Nova Report
The 8-5 Villanova Wildcats march into fabled Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to take on 7-6 Butler. Tip is 6:30 eastern On FS1. Nova is -2.5/146.
Butler has lost 5 in a row but 4 of these losses were to top 10 teams (UCONN, Houston, Marquette, Wisconsin). Last out, they gave UCONN all they could handle in a 4 point loss. They shoot The 3 well, hit foul shots and defend reasonably well. They just have had a tough schedule lately. For Nova, they lost to Creighton last out by 6 as they just couldn’t handle 7’1” Kalkbrenner. Of course, Butler has Andre Screen (7’1”) who gave UCONN fits.
Butler plays Telfort (15.5 ppg, 43% from 3), Pat McCaffrey (13.2 ppg, 46% from 3), Pierre Brooks (15.0 ppg, 39% from 3), Andre Screen (6.9 ppg) and Kolby King (5.8 ppg, 43% from 3). Nova will trot out Dixon (25.8 ppg…leading scorer in the country) and a supporting cast of Longino 9 ppg, Poplar 13 ppg, Brickus 11 ppg and Perkins 8 ppg. Overall, the Cats are a top 20 club from 3.
My belief is we’ll see both clubs bombing from deep. As this is truly a 50/50 game, it may come down to the last possession. My pick is Over 146.
Nova Pick: Over 146
Nova Pick Record: 6-7