Game of the year on Wednesday

[ChestRockwell85]

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.

This is a TREMENDOUS post. Hell, I like you. You can come over to my house and f*** my sister. Sorry, just watched Full Metal Jacket and have been itching to use that. Anyway, I agree, I don't put Villanova in the same class as teams like Kentucky or Duke, and I am sure you don't either, although the last time we played Duke we beat the hell out of them on our way to the Elite 8, but I understand what you are saying.

It is also funny because I said the same thing about Macura on our board, that the guy bothers me, but if he were on Villanova he would probably be my favorite player on the team.

I have felt that Georgetown has always been a traditional rival to us, both Catholic schools (I guess in the new Big East that doesn't matter as much), both schools relatively close to each other representing major East Coast cities, granted G'Town is better academically, but you have great academics at both schools, and of course there will always be 1985, a game that Patrick Ewing still turns off every time it is on. With that being said, if Villanova and Xavier continue their success, which I think both schools will, then I think this will absolutely turn into a rivalry.

Anyway, no Villanova fans I know, myself included think tomorrow will be an easy one, and nobody will be surprised if we don't get the W. I am just hoping for a good game and that nobody gets hurt because I am sure it will be getting physical, nothing dirty, just physical, but hey, that's the Big East.

[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.

This is a TREMENDOUS post. Hell, I like you. You can come over to my house and f*** my sister. Sorry, just watched Full Metal Jacket and have been itching to use that. Anyway, I agree, I don't put Villanova in the same class as teams like Kentucky or Duke, and I am sure you don't either, although the last time we played Duke we beat the hell out of them on our way to the Elite 8, but I understand what you are saying.

It is also funny because I said the same thing about Macura on our board, that the guy bothers me, but if he were on Villanova he would probably be my favorite player on the team.

I have felt that Georgetown has always been a traditional rival to us, both Catholic schools (I guess in the new Big East that doesn't matter as much), both schools relatively close to each other representing major East Coast cities, granted G'Town is better academically, but you have great academics at both schools, and of course there will always be 1985, a game that Patrick Ewing still turns off every time it is on. With that being said, if Villanova and Xavier continue their success, which I think both schools will, then I think this will absolutely turn into a rivalry.

Anyway, no Villanova fans I know, myself included think tomorrow will be an easy one, and nobody will be surprised if we don't get the W. I am just hoping for a good game and that nobody gets hurt because I am sure it will be getting physical, nothing dirty, just physical, but hey, that's the Big East.

Yeah, I was just using Duke and Kentucky as two teams that everyone except for fans of that team hate. And I do agree that Villanova is a step below Duke and Kentucky, although not this year.

Macura is, coincidentally, my favorite player on this Xavier team, and Arch is my least favorite player on Villanova. Those guys are just that type of player.

Regarding rivalries, Villanova's top rival in the Big East is definitely Georgetown and Xavier's is Butler. If both Xavier and Villanova continue their recent success I agree that there would be a good rivalry between the two. It may not be as intense or heated a rivalry as Nova-G'Town or X-Butler, but it will still be a pretty good one.

[mpwalsh8]

Good read on the game from Pat Forde:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/why-villan ... ncaab.html

[anXUfan]

Ton of talk about this game at work today. Kentucky fans, Louisville fans, Big 10 fans, all stopped me to talk or sent me a note. (Cincinnati and Dayton fans have been laying low so far.). Should be a hell of an atmosphere.

[DudeAnon]

Driving home yesterday listening to the pregame show for the UK game. Someone called in asking what they thought about Xavier, and hosts said tonight's game is going to say a lot.

[PMThor]

Nova is the team to beat. It's going to be a great time, no matter what happens. Every talking head out there is going to have to talk about it, everyone is going to have to acknowledge how good the Big East is.

Yes, Nova is, and has been the best team in the conference, and has owned X. But I think this is the hardest game of the year for Nova to win, and I hope it stays that way. X by 7.

Don't want to be a dbag, but rarely do I ever call the spread perfectly, especially for a game of this magnitude.

Great game Nova, let's hope for the rubber match at Madison Square.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Nova is the team to beat. It's going to be a great time, no matter what happens. Every talking head out there is going to have to talk about it, everyone is going to have to acknowledge how good the Big East is.

Yes, Nova is, and has been the best team in the conference, and has owned X. But I think this is the hardest game of the year for Nova to win, and I hope it stays that way. X by 7.

Don't want to be a dbag, but rarely do I ever call the spread perfectly, especially for a game of this magnitude.

Great game Nova, let's hope for the rubber match at Madison Square.

Victory!!!!

Great to get the Nova monkey off our backs!

Hope X and Nova meet in BE finals for rubber match as well and both get 1 seeds!

[XUFan09]

I want to see that neutral court showdown, and I'm betting the Big East conference executives are drooling over that prospect too. If both teams win out the rest of their schedule and play a close game in the conference finals, I think the Big East could be getting two 1 seeds.

[BEX]

Nova 78
Xavier 72

Xavier fans celebrate as they are able to keep the game within a touchdown.

and an extra point

[RetireFiftyTu]

Shoutout to Villanova for getting to number 1 and giving Xavier this opportunity. That was the most fun I've ever had at a basketball game. Cintas was just electric.