PREMIUM
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(NCAAB) Villanova vs. Purdue,
11/14/2016 2:00 PM, Score: 79 - 76
Point Spread: -2.00 | -105.00 Villanova (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -2.00 | -105.00 Villanova (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: Monday night's Gavitt Tipoff Games battle between reigning NCAA champion and current No. 4 Villanova and No. 15 Purdue in Mackey Arena has the potential to be special. The Wildcats opened their season Friday night with an 88-48 victory against Lafayette, getting 17 points from Jalen Brunson, 16 from NCAA title game hero Kris Jenkins, 16 from sixth-man Mikal Bridges and 13 from preseason All-American Josh Hart (led ‘Nova in scoring LY at 15.3 PPG). PG Arcidianco is gone and so is the 6-11 Ochefu but Jay Wright's team is loaded. Purdue also opened Friday night with a 109-65 rout of McNeese State, getting 23 points, 20 rebounds and six assists from power forward Caleb Swanigan, 22 points from 7-2 center Isaac Haas, 19 points and 11 rebounds from wing Vince Edwards and 18 points from explosive freshman guard Carsen Edwards. Hammons (15.0 & 8.2) plus pa pair of veteran guards (Davis and Stephens) but don't feel sorry for Matt Painter's Boilermakers.
Villanova: The Wildcats finally put it all together last season, after a string of earlier than expected NCAA exits. Jenkins, whose three-pointer beat North Carolina in the 2016 title game, respects this big and strong Purdue team. "We have a team that is hungry and looking forward to our next game," Jenkins said. "Purdue is going to be a big challenge for us." Villanova's depth is impressive and the trio of Hart, Jenkins and Brunson make this a strong candidate to be back in the Final Four.
Purdue: Swanigan's 23 & 20 & 6 opening-game performance allowed him to joined Blake Griffin and Ben Simmons as the only Division I college players in the past 10 years to amass at least 20 points, 20 rebounds and five assists in a single game. Villanova head coach Jay Wright is well aware of Purdue's front line skill, which compiled 64 points and 37 rebounds in the opener. "We're going to find out Monday night," Wright said when asked about what to make of Swanigan, Haas and Vince Edwards. "We're not going to play anybody bigger. Literally, I think they are the biggest team in the country. (Rebounding with Purdue) is going to be our next test. We're going to find out."
The pick: I just don't trust this Purdue group against a quality team like Villanova. Purdue's last two teams were "built to win" in March but the Boilermakers lost their first NCAA tourney game each of the last two years, to Cincinnati in 2015 and to Arkansas-Little Rock last year. Purdue is 0-5 all-time against top-5 non-Big Ten opponents in Mackey Arena, most recently dropping a 76-60 decision to No. 4 Duke on Dec. 2, 2008. Make that 0-6 after this one, as I'll make Villanova an 8* play.
Villanova: The Wildcats finally put it all together last season, after a string of earlier than expected NCAA exits. Jenkins, whose three-pointer beat North Carolina in the 2016 title game, respects this big and strong Purdue team. "We have a team that is hungry and looking forward to our next game," Jenkins said. "Purdue is going to be a big challenge for us." Villanova's depth is impressive and the trio of Hart, Jenkins and Brunson make this a strong candidate to be back in the Final Four.
Purdue: Swanigan's 23 & 20 & 6 opening-game performance allowed him to joined Blake Griffin and Ben Simmons as the only Division I college players in the past 10 years to amass at least 20 points, 20 rebounds and five assists in a single game. Villanova head coach Jay Wright is well aware of Purdue's front line skill, which compiled 64 points and 37 rebounds in the opener. "We're going to find out Monday night," Wright said when asked about what to make of Swanigan, Haas and Vince Edwards. "We're not going to play anybody bigger. Literally, I think they are the biggest team in the country. (Rebounding with Purdue) is going to be our next test. We're going to find out."
The pick: I just don't trust this Purdue group against a quality team like Villanova. Purdue's last two teams were "built to win" in March but the Boilermakers lost their first NCAA tourney game each of the last two years, to Cincinnati in 2015 and to Arkansas-Little Rock last year. Purdue is 0-5 all-time against top-5 non-Big Ten opponents in Mackey Arena, most recently dropping a 76-60 decision to No. 4 Duke on Dec. 2, 2008. Make that 0-6 after this one, as I'll make Villanova an 8* play.
