Villanova post game thread

[NickDanger]

Felt like it took the law of averages 30 minutes to work in UConn's favor. UConn was more dominant most of the game but was missing wipe open 3's while Nova was making contested 17' shots.

There is no such thing ”law” that says if you miss lots of shots you will make lots of shots later.

 

[housekeys]

Not sure but I think the game turned when they showed Rudy and Rip on TV.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

There is no such thing ”law” that says if you miss lots of shots you will make lots of shots later.

Someone saying “law of averages” is the board equivalent of saying “Beetlejuice” three times.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

The final 13 minutes was beautiful basketball. We were down 5 but ended it on a 32-10 run to run away with it.

It
Starts
With
Defense

 

[dalydosehoops]

UConn flexes its March muscle again, dominates ’Nova down stretch to reach Big East semis

Liam McNeeley celebrates as UConn pulls away from Villanova to cruise into Big East tournament semifinals. (Photo by UConn Men’s Basketball)...

dalydoseofhoops.blogspot.com

 

[MilliniumPrince]

The team looks better with Liam and Stewart on the floor together. Especially defensively.

I said the same thing

 

[alphasigko]

"A" Game in the final 10 mins! Well done Huskies!

 

[Excalibur]

Someone saying “law of averages” is the board equivalent of saying “Beetlejuice” three times.

It's more like a regression to the mean.

 

[Excalibur]

When Poplar was going off I was saying we really miss a Castle type, who they could put on anyone except a center and he would shut them down. Can Stewart provide that lock down type of flexible defender?

It's always been a matter of focus for him. The ability is there on both ends.

 

[Scottobot]

what was the technical for?

Allowing Villanova to score points because they couldn’t score without refs help

 

[Scottobot]

Karaban awesome in second half, and outstanding contributions from Maheney and Stewart and I am not talking about the points. Mahaney, 3 assists, only 1 TO, a steal, and gritty rebounding.

Stewart got 3 defensive rebounds and no mistakes other than the foul on the 3 point shot.

Both guys played great defense off the bench.

 

[aceboon]

There is no such thing ”law” that says if you miss lots of shots you will make lots of shots later.

You're still on this?

 

[ec33]

Allowing Villanova to score points because they couldn’t score without refs help

I love game at MSG in March, but I truly hate the Big East and the officiating that comes with it.

 

[Scottobot]

Why didn't Neptune pull Dixon to get a standing ovation?

probably thinking about how this seals the deal for him getting fired after the season ends

 

[SwingDog]

Dixon really hated playing us.

I kind of wish Dixon got the points tonight rather than Poplar so he could have broken the school record for most points scored. I suppose if 'Nova gets an NIT bid he could still break it. Either way, Eric Dixon's achievements as a Big East player are to be celebrated and I'll root for him at the next level.

 

[Scottobot]

Well, except for that bone headed goaltend too.

I don’t think the goal tend was boneheaded. He was just a little bit late. He got there and got the block, just late

 

[Scottobot]

He has skills. But he never puts 2 good games in a row this season. He can change that. I know many have written him off, but the book isn't finished on him.

Mahaney now played well 3 games in a row. 40 mins only 2 TOs

 

[caw]

Mahaney now played well 3 games in a row. 40 mins only 2 TOs

Agreed, I am hopeful he can continue playing like this. He doesn't seem to be in his head as much. This was his most confident game though this season.

Stew I think is almost there, he is in flow of the offense and defense recently. Make that dunk and don't make one silly foul and he'd be exactly what UConn wants from him this year. Even with those two missteps, great game from him.

Reed didn't play great on defense but his strength and rebounding helped a ton early.

As for the starters, not sure anyone but Karaban and Johnson really had great games. They were both fantastic tonight.

 

[Doctor Hoop]

Have surgery today so only saw a few minutes into the 2nd half. Darn double OT lead in game. Heckuva 2nd half performance, though.

it looks like a lot of the team are gelling at the right time, and defense is improving. Absent the atrocious 3 point shooting in the first 15 minutes and some questionable work by the officials on hand check fouls by ‘Nova this could have been a 30 point blowout.

On to Creighton! (Who should be a bit leg weary)

 

[homunculus]

We get that kind of play from Karaban, Johnson and Mahaney, we can beat many teams on that alone. Add in even better games from McNeeley, Ball and Reed (all of them are capable of more than they showed tonight), with continued steady play from Diarra and Stewart, and we can beat anyone. Anyone. That would be the team that started the season ranked #3 based on the potential of the roster.

Building a new team takes time. Sometimes just about 4 months or so.

 

[Giddyup5]

Have surgery today so only saw a few minutes into the 2nd half. Darn double OT lead in game. Heckuva 2nd half performance, though.

it looks like a lot of the team are gelling at the right time, and defense is improving. Absent the atrocious 3 point shooting in the first 15 minutes and some questionable work by the officials on hand check fouls by ‘Nova this could have been a 30 point blowout.

On to Creighton! (Who should be a bit leg weary)

Good luck buddy!

 

[ucp990411]

So do you think Karaban is fully healed from the concussion? /s. He's had a pretty good 5 game run here.

Mahaney played pretty well. If he can give that every game it makes everything better.

Switching Diarra on to Poplar did the trick. I'm not sure how many points Poplar had with Diarra on him but it wasn't much.

On to Creighton.

Finally someone mentions Diarra’s defense on Poplar. Changed the game. He got right in his grill and gave him no room to move. (Jethro Tull circa 1968)

 

[ucp990411]

Tonight’s* game is at 9 pm.

Tomorrow’s game is 6:30

 

[ucp990411]

Reminded me of last season seeing them break a team in the 2nd half

30-0

 

[Kitaman]

Me thinks we are too hard on this team. It amazes me how critical we can be, yet others see us differently almost reverently.

I saw good/better defense last night, Nova coach thought it was exceptional and intimidating and suffocating.

“They were just intense,” Villanova coach Kyle Neptune said. “They made it hard for us to catch, made it hard for us to get to our sets. They just came after us.”