team.
Uconn and UNC won by 45 each today. We did not look good.
Still... thank goodness we came out with a win...
GO VCU.
LOOKS LIKE PETE WINS THE PREDICT THE SCORE CONTEST AGAIN!!!!!
Didn't Pena Power win it?
whoops... i thought i predicted 80-70.
yeah i dont win
good watching with everyone. thanks for sitting through the aggravation and then enjoying the celebration with me. i needed it
Pete,
For what it's worth-regarding UCLA- most of my friends who went to school there don't think UCLA is very good this year. Most think they will lose to VCU.
johnnyb1
premature celebration of the guess-the-score contest was pretty lame
Cory Fisher is such a stud he should be starting another really good game by him after a really good game against Louisville.
Maynor had a chance to win it... great defense by Collison and UCLA.
They are going to be extremely tough on Saturday.
65-64 UCLA over VCU -- fantastic game, as close as it gets.
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