On Saturday, two of the best college basketball teams in the nation will square off on a certain sportswriter’s birthday in one of the loudest arenas in the NCAA. The Villanova Wildcats will have their hands full and then some when they head to central New York to take on the Syracuse Orange (political correctness for the win) in an intense Big East matchup.
Nova’s playing style in recent years has been based upon their guards. Head Coach Jay Wright sometimes sends out four guards onto the floor at a single time. Last year’s Villanova team that went to the Final Four had four guards consistently in the starting lineup. This year’s squad is no different as the Wildcats live and die by their guard play, especially their big-game players Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher.
This year, the ’Cuse looks even stronger than the team that finished in second place in last year’s Big East Tournament. The Orange lost key point guard Jonny Flynn to the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves, and guard Eric Devendorf and forward Paul Harris also turned pro. Head Coach Jim Boeheim’s squad has picked up right where they left off. Syracuse currently leads the Big East Conference, thanks in part to the splendid play of Iowa St. transfer Wesley Johnson and guard Andy Rautins.
At press time, the Wildcats have lost their last two games to perennial conference powers UConn and Pitt, and a game in the Carrier Dome against a strong Syracuse team isn’t what the doctor ordered. The Carrier Dome, with what will probably be a capacity crowd of 30,000-plus orange-clad fans, isn’t a place where any team would want to play. On top of that, Syracuse’s forwards will be too overpowering to Villanova’s guards. So I’m predicting Syracuse to win this one.
ONLINE PREDICTIONS
Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Hornets
Friday 2/26 8:30 ESPN
OK, so I stand corrected on my pick last weekend in the Magic/Cavs game. Yes, it was a nice win for the home team over a Cleveland team that they’ll probably see in the playoffs again. This game for the Magic is a little less intriguing for Dwight Howard and company, but it certainly means the world to the Hornets.
The Hornets have been overshadowed recently in the Big Easy in the aftermath of the beloved Saints’ first Super Bowl win. However, it’s not like the Hornets’ play year has been screaming for attention. The team has been solid, but New Orleans right now is barely on the outside looking in when it comes to the Western Conference playoff picture. The Hornets need to start earning a lot more W’s if they want to be playing in the postseason. And for those wins, they’ll look to star point guard Chris Paul. Arguably the best point guard in the NBA, Paul is having…well…just another Chris Paul-type year. He’s on pace to average more than 20 points and 10 assists for the third consecutive career. The only problem is that the rest of the team needs to start picking up their game around him.
The Magic however are riding high after the All-Star Break, as evidenced by their big win over Cleveland last Sunday. The most impressive part of their victory was the fact that the show wasn’t centered on Dwight Howard. Though Howard led the team with 22 points, 5 Magic players, including Mickael Pietrus off the bench, averaged in the double digits in points. The Hornets could certainly use that type of widespread success on their team as they wind down the finishing stretch of the season.
As for a prediction, the game means a lot to New Orleans. It’s in New Orleans, and the Hornets need to start stringing together wins. If the Hornets do beat the defending Eastern Conference Champions, it will be a nice statement win and a possible momentum starter. But I think Superman and the Magic are too much for Chris Paul’s crew.
Pat’s Prediction:
Orlando: 104
New Orleans: 99
And finally…Gold Medal Game in Men’s Olympic Hockey
Sunday 2/28 2:00 NBC
I can’t really write up on this game, as the teams won’t be determined until later this week, but the Olympic hockey tournament is certainly not disappointing so far. With a team that is just good enough built around one of the best goalies on the planet, Team USA could very well be in the mix for the gold. And my prediction two weeks ago about a Canada/Russia gold medal game is wrong because the way the bracket is set up now, these two teams will meet in the quarterfinals (if Canada makes it that far). However, regardless of what country is playing, be sure to tune in if you want to watch the best hockey in the world. This game comes around once every four years, and everybody on the ice is playing intensely to make the most of this opportunity.
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