Villanova Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Wildcats vs. Ohio State
By Brian Rauf
2) Find stable backcourt production
Long-term, Villanova’s backcourt is going to be fantastic. Collin Gillespie has proven to be a reliable secondary option, Justin Moore looked good in his first game for the Wildcats, and they’re going to be a joined by a superstar whenever five-star freshman Bryan Antoine makes his debut.
But, until Antoine does suit up, the backcourt may actually be Villanova’s weakest link.
The combination of Robinson-Earl, Bey, and Samuels looked fantastic in the opener. We’ve already discussed Robinson-Earl and Bey and their offensive production. Bey showed his perimeter skills (2/3 from three-point range) and Robinson-Earl dominated inside (13 rebounds). Samuels, on the other hand, showcased his versatility with eight points, nine rebounds, and five assists.
The bench also produced at a high level (shout out Cole Swider). Backcourt production was the only thing that was missing.
Gillespie and Moore each shot just 3/11 from the field and only made one shot from inside the arc, showing their lack of effectiveness when attacking the basket. Gillespie’s inability to be a threat off the bounce was a problem for the Wildcats last year and Moore isn’t an explosive athlete, either. It is only one game, but this duo needs to shoot the ball better for Villanova to knock off the Buckeyes.