Tonight in Conf. Opener 7/4 Villanova -8 1/2 at home vs 5-6 Seton Hall
Two teams heading opposite directions. Villanova opened season losing 3 of 1st 5 but come in to conf, opener on 4 gm win streak including 8 pt home win vs #24 Cinc and 29-point win over #118 Temple. Seton Hall lost heartbreaker by three Sat. to #79 Rutgers on buzzer beater long 3. 63-66. Prior to that lost by 9 at home to #92 Oklahoma State and 3 gms back a bad 12-pt loss at home to #255 Monmouth. Sandwiched in was 1 hm 11 pt win against one of the 5 worst teams in BB, NJIT.
Stats broadly favor Villanova despite a stronger #71 schedule than Seton Hall's #102. Set Hl is woeful offensively, #356, averaging 60.4 ppg on 35.9% 3 pt, a terrible #342 (43.6%) from 2 pt range and an even worse FT shooting percentage of 59.4%. Villanova averages 79.1 ppg. They are #9 from 3 pt range (40.5%), #78 from 2 pt (55.3%) and a sparkling #14 from the FT line (79.9%). Seton Hall is very effective defensively, holding opponents to an average 60.4 ppg but Villanova is good as well at 66 ppg.
Villanova also protects the ball better, although not great. They commit 17.6 TOs per game but Seton Hall is #319 with 20.7 TOs a game. Villanova should win the rebounding battle as well. They are #17, grabbing 56.1% of available rebounds vs Seton Hall's 399 rank at 52.3%.
You have to defend home court in conference games and the first one is top priority -- Nova should do that comfortably.
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