PREMIUM
**NOON ET** Rogers' EARLY Saturday Afternoon WINNER (on FOX) >> Nova/G'town!
(NCAAB) Villanova vs. Georgetown University,
Point Spread: -7.50 | -109.00 Villanova (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -7.50 | -109.00 Villanova (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: Villanova shocked Georgetown to win the national championship back in 1985, in one of college basketball's most legendary upsets (read Frank Fitzpatrick's book: The Perfect Game). The 27-3 Wildcats are defending champs (ranked No. 2 in the AP poll) and wrap their regular season at 14-16 Georgetown Saturday at high noon. There is nothing significant about this meeting, as the Wildcats will be the Big East's No.1 seed (14-3) in the conference tourney, while the 5-12 Hoyas will soon be "done for the year."
Villanova: The Wildcats clinched the regular-season league crown with a 16-point win over Creighton last Saturday and have had a full week of rest in preparation for this one. Villanova senior Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins are a pair of local products, so this marks their last "trip home" to Washington D.C. The 6-6 Hart (18.6 & 6.5) leads the team in scoring and rebounding, while the 6-7 Jenkins adds 13.2 & 4.7. PG Brunson (14.7 & 4.3 APG) and fellow guard Bridges (10.5 & 4.7) are also double digit scorers with the 6-7 Paschall (7.1 & 3.8) rounding out the starting-five.
Georgetown: The Hoyas are coming off a 62-59 loss Tuesday at Seton Hall, a game in which the team fumbled the ball in several of its last possessions. They have lost four in a row and are in real danger of ending the season with a sub-.500 record for the second straight year (Hoyas were 15-18 last season). Embattled head coach John Thompson III said in a statement to ESPN.com: "First and foremost, our fans are terrific and have been terrific. They've experienced some good times with us, and now, with the stretch we are having, I understand their frustration. There is no one more frustrated than I am. We are accustomed to winning. I know that our players and staff are working hard and playing hard. No one cares more about this program and tradition than I do." A pair of 6-5 seniors have really been the only players Georgetown has been able to count on this season. Pryor (18.0 & 5.0) is a graduate transfer from Robert Morris and Peak (16.4-4.0-3.4) will cap his best season, after a four years at the school.
The pick: Both Peak and Pryor will be honored Saturday but expecting much help from the crowd at the Verizon Center is likely 'fool's gold.' Attendance has not been good (that's being generous) and those who show up have been described as 'lifeless.' Villanova's local D.C. boys, Hart and Jenkins, may get more of a welcome. Make Villanova a 10* play.
Villanova: The Wildcats clinched the regular-season league crown with a 16-point win over Creighton last Saturday and have had a full week of rest in preparation for this one. Villanova senior Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins are a pair of local products, so this marks their last "trip home" to Washington D.C. The 6-6 Hart (18.6 & 6.5) leads the team in scoring and rebounding, while the 6-7 Jenkins adds 13.2 & 4.7. PG Brunson (14.7 & 4.3 APG) and fellow guard Bridges (10.5 & 4.7) are also double digit scorers with the 6-7 Paschall (7.1 & 3.8) rounding out the starting-five.
Georgetown: The Hoyas are coming off a 62-59 loss Tuesday at Seton Hall, a game in which the team fumbled the ball in several of its last possessions. They have lost four in a row and are in real danger of ending the season with a sub-.500 record for the second straight year (Hoyas were 15-18 last season). Embattled head coach John Thompson III said in a statement to ESPN.com: "First and foremost, our fans are terrific and have been terrific. They've experienced some good times with us, and now, with the stretch we are having, I understand their frustration. There is no one more frustrated than I am. We are accustomed to winning. I know that our players and staff are working hard and playing hard. No one cares more about this program and tradition than I do." A pair of 6-5 seniors have really been the only players Georgetown has been able to count on this season. Pryor (18.0 & 5.0) is a graduate transfer from Robert Morris and Peak (16.4-4.0-3.4) will cap his best season, after a four years at the school.
The pick: Both Peak and Pryor will be honored Saturday but expecting much help from the crowd at the Verizon Center is likely 'fool's gold.' Attendance has not been good (that's being generous) and those who show up have been described as 'lifeless.' Villanova's local D.C. boys, Hart and Jenkins, may get more of a welcome. Make Villanova a 10* play.
