Villanova faces UNC in Final Four
posted by Pete @ LetsGoNova.com4/04/2009 03:41:00 AM
#11 Villanova (30-7) vs. #2 North Carolina (32-4)
8:47 p.m., 4 April 2009 at Ford Field.
TV: CBS
Line: UNC -7.5
Game day has arrived.
One week ago, Scottie Reynolds secured his place in history with a buzzer-beater to defeat Pittsburgh and send Villanova to the Final Four.
It's been a fun week, looking forward to this game, Villanova's first Final Four since the 1985 championship season.
North Carolina. In the Final Four. If there were polls this week, the Tarheels would surely be ranked number one in the nation. Villanova would be in the top five.
It does not get bigger than this.
We already talked about the history between these two teams from 2005.
We know Vegas likes Carolina by 7.5 points, and KenPom predicts a 4-point margin, with a 66 percent chance of victory for UNC.
We've listed the keys to the game, what Villanova needs to do to pull off the upset.
All that's left to do is predict the final score.
Check out the other Villanova blogs linked at right for their previews, and then try to predict the game's final score in the comment thread below.
The winner of this game will take on the winner of UConn and Michigan St. in the national championship game on Monday. Holy crap.
8:47 p.m., 4 April 2009 at Ford Field.
TV: CBS
Line: UNC -7.5
Game day has arrived.
One week ago, Scottie Reynolds secured his place in history with a buzzer-beater to defeat Pittsburgh and send Villanova to the Final Four.
It's been a fun week, looking forward to this game, Villanova's first Final Four since the 1985 championship season.
North Carolina. In the Final Four. If there were polls this week, the Tarheels would surely be ranked number one in the nation. Villanova would be in the top five.
It does not get bigger than this.
We already talked about the history between these two teams from 2005.
We know Vegas likes Carolina by 7.5 points, and KenPom predicts a 4-point margin, with a 66 percent chance of victory for UNC.
We've listed the keys to the game, what Villanova needs to do to pull off the upset.
All that's left to do is predict the final score.
Check out the other Villanova blogs linked at right for their previews, and then try to predict the game's final score in the comment thread below.
The winner of this game will take on the winner of UConn and Michigan St. in the national championship game on Monday. Holy crap.
Labels: 2008-2009, final four, NCAA tournament, NCAAs, north carolina, predictions, preview, unc, villanova vs. north carolina, villanova-north carolina
29 Comments:
North Carolina 81
Villanova 72
As much as I'd love to predict a win, UNC is simply a better team. The Tarheels just have too much talent.
But the game isn't played on paper. Villanova has a chance to win.
If we are able to pull off the upset, it will make it that much sweeter. This is the biggest Villanova game in 24 years. I will be screaming my head off for the 'Cats.
What do you all think?
Nova 82
UNC 76
BC beat this team. BC. We got this!!!!!!!
We keep rolling.
Villanova 78
UNC 70
Villanova 80
NC 78
if UNC scores below 80 points, we can win this game.
Nova 76 UNC 72
If the nerves do not get to them and they do not get down big early AND the refs let them play aggressive defense, we have a real shot.
One for the good guys tonight:
Nova 73
UNC 72
Pete, a true fan would never predict a loss by his team. Will you be disappointed when Villanova proves you wrong?
Nova 66
UNC 64
7,
"A true fan would never predict a loss by his team"
That might be the most idiotic statement I've yet read on in the pathetic litany of anonymous comments.
A "true fan" has to be deluded enough to think his team will go undefeated every single game, forever?
I am a true fan, Pete. I expect the Nation to go undefeated via rout/blowout EVERY GAME, EVERY SEASON!
Nova 78
UNC75
#7 - why predict such a narrow win if you are a true fan?
nova 1,056,311
unc -2
#10, I hope you are right, but I am sticking with 78-75. By the way, Pete, you are not a fan.
Villanova 88
UNC 87
Just want everyone who hated on my comments in the last post about Williams vs. Wright to read the headline here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/cory_mccartney/04/03/unc.villanova/index.html?eref=T1/
Go Nova... but don't be delusional.
Re: #13: You're right, Pete. You are vindicated. Truly you are a thinking man. But let me ask you something. Let’s suppose Jay Wright had North Carolina's roster over this past year and Williams had Villanova's roster. Do you think Nova would be in the Final Four right now? Personally I doubt it. Not to take anything away from Smith (who I don’t disagree is a great coach) but he has always coached teams stacked with elite players. Maybe someday, after a great deal therapy, you will be able to acknowledge that it takes an exceptional coach to get Nova Final Four without a team stacked with future NBA players.
Yes, 14, I plan to invest in a great deal of therapy so I can properly appreciate Jay Wright's sublime coaching job this season.
From #14: Pete, is it that you did not care to answer my question, or is it that you cannot read, as you are so fond of accusing others.
To answer your (ridiculous) question, if somehow Roy Williams and Jay Wright swapped rosters, yes I think both would still be at the final four this year.
pete, that SI article is crap. McCartney calls the season for nova a "work-in-progress". He knows nothing of villanova basketball if he calls this season a work in progress.
Nova 80
Heels 72
He also said the Bench matchup was even, effectively trashing your boy Fisher. Does that discredit the article at all for you?
Nova 71
UNC 69
Nova definately guts this one out.
Nova 83
UNC 79
more importantly, the si article says we're only even at shane clark's forward position, and says we can only win if shane is out of foul trouble, and thinks shane is key to our defense, i would argue shane is most valuable on the boards and when he decides he's reggie miller and can shoot three's, defense...not so much
Pete #13,
Couple of things. The fact that one other person who happens to be a published writer somewhat agrees with you doesn't validate your opinion. But maybe more to the point, there is a big difference between "an edge" and "a tremendous edge." My guess is that you would have gotten very little grief if you simply said that NC had a coaching edge.
My own take is that Williams has little if any edge over Wright, but reasonable minds can differ. Tremendous edge, though, just seems a bit extreem.
'Heels to pay back a karmic debt from the '05 game
Nova 85
UNC 80
JohnnyB1
Put Rollie in as coach!!!!
Good grief! None of these balls are dropping in. This is ridiculous.
it was a good year- UNC was just too much on this night. What else can you expect from a program who gets most, if not all of the top recruits year in and year out?
see you guys next season
JohnnyB1
Have all of you people predicting Nova wins seen the score----go home!!
Great season, great year.
UNC gave us every chance in the 2nd half, but never seemed like the guys could play Nova basketball. None of the loose balls were going our way. Amazingly the box score says we grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, we certainly did not convert as I remember only a handful of them.
Just such a painful way to lose. We took 16 more shots, and no one played poorly really. Missing all those 3s early on, along with the 3 missed FTs, really set us behind. Couple that with Ellington's hot start and you end up with the nightmare start that we couldn't have.
This season was special. The loss only hurts because it didn't look like Villanova basketball out there.
Can't wait until next year!
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