Villanova Post Game Thread

[RuffRuff]

Dixon got his points. He has the game and smarts to realize that if he's being well defended and having a tough shooting night, he simply needs to be Dixon and get to the line. 9-9. He got 23 tonight, just off his average of 24.7.

Watching his game tonight reminded me of another big time PITA - DeJuan Blair. Same size, pretty much same game.

Dejuan didn’t have nearly the outside shot - he was just a beast inside. Their games actually feel quite a bit different. Dixon is a very unique player - especially as a lefty. There haven’t been many players that thick and strong mobile enough to put the ball on the floor like that. He is a tough matchup for anyone at the college level.

If not hoops the guy could be the next Antonio Gates.

 

[mauconnfan]

We sold out on Dixon with double-teams every time he touched the ball. This was like the anti-Purdue scheme. The rest of their team shot 18/35 or 51%. We had a few chances to win this game, so I don't question the gameplan, but I don't agree with your statement about "Can't lose to them with Dixon at 6-20 should never happen." We picked our poison.

You can disagree all you want but we shouldn’t ever lose to Villanova if he shoots crappy. And they stopped doubling him 2nd half in case you missed the few blow bys and 1 that occurred?

 

[bendm]

Alex is being judged against expectations. He's a preseason All-American candidate, and he's not living up to that standard. It's not just this game either...

'23-24 stats:
13.3 pts / 49.5% FG / 37.9% 3P / 88.5% FT / 5.1 rebs / 1.5 asts / .9 stls / .8 blks

'24-25 stats:
16.3 pts / 48.3% FG / 42.5% 3P / 81.4% FT / 5.2 rebs / 2.8 asts / .5 stls / 1.8 blks

yeah his numbers are good across the board just not having the all-american season we were expecting or need if we're going to make a final four run.

 

[uconnfan68]

Is that the same play where Dixon shot airball 12 footer from the left baseline, lost his balance and ended up on his butt? Horrible call.

You breathe hard on that 260# guy, and he just flops.

 

[superjohn]

Dixon got his points. He has the game and smarts to realize that if he's being well defended and having a tough shooting night, he simply needs to be Dixon and get to the line. 9-9. He got 23 tonight, just off his average of 24.7.

Watching his game tonight reminded me of another big time PITA - DeJuan Blair. Same size, pretty much same game.

Both great players but not comparable games. Blair was more of a physical beast down low and he never shot a three in his career, Dixon shoots 7 threes per game at nearly 50%.

 

[mauconnfan]

Dejuan didn’t have nearly the outside shot - he was just a beast inside. Their games actually feel quite a bit different. Dixon is a very unique player - especially as a lefty. There haven’t been many players that thick and strong mobile enough to put the ball on the floor like that. He is a tough matchup for anyone at the college level.

If not hoops the guy could be the next Antonio Gates.

Agree but also he beat us to the left 3 times and that shouldn’t happen. That’s on the defenders.

 

[storrsroars]

Blair was not a 3pt threat. Completely different game.

True, Blair was not a 3 pt threat. He didn't have to be on those squads. That does not make a it a "completely different game". Both used their build and athleticism similarly in the paint to score and defend. That was very apparent in the 2nd half tonight. Difficult matchup for most opposing frontcourts, even with a height advantage.

 

[Gurleyman]

I’ll say it again: DH got out coached by a potato tonight. Not his best effort.

Some criticism is deserved. But the game more or less came down to with the score tied:

Solo good look at a 3, miss.
Poplar tough contested look at a 3, make.
AK corner look out of a TO, miss
Dixon contested look at a 3, make.

Down 6 and we only got five of them back. Sometimes it’s just a make or miss thing.

 

[Zissou]

True, Blair was not a 3 pt threat. He didn't have to be on those squads. That does not make a it a "completely different game". Both used their build and athleticism similarly in the paint to score and defend. That was very apparent in the 2nd half tonight. Difficult matchup for most opposing frontcourts, even with a height advantage.

I’m doubling down on this one.

The 3 threat creates space for the offense in addition to the scoring.

Dixon has a very different game than Blair.

 

[uconnfan68]

he kinda didn’t deserve those. That isn’t the refs. That is the style you play.

Like not flopping?

 

[storrsroars]

I’m doubling down on this one.

The 3 threat creates space for the offense in addition to the scoring.

Dixon has a very different game than Blair.

Fair enough. I'm not dying on that hill. It came to mind in the 2nd half when he wasn't shooting 3s and there was simply no way to defend him w/o fouling because he was mismatch for everyone guarding him.

 

[huskyharry]

He got hit on the arm.

Correct, Longino didn’t even touch the ball…all hand and wrist

 

[EnochRoot]

Eric Dixon is a freakin beast. If I'm a 'Nova fan I'm ticked they don't have a good enough team around him. Shades of Danny Fortson with a three point shot.

 

[navery12]

often times in end of game situations if you don't take the first open shot you might not get another one that good again, and unfortunately that was the case tonight. posters have got up in arms over him taking end of clock shots(not me) but that's due to the offense being bogged down and there not being any other options, that wasn't the case with that potential wide open 3.

But the thing is he did get a better shot. I wouldn't have had a problem with him taking the first shot, even if he missed because there was enough time on the clock to foul and still get the ball back down 3. But Diarra got to the rim and still got a tough but good shot off that didn't fall

 

[aceboon]

But the thing is he did get a better shot. I wouldn't have had a problem with him taking the first shot, even if he missed because there was enough time on the clock to foul and still get the ball back down 3. But Diarra got to the rim and still got a tough but good shot off that didn't fall

That shot where he had to release the ball all the way behind his head?? Diarra makes some tough layups but I'd rather the open 3 over that one.

 

[navery12]

That shot where he had to release the ball all the way behind his head?? Diarra makes some tough layups but I'd rather the open 3 over that one.

Yes, I'm far more confident in him hitting that shot or getting fouled over the 3. He's capable of making an open 3, but he's not a good 3 point shooter

 

[JungleLobo]

Perspective. Let’s get right at Georgetown.

laces out

 

[EnochRoot]

Yes, I'm far more confident in him hitting that shot or getting fouled over the 3. He's capable of making an open 3, but he's not a good 3 point shooter

The play there was to create contact to get to the line. Same thing with AK (despite him being 'fouled' and then he bricked his two FTs).

 

[Huskies990411]

Tarris was 3/3 fg's. How the hell does he only get 3 shots tonight and why weren't we getting the ball into him? The guy is an automatic bucket when we get it to him on the block, the problem is we don't get it into him nearly enough. Guy is shooting 69% this season.

Couldn’t agree more. I don’t care who starts but I’m begging for more Reed minutes, and touches when he’s in there. He’s too strong and skilled not to get them.

I was hoping he got a touch on one of those last three attempts. I liked Diarra’s drive bc he’s the only available option who consistently gets to the rim, but otherwise the highest percentage look is Reed on the block (or with his 75% from the line when they foul him instead).

 

[Huskyforlife]

But the thing is he did get a better shot. I wouldn't have had a problem with him taking the first shot, even if he missed because there was enough time on the clock to foul and still get the ball back down 3. But Diarra got to the rim and still got a tough but good shot off that didn't fall

You could also easily argue there was enough body contact on that layup for free throws. Think we get that call at home.

 

[Jimdish255]

Not much to say. Played flat. Had every chance to win and were given a gift call at the end. Karaban has become very average.

 

[UCLJ0211]

Who is with McNeeley out? It's not Karaban either. Stewart maybe?

Ironically, I would want Hass at the line.

 

[uconngb]

Some criticism is deserved. But the game more or less came down to with the score tied:

Solo good look at a 3, miss.
Poplar tough contested look at a 3, make.
AK corner look out of a TO, miss
Dixon contested look at a 3, make.

Down 6 and we only got five of them back. Sometimes it’s just a make or miss thing.

No. Game was lost when DH brain spasmed and put AM and JR when we had just taken the lead and had all the momentum with about 7 min to go and within 2 awful possessions we were immediately down 2. That was one of the worst lineups we’ve thrown out on the floor in the last 4 years.

Coupled with totally ignoring Reed and Stewart in the 2nd half which were considerable advantages we had.

THEN the awful sequence at the end just to seal the worst coached game of the last three years.

For gods sake, it was Kyle Neptune on the other bench. Nova was just waiting to fold.

 

[ctchamps]

Ross would be a better defender if he didn't jump at every ball fake.

He’s where Solo was earlier this season. Solo has reduced this tendency. BTW as bad as Ross was Solo was worse in the first half.

That’s why Ross got minutes. But Solo turned things around second half. The more these guys play the better their going to get.

That first drive by Ross was bad. The second was not. We’re criticizing Ball and Alex for not driving to the basket enough. They can’t improve their game without attempting it. Same goes for Ross.

 

[uconngb]

Eric Dixon is a freakin beast. If I'm a 'Nova fan I'm ticked they don't have a good enough team around him. Shades of Danny Fortson with a three point shot.

If I’m a Nova fan I’m ticked he only has 6 more years of eligibility left