GoBigOrGoHome
01-29-2007, 03:36 PM
2-2 day yesterday as clemson gave up on their season i think:dunno: :bag:
I will be at wachovia tonight to watch this showdown of a team in cruise control in the big east against a very desperate and dangerous villanova team. After winning their first five conference games, the No. 9 Pittsburgh Panthers (7-1 conf.) suffered their first Big East loss on January 21 at home against Marquette. That loss did not sit well with the Panthers, who have won two straight games by a combined score of 139-97 since then.
On Monday, Pitt travels to the city of brotherly love to take on the Villanova Wildcats (3-4 conf.). This battle of Big East heavyweights is the opener of ESPN's Big Monday.
This game will be played at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. The Wildcats spilt their home games between the Wachovia Center and The Pavilion in Villanova, PA. The Pavilion, which is located on the Villanova campus, holds 6,500 people. The Wachovia Center, which also plays host to the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, seats over 20,000 people. You can expect a very vocal crowd when the No.9 ranked team in the nation comes to town.
Prior to Saturday's heartbreaking 66-63 loss at Notre Dame, the Wildcats had won three straight games at home over the Irish and Texas, and on the road at Providence. In that three-game win streak the Wildcats averaged 86.7 points per game. Villanova is 9-1 in games they score 75 points or more. They are only 5-5 in games in which they fail to score at least 75.
The Wildcats are led by senior forward Curtis Sumpter, who averages 17.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Sumpter suffered two separate ligament tears in his knee last season. His knee forced him to miss one game this season and has limited his minutes in several games the last two weeks.
Senior point guard Mike Nardi is the floor general for the Wildcats. Nardi averages 4.4 assists per games and has a two-to-one turnover-to-assist ratio. He averages 14.1 points per game but is a streaky shooter. He shoots 40 percent from the field but only 38 percent from behind the arc.
After the loss to Marquette, coach Jamie Dixon reminded his Pitt players that their performance on defense usually determines the outcome of their games. The team obviously got the message allowing just 97 points in its last two outings.
The Panthers have held 19-of-22 opponents to less than 70 points this season and are 19-0 in those games. So the formula for the Panthers success is simple: hold your opponents to under 70 points and you win.
The Panthers are led by senior All-American center Aaron Gray, who tops the team in scoring and rebounding averaging a double-double (14.7 ppg, 10.2 rpg). Gray has started all 22 games for the Panthers this season. He has 35 blocks and 10 steals to set the pace on defense.
Pittsburgh stands alone in first place atop the Big East conference with a 7-1 conference record. Meanwhile, Villanova is only 3-4 in conference play and just 1-1 at home.
I will be sitting in section 103 Row 11 with my nova nation t-shirt on cheering my ass off for this hometown team.
Home teams are 20-6 ATS off a SU Loss
Home Teams lined between +3 - -3 off a loss by 3 points or less to a conference rival are 103-23 ATS in January Games the last 5 seasons.
GL
3 UNITS
Villanova -1
I will be at wachovia tonight to watch this showdown of a team in cruise control in the big east against a very desperate and dangerous villanova team. After winning their first five conference games, the No. 9 Pittsburgh Panthers (7-1 conf.) suffered their first Big East loss on January 21 at home against Marquette. That loss did not sit well with the Panthers, who have won two straight games by a combined score of 139-97 since then.
On Monday, Pitt travels to the city of brotherly love to take on the Villanova Wildcats (3-4 conf.). This battle of Big East heavyweights is the opener of ESPN's Big Monday.
This game will be played at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. The Wildcats spilt their home games between the Wachovia Center and The Pavilion in Villanova, PA. The Pavilion, which is located on the Villanova campus, holds 6,500 people. The Wachovia Center, which also plays host to the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, seats over 20,000 people. You can expect a very vocal crowd when the No.9 ranked team in the nation comes to town.
Prior to Saturday's heartbreaking 66-63 loss at Notre Dame, the Wildcats had won three straight games at home over the Irish and Texas, and on the road at Providence. In that three-game win streak the Wildcats averaged 86.7 points per game. Villanova is 9-1 in games they score 75 points or more. They are only 5-5 in games in which they fail to score at least 75.
The Wildcats are led by senior forward Curtis Sumpter, who averages 17.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Sumpter suffered two separate ligament tears in his knee last season. His knee forced him to miss one game this season and has limited his minutes in several games the last two weeks.
Senior point guard Mike Nardi is the floor general for the Wildcats. Nardi averages 4.4 assists per games and has a two-to-one turnover-to-assist ratio. He averages 14.1 points per game but is a streaky shooter. He shoots 40 percent from the field but only 38 percent from behind the arc.
After the loss to Marquette, coach Jamie Dixon reminded his Pitt players that their performance on defense usually determines the outcome of their games. The team obviously got the message allowing just 97 points in its last two outings.
The Panthers have held 19-of-22 opponents to less than 70 points this season and are 19-0 in those games. So the formula for the Panthers success is simple: hold your opponents to under 70 points and you win.
The Panthers are led by senior All-American center Aaron Gray, who tops the team in scoring and rebounding averaging a double-double (14.7 ppg, 10.2 rpg). Gray has started all 22 games for the Panthers this season. He has 35 blocks and 10 steals to set the pace on defense.
Pittsburgh stands alone in first place atop the Big East conference with a 7-1 conference record. Meanwhile, Villanova is only 3-4 in conference play and just 1-1 at home.
I will be sitting in section 103 Row 11 with my nova nation t-shirt on cheering my ass off for this hometown team.
Home teams are 20-6 ATS off a SU Loss
Home Teams lined between +3 - -3 off a loss by 3 points or less to a conference rival are 103-23 ATS in January Games the last 5 seasons.
GL
3 UNITS
Villanova -1