Game of the year on Wednesday

[XUFan09]

I just hope that X can do a good job of preparing Villanova for March.

I'll be happy if they can just do as good of job of preparing Villanova as Rhode Island used to do for Xavier.

[ChestRockwell85]

I'd say the tension is mounting.

I'd say it is the usual although Villanova has COMPLETELY dominated this league since the beginning, let's go after them about March. They only won 3 games in the tournament since 2009 (the year they went to the Final Four), let's bash them! There are teams in the Big East who have not won a single game in the tournament since 2000, but yet you guys still think you have a right to give us grief.

Not a single NEW Big East team has made it past the Sweet 16. I know in the A-10 that might be considered like getting to the Final 4, but in the Big East, it is nothing special. So, let's see what happens this March before anybody has a right to pound their chest.

Hopefully some of your teams make it in. I know that won't be an issue for Villanova.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Um, Butler says hello in terms of most recent FF.

You are RIGHT!! I stand corrected! Mea culpa Bulldawg fans.

[stever20]

Um, Butler says hello in terms of most recent FF.

You are RIGHT!! I stand corrected! Mea culpa Bulldawg fans.

I still wish that shot that Heyward took in 2010 had gone in. That would have been the most replayed shot in basketball history- bar none. As is, it's probably the most replayed missed shot ever.....

[xu1990]

For those who provided actual insights on this thread, thank you. Should be fun game.

To those of you, and hopefully know who you are, reading some of this reminds me of dealing with my children when they were 5-8 years old. I realize it is a message board, but damn, these threads get dragged into childish debate too easily.

[SJUBBALL]

This thread has become a carbon copy of the St. John's vs Villanova thread from a month or two ago.

[XtoDC]

There should be a smack talk section of the board or at least designated threads.

[ChestRockwell85]

I find the smack talk starts once people start bringing up Villanova's recent record in March. It has gotten old. Again, since the formation of the new Big East, no team has done anything really praiseworthy in March, so until that happens, we all have something to prove. But again, keep on taking these shots and continue to scratch your heads when Villanova fans defend their team. Not really sure what the big mystery here is.

[MUPanther]

FS1 presents its first ever matchup between two top-five college hoops programs, and the BIG EAST’s first top-five meeting in the conference’s current configuration, Wednesday night as No. 1 Villanova visits No. 5 Xavier at 7:00 PM ET. FS1 extends its coverage of this big game with an on-site studio presence in Cincinnati and a FOX COLLEGE HOOPS EXTRA postgame show, plus FS1’s lead college basketball broadcast duo, the inimitable Gus Johnson and Bill Raftery, call the action.

Coverage begins at 7:00 PM ET as studio host Kevin Burkhardt and analyst Steve Lavin welcome viewers to the Cintas Center before Johnson and Raftery take over from their courtside broadcast location. Burkhardt and Lavin return at halftime and again post-game when they join studio host Rob Stone and analysts Jim Jackson and Casey Jacobsen from Los Angeles for reaction, highlights and in-depth analysis of the BIG EAST and college basketball from around the country until 10:00 PM ET.

[RetireFiftyTu]

Here is my take on this whole thing. People are jealous of success. Look at the Patriots, or Duke, or Kentucky, or the Yankees, or the Cardinals. They all share one thing: people hate them because they're good. Sure, a lot of the players on those teams are really unlikable, but the primary reason everyone hates them is because they are really good. "They hate us cuz ya ain't us" is an old saying, and I think it holds true for Villanova. Villanova has been the undisputed best team in the Big East the last three seasons and other teams hate them because they're good. Xavier has been Nova's bitch since they joined the Big East. Xavier hasn't had one competitive game against Villanova. The first two years I liked and respected Villanova, but this year I don't like them anymore, although I do respect them. They just grind my gears this year. There's nothing wrong with disliking a team. Rivalries are part of what makes college basketball great. Xavier and Villanova have the chance to develop a nice little rivarly. Arch is a hell of a player, but I hate the guy, primarily because he's really good, but also because I think he whines a lot. Arch is a lot like Macura, you love him if he's on your team, but hate him if he's on the other team. And it's not just Villanova I dislike more this year. Georgetown and Providence have gotten on my nerves a little bit more too this year. And almost every team in the Big East would trade their last two seasons for Villanova's in a heartbeat, so I don't get the hate for Villanova losing the tournament games.