Alabama-Villinova Preview and Predictions

CajunCrimson

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We often play UP to our competition. If Hall is Healthy -- and Dazon doesn't get 4 fouls in 12 seconds, and Key can actually catch a break on fouls called as well, we have a shot. I have a feeling we will be a 2am stuffed burrito from Taco Bell....... we won't go down easy, we will stay around for a while, and hopefully we come out on fire......in the end
 

CajunCrimson

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www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2018/03/what_you_need_to_know_about_vi.html

Get to know the Wildcats, No. 2 in the final AP poll, entering this one.
-- Villanova (31-4) was No. 1 in the AP poll for eight weeks this season after a No. 6 preseason ranking.
-- Alabama's next opponent is No. 3 in field goal percentage at 50.7 and No. 3 in 3-pointers per game with 11.5.
-- The national scoring leader is ... Villanova. It averages 87.1 points a game.
-- The 100-point mark was crossed four times this season with a high of 113 against Nicholls State.
-- Average margin of victory for Villanova is 16.5 points. That's also No. 3 nationally.
-- Turnovers are an issue for Alabama but not the Wildcats. Their +2.7 margin is No. 37.
-- The Wildcats were 10-3 in Quadrant 1 games including two wins over No. 3 Xavier.
-- The worst loss of the season came against No. 96 St. John's, 79-75 on Feb. 7.
-- Alabama and Villanova shared one common opponent: Tennessee. Both teams beat the Vols. The Wildcats had an 85-76 win over Tennessee in November.
-- The Wildcats have six players averaging double figures. Jalen Brunson leads the way with 19.3 points a game, followed by Mikal Bridges' 17.9.
 

JustNeedMe81

Hall of Fame
Sep 30, 2011
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I just want the game to be close. That's all I want from our team. To show that we can compete hard with the best. We have the resume to show that. We almost beat Minnesota with 3 or 4 players.... If we can find the edge we had earlier in the season, We can make it a game.

We just need Petty to carry his game over to tomorrow's game and we have an opportunity to beat Nova. We have to hope that Nova shot goes cold all night long, and get them in foul trouble early in the game. Key/Ingram just need to be solid and If we can beat them... we have a chance to make a deep run.
 

CoolBreeze

Hall of Fame
Sep 18, 2002
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I like our chances but really no expectations here. We have nothing to lose while Nova certainly has all the pressure. If our Jeckel team comes out and not the Hyde then it will be an awesome game.
 

Rama Jama

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Jan 4, 2011
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I just looked at their roster and we should matchup pretty well. They are not a real big team and the big line up Coach Johnson played late against Va Tech could do some damage. Galin smith has played well and is doing a decent job on the boards and scoring as well. Our defense was not great against Tech, but they also shot lights out in the first half which evened out in the 2nd half. We can't afford to do this against Nova. We have to defend the 3 as again they live and die by the 3. They are really a slightly bigger Auburn team. The like to run and that will suit us just fine. We have to be solid with our ball handling and not have a bunch of unforced turnovers. Nova does not turn it over very much so we'll need to trap their guards if we want run outs off of turnovers in transition.

All in all, I don't think this is what the pundits are calling it, a blowout for Nova. We have enough talent to win if we play like we did last night offensively, and play sound defense. We also need home Petty to show up again.
 
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TIDE-HSV

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Same announcers as last night, which stinks because Reggie Miller was horrible.
I got really tired of Miller explaining how every foul called on VT was really a foul on Bama. He made no attempt at sounding unbiased. I'm sure he'll find a lot to gush over with 'Nova...
 

CajunCrimson

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https://www.vuhoops.com/2018-ncaa-t...gs-to-watch-for-ncaa-tournament-march-madness

A view from the opposing team....

A Great Offense vs A Good Defense
The top-seeded Cats came into the tournament hot as ever, winning the Big East tournament in emphatic fashion. Their success has come largely from having the most efficient scoring offense in the country, averaging 1.19 points per possession. However, Alabama ranks 81st in defensive efficiency, meaning that Villanova faces a tough road offensively. Bama also ranks 32nd in opponent true shooting percentage, not great news for a team who’s used to a 62.3 TS%. This is going to be a test for Villanova so, unfortunately, we might see them struggle to sink shots.

But here’s the good news: Villanova ranks 81st in the nation in total rebounding percentage, while Alabama is all the way down the list at 187. This shows that controlling the glass shouldn’t be an issue as it has been known to be running their 4-out 1-in system. Worst case scenario: Villanova has an even battle on the boards, which isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the world.
 

CrimsonTheory

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Mar 26, 2012
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Nova is a tough team, so I figure that if Bama wants a chance to win, Sexton/Petty and Hall has to come to with their A games. To me this isn't an "or" thing, Bama needs all three in top form to give them a chance at the upset. Keep it close, and let the last minute of the game decide who wins.
 

rolltide_21

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Dec 9, 2007
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If we shoot the ball like we did last night, especially Petty, and don't turn the ball over we can put ourselves in a position to win. At one point last late in the second half, night we had more turnovers than baskets made. If we do that, Villanova will run us out of the gym. I do think we'll clean this up, and can win this game. We will need the same type of production from the bench too. However, Villanova's talent and tournament experience has to be accounted for. I look for us to keep it closer than the spread and them hitting their FTs down the stretch to pull away- Nova 78 Bama 71.
 

Mystical

All-American
Sep 28, 2009
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Villanova is a really really good team. This will be the best team we have faced all year. They are a talented, veteran team that plays hard. Virginia is the number on over all seed but Villanova was treated like the over all number one. I actually would have liked our chances against Virginia. I hope we win but I won't be screaming if we lose. If we win this will be one of the biggest upsets ever.
 

pjhBama

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Nov 3, 2017
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Nova is not very good defensively. It's easy to get into the lane on them. This plays in to our strength. Collin will be able to drive to the goal and dish to open guys. If we can just hit our open shots and not turn the ball over we will have a chance. We can't give them free/extra possessions.

The issue will be stopping them. They are very versatile when they have the ball. They are excellent shooters. We can't get into a high scoring match with them. We will lose that battle.

So with all that said, we have a chance as long as we hit our open shots and don't make many turnovers. This has the potential to setup like our elite 8 run in 2004. Not saying we will, just saying the similarities are there.
 

BamaInCummingGA#1

Scout Team
Jun 8, 2017
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I don't necessarily agree that we can't get into a high scoring game with them as we almost hung 90 last night. Can we do it again tomorrow? We can if we show up and play good ball. We cut out the turnovers and hit our open shots and play unselfish ball and we are capable of winning.
I'm already happy by our getting in and making it past the first round. If we pull an upset tomorrow then I will be extremely happy. This team has come a long way this season and we should be proud of them.
 

CajunCrimson

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I don't necessarily agree that we can't get into a high scoring game with them as we almost hung 90 last night. Can we do it again tomorrow? We can if we show up and play good ball. We cut out the turnovers and hit our open shots and play unselfish ball and we are capable of winning.
I'm already happy by our getting in and making it past the first round. If we pull an upset tomorrow then I will be extremely happy. This team has come a long way this season and we should be proud of them.
I watched the Providence Game..... they shouldn't have won that one --

They have an overaggressive 4 -- we just don't have that guy on our team this year. I wish we did. Someone who is a disrupter under the goal. Key could be -- but he plays too soft
 

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