The Holy Land of Hoops

Friday night semi-finals:

7pm, Villanova vs Providence, FS1.
9:30pm, Georgetown vs Xavier, FS1.

Great matchups!

think huge games-
for Nova a win and Arizona/Wisconsin losses today probably clinch a #1 seed.
For Xavier a win and they probably wrap up getting out of the 8/9 quagmire.
Georgetown/Providence though continue to move up if they win. For PC a win maybe equals getting up to a 5 seed? For Georgetown, I think if we won the tourney, we could get a 3 seed even.

Should be two good ones! Interestingly, two games in which the season series was 2-0 (in favor of Villanova and Xavier).

'Nova stomped PC pretty good at home after surviving a close one up in Providence. I think 'Nova is on a mission right now. 'Nova by 15.

Xavier beat the Hoyas pretty handily 2x this season, but the last time was a good 5-6 weeks ago and the Hoyas are looking sprightly. I do think the X-men are just a bad match-up for the Hoyas. X by 5 in a good one.

If you were to give me Providence with the points and the spread was 15, I'd take it. I think this game will be closer than that - single digits, but wit Villanova the clear favorite. I agree that Villanova is on a mission after last year's tournament, but I think that Providence has a lot of pride in what they've accomplished and are also on a mission to defend their title. Agree that it should be a good game.

Cooley certainly doesn't need my advice, but if he asked for it, I'd say that the Friars should shut down Villanova's 3-point game at all costs. I'd play the shooters up close and take my chances on their penetration. I'd make sure that Harris sees a lot of time and let Desrosiers, Chukwu, and Bentil split time in the middle so they can feel free to defend the goal without worry about fouls. It sure would help if one of the freshmen - like Lindsey or Cartwright - decided to have a breakout game tonight.

To me, Georgetown vs X is a toss up. Game could go either way just like last night X vs Butler game. I'll pick Georgetown because they're deeper and have been more successful in close games but an upset here wouldn't surprise me.

Bill Marsh wrote:I'll pick Georgetown because they're deeper and have been more successful in close games but an upset here wouldn't surprise me.

If X beats Georgetown for a 3rd time this season, how can you call it an upset? Seeding wise? Yes. Basketball team wise, not at all.

It scares me having to play Georgetown 3 times after already winning the first 2. Hopefully Xavier plays like they did in the first two games.

Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson with Molly McGrath

X Factor wrote:

Bill Marsh wrote:I'll pick Georgetown because they're deeper and have been more successful in close games but an upset here wouldn't surprise me.

If X beats Georgetown for a 3rd time this season, how can you call it an upset? Seeding wise? Yes. Basketball team wise, not at all.

It scares me having to play Georgetown 3 times after already winning the first 2. Hopefully Xavier plays like they did in the first two games.

I can call it an upset because Georgetown's the favorite in that game. I always thought that it's a upset when the favorite loses on a neutral court.

MUPanther wrote:Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson with Molly McGrath

Molly McGrath is a babe!

Hard to beat a team 3x. Especially when they have a "Monster on the Midway". Dee Davis has always played well against DSR back to their HS days in Indiana. Probably due for that to end too but I do like the grit on this X team. We were 0-3 in ot games before last nite.

Yesterday:

Baylor beat West Virginia for the third time yesterday.
Arizona beat Cal for a third time yesterday.
Boise beat Air Force for a third time yesterday.
Kansas beat TCU for a third time yesterday.
UC Davis beat Northridge for a third time yesterday.
UCLA beat USC for a third time yesterday.
Iowa St. beat Texas for a third time yesterday.
Georgetown beat Creighton for a third time yesterday.
San Diego St. beat UNLV for a third time yesterday.
Oklahoma beat Oklahoma St. for a third time yesterday.

Not hard at all.