BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: VILLANOVA @ DEPAUL

January 3, 2008

DePaul has definitely been a disappointment so far this season, but the Blue Demons can start anew as conference play tips off tonight when they welcome Villanova to Allstate Arena. The Wildcats come in with a national ranking in the Top 20, but will be facing their first true road game outside of the city of Philadelphia when they head to Chicago. Here are the local stories on the contest:


'Nova Positively Tough to Beat (Chicago Sun-Times)
Is 'Nova ready for Big East Battles (philly daily News)
DePaul Starts Big East Campaign (Daily Herald)
Still Calling Chicago Home (Scottie Reynolds) (Chicago Tribune).
Wildcats Get Ready for Road Test (Philly Inquirer)
Fisher Gives 'Nova Options (Evening Bulletin)

I think, despite the disparity in records, this game will prove to be more interesting than one might think. DePaul matches-up with Villanova fairly well, however, the Wildcats definitely have the advantage of consistent perimeter play, while the Blue Demons can be all over the place on the perimeter. That, in the end, will likely decide the game.

Super-soph Scottie Reynolds leads the Wildcats with 17 PPG and he has freshman Corey Fisher as his sidekick. Fisher has been elevated into the starting line-up after a slow start battling tendonitis in his knees early in the season, and he continues to improve and look more and more like the prized recruit expected to be a force in the conference. On the wing, Shane clark has also raised his game this season and is a very effecient offensive weapon for Jay Wright's club. Dante Cunningham consistently shows up in the right place at the right time and gives the Wildcats a little more offensive punch than they have had previously in the paint.

The key to this year's Villanova team has been their depth, which allows them to play big, small or anyway in between. Corey Stokes, Reggie Redding, Antonio Pena, Malcolm Grant and Casseim Drummond have all provided quality play and have taken their turns at being key contributors of wins. This team is deep, and versatile, though some of that will be lost without 6'10 Drummond, who is out for at least the immediate future with a stress fracture in his right ankle.

DePaul, expected to be down a bit this year, has disappointed with a 4-7 record. They have won two in a row, so they have built a little positive momentum, but a tough pre-conference schedule has made things very rough on the young squd. The Blue Demons are athletic and they do have some size, but they are painfully inconsistent yet again, especially offensively as they still can not find any consistent point guard play. Karron Clarke (11.5 PPG and 5.7 rebounds) and Dar Tucker (13.6 PPG and 6.7 rebounds) are among the elite athletes in the country and Tucker's freshman classmate Mac Koshwal (11.2 PPG and 8.0 rebounds).

Draelon Burns leads the Blue Demons in scoring (19.4 PPG) and is second in the conference, but does so on a lot of shots (166 in 11 games). Burns and Tucker account for 43% of DePaul's shot attempts as their rotating point guard position (Jabari Currie, Will Walker, Cliff Clinkscales) by and large does a poor job of getting the ball inside and putting players in position to score consistently.

There is still some hope for this DePaul team, they need to start playing smarter and effecient basketball. However, this is the third season under Jerry Wainwright and they continue to lack any form of consistency offensively. You always think these teams are capable of more, sometime we might see it, but Villlanova is clearly better than NC A&T and Illinois-Chicago, two teams that have already won at Allstate this season.

As a 4-pt road favorite, look for Villanova to pull away for a win down the stretch.


NBE Blogger Prediction: Villanova 70 DePaul 61