by GumbyDamnit! » Tue Jan 24, 2017 5:17 pm
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.
Go Nova!