***Official 2018 NCAA Tourney Thread***
- Thread starter ClonesTwentyOne
- Start date
It obviously happened during the game. This was part of a montage of video from the game as the network was signing off from the game.
22-4 opening run was basically the difference, Villanova more or less just sustained that throughout the game. If you get behind like that and opponent can't miss from 3, that's a huge uphill climb. Not sure any team could overcome that.
And I’m sure Kansas will continue to cash B12 bowl game checks.
Billy Preston proved the hate for them is deserved. Add in Elijah Johnson, Josh Jackson. What about the basketball dorms and all the crap that happened there. Administration and Self played dumb, and his kid might have even been living there.
After our disappointing season our guys will be HUNGRY too. But unless Nova doesn't get to sit at the table, neither of our teams will be cutting down any nets.
We'll see what Nova returns. They have no noteworthy seniors but could lose a good chunk of players to the NBA early. They have good but undersized 5 star PG in Jahvon Quinerly and a decent but really undersized PF in Cole Swider coming in to replace Brunson and add some depth. But if they lose multiple of Bridges/Paschall/Spellman they will have a dip comparatively.
The only thing Preston proved is that the NCAA is incompetent and that Self and KU are incredibly cautious about playing guys with question marks.
The latest on Preston is that it's most likely that the gay partner of Preston's mom (who have been together for years and who are still together) helped provide some of the financing towards Preston's car. Since they are not legally married, it can be construed as an extra benefit but the ncaa didn't want to wade into those unpleasant political waters so they basically drug their feet in indecision until Preston gave up and left.
Bridges is a projected lottery pick. It'll be a big surprise if he comes back. And considering what a machine Villanova has become it'll be as surprising if they don't simply reload.
one of the most amazing shooting displays I have ever seen was Nova against KU. Wow. That was hoiball offense at its finest combined with elite defense.
Yeah I can't see Bridges staying. Brunson is a probably gone and Spellman is a maybe. Even if the lose Brunson and Bridges they still have enough that they will be very good again. Also helps that Mack left Xavier.
Michigan actually plays defense and can stop Nova. I could see Nova being held to under 70, and think they will struggle to score over 75. However, can Michigan outscore them? I dont think so. Nova's defense, while not as good as Michigan's, is still pretty good.
Michigan has yet to face even a top 15 team on Ken Pom in the tournament. Nova just faced three straight and won easily Also, Michigan has yet to face a team with a good offense in the tournament. The highest ranked offense they have played against was 37th. Villanova is bar far the best offense in the country. Oh yeah, and they play good defense. Their team is truly impressive.
I think Spellman will be the difference between them being a national title contender or just a solid team next year. He's really helped himself this tournament, and I wouldn't be shocked if he comes out now. If he comes back though, they return three starters plus the best sixth man in the country and a really solid recruiting class.
As for Xavier, if there's one school that knows how to hire basketball coaches it's them. They seem to hit on every hire going back to Pete Gillen, they lose their coach and the next coach just keeps improving the program. Gillen - Skip Prosser -Thad Matta - Sean Miller - Chris Mack, that's a hell of a run there.
I think that's the difference. Worst case for Villanova, they can survive a poor shooting night by buckling down defensively. Michigan is prone to scoring droughts, and unless they play way over their heads on offense tonight I don't see how they hang with the Wildcats for the whole game. I like Villanova to pull away in the second half.
