Brandon Lang
Thursday ...
50 Dime Villanova
FREE - Missouri (See daily video for your analysis)
NOTE: One game. One winner. Four in a row.
Truth be told, I really didn't think I was going to have another 50 dimer this year. Didn't think I would get a game and a line that warranted it.
However, when I saw the Villanova/Duke matchup I predicted to my pal Chris Jordan that Vegas would make the Blue Devils the favorite and Vegas didn’t' disappoint me.
How soon we forget the 27-point implosion by Duke at Clemson. Bottom line is this team just isn't as good as everyone thinks they are and they are not going to beat a Big East team. Not this year.
You look at the ACC in this tourney. Florida State and its embarrassing loss to Wisconsin. Clemson loses to Michigan. Maryland blown out by Memphis. Boston College getting crushed by Southern Cal.
Let's delve deeper into this analysis on 50 Dime Villanova, as we take a look at a pair of similar teams that will be entirely different when the ball is tossed up tonight.
We keep hearing that Memphis came into this event with a chip on its shoulder, but I'd have to argue the Wildcats can say the exact same thing since they've never really been mentioned with the 'elite' Big East teams - most notably the three No. 1 seeds. Then everyone marveled over Syracuse thanks to its marathon wins in the conference tourney. But, maybe someone should have been talking about the boys out of Philly.
The Wildcats beat Pitt during the regular season and will no doubt be looking forward to seeing the Panthers in the region final. Villanova has reached the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five years, and after a first-round scare against American U., we saw the true Big East-style of plays come out against UCLA, as the Wildcats dominated the Bruins in every facet of the second-round affair, sporting a 41-29 edge in rebounding while forcing 20 turnovers.
I love Villanova's Dante Cunningham in this clash with the Blue Devils, because even though neither team has a dominating inside presence, this kid has spent a season painting the inside with some of the big men in the nation, against rugged Big East foes.
You better believe coach Jay Wright will have Cunningham and the Wildcats fired up on defense, for this one tonight, and they come out with a defensive effort the same way they did against UCLA, it'll be a huge advantage for us from the opening tip.
And with Cunnningham to grab defensive rebounds, you're going to see the 'Cats pushing the ball to the other end of the court, where we have Corey Stokes and Scottie Reynolds to bang home three's for the Wildcats, or simply set up the offense to locate the high-percentage jumpers.
Cunningham is Villanova's leading scorer and rebounder, and he will get us points in a variety of ways inside of 15 feet. The biggest key - ahem, concern - for 'Nova will be to how to stymie Duke swingman Gerald Henderson, who can fire from 3-point range and also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and drive to the bucket. Good thing for us is that Wright will likely rotate Dwayne Anderson, Reggie Redding and Stokes on Henderson in an effort to neutralize his offensive efforts.
Villanova has better overall depth and gets consistent offense from its reserves, another added bonus.
This one is a steal boys, just sit back and enjoy ... take the points and expect to see Villanova winning it outright.