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Houston vs Villanova: 2022 NCAA Tournament game preview, TV schedule

Mar 20, 2022; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead (1) reacts against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2022; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead (1) reacts against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Either Houston or Villanova will be going to the Final Four, representing the South Region of the NCAA Tournament. Which of these teams has the advantage on paper?

TV schedule: Saturday, March 26th, 6:09 pm ET. TBS

Arena: AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas

Thursday night of Sweet 16 action in the NCAA Tournament has been completely crazy, with two different No. 1 seeds falling. The first was Gonzaga to Arkansas to start the night, followed by Arizona losing to Houston to end it.

The Cougars started out with a 12-2 lead to start the game and set the tone. Arizona’s talent, led by Benn Mathurin and Dalen Terry, kept them within range for most of the game, until Jamal Shead took over. The sophomore breakout star had a career-high performance, leading the team on a run to break the game wide open in the second half to eventually win, 72-60.

Shead had 21 points and six assists to lead the way, joined by 19 points from Kyler Edwards. An argument could be made that big man Josh Carlton was just as great as those guards, producing 10 points and seven rebounds and defending the Wildcats’ bigs well all night.

Last year, Houston had an “easy” path to the Final Four. But wins over Illinois and now Arizona has made believers out of many to this point. But another test awaits in Coach Jay Wright and the Villanova Wildcats, coming off a 63-55 victory over Michigan. It was far from the greatest of performances for the Big East juggernaut but their defense on the Wolverines was what allowed them to stay an arms’ length the entire time.

Forward Jermaine Samuels had a game-high 22 points, while guard Collin Gillespie had 12, including a back-breaking three-pointer late in the second half to keep Villanova with the lead. Guard Justin Moore chipped in with 15 points.

What makes this matchup interesting is that both teams are guard-oriented and like to prevent opposing teams’ bigs from getting easy touches inside. But that won’t be the case for either side. It’ll be Shead vs Gillespie, Edwards vs Moore, and even Taze Moore vs Caleb Daniels. These two match up so well against one another that this could be a game within five points all night long.

If there’s one difference in this Elite 8 game is that Gillespie is a super-senior and national champion, while Shead is in his first year as a full-time starter. If he looks like he did against Arizona, the Cougars can twin this game. Otherwise, look for the Wildcats to get another trip to the Final Four.

Prediction: Villanova 71, Houston 67