Villanova - Final Four

[sciencejay]

Sorry I'm late to the party (was out of town at youth volleyball tourney all weekend), but Congratulations, Nova!

What impressed me the most was how Nova won--with stifling defense of a team that has very balanced scoring options. The first three rounds it seemed like the Cats shot great and just ran everyone out of the gym (is there a distance where Jenkins is not in range?). But Nova didn't shoot all that well against KU--especially from three--and yet they still did what they had to do to beat a very good team. That's the mark of a champion-able to win in many different ways. Wear that banner well, Nova. You guys are BEast champions and I hope soon to be national champions.

The rest of us from Omaha to Providence and everywhere in between better step up and compete at Nova's (and Xavier's) level. For all the complaints about ESPN and others not giving the BEast respect, we need to go out an earn it. Xavier's sweet sixteen last year and Nova's ff (and hopefully more) this year are proof that we can compete with the blue bloods, but we need more members to do like X/N and on a consistent basis. I'm firmly in the camp that not only is this possible, but probable.

Oh, and I hate Syracuse.

[stever20]

Ithe thing that impressed me was there was a time from 15:52 down to 7:56 where they took 7 out of 12 shots as 3's. They would only take 2 more 3's the rest of the half and that's when they took control.

So if you take that one 8 minute stretch out- they took 11 3's out of 40 shots.

[BEhomer]

I don't understand these experts. lot of people calling that play where Hart got tripped up was not a foul. Is it just me? The ball was in Hart's hands and the only reason he lost it is because Kansas player literally flew in with reckless abandon and took out his legs. and how was that not a free throw at the other end?

[TBC Alum]

I did not see the game live nor any of the replays of that play on the net. I did catch a rebroadcast of the game this morning.

Agreed Homie, that was a clear foul on the KU player. On the replay, Hart was crouched down ready to grab the ball rolling to him. The KU player came in and knocked him off his "fielding position" to the floor. It's unfortunate for the KU player because he was trying to make a hustle play. But it was clearly a foul.

[stever20]

I don't understand these experts. lot of people calling that play where Hart got tripped up was not a foul. Is it just me? The ball was in Hart's hands and the only reason he lost it is because Kansas player literally flew in with reckless abandon and took out his legs. and how was that not a free throw at the other end?

I totally thought it was a foul.... I've seen a lot say they thought it was a foul as well...

I'm not as sold on it being a player control foul. But end of the day, it didn't matter as Nova buried the Free Throws after that. Probably helped as they were able to burn off a second or two before the next foul took place....

[BEhomer]

I did not see the game live nor any of the replays of that play on the net. I did catch a rebroadcast of the game this morning.

Agreed Homie, that was a clear foul on the KU player. On the replay, Hart was crouched down ready to grab the ball rolling to him. The KU player came in and knocked him off his "fielding position" to the floor. It's unfortunate for the KU player because he was trying to make a hustle play. But it was clearly a foul.

good. I'm glad I'm not going insane. when I watched it live the commentators said refs should've let it go. and then ESPN fist take clowns were saying that the refs messed that up. only thing they messed up was not rewarding NOva the free throws. they actually did Kansas a HUGE favor by not putting Nova on the FT line.

[sju88grad]

In my bracket at work I picked Oklahoma to win the title....based on the possible remaining points, I would win the pool if Oklahoma wins the tourney....and you know what?....I DON'T CARE!!!.....I am so on the Villanova train!.....screw the money!!

[GoldenWarrior11]

If anyone needs a good laugh, check out the AAC board. They're top topic since Sunday is "Congrats, Vilanova", and it has spun into a "rich kids who aren't good enough for Ivies, but insist on overpaying for education - and wouldn't be caught dead at a state supported school" discussion. Just when I think the level of jealously, inferiority and obsession from a number of AAC fans have reached a new low, I am continually surprised at how naive and dull some of their "fans" are.

Biggest difference between the Big East and AAC? BE schools genuinely care and root for conference brethren. AAC schools would sellout each other in a heartbeat if it meant receiving an invitation into a better conference. Where we support one another, even of times of struggle, they are quick to turn on one another when things go bad.

[whiteandblue77]

Not sure if anyone else noticed how annoying the memorials after every TV timeout, which seemed to come about every 25 seconds, during the OU-Nova game in Pearl Harbor was?

I thought it was extremely distracting just to watch, let alone play during. It was a kinda bizarre with all these 110-year old guys trying to stand up and get ovations... look, I know they are heroes and all and I'm not not supporting that, it was just a really distracting thing for a basketball game with very young players... anybody else think that was a factor in the game that won't be there? Also Isaiah Cousins went crazy from three, as well as Buddy, and when Nova got down big the game delays-distractions might be more annoying for the team in a hole.... not sure if that was ever discussed? Also, Nova will surely be outnumbered fan-wise in Houston, but they will still have a bigger crowd support than in that airplane hangar... just thinking outloud

[MackNova]

Not sure if anyone else noticed how annoying the memorials after every TV timeout, which seemed to come about every 25 seconds, during the OU-Nova game in Pearl Harbor was?

I thought it was extremely distracting just to watch, let alone play during. It was a kinda bizarre with all these 110-year old guys trying to stand up and get ovations... look, I know they are heroes and all and I'm not not supporting that, it was just a really distracting thing for a basketball game with very young players... anybody else think that was a factor in the game that won't be there? Also Isaiah Cousins went crazy from three, as well as Buddy, and when Nova got down big the game delays-distractions might be more annoying for the team in a hole.... not sure if that was ever discussed? Also, Nova will surely be outnumbered fan-wise in Houston, but they will still have a bigger crowd support than in that airplane hangar... just thinking outloud

I won't call it annoying, but it easily could have been a distraction. It was a game many time zones away where literally every time before play would start, the players would stand and clap for an aging veteran. Villanova plays with an edge when it plays well, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was hard to maintain that aggression due to the logistics of the game.