2/21/11 What to Watch

This will be a daily feature here.  Most of us live busy lives and just can't watch every basketball, even if we wanted to.  I used to really struggle trying to figure out what I should watch in my limited time.  After a few years of research, mostly through trail and error I have come up with a strategy to make sure I'm only watching quality entertaining basketball.  ESPN recommends too many games and kenpom doesn't recommend enough.  So, I'll do the dirty work for you and sort through the schedule and tell you what game(s) you should be watching tonight.  I know your time is precious so I will do my best not to waste it.

#20 Syracuse at #14 Villanova 4PM PST on ESPN.  Line: Villanova -4

Villanova preview found here.
Syracuse preview found here.

My take:  "The Two Coreys" might have been canceled, but Villanova has their own version.  The seniors Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher lead the Wildcats and as they go the 'Cats go.  The two are very tough guards for a match-up zone, which led Villanova to a season high eleven 3s in the first game.  Corey Fisher is big tough point guard who can penetrate the zone, but also knocked down the 3.  Fisher is coming off a career high thirty-four points, including a game tying 3 in the final seconds against DePaul to send the game to overtime.  Stokes is their best three point shooter (41.5%) and also is very careful with the ball, crucial against a Syracuse team that loves to get out and run off turnovers.  If Syracuse wants a different result than the first game, they are going to have to extend the zone out and force Nova to try and score in the paint against Rick Jackson.  The 'Cuse also needs to force turnovers, to allow Scoop Jardine to get out lead the break to get some easy baskets.  In the end I see this game playing out very similar to the first one with Villanova winning by high single digits.

Degenerates take Villanova -4.

Other Degen Action:
Oklahoma St. +17
Samford +17.5
Tenn-Chattanooga +3.5
Western Carolina -3.5
Morgan St. -13.5