Villanova Scouting Report

[Hey Adrien!]

Villanova: 7-5 overall;
2-5 without Whitmore
5-0 with Whitmore;
Kenpom Rating: 53 out of 363​

Best wins:

• 70-66 v #33 Oklahoma
  • Caleb Daniels: 22 points, 5-6 from 2, 3-4 from 3
• 78-63 v #56 St. John’s
  • Eric Dixon: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block, 2-5 from 3

Worst Losses:

• 64-68 @ #134 Temple
  • Team was only 2-7 from 3, 13 TOs
• 71-83 @ #115 Portland
  • 9-41 (!!) from three

OFFENSE: 15th in efficiency

• 2nd in FT% (83.3%)
• 4th in turnover rate (14.2%)
• 7th in 3PA/FGA (49.6%)
• 70th in 2P% (53.5%)
• 123rd in FTA/FGA (33.1%)
• ~ median in A/FGM (50.9%)
• 309th in tempo (18.8 seconds/possession)
• 330th in offensive rebound % (22.8)

DEFENSE: 123rd in efficiency

• 32nd in slowing teams town (18.3 seconds/possession)
• 28th in FTA/FGA (22.8%)
• 130th in defensive rebounding rate
• Median or below in
  • O2P% (49.7%)
  • 3P% (34.9%)
  • Turnover rate (18.3%, 211th)
• Near bottom at
  • 3PA/FGA (43.4%)
  • A/FGM (61.2%)

I see a huge matchup to exploit down low with Dixon's defensive deficiencies with kickout opportunities with their poor perimeter defense. Plus, whoever is being guarded by Arcidiacono has slashing/attacking the rim opportunities possible.

 

[aburks41]

Keys to winning will be Andre shutting down Whitmore and Sanogo/Clingan shutting down Dixon. If we do that effectively, then we’ll win.

This should be a huge Clingan game though. He has 7 inches on Nova’s tallest defender

 

[REB1094]

They have absolutely NOTHING for Sanogo and Clingan. They'll have to pick their poison - let Sanogo go 1 on 1 or send help and give up shots.

We need to hit our shots because I'm sure we will get a lot of them from the defense cheating over as well as on the offensive boards.

Clingan should have like 700 offensive rebounds

This will be fun.

 

[GlastonTim]

I see this as a statement game. Come out loose and play their A game and win by 15+. Hawkins’s lights it up.

 

[Storrs South]

Need to return the favor from those blowouts during the Ollie years

 

[andy34]

Need to return the favor from those blowouts during the Ollie years

This. 4 or 5 years ago I made plans to go to a Nova game at Gampel with my siblings. We met at Ted's while we waited for my sister to make it through traffic. We ended staying at the bar the whole game, by the time she arrived, there was no point in walking up the hill. We've got some payback to dish out

 

[USNavyDog]

Need to return the favor from those blowouts during the Ollie years

Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing Uconn give Villanova a dose of their own medicine after humilating us. It should be a good one to watch, to be sure.

 

[CTBasketball]

They have absolutely NOTHING for Sanogo and Clingan. They'll have to pick their poison - let Sanogo go 1 on 1 or send help and give up shots.

We need to hit our shots because I'm sure we will get a lot of them from the defense cheating over as well as on the offensive boards.

Clingan should have like 700 offensive rebounds

This will be fun.

Dixon roasted Sanogo for 24/12 last year in Philadelphia, while Sanogo was hampered with foul trouble.

Don’t sleep on Dixon he can be good.

 

[UCFan1513]

How tf did they go into the season with Arcidiacono as their starting PG thinking “this is fine” and not get a transfer to fill that gap?? Hope we stomp them like they stomped us a few times when we sucked

 

[KingAG]

Dixon roasted Sanogo for 24/12 last year in Philadelphia, while Sanogo was hampered with foul trouble.

Don’t sleep on Dixon he can be good.

But this year we bring in a 7’2 monster. Dixon is a good player though.

 

[mauconnfan]

They have absolutely NOTHING for Sanogo and Clingan. They'll have to pick their poison - let Sanogo go 1 on 1 or send help and give up shots.

We need to hit our shots because I'm sure we will get a lot of them from the defense cheating over as well as on the offensive boards.

Clingan should have like 700 offensive rebounds

This will be fun.

Oh they have something. Dixon owned Sanogo last year and besides that they will have some matchups they will like in their backdown offense.

Much tougher game than earlier year from them with Whitmore and Armstrong.

This is kind of a game I was looking at when I wished they had played Sanogo and Clingan together. They would have absolutely no answer for that.

 

[caw]

It’s going to be an interesting battle between three point defense and three point offense.

UConn limits attempts from three to about 25%. And Nova takes about 50% of their shots from three. Of the shots UConn allows, opponents do not make a high percentage usually. Nova shoots fairly well as a team.

 

[Kembacity]

It’ll be interesting to see if Nova is helped by some BS fouls on our bigs early. If the game is called equally I just don’t see how they can beat us aside from us having our worst shooting game and them shooting the lights out

 

[Conndog]

Villanova is a fundamentally sound team that always seems to have good shooting. I'm glad that we have a big guard with Newton- those memories of RJ trying to contend with Collin Gillespie are a thing of the past. I think UConn will win convincingly but it won't be a blowout, maybe by 12.

 

[MTBingNinja]

Villanova: 7-5 overall;
2-5 without Whitmore
5-0 with Whitmore;
Kenpom Rating: 53 out of 363​

Best wins:

• 70-66 v #33 Oklahoma
  • Caleb Daniels: 22 points, 5-6 from 2, 3-4 from 3
• 78-63 v #56 St. John’s
  • Eric Dixon: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block, 2-5 from 3

Worst Losses:

• 64-68 @ #134 Temple
  • Team was only 2-7 from 3, 13 TOs
• 71-83 @ #115 Portland
  • 9-41 (!!) from three

OFFENSE: 15th in efficiency

• 2nd in FT% (83.3%)
• 4th in turnover rate (14.2%)
• 7th in 3PA/FGA (49.6%)
• 70th in 2P% (53.5%)
• 123rd in FTA/FGA (33.1%)
• ~ median in A/FGM (50.9%)
• 309th in tempo (18.8 seconds/possession)
• 330th in offensive rebound % (22.8)

DEFENSE: 123rd in efficiency

• 32nd in slowing teams town (18.3 seconds/possession)
• 28th in FTA/FGA (22.8%)
• 130th in defensive rebounding rate
• Median or below in
  • O2P% (49.7%)
  • 3P% (34.9%)
  • Turnover rate (18.3%, 211th)
• Near bottom at
  • 3PA/FGA (43.4%)
  • A/FGM (61.2%)

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I see a huge matchup to exploit down low with Dixon's defensive deficiencies with kickout opportunities with their poor perimeter defense. Plus, whoever is being guarded by Arcidiacono has slashing/attacking the rim opportunities possible.

BY Gold

 

[Huskyforlife]

They’ll swarm the bigs and force the shooters to beat them. Thankfully that strategy hasn’t worked for anyone so far.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

It’ll be interesting to see if Nova is helped by some BS fouls on our bigs early. If the game is called equally I just don’t see how they can beat us aside from us having our worst shooting game and them shooting the lights out

This is not some kind of David v. Goliath deal. It’s a little strange to me that some people are treating it like that.

 

[XLCenterFan]

I remember it vividly. KO was our coach. We were getting buried by Nova at the XL. I was talking to the guys next to me and said "this is ridiculous...we used to win these games. We need to start emailing Benedict and tell him to can KO or get us back in the BE."

I started emailing AD Dave and told him exactly that. He did both. Canned KO and got us back in the BE. Last year @ XL was awesome, but now we need to bury them. It's payback time. I don't want a close one. Crush them.

 

[Tyler2Rings]

I started emailing AD Dave and told him exactly that. He did both. Canned KO and got us back in the BE.

Can you email him to tell Hurley to play Sanogo and Clingan together?

 

[dennismenace]

Oh they have something. Dixon owned Sanogo last year and besides that they will have some matchups they will like in their backdown offense.

Much tougher game than earlier year from them with Whitmore and Armstrong.

This is kind of a game I was looking at when I wished they had played Sanogo and Clingan together. They would have absolutely no answer for that.

 

[dennismenace]

Villanova is a fundamentally sound team that always seems to have good shooting. I'm glad that we have a big guard with Newton- those memories of RJ trying to contend with Collin Gillespie are a thing of the past. I think UConn will win convincingly but it won't be a blowout, maybe by 12.

There are only a couple of opponent players I really disliked over the years and Collin Gillespie is one of them. He got away with murder "backing down" opponents like a little Mack Truck slamming into them without getting called for an offensive foul. I've never seen anyone come close to getting away with what he did. That's on the refs. I actually admired the whole Villanova approach by Jay Wright who was a class act and who did a great job for the school and the Big East. Consistent excellence coaching their program. So glad to see Gillespie gone. Have to hand it to him though; he literally pushed his luck like a truck and got away with it.

 

[mauconnfan]

There are only a couple of opponent players I really disliked over the years and Collin Gillespie is one of them. He got away with murder "backing down" opponents like a little Mack Truck slamming into them without getting called for an offensive foul. I've never seen anyone come close to getting away with what he did. That's on the refs. I actually admired the whole Villanova approach by Jay Wright who was a class act and who did a great job for the school and the Big East. Consistent excellence coaching their program. So glad to see Gillespie gone. Have to hand it to him though; he literally pushed his luck like a truck and got away with it.

Watch Daniels then, he is the new Gillespie. Both good players but both get the edge from the stripes. Dixon will do this as well. Kadary Richmond is waiting around the corner again too. Depending on how our guys react there may need to be adjustments. Newton has been solid and backing down 6’5 is tougher than 5’11 Cole. Alleyne is tough and has good size too could see more time if making shots as well. Will be interesting.

 

[jibsey]

There are only a couple of opponent players I really disliked over the years and Collin Gillespie is one of them. He got away with murder "backing down" opponents like a little Mack Truck slamming into them without getting called for an offensive foul. I've never seen anyone come close to getting away with what he did. That's on the refs. I actually admired the whole Villanova approach by Jay Wright who was a class act and who did a great job for the school and the Big East. Consistent excellence coaching their program. So glad to see Gillespie gone. Have to hand it to him though; he literally pushed his luck like a truck and got away with it.

Hey come on, Sanogo does the same thing maybe with a bit less pushing but that is his signature move the backdown.

 

[GHSWolverines]

Can you email him to tell Hurley to play Sanogo and Clingan together?

What is this obsession of playing them together? Frankly I don't see it happening.

 

[CTBasketball]

I remember it vividly. KO was our coach. We were getting buried by Nova at the XL. I was talking to the guys next to me and said "this is ridiculous...we used to win these games. We need to start emailing Benedict and tell him to can KO or get us back in the BE."

I started emailing AD Dave and told him exactly that. He did both. Canned KO and got us back in the BE. Last year @ XL was awesome, but now we need to bury them. It's payback time. I don't want a close one. Crush them.

Thank you for saving our program.

 

[mauconnfan]

What is this obsession of playing them together? Frankly I don't see it happening.

Far from obsession but certainly curious to see the potential mismatch on the offensive end versus certain opponents. If the ball isn’t falling from the perimeter why not shove it down their throats or try? Clingan is one of your best players, he played 9 minutes last game not enough. Maybe that’s a way to change that. Not looking for large chunks of time but would like to see how they react.

 

[willie99]

Need to return the favor from those blowouts during the Ollie years

Game at the XL, we're down like 20 at halftime, and we said we're walking out at 30. A couple of minutes into the 2nd half, we're down 30 and we walked out. Went to Black Eyed Sally's and wrang up a bar tag I don't want to talk about. Drinking to drown our sorrows, a miserable existence.

I'm drinking (at games) much less nowadays

 

[XLCenterFan]

Thank you for saving our program.

I'm a good soldier. I'll do it again if I have to.

 

[TyroneShoo]

Nova guy’s take-

Whitmore needs to play more. He may be the most talented player in the league and him playing like 20 mins is making some of us scratch our heads. He can do everything. I still believe that we see way too much Chris Arcidiacono.

C.A. is a gritty, willing defender who can knock down an open shot. Makes his free throws. Offensively, he does not turn the ball over but does almost nothing to create dangerous situations. I think his lack of pressuring the defense leads to poor shots late in the clock. So, it is still a waste of a trip. I would rather risk an extra turnover or two per game. Moore‘s return will hopefully change things in a couple of weeks. . Hard to criticize the kid. He Gives ya all he’s got…all the time. But, to me he is a substitute that is playing a starter role.

For now, The offense is looks better when Armstrong is out there,

Hausen may be the best shooter arrive Nova in over 20 years. (He shoots 100 3s after practice and is normally around 93). when he fills out a little and can handle defending multiple positions in their Switching defense He will see a lot more time.

Moore’s defense, scoring and ability to play the point has been sorely missed. Nova needed to tread water until he came back. At times, we didn’t.

Daniels is a bruising guard who can shoot and defend. draws a lot of fouls He is not a great passer and isnt much of a facilitator aside from causing collapses on his drives to the lane.

slater is a streaky offensive contributor. Very athletic and a good ft shooter. Can defend bigger guys. But, has had some surprising defensive lapses that seem more frustrating if his shot isn’t falling. He is best when taking the ball to the rim.

Dixon is a very skilled offensive player. Passes, shoots, skilled at drawing contact. Can hit the 3 as well. Sanogo had trouble with him at times. I picture that This is where Clingan‘s size may be most useful.

For some reason this team seems to start cold. Their defense of the long ball early in games has been maddening.

 

[mauconnfan]

Nova guy’s take-

Whitmore needs to play more. He may be the most talented player in the league and him playing like 20 mins is making some of us scratch our heads. He can do everything. I still believe that we see way too much Chris Arcidiacono.

C.A. is a gritty, willing defender who can knock down an open shot. Makes his free throws. Offensively, he does not turn the ball over but does almost nothing to create dangerous situations. I think his lack of pressuring the defense leads to poor shots late in the clock. So, it is still a waste of a trip. I would rather risk an extra turnover or two per game. Moore‘s return will hopefully change things in a couple of weeks. . Hard to criticize the kid. He Gives ya all he’s got…all the time. But, to me he is a substitute that is playing a starter role.

For now, The offense is looks better when Armstrong is out there,

Hausen may be the best shooter arrive Nova in over 20 years. (He shoots 100 3s after practice and is normally around 93). when he fills out a little and can handle defending multiple positions in their Switching defense He will see a lot more time.

Moore’s defense, scoring and ability to play the point has been sorely missed. Nova needed to tread water until he came back. At times, we didn’t.

Daniels is a bruising guard who can shoot and defend. draws a lot of fouls He is not a great passer and isnt much of a facilitator aside from causing collapses on his drives to the lane.

slater is a streaky offensive contributor. Very athletic and a good ft shooter. Can defend bigger guys. But, has had some surprising defensive lapses that seem more frustrating if his shot isn’t falling. He is best when taking the ball to the rim.

Dixon is a very skilled offensive player. Passes, shoots, skilled at drawing contact. Can hit the 3 as well. Sanogo had trouble with him at times. I picture that This is where Clingan‘s size may be most useful.

For some reason this team seems to start cold. Their defense of the long ball early in games has been maddening.

Armstrong does make them look better for now agree. Slater may be streaky most of the time but usually not against our Huskies I expect he will make most of his. This is a great test for our Huskies no doubt and we will get a good idea of where we can adjust defensively as it will be a change of running offense to many of the new Huskies. I'm excited to watch this game!