Villanova Basketball: Keys to success against Baylor in Myrtle Beach Final

VILLANOVA, PA - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats talks to Cole Swider #10 Army Black Knights in the second half at Finneran Pavilion on November 5, 2019 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Villanova Wildcats defeated the Army Black Knights 97-54. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 16: Moore of the Wildcats attempts. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Villanova basketball will take on Baylor in the Myrtle Beach Invitational championship game. What will it take for the Wildcats to win?

The Myrtle Beach Invitational is one of the best non-conference events of the year as it kicks off Feast Week. With regard to the 2019 edition, Villanova basketball moved through the first two games with a dominant performance against Middle Tennessee followed by a hard-fought win over Mississippi State. Based on those victories, it appears as though the Wildcats are back on track after suffering a 25-point defeat to Ohio State in their second game of the season.

Now, though, another test approaches in the Myrtle Beach Invitational championship game as the ‘Cats will take on Baylor. The Bears, who are slotted at No. 14 in the early-season KenPom rankings, represent a major challenge. They are experienced, physical, and well-coached. Through the first few weeks of the season, Baylor holds a 4-1 record with their lone loss coming against a highly-touted Washington squad.

Villanova will have a tough time escaping this matchup with a victory, especially considering their inexperience while playing away from home. The Wildcats appear to have overcome some of those jitters during their last two games but Baylor will be a much more difficult opponent. The Bears also have the ability to throw multiple different defensive looks at Villanova’s high-powered offense so Jay Wright and Co. will need to be ready to make adjustments.

Without any more introduction, though, let’s break down Villanova’s prospects in this game a bit further by analyzing three potential keys to success.