The set-up: The East Regional final will feature the top-seeded 33-4 Villanova Wildcats against the 27-9 and third-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders. Villanova seems determined to shoot its way to the Final Four, as the Wildcats connected on 13-of-24 from three-point range in Friday's 90-78-point win over No. 5 West Virginia. 'Nova us now making 47.8 percent from the arc in its NCAA wins and has drained 432 three-pointers on the season (just 10 shy of the single-season record held by VMI back in the 2006-07 season),.In contrast, Texas Tech has made just 15 threes and is shooting only 31.3 percent from long range in this year's tourney. However, the Red Raiders have yet to allow more than 66 points in any of their three wins, holding their opponents to 63.7 PPG on a modest 41.1 percent from the floor, including only 33.3% on threes.
Texas Tech: The Red Raiders' Keenan Evans (leading scorer at 17.7 PPG) had a combined 45 points in the team's first two wins but the senior guard was only 3 of 8 from the floor against Purdue, although he still scored 16 points to lead the team. Finally healthy, 6-8 senior Zach Smith (only 6.4 & 3.8 on the season) added 14 points off the bench and is shooting 15-of-19 over his last four games. 6-5 freshman Zhaire Smith (11.4 & 4.9) has registered double-digit points in all three Big Dance contests to average 13.7 (plus 7.3 RPG) in the tourney. Fellow freshman Culver (11.2 & 4.9). had just two points but senior Justin Gray, averaging just 5.1 PPG on the season, surprised with 12 points against Purdue, matching his second-highest total of the season.

Villanova: The Wildcats are seeking their second national title in the last three years and their third all-time..They survived a slug-fest against former Big East opponent West Virginia on Friday, despite 16 TOs vs "Press Virginia." Jalen Brunson (19.3 & 4.6 APG) led with 27 points and 6-9 freshman Omari Spellman (10.8 & 7.9) added 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and two steals. Brunson has made at least half his shots in six of the last seven games, while the 6-6 Mikal Bridges (18.0 & 5.4) has done so in 11 of his last 12 games. Senior guard Phil Booth (10.5), one of the stars from Villanova's national championship game victory two years ago, is just 2-of-11 from the floor over the last two games and 5-of-20 over the last four contests (a problem?)..

The pick: Villanova is looking for its second trip to the Final Four in three years, while Texas Tech is playing in the Elite Eight for the first time in school history, As pointed about above, this is a battle of opposing views on how the game is played. Texas Tech freshman Jarrett Culver leads Texas Tech with 54 three-pointers and by comparison, Villanova's Booth has 52 three-pointers to rank fifth on the Wildcats in made threes. I won't buck Villanova but the Texas Tech D is capable of slowing down Jay Wright's nation's-best 87.0 PPG offense (six double digit scorers). However, Tech's Chris Beard is proving quickly he's one of the nation's upcoming coaching stars. Make the Under a 10* play.