Carolina-Villanova

Wouldnt be the first time I did that.

 

Awww, does Hitler need you to protect him now?

 

Both Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson will attend the Final Four.

 

I'm starting to get nervous. Maybe a beer will help.

 

Nova reminds me of a more athletic version of Duke. I hope the Heels remember all the bullshit press that got predicting winning and come out inspired

 

From ESPN Insider:
Key Matchup: Dante Cunningham versus UNC front line
One of the most improved players in the country, Cunningham is the Wildcats' low-post threat and has the quickness around the basket to outmaneuver the bigger UNC post players off the dribble from 10 feet and in. And with a David West-type range that stretches to 17 feet, he should be able to stretch the Tar Heels' interior defense as well.

Key Stat: Villanova's points from the free throw line
Villanova's inside offense, when not coming from Cunningham, is manufactured by great dribble penetration by its guards and their ability to pass off or get themselves to the free throw line, where they shoot 75 percent. In fact, Corey Fisher and Scottie Reynolds have gotten to the line 358 times this season and, in effect, are the low-post offense for Jay Wright. Just about a fourth of Nova's points come via the free throw line.

What To Watch For: Villanova's switching man-to-man defense
Jay Wright learned to play equal-sized players during the "four guard" era of Randy Foye, Allan Ray, Mike Nardi and Kyle Lowry and they were tough enough to make it work. Now, Wright has a collection of tough-minded, strong, competitive guys in the 6-foot-5 to 6-foot-7 range who can each guard three or four positions on the floor. That is an excellent defensive weapon. A good switching team can negate the momentary confusion of a pick-and-roll defense, can negate all dribble handoffs and can switch out and neutralize all screening plays for jump shooters. Reggie Redding, Dwayne Anderson, Shane Clark and Corey Stokes can guard every perimeter position, if necessary, and do it effectively.

Coaching Edge: Jay Wright's motivational ability
During the 2004-2005 season, in the midst of a four-game Big East losing streak, Villanova took on undefeated and No. 1 Kansas at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. I was in town to cover the game and went to the Wildcats' practice the day before. Expecting a lot of long faces, I was stunned to see an upbeat group of players and coaches who practiced as if they, not Kansas, were the best team in the country. The Cats crushed the Jayhawks the next day and since that game, Nova is 117-40.

Here's the point. Through thick and thin, Wright's players love him and would jump off the Ben Franklin Bridge if he told them it would win them some games. They will play like their life depends on it against Carolina and it will be mainly because of what their coach has instilled in them.

X factor: Corey Fisher
The Wildcats are a team, not of stars, but of "X factors" -- and the main one may be Fisher. The Big East Sixth Man of the Year can break any defense down with his ability to penetrate the paint off the dribble. In fact, the former New York City playground legend is called "Fisher-Price" for his ability to toy with defenders in the city's various summer leagues. If he can break down North Carolina's defense, it will enhance Villanova's chances of winning this game.


North Carolina Tar Heels outlook



Key Matchup: Ty Lawson versus Villanova's guards
The Wildcats' guards are certainly feisty but can they stop or even slow down ACC Player of the Year Ty Lawson? When healthy, Lawson orchestrates the Tar Heels' transition game as well as any player since the great Phil Ford in the 1970s. Lawson is shooting an ungodly 57 percent inside the arc and a blistering 49 percent outside it. And his 3.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio is outstanding. If he plays well and his right toe holds up, Villanova's chances of winning are greatly diminished.

Key Stat: UNC's offensive rebounding rate
The Tar Heels grab their own misses on nearly 40 percent of their possessions. That could be an enormous advantage against the smaller Villanova front line. And while Tyler Hansbrough is not the offensive rebounder that Pitt's DeJuan Blair is, he's good enough to be the NCAA's all-time leader in free throws made. And remember, when Hansbrough is keyed on by the Wildcats' D, it will be Deon Thompson and Ed Davis lurking on the back side ready to clean up his missed shots.



Will UNC's Ed Davis be a roadblock for Villanova's penetration?
What to Watch For: Ed Davis' presence on D.
The 6-foot-9 freshman from Richmond, Va., is the next Tar Heels star inside, but that will have to wait until next season. In the meantime, unlike Hansbrough and Thompson, Davis has already proved himself to be a big weapon in North Carolina's ability to defend the rim against the driving guards, which will be key against Nova. In fact, Davis has had 20 multiple-block games this season and is blocking one shot for every 12 Tar Heels defensive possessions

Coaching Edge: Roy's seven Final Fours.
There is something to be said for the experience of preparing for a Final Four and all of the distractions that come with it. This will be Roy Williams' third trip as coach at North Carolina after taking Kansas to four Final Fours, so he knows what to expect. Just as importantly, many of his key players have the experience from last year's Final Four to draw from as well.

X factor: Danny Green
Not only has Green had terrific offensive numbers all season, averaging 13.3 points on 42 percent shooting from the 3-point line, he has also become a member of the ACC All-Defensive team and UNC's lockdown perimeter defender in the absence of the injured Marcus Ginyard.

It's hard to believe Green is the only Tar Heel to ever have 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 blocks and 100 steals in his career. It speaks to his versatility and ability to make himself valuable on a team that has two legitimate All-Americans on it.

Final Call: Villanova coach Jay Wright called North Carolina a "complete team," referencing the Heels' ability to beat you in so many ways, both offensively and defensively. Carolina possesses the ability to score in the fast break and then transition to half-court offense, where it can pound you inside or bury the perimeter jump shot. Trying to stop the Heels is like plugging your fingers into a dike. There are usually going to be defensive leaks.

It's important to concentrate on getting the defense set quickly and limiting UNC's fast-break points. The Wildcats are capable of doing that. Their defensive versatility will allow them to guard North Carolina's jump shooters as well. It's how they match up with Hansbrough inside and on the defensive glass that will determine if they can win.

North Carolina, on the other hand, must contain dribble penetration and get the crafty Villanova guards out of the lane. The Tar Heels must also have an answer for the versatility of Cunningham and his ability to play away from the basket. And finally, UNC must contend with the mental toughness of a Nova club that has come through the Big East meat grinder with soaring confidence.

It's going to be a closer game than many think, but North Carolina should prevail. Don't be surprised if the Tar Heels win it from the foul line late in the game.

 

ESPN = Nostradamus...

 

Great job, Heels. A lot of the 'Nova fans left with 3 minutes left yet. They gave up even though their team never did. Good win. We need to play better against Michigan State.
On a side note - Stephen Curry is on our hallway - he was getting in with 2 pizzas and we shared an elevator. I should have asked him if his brother was Duke's savior. LOL.

 

Who says the Heels play bad perimeter defense? See you on Franklin street

 

That's going to be the case for the majority of teams.