Villanova vs Syracuse: 2021-22 Jimmy V Classic game preview, TV schedule
By Joey Loose
Villanova and Syracuse meet in New York for the Jimmy V Classic; will the Wildcats keep rolling or can the Orange pull out a signature win?
TV schedule: Tuesday, December 7, 9:00 pm ET. ESPN
Arena: Madison Square Garden in New York, New York
We’re getting an exciting basketball game in New York City between two strong programs, but the Jimmy V Classic is about more than just basketball, with the Jimmy V Foundation dedicated to raising money to fund cancer research and to one day defeat cancer altogether. On the court, we’ve got one pretty elite basketball team facing off against a strong one who they’re all too familiar with over the years.
Villanova (6-2) has looked the part of a top team this season, even if the results haven’t always been there. The Wildcats have dropped a pair of games to elite teams, but have taken care of business for the most part, running off three straight wins since a tough loss to now top-ranked Purdue. The Wildcats will be looking to get a marquee win to add to their resume.
Senior guard Collin Gillespie (17.8 ppg, 3.5 apg) remains the player to watch, leading the Wildcats in scoring in each of their last three games, with a 26-point effort at Penn standing out. Junior guard Justin Moore (15.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) is a fantastic rebounder from the backcourt, while senior forward Brandon Slater (14.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg) is always a threat on both ends of the court.
Villanova sits at 4th in the AP Top 25 and 6th in the KenPom ratings. They rank 4th in offensive efficiency and have proven that in most of their first eight games, even in that loss to Purdue a few weeks ago. The defense has had its ups and downs, though they’ve allowed 56 points or less in four of their last five outings and are trending in a good direction as a team. This team avoids turnovers and is quite efficient from long-range, but how will their defense hold up this season?
On the other side, Syracuse (5-3) is looking for a big win to continue stabilizing a season that has had its rocky points already. The Orange were pummeled at home by Colgate before dropping two of their three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis. Fortunately, they’ve responded since returning landside, getting a double-overtime win over Indiana and a big road win at Florida State last week.
Five Orange players are scoring in double digits, including two of coach Boeheim’s sons, with guard Buddy (19.1 ppg, 4.0 apg) and forward Jimmy (14.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg) both doing a fair bit of damage this season. Buddy had 27 points in that win over the Hoosiers. With a 16-point, 10-rebound effort against the Seminoles, senior forward Cole Swider (13.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg) is certainly making his presence felt as well, while sophomore center Jesse Edwards (12.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg) might be the most efficient player on the roster.
At the most recent update, Syracuse sat just 57th in the most recent KenPom ratings and certainly are a slight step down from some of those great Orange teams of yesteryear. The offense (17th in efficiency) looks great, especially with all those scoring threats, but defense has killed them at times, giving up 100 points in regulation to Colgate a few weeks ago. Boeheim’s teams are known for their lockdown defense, but this program has really struggled on that end in recent years.
If Villanova takes care of the ball, they won’t give Syracuse many opportunities in this game, even if their offense is dynamic. The Orange need to take advantage of these moments, especially if their defensive attack doesn’t slow Gillespie and the rest of these Wildcats. If Syracuse has a hot shooting night, they can certainly turn a few heads and pull this game out, but offense alone won’t get the job done for either team.
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Though they certainly looked vulnerable against two of the best teams in the nation, Villanova has looked pretty solid against everyone else and outmatches this Syracuse squad. Certainly, a hot shooting night can swing things in either direction, especially for two teams known for their offenses. However, if Villanova can get those big men going early and often, then Syracuse might not be able to shoot their way to victory in this one.