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The Big East regular season champion Villanova Wildcats will square off with the Big South tournament champion UNC Asheville Bulldogs in South Region action on Friday. The 29-5 Wildcats will be looking to get past the opening weekend of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009 while the 22-11 Bulldogs return to the tournament after a three-year hiatus.
What To Watch For
The Wildcats have eight players who average at least 17.8 minutes per game as they rely on a rotation more than most college teams. Only Josh Hart and Ryan Arcidiacono average north of 30 minutes per game for head coach Jay Wright.
Hart is the team’s leading scorer at 15.5 points per gam, and he’s second on the team behind Daniel Ochefu in rebounding at 6.9 per contest. Kris Jenkins and Arcidiacono are the only other two players to average double figures for Villanova, as the team’s offensive philosophy is to share the ball and find the open man. The Wildcats are No. 31 in the nation as they average 16.1 assists per game
The Bulldogs are a lot like the Wildcats as they are a defensive-minded team that spreads the wealth around on offense. Five different players average double figures for UNC Asheville, with Dylan Smith leading the way at 13.5 points per game. Forward Dwayne Sutton is second in scoring at 12 points per game and leads the team in rebounding with 7.8 per.
Anytime Villanova plays in the NCAA tournament, they have to be on upset alert. As great as the Wildcats have been under Jay Wright, they’ve had this knack for getting upset early in the tournament. With so many juniors and seniors on the roster, I expect this year’s team to be different. Don’t be surprised if the Wildcats come out with a purpose against UNC Asheville and win big.
Prediction: Villanova 89, UNC Asheville 66
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