Game of the year on Wednesday

[thebigeXpress]

It was sad the Sumner got knocked out of the last game, but the play was clean. Was it a hard foul, yes.... But there was no intent to injure Ed. Lets just enjoy the game, and stop implying some grand conspiracy. I just hope that X solves the Nova Puzzle, can't remember the last time X has had a losing streak this long against an opponent.[/quote]

Hey, it may have seemed like a long time ago but we did beat Nova in St. Thomas, USVI. It was in Nov. 2006 in one of those Thanksgiving tournaments.

[Westbrook#36]

Again, did Oklahoma not have to deal with all of that?

I would think it's a net neutral - not sure why Nova fans keep bringing up their flight to Hawaii and playing in an airplane hangar with crappy lighting as an excuse.

Not sure why Xavier fans have a problem with anyone saying that beating Xavier at Cintas "might" not be the hardest game of the year for Nova to win. Seems a bit pretentious if you ask me.

[chopper]

If it were a typical neutral court game. Flying 12 hours and 6 time zones away to play in an airplane hangar with crappy lighting, I don't think qualifies as "typical".

Again, did Oklahoma not have to deal with all of that?

I would think it's a net neutral - not sure why Nova fans keep bringing up their flight to Hawaii and playing in an airplane hangar with crappy lighting as an excuse.

The big difference in that game wasn't location or flight hours. It was very experienced OK with a yet to be fully exposed superstar in Hield against a younger Nova team still "figuring it out". Nova lost that game in the first 5 minutes, even though they battled back to tie it later in the half.

Neither Nova or OK are playing anything like they did that day, and I think the result would be significantly different if they played tomorrow.

In order to win against Nova, X will need to not allow Nova to dictate how X plays offense. Nova is excellent at forcing teams to play differently than they are used to. They will not be rattled on the road...they feed off of hostile environments, and have settled into the hunted role nicely. They are also used to scoring without hitting a lot of threes. This is a completely different team than last year. X will need to play their best offensive game to take this game.

[Xavier4036]

Again, did Oklahoma not have to deal with all of that?

I would think it's a net neutral - not sure why Nova fans keep bringing up their flight to Hawaii and playing in an airplane hangar with crappy lighting as an excuse.

Not sure why Xavier fans have a problem with anyone saying that beating Xavier at Cintas "might" not be the hardest game of the year for Nova to win. Seems a bit pretentious if you ask me.

LOL - I don't care if Nova fans saying that or not. I would guess it'll probably be the toughest/most hostile environment - but I don't know or care what will be Nova's toughest game this year.

I was just pointing out how ironic it was that you and other Villanova were whining about the long flight, the change of time zones, playing in an airplane hangar and the bad lighting .... as if Oklahoma was playing in their home gym. It was just funny is all.

[Xavier4036]

The big difference in that game wasn't location or flight hours. It was very experienced OK with a yet to be fully exposed superstar in Hield against a younger Nova team still "figuring it out". Nova lost that game in the first 5 minutes, even though they battled back to tie it later in the half.

Neither Nova or OK are playing anything like they did that day, and I think the result would be significantly different if they played tomorrow.

My word - 4 out of 5 Villanova starters are seniors or juniors. How can one classify that as a "younger team"? Grasp at straws much?

[Xavier4036]

In order to win against Nova, X will need to not allow Nova to dictate how X plays offense. Nova is excellent at forcing teams to play differently than they are used to. They will not be rattled on the road...they feed off of hostile environments, and have settled into the hunted role nicely. They are also used to scoring without hitting a lot of threes. This is a completely different team than last year. X will need to play their best offensive game to take this game.

Except in March, evidently.

[GumbyDamnit!]

In order to win against Nova, X will need to not allow Nova to dictate how X plays offense. Nova is excellent at forcing teams to play differently than they are used to. They will not be rattled on the road...they feed off of hostile environments, and have settled into the hunted role nicely. They are also used to scoring without hitting a lot of threes. This is a completely different team than last year. X will need to play their best offensive game to take this game.

Except in March, evidently.

DBag comment of the day.

You can't throw stones when your own program is 0-fer vs the other team AND has never made a FF let alone a NC.

I think it will be a very difficult spot for Nova. With all due respect to OU and X, @ UVA per KP was probably the most difficult game of the year for Nova. But Charlottesville, though rocking, wasn't as charged as the Cintas will be.

I actually think the pressure is completely on X in this one. They've circled this game, they'll be in front of their fans who all are expecting retribution--and many in a big way. The Musketeers and Mack need to manage all of that emotion and make sure it's channeled properly instead of allowing it to sap too much energy. If Nova weathers the early storm and finds itself in a close game in the 2nd half the collective X sphincters may tighten. Hoping for a good one either way.

[chopper]

The big difference in that game wasn't location or flight hours. It was very experienced OK with a yet to be fully exposed superstar in Hield against a younger Nova team still "figuring it out". Nova lost that game in the first 5 minutes, even though they battled back to tie it later in the half.

Neither Nova or OK are playing anything like they did that day, and I think the result would be significantly different if they played tomorrow.

My word - 4 out of 5 Villanova starters are seniors or juniors. How can one classify that as a "younger team"? Grasp at straws much?

Nova lost 3 starters and averages 1.68 years experience according to kenpom. Kenpom also has a stat called minutes continuity, and Nova is at 58%. OK returns 4 starters, averages 2.12 years experience and minutes continuity of 73%. Straws look pretty big.

[novahoops11]

From Musketeermadness.com:

Jenkins starts now. He helped knock out Edmund Sumner in the New Years Eve blow-out in Philly (95-64 Villanova win).

Stay classy, Xavier.

[Xavier4036]

In order to win against Nova, X will need to not allow Nova to dictate how X plays offense. Nova is excellent at forcing teams to play differently than they are used to. They will not be rattled on the road...they feed off of hostile environments, and have settled into the hunted role nicely. They are also used to scoring without hitting a lot of threes. This is a completely different team than last year. X will need to play their best offensive game to take this game.

Except in March, evidently.

DBag comment of the day.

You can't throw stones when your own program is 0-fer vs the other team AND has never made a FF let alone a NC.

How is that a DBag comment?

Isn't it just the truth? Responding to a comment about how Nova is some juggernaut of a program when they are the hunted - when that couldn't be further from the truth - in March, when it actually matters.

I mean come on, since 2009, Villanova has won exactly THREE GAMES in the NCAA tournament - since 2009! And that's with a 1 seed, 2 seed, 2 seed (and two other 9 seeds). So I am sorry if my comment hit a nerve or insecurity (I'd be upset and pissed about it, too, if I were a Nova fan) but let's not act like Nova has "settled into the hunted role nicely" given the NCAA tournament results since 2009.