Villanova Basketball: 3 things learned from win over Boston College

Defending the dribble and interior

The first half saw the Wildcats’ guards be vulnerable to the dribble drive. The Eagles’ three-guard front was instrumental in the 67 points they scored. Jay Heath, Wynston Tabbs, and DeMarr Langford Jr combined for a total of 42 points, with 18 coming on lay-ups.  The ability of the Eagles’ guards to penetrate the paint cannot, however, be placed solely upon the shoulders of the guards.

The Eagles’ guards, particularly in the first half, were able to force the Wildcats’ frontcourt into a lot of screen options that caused them to switch. When Jermaine Samuels and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl got caught on the switch, not only were they vulnerable to the drive but were not in the paint to protect the rim.

While the Wildcats were much more successful in preventing the drive in the second half, and particularly down the stretch, their interior defense was effective throughout. Eagles’ forwards CJ Felder, Steffono Mitchell, and Frederick Scott connected on just four baskets inside the paint for the game.

All this to say, Jay Wright’s team will be in for a battle against teams that will feature quality guards in a pick’n’roll offense, which will be an issue come tournament time versus teams similar to North Carolina and Illinois.