Villanova game thread

I've had enough Jordan drama talk. Let's talk some hoops.  We need Obekpa  to stay out of foul trouble. I think  they will dump the ball in to Pinkston and Ochefu often and early, try to get Obekpa on the bench early.  Pointer needs to be  active on the glass and Branch needs to penetrate and rack up some assists.  Harrison needs to be Harrison

I've had enough Jordan drama talk. Let's talk some hoops.  We need Obekpa  to stay out of foul trouble. I think  they will dump the ball in to Pinkston and Ochefu often and early, try to get Obekpa on the bench early.  Pointer needs to be  active on the glass and Branch needs to penetrate and rack up some assists.  Harrison needs to be Harrison

I agree on Nova dumping low on CO. I think it will backfire if CO is patient.  Then Nove will go back out to their perimeter.

I'm hoping our length and pursuit at the arc challenges a lot of Nova 3s.  I believe Nova will sag on Branch, challenging him to shoot so they can help on DLo and Dom more.

Maybe Lavin will throw a wrench into Novas game plan. Bring Obekpa off the bench, let jones, big Joey  or Vanilla ice bang their bigs for first 3 mins

Do you think tonight's attendance will be more or less than 10k? this game usually draws but not so sure this year because of the start time.

Good , quick start is imperative.   This team is not built for frantic comebacks IMO.

The offense has to be better, and Obekpa needs to stay out of foul trouble.
Make the extra pass tonight guys!

I'm looking for Branch to penetrate more, and for us to use Obekpa in the post on offense.   

Do you think tonight's attendance will be more or less than 10k? this game usually draws but not so sure this year because of the start time.

Less. But hopefully a good crowd! A win would be nice

I'm looking for Branch to penetrate more, and for us to use Obekpa in the post on offense.   

This is not going to happen. Branch doesn't penetrate and Obekpa doesn't get the ball in the post.
It would be nice see, but we need to start accepting reality.

Quote from: desco80 on January 06, 2015, 04:53:26 PM

I'm looking for Branch to penetrate more, and for us to use Obekpa in the post on offense.   

This is not going to happen. Branch doesn't penetrate and Obekpa doesn't get the ball in the post.
It would be nice see, but we need to start accepting reality.

IMO, Jordan is the only guard that passes into the post.

Do you think tonight's attendance will be more or less than 10k? this game usually draws but not so sure this year because of the start time.

I think close to 10.  A lot of Nova alumn in the area

Maybe Lavin will throw a wrench into Novas game plan. Bring Obekpa off the bench, let jones, big Joey  or Vanilla ice bang their bigs for first 3 mins

That's the kind of strategy that we'd be all over Lavin for, but at some point, Delarosa will be there for defense. It's inevitable. I haven't seen enough of him to know if he's capable of playing at all at this level. We know his limitations, but he has shown a little promise on d. Pinkston and Ochefu are polished upperclassman who on paper, would eat him alive. We know we're need him. Jones doesn't guard anyone so he wouldn't be able to foul anyone. Alibegovic is lost on d. I'd rather go small and try to run them out of the building, but I still expect to see Joey D for 10-15 minutes tonight.

And I think we're asking for a Albert Richardson on Elton Brand type of defensive effort tonight. I remember that game like it was yesterday. Richardson didn't leave his feet, and his arms were ready to change the direction of shots. It doesn't show up in the box score, but if Delarosa can contribute comparably, we can win.

The offense has to be better, and Obekpa needs to stay out of foul trouble.
Make the extra pass tonight guys!

I'm looking for Branch to penetrate more, and for us to use Obekpa in the post on offense.   

We've been looking for him to penetrate more since he got here. He got in the lane against Niagara at will, but they weren't guarding him. Against Butler and the Hall he was gun shy.

Good , quick start is imperative.   This team is not built for frantic comebacks IMO.

I don't think we ever are, but we did it against Minnesota and St.Mary's. Nova is deeper and more talented than those teams this year. We can't get into a hole.

Ochefu worries me.  Has been playing well and will go right at Chris.  He needs to stay out of foul trouble and we need to put a body on Pinkston to stop easy put backs.  With any luck Jim Burr will not be doing the game.

Quote from: Marco Baldi on January 06, 2015, 03:08:14 PM

Maybe Lavin will throw a wrench into Novas game plan. Bring Obekpa off the bench, let jones, big Joey  or Vanilla ice bang their bigs for first 3 mins

That's the kind of strategy that we'd be all over Lavin for, but at some point, Delarosa will be there for defense. It's inevitable. I haven't seen enough of him to know if he's capable of playing at all at this level. We know his limitations, but he has shown a little promise on d. Pinkston and Ochefu are polished upperclassman who on paper, would eat him alive. We know we're need him. Jones doesn't guard anyone so he wouldn't be able to foul anyone. Alibegovic is lost on d. I'd rather go small and try to run them out of the building, but I still expect to see Joey D for 10-15 minutes tonight.

And I think we're asking for a Albert Richardson on Elton Brand type of defensive effort tonight. I remember that game like it was yesterday. Richardson didn't leave his feet, and his arms were ready to change the direction of shots. It doesn't show up in the box score, but if Delarosa can contribute comparably, we can win.

I think of it this  way, we have Opekpa for the first 3 mins, or for the rest of the half

Quote from: Poison on January 06, 2015, 06:01:39 PM

Quote from: Marco Baldi on January 06, 2015, 03:08:14 PM

Maybe Lavin will throw a wrench into Novas game plan. Bring Obekpa off the bench, let jones, big Joey  or Vanilla ice bang their bigs for first 3 mins

That's the kind of strategy that we'd be all over Lavin for, but at some point, Delarosa will be there for defense. It's inevitable. I haven't seen enough of him to know if he's capable of playing at all at this level. We know his limitations, but he has shown a little promise on d. Pinkston and Ochefu are polished upperclassman who on paper, would eat him alive. We know we're need him. Jones doesn't guard anyone so he wouldn't be able to foul anyone. Alibegovic is lost on d. I'd rather go small and try to run them out of the building, but I still expect to see Joey D for 10-15 minutes tonight.

And I think we're asking for a Albert Richardson on Elton Brand type of defensive effort tonight. I remember that game like it was yesterday. Richardson didn't leave his feet, and his arms were ready to change the direction of shots. It doesn't show up in the box score, but if Delarosa can contribute comparably, we can win.

I think of it this  way, we have Opekpa for the first 3 mins, or for the rest of the half

Do you think he can be aggressive, and change/block some shots and not foul? I say 60/40 on being able to do it.

Quote from: Marco Baldi on January 06, 2015, 06:10:11 PM

Quote from: Poison on January 06, 2015, 06:01:39 PM

Quote from: Marco Baldi on January 06, 2015, 03:08:14 PM

Maybe Lavin will throw a wrench into Novas game plan. Bring Obekpa off the bench, let jones, big Joey  or Vanilla ice bang their bigs for first 3 mins

That's the kind of strategy that we'd be all over Lavin for, but at some point, Delarosa will be there for defense. It's inevitable. I haven't seen enough of him to know if he's capable of playing at all at this level. We know his limitations, but he has shown a little promise on d. Pinkston and Ochefu are polished upperclassman who on paper, would eat him alive. We know we're need him. Jones doesn't guard anyone so he wouldn't be able to foul anyone. Alibegovic is lost on d. I'd rather go small and try to run them out of the building, but I still expect to see Joey D for 10-15 minutes tonight.

And I think we're asking for a Albert Richardson on Elton Brand type of defensive effort tonight. I remember that game like it was yesterday. Richardson didn't leave his feet, and his arms were ready to change the direction of shots. It doesn't show up in the box score, but if Delarosa can contribute comparably, we can win.

I think of it this  way, we have Opekpa for the first 3 mins, or for the rest of the half

Do you think he can be aggressive, and change/block some shots and not foul? I say 60/40 on being able to do it.

No. I don't think he has shown that he can  do that yet. Jay Wright knows this. I know guys here will hate the reference, but Cluess has brought Laury off the bench in the past for the same reason.

Nova is great at drawing fouls, getting to bonus early & usually money at the line. We can't reach or commit silly fouls or we will be into our thin bench sooner than later.

We play well we should win. We don't we lose. This is not the 92 Duke team

CO and fouls the key.....Guard need to be up tight, contest passes inside because CO an DOM have to overplay....let them beat us over the top if they can....early turnovers will hopefully get the game off to a good start