Villanova continued plowing their way through the NCAA Tournament Saturday night with what was without a doubt their most impressive victory thus far. The Wildcats used an 18/40 night from beyond the arc as well as a .554 shooting percentage to dominate Kansas 95-79 in the Final Four and earn a berth in the National Championship Game Monday night.
The Highs
For Villanova,the Wildcats continued to use an offensive onslaught that no team during the Tournament or all-season really for that matter has been able to solve. Aside from them setting a record for three-pointers in a Final Four, Nova had consistent production from each of their starters including Eric Paschall‘s 24 points which lead all scorers on the night.
Villanova’s guard play has also been pretty much unmatched all season with Jalen Brunson adding 18 and Donte DiDivcenzo netting 15 off the bench.
The Lows
It’s not that Kansas was bad tonight, they just simply couldn’t match up with Nova blow-by-blow on offense nor did they have a solution to stop it. In fact Kansas tried to take their 7-foot-center Udoka Azubuike out of the paint in an effort to try to sustain the Wildcats’ hybrid forward-guards. It didn’t work and seemingly made what was perhaps Villanova’s one weakness on offense – somewhat lack of depth up front – just a little more potent with the Jayhawks’ big man neutralized outside the paint.
The Difference
There’s that old cliché that defense wins championships… Tell that to Villanova because they’re one win way from their juggernaut of an offense bringing them a NCAA Tournament title.
What’s Next
It’ll be No. 3 Michigan, who didn’t have to beat a team ranked higher than five so far in the NCAA Tournament, and No. 1 Villanova going head-to-head for it all Monday night in San Antonio.
