The top-seeded Villanova Wildcats will try to redeem themselves after an overtime scare to Boston College with a win over the third-seeded Florida Gators tonight at 5:05 ET to see who goes to the Final Four. Inspired by Joakim Noah's breakout play, the Gators have defeated Southern Alabama, UW-Milwaukee, and Georgetown on their road to the Elite Eight. Villanova has made it to this point with wins over Monmouth, Arizona, and Boston College. A big concern heading into the tournament for the Wildcats was the health of their star shooting guard, Allan Ray, who suffered from an eye wound in the Big East tournament. However, Ray has appeared unaffected by the injury thus far and recently posted 25 points against the eighth-seeded Arizona Wildcats. So who do you think will win this one today?
Villanova will have to play great basketball inside the post against Joakim Noah as well as Al Hortford, two players who I believe if Villanova isn't careful could really break open this game. Expect Jay Wright to make a lot of substitutions like he did against BC (77 of them). It's going to be a good game but I'm taking Florida with the inside play of Joakim Noah and Al Hortford along with contributions from Corey Brewer. Florida - 68 Villanova - 62
Every team in the NCAA will have an advantage over Villanova at the froncourt, it's been like that al year forthe Wildcats. That realy doesn't matter though. Boston College has a better frontcourt than Florida, but Villanova's guards are just too much to handle. I can't see Florida containing them.
If Villanova tries to play Florida's game, then they are screwed. They did that against Boston College in the first half and that didn't exactly work out(didn't have a lead the entire half). Florida will pound the ball to Noah and Horford every chance they get, because one of them will likely have a guard on them. I'm going with my gut and taking the Gators to get it done today. I see Taureen Green will bring his 'A' game today on both sides of the ball and Corey Brewer will shut Allen Ray down. Gators- 65 'Nova- 60
Florida's frontcourt is definitely weaker than BC's. I really hope Villanova and Jay Wright have figured out what they have to do early on to get these big teams to play THEIR way. Villanova by a close margin
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">Every team in the NCAA will have an advantage over Villanova at the froncourt, it's been like that al year forthe Wildcats. That realy doesn't matter though. Boston College has a better frontcourt than Florida, but Villanova's guards are just too much to handle. I can't see Florida containing them.</div> Exactly my sentiments. The media covering this game acts as if this is the first time Villanova has played a team with a good frontcourt. I'll take Villanova by the score of 78-68.
I can't predict the Gator game, because my heart says win, but my mind says loss. I do think the whole "4 guards are going to completely kill the Gators" isn't true. Brewer can guard Foye(co-dpoy of the SEC with Tyrus Thomas) and Lee Humphrey is a very underrated defender. He's not as athletic as the others, but he does a good job of containing players. He will guard Allan Ray.(I expect him to have 15-20 pts and Foye 15-20), but as long Nardi/Lowry/Sheridan and their other bigs don't have a breakout game and either Foye or Ray doesn't have a huge game, I think we take it. If Horford/Brewer don't commit stupid sophmore fouls, then I think we win. They love to press, but is there a better way to beat the press than with a 6'11 and 6'9 bigs with good court awareness and the ability to bring the ball up? If they force us to pass to Brewer, then the press will work. I honestly expect us to go to a 2-3 zone with 3 bigs downlow(with Richard/Moss coming off of the bench). When we have gone to this zone, it has worked very effectively, because you can't really drive in on our monster wall of 6'8-6'11 guys and that will force them to take 3's(just gotta hope they aren't hitting). Well no matter the result, we will be one of the last 5 teams standing and if you told me at the beginning of the year that we'd be one of the last 5, then I woulda laughed in your face. It shows how good of a coach Donovan is from losing our 3 best players last year and this was supposed to be a down year and we get our first ever 30 win season, our first Elite 8 since 2000, our 2nd ever conference title and our best ever start(17-0) with a bunch of sophmores. Oh yeah, and I get so pissed off when they can't pronounce our best player and our coaches name. It's Jo a KIM, not Jo a KEEM or any other variation. I'ts not hard to pronounce. Also how do you misprounounce Donovan. They call him Dunovan. It just blows my mind that these guys are getting paid to misprounounce names. I am fully aware that it would be impossible to memorize everyone's names and stuff, but when he's your best player all the hype is on him, why can't you say his name right?
The Gators have to completely adjust from the GTown game. They go from playing a physical, methodical team to playing a 4 guard unit who attacks from the perimeter. 'Nova showed just how talented they are in the BC game. Despite an off-night by Allen Ray, the Wildcats still won and Ray stepped up and hit two huge 3 pointers. If both Foye and Ray are stroking the ball 'Nova won't be beat. Florida must be relentless in the post tonight. They have to limit 'Nova to one and done, and crash the offensive glass to get easy second chance opportunities. Florida has to protect the basketball, BC had 21 turnovers in their loss. Florida has to keep their turnover number around 10 or 12. Taureen Green cannot get caught up in trying to out play the 'Nova guards.
Imagine this Florida team with the likes of Matt Walsch and Anthony Roberson, wow. Those two are prolly killing themselves right now as they sit at home, without NBA contracts, knowing that they could have been part of this team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting gocelts34:</div><div class="quote_post">Imagine this Florida team with the likes of Matt Walsch and Anthony Roberson, wow. Those two are prolly killing themselves right now as they sit at home, without NBA contracts, knowing that they could have been part of this team.</div> We would be sitting at home watching and you would see Matt Walsh crying on the sideline last weekend. Losing them was addition by subtraction. Neither were team players and neither were good defenders.
That Noah dude with the pony tail killed Nova. Our whole game of driving in and dishing out didn't work too well tonight and we got outmuscled too. Why can't a Philadelphia team ever accomplish anything?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Diesel:</div><div class="quote_post">That Noah dude with the pony tail killed Nova. Our whole game of driving in and dishing out didn't work too well tonight and we got outmuscled too. Why can't a Philadelphia team ever accomplish anything? </div> Noah and Horford are beasts, combined for 33 pts 30 boards 7 blocks. (Noah had 21 15 and 5 and Horford had 12 15 and 2) I am so happy, i have the strange urge to go outside and burn something.
I seem to remember a poll that had Florida as clear winners as the most over-rated team. Someone here mentioned that the guy who voted for FLA over Duke was "just trying to be different". Are they still, or are y'all just being fickle? j
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Greazy9:</div><div class="quote_post">I seem to remember a poll that had Florida as clear winners as the most over-rated team. Someone here mentioned that the guy who voted for FLA over Duke was "just trying to be different". Are they still, or are y'all just being fickle? j</div> BURN!
