<div align="center"> <font color=""DarkRed"">Oklahoma Sooners</font> @ <font color=""Navy"">Villanova Wildcats</font> Date? December 3, 2005 When? 5:00 PM EST Where? ESPN</div> <u><font color=""DarkSlateBlue""><font size=""2"">The Starters</font></font></u> <font color=""DarkRed"">Oklahoma</font> <div align="center"> <font face=""Century Gothic""><font size=""2""><font color=""darkred"">(Chris Walker, Terrell Everett, David Godbold, Taj Gray, Kevin Bookout)</font></font></font></div> Oklahoma is led by three seniors in the starting lineup in Taj Gray, Terrell Everett, and Kevin Bookout. The main goal for the Sooners should be to pound the ball inside to Bookout and Gray as much as possible. After Curtis Sumpter went down for Villanova, there are questions about their low post play. Get to Gray and Bookout early and often but they don't want to forget about their great wing player in Terrell Everett. He is a good long-range shooter, a terrific defender, and he's unselfish, averaging a smooth 15 a game for this Sooner team. His main goal should be to contain Allen Ray but don't be surprised if Everett drops in 20 himself. <font color=""Navy"">Villanova</font> <div align="center"></div> <font size=""2""><div align="center"><font color=""Navy""><font face=""Century Gothic"">(Kyle Lowery, Mike Nardi, Allan Ray, Randy Foye, Jason Fraser)</font></font></div></font> It's going to be touch for Villanova to pull this one out going with their usual (after Sumpter's injury) four guard set. Nova should be counting on their guards, Lowery and Nardi, to push the ball up the court as much as possible and not let Oklahoma get into a set defense. Expect Villanova to lauch the three balls this game and try to start some kind of uptempo game. <u><font size=""2"">Prediction!</font></u> Even though it's going to be touch for Villanova to win with four guards in the game I'm going to say they'll pull this one out. Allen Ray, Kyle Loery, and Randy Foye are too much for the Oklahoma backcourt to handle and I wouldn't be shocked if Allen Ray attempted more than 15 threes. I'm going to go 81-74 Nova, in one that really was never close.
Nice preview. I haven't had a chance to watch either team yet, but I've been following the boxscore for Allan Ray, he's been on fire this season. Game 1 - 16 points / 3 treys Game 2 - 26 points / 8 treys Game 3 - 21 points / 3 treys His confidence from playing for the US team in the summer has carried over this season. This is a big for both schools, and it's nice to see such a marquee game so early in the season. I give the slight edge to Nova, because of the homecourt advantage. Random thought: It would only be fitting if the Sonics drafted him so he can play with Ray Allen.
Villanova pulled it out 85-74. Randy Foye had a career high 32 pts and Allan Ray also added 21. I was impressed with how Villanova rebounded the ball tonight; their small lineup had 35 rebounds, which is what Oklahoma had as well. I still think this Oklahoma team is gonna be a force to be reckon with in the Big 12 and has a very good shot at getting to the Final Four. They have arguably one of the most talent frontcourts with Gray and Bookout, and a heck of a guard in Everett. Should be a fun team to watch nethertheless.
