Updated Villanova Scouting Report

[Hey Adrien!]

In UConn’s first matchup against Villanova, the Huskies got a taste of the formula of Villanova’s success: a crapload of Eric Dixon (23 points, but on 6-for-20 shooting) on offense with Wooga Poplar (18 points, 3-for-6 from three) and Jordan Longino (12 points, 2-for-3 from three) providing versatile secondary scoring. Both UConn (1.12 PPP) and Villanova (1.15 PPP) were efficient on offense, but a favorable whistle to Villanova forced UConn to get to the line just twice.

This time around, on their home court and with Liam McNeeley back, UConn is better equipped to face Villanova as the Huskies look to split the regular season series.

Although the defensively stout Enoch Boakye has started every game at center, Neptune’s most commonly used rotations lately have been small-ball, five-out looks with Dixon at the 5 and Poplar at the 4, a rotation that maximizes offensive efficiency, but makes Villanova much weaker on defense and on the boards.

One matchup of note: Jhamir Brickus against UConn’s smallest guard. I loved Brickus at La Salle, but at Villanova he’s been a pass-first savvy veteran point guard who is easily Villanova’s weakest defender. Solo Ball had 16 points last matchup, so he is poised for another big game.

McNeeley’s return is obviously a boost on offense, but more so on defense, as McNeeley will be paired up with Poplar often as Poplar’s scoring/handle combo will have a higher chance to be harassed with McNeeley’s long reach and defensive intensity.

Although attacking the rim isn’t really in Villanova’s wheelhouse, just wanted to note that guys like Brickus and Tyler Perkins all possess that ability to breakdown the defender and get to the rack, so something of note.

I expect another slow-paced, meticulously played game, but here's to hoping to the whistle going more towards out favor tomorrow.

Let's Go Huskies!

 

[RuffRuff]

At home revenge game - we can’t win this one, somewhat convincingly, after that ugly loss to SH, one eve of MSG/StJ, I’m gonna worry.

 

[InKembaITrust]

To date the most important game of the year. A loss would prove even more devastating than the last against SH. I wouldn't call this a must-win, but it's pretty dang close.

Expecting big things from our wings.

 

[ecasadoSBU]

Time to unleash all our fury on the wildcats.

Great opportunity to bounce back.

 

[auror]

To date the most important game of the year. A loss would prove even more devastating than the last against SH. I wouldn't call this a must-win, but it's pretty dang close.

Expecting big things from our wings.

When you're approaching the bubble, it's true that every game becomes the most important game of the year.

 

[Kemba15]

When you're approaching the bubble, it's true that every game becomes the most important game of the year.

There’s still a heck a lot of space and teams between us and the bubble.

 

[Kemba15]

We open -7.5. Probably the worst spread for us going by this season’s results lol

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I believe pace of play will play a massive role the outcome of this game.

If we primarily run our 24-26 second, keep the ball on the perimeter and hoist a shot in an attempt to beat the 30 second clock, we'll keep them in the game a lot longer than they should be and the outcome will be a tossup.

We need to up the pace to where the won't be able to keep up with us.

 

[champs99and04]

Brickus and Perkins are two of the worst defenders in the Big East - just total traffic cones. Not just on the ball, but off the ball. I don't know what Kyle Neptune was thinking building his team around those two, unless his options were just that limited. The culture that your transfers are coming from matters a lot. At least Poplar played on some successful teams at Miami before things went to hell last year. The other two came from glorified pick-up leagues where they developed way too many bad habits to unlearn.

 

[mauconnfan]

Huge game for this team, monstrous. Let’s see!!

 

[REB1094]

Last time, Jaylin did an excellent job defensively against Dixon. Not sure what the Diarra situation is, but if he’s ready to start then that puts Samson on Dixon to start and Karaban when Boakye comes in. Quick double teams and strong rotations will be essential

Villanova doesn’t have the defense to contain our offense. It’s our choice if we exploit that, or if we play the way they want us to

Let’s go Huskies!

 

[gtcam]

This is the biggest game of the season as far as I am concerned - need to beat Nova to try and ensure a top 4 finish in the NBE. Lose this match-up when facing both St Johns and Marquette soon will not bode well for UConn. Seton Hall was not the Super Bowl but losing on Saturday makes this game a Super Bowl much more apparent. UConn needs to dictate tempo and drive to the hoop to create contact and hope all these anti Dan Hurley refs are forced to blow their whistles. If they swallow the whistle, then we will all know there is a grudge against Dan Hurley and while understandable, it is punishing the UConn players.

 

[RuffRuff]

Last time, Jaylin did an excellent job defensively against Dixon. Not sure what the Diarra situation is, but if he’s ready to start then that puts Samson on Dixon to start and Karaban when Boakye comes in. Quick double teams and strong rotations will be essential

Villanova doesn’t have the defense to contain our offense. It’s our choice if we exploit that, or if we play the way they want us to

Let’s go Huskies!

He really did, one of his very few defensive highlights of the year. Agree on pace, Nova one of the slowest in the country (358 out of 364). They actually went head to head with the slowest, Virginia, earlier in year in what was like watching spackle dry. StM is 352.

This one feels season defining, as no reason not to be in 5th gear and come out as motivated as possible. Any lack of energy or effort shows this team is glass. Of all games this year, we should win this one because we want it more.

Practically I'd say we have 3 more losses to give before we start really worrying about bubble. Emotionally if they can't get it together in this game, then who cares anyway. I'll take mistakes or missed shots, any lack of focus or effort and this team is effectively shot.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Expecting a huge bounce back game here. It's essential. We were all set to be in good shape after the win at Creighton if we just took care of business. This team better wake up soon. Dixon is the main worry. I hope we don't have people in the chat calling for Reed again. Reed can't guard Dixon. He needs to be subbed in every time Dixon goes out to max his minutes. Alex may need to play the 5.

 

[RuffRuff]

Expecting a huge bounce back game here. It's essential. We were all set to be in good shape after the win at Creighton if we just took care of business. This team better wake up soon. Dixon is the main worry. I hope we don't have people in the chat calling for Reed again. Reed can't guard Dixon. He needs to be subbed in every time Dixon goes out to max his minutes. Alex may need to play the 5.

Poplar is a really good player and has played much better than Dixon over the last month. He's also the type of player that gives us fits as a large athletic wing. I'd imagine they put McNeeley on him. Curious to see defensive matchups and majority minutes in this one, and whether we go heavy Hass or keep trying the Liam PF thing, giving Stew a chance to play defense against Dixon again.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Poplar is a really good player and has played much better than Dixon over the last month. He's also the type of player that gives us fits as a large athletic wing. I'd imagine they put McNeeley on him. Curious to see defensive matchups and majority minutes in this one, and whether we go heavy Hass or keep trying the Liam PF thing, giving Stew a chance to play defense against Dixon again.

I know Hurley doesn't embrace it, but at some point you need to go to your bench and do this to the other teams skilled players like everyone does to ours. We make things too easy on them. A soft foul is a wasted foul.

 

[InKembaITrust]

When you're approaching the bubble, it's true that every game becomes the most important game of the year.

 

[ctbro1999]

I think this game (very winnable game) sets the tone for the rest of the season. We come out strong, lead wire to wire and win by double digits in dominating fashion, I think this team still has some surprises up its sleeve come March.

If we play flat, uninspired, and barely squeak out a win (or god forbid lose) tonight, I think this season is more or less done (maybe we win a game in the NCAAT, but then get waxed in the 2nd round).

 

[TroyHall98]

Nova will do what everyone has been doing to us. They will exploit the lack of a true point guard and disrupt timing on running our sets, they will exploit the lack of perimeter and wing defense, and they will exploit Hurley’s overcommitment to Samson by baiting him to jump on pump fakes/leaving his man underneath the hoop when he tries to overcompensate for the awful perimeter defense/physically push him around to make his awful rebounding skills even more awful.

Ugh..I sincerely hope I’m wrong.

 

[gtcam]

Bottom line to conventional thinking - this is a MUST game, and it has to be a statement game in terms of how UConn wins the game or loses the game. Wint it convincingly and there is a good level of hope. Win at the last minute or lose - time to experiment with the bench ongoing.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Nova will do what everyone has been doing to us. They will exploit the lack of a true point guard and disrupt timing on running our sets, they will exploit the lack of perimeter and wing defense, and they will exploit Hurley’s overcommitment to Samson by baiting him to jump on pump fakes/leaving his man underneath the hoop when he tries to overcompensate for the awful perimeter defense/physically push him around to make his awful rebounding skills even more awful.

Ugh..I sincerely hope I’m wrong.

You are not wrong, but at this point, Hurley should have figured out how to combat this. I don't care if all 5 are in the back court to bring the ball up as long as we get it to half court in 6-7 seconds and not a run to 10.

 

[05Alum]

I have a feeling this game only goes one of two ways:
1) Team bounces back. Galvanized. Bought in. Blows out Villanova. Crowd fully into it
2) Coach has lost team. Team takes presser quotes to heart in a bad way. Team feeds into the negative perception. Villanova wins, and it's never really close. Crowd shocked and dead
Either way we find out a lot about the rest of the season

 

[IndyLives]

The one thing that this team has done consistently well this year is bounce back from disappointing performances. Lets go!

 

[Kowalski]

This is the biggest game of the season as far as I am concerned - need to beat Nova to try and ensure a top 4 finish in the NBE. Lose this match-up when facing both St Johns and Marquette soon will not bode well for UConn. Seton Hall was not the Super Bowl but losing on Saturday makes this game a Super Bowl much more apparent. UConn needs to dictate tempo and drive to the hoop to create contact and hope all these anti Dan Hurley refs are forced to blow their whistles. If they swallow the whistle, then we will all know there is a grudge against Dan Hurley and while understandable, it is punishing the UConn players.

It’s not understandable. They get paid to make the right calls and they should expect to hear criticism when they dont. They should be fired if they have a bias.