The Holy Land of Hoops

Hey guys, we have one game in the Big East tonight:

#1 Villanova at Marquette, 8pm.

Marquette's been playing well lately and should be high on confidence after the Creighton win. If I were a gambler I'd still put my money on Nova, but MU certainly has a chance.

Huge game for Marquette. Most of the nation has forgot about Marquette since Buzz left. They win this and they will be in the conversation for the first time in a long time.

Considering stats tend to seek equilibrium (or however you would phrase that), wouldn't surprise me to see MU go something like 6-25 from three tonight after lighting up CU. Unfortunately for MU, as Creighton showed once the guys kind of got in sync after about 2/3 of the game Saturday, MU still has no defense. Even if MU scores 85 tonight, will not surprise me in the least if VU outscores them by 10.

cu blujs wrote:Considering stats tend to seek equilibrium (or however you would phrase that), wouldn't surprise me to see MU go something like 6-25 from three tonight after lighting up CU. Unfortunately for MU, as Creighton showed once the guys kind of got in sync after about 2/3 of the game Saturday, MU still has no defense. Even if MU scores 85 tonight, will not surprise me in the least if VU outscores them by 10.

This is correct, though don't see MU going that cold as there will be someone on between Hauser-Howard-Reinhardt-Rowsey-Johnson and even Wilson and Cheathem capable as well (this will probably happen @DePaul, because of course it will). Marquette kinda has to outscore its defense....and Nova won't have too difficult of a time scoring.

Should be a good game. A Marquette win would put them comfortably in the field of 68.

Sneaky-good game. I think this sucker will come down to the wire.

milksteak wrote:Sneaky-good game. I think this sucker will come down to the wire.

Yes, I'm thinking home court will make it closer than the 12 points that decided their last game at Villanova. I'm guessing Villanova wins by 4-5 points. But I wouldn't rule out a Marquette upset. Fischer could be a big factor in this game if they are able to figure out how to use him to their advantage.

The 12 point final was a little misleading. It was a 30 point lead with 8:00 left in the game. Kudos for Marq for not quitting but the game was well in hand early.

I feel somewhat certain that Nova will lose at least one other game on the road this year. Was thinking it would be X or SHU, but Marq is playing really well, so maybe this is the spot. Both team can score. I think it all comes down to D. Nova can lock a team down when dialed in defensively. I'm not sure Marq can do the same. Thinking 81-75 Nova.

Interestingly I think the teams that beat Nova are the ones that are willing to match them physically. SHU, Butler, X last year. There is a misnomer that this Nova team is small. They are a physically mature team that can give smaller lineups (at the wing and guard spots) trouble. 6'9" chisled w/ long arms Reynolds; 6'7" freaky long arms Bridges; 6'6" big bodied Jenkins, 6'6" chisled and athletic Hart; and a thick 6'3" Brunson starting; off the bench 6'7" 250 Paschall and 6'4" freaky athletic DiVincenzo. Top to bottom they are all strong and I think it has an effect on teams over 40 minutes. Watching this MU team they are very gifted offensively but I question if they can match the physicality. If the refs call it tight perhaps it could put a strain on Nova's short bench but otherwise I feel good about our chances to grab a hotly contested W.