PREMIUM
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(NCAAB) Villanova vs. Central Florida,
Point Spread: -15.50 | -110.00 Villanova (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -15.50 | -110.00 Villanova (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The No. 3-ranked Villanova Wildcats are 4-0 to open defense of the school's second-ever national championship and will attempt to win their fourth consecutive regular season tournament when they battle UCF in the championship game of the Gildan Charleston Classic Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. ET. Villanova defeated Western Michigan and Wake Forest to reach the final while 3-0 UCF knocked off Mississippi State and the College of Charleston.
Villanova: What will make the Wildcats very tough to deal with again this season is their depth. Preseason All-American Josh Hart (led ‘Nova in scoring LY at 15.3 PPG) is part of a senior class has that has registered an recorded 101-13 mark, along with the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis, 2014 Legends Classic and 2015 NIT Season Tipoff titles in consecutive years. He is leading the way again (20.3 PPG), joined by returning starters PG Brunson (13.0 & 3.8 APG) and 6-7 swingman Jenkins (12.8 & 4.3). The 6-7 Bridges was a sub last year but has averaged 12.5 & 5.5 after four games and the 6-7 Paschal, a Fordham transfer who averaged 15.9 & 5.5 two years ago for the Rams, has averaged 10.3 PPG. How deep is this team? Freshman guard Donte DiVincenzo made a case for increased playing time by scoring 12 points off the bench, hitting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in ‘Nova's rout of Wake forest.
Central Florida: Johnny Hawkins was booted at Stanford, as two NIT titles were not what the Cardinal were looking for when he was hired. He's landed in Orlando and after consecutive seasons of 13, 12 and 12 wins, Knights fans are quite happy with the team's 3-0 start. UCF is not just 3-0, as the Knights have posted three double-digit victories. UCF raised some eyebrows with an 86-61 victory against SEC member Mississippi State in the tournament opener Thursday, getting 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks from 7-6 center Fall in just 27 minutes of play. The Knights held the Bulldogs to 32.3 percent from the floor, then came back with a similar defensive effort in their semifinal victory Friday, holding tournament host Charleston to 26.8 shooting. The team's lineup is fairly small other than Fall (17.0 & 12.3), with the other double digits scorers being sophomore PG Taylor (17.3-5.3-5.3) and senior guards Efianayi (15.0 & 7.3) and Williams (13.3 & 4.3).
The pick: The last time the Knights played a defending national champion came back on Nov. 25, 2011 when they defeated UConn 68-63 in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament. Is it déjà vu. I think not! Jay Wright over Johnny Dawkins is a "no contest!" Villanova is an 8* play.
Villanova: What will make the Wildcats very tough to deal with again this season is their depth. Preseason All-American Josh Hart (led ‘Nova in scoring LY at 15.3 PPG) is part of a senior class has that has registered an recorded 101-13 mark, along with the 2013 Battle 4 Atlantis, 2014 Legends Classic and 2015 NIT Season Tipoff titles in consecutive years. He is leading the way again (20.3 PPG), joined by returning starters PG Brunson (13.0 & 3.8 APG) and 6-7 swingman Jenkins (12.8 & 4.3). The 6-7 Bridges was a sub last year but has averaged 12.5 & 5.5 after four games and the 6-7 Paschal, a Fordham transfer who averaged 15.9 & 5.5 two years ago for the Rams, has averaged 10.3 PPG. How deep is this team? Freshman guard Donte DiVincenzo made a case for increased playing time by scoring 12 points off the bench, hitting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc in ‘Nova's rout of Wake forest.
Central Florida: Johnny Hawkins was booted at Stanford, as two NIT titles were not what the Cardinal were looking for when he was hired. He's landed in Orlando and after consecutive seasons of 13, 12 and 12 wins, Knights fans are quite happy with the team's 3-0 start. UCF is not just 3-0, as the Knights have posted three double-digit victories. UCF raised some eyebrows with an 86-61 victory against SEC member Mississippi State in the tournament opener Thursday, getting 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks from 7-6 center Fall in just 27 minutes of play. The Knights held the Bulldogs to 32.3 percent from the floor, then came back with a similar defensive effort in their semifinal victory Friday, holding tournament host Charleston to 26.8 shooting. The team's lineup is fairly small other than Fall (17.0 & 12.3), with the other double digits scorers being sophomore PG Taylor (17.3-5.3-5.3) and senior guards Efianayi (15.0 & 7.3) and Williams (13.3 & 4.3).
The pick: The last time the Knights played a defending national champion came back on Nov. 25, 2011 when they defeated UConn 68-63 in the semifinals of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament. Is it déjà vu. I think not! Jay Wright over Johnny Dawkins is a "no contest!" Villanova is an 8* play.
