BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Notre Dame @ Villanova

January 17, 2007

Villanova has some work to do after a 1-3 start in the Big East and will look to get back on the right track tonight when they host the surprising Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Irish did not fair too well in their lone conference road trip, a 66-48 loss at Georgetown, so the Irish will look to reverse that trend tonight.

Here are the pre-game stories and previews from the internet:


Irish Face a Different Villanova (Chicago Tribune)
Irish Face Wildcats in their Own Zoo (south Bend Tribune)
Irish Trip to Pavilion a Chance for New Memories (Journal Gazette)
Paulsbonor's Carter Leads Surging Notre Dame (Courier Post)
Russell Carter: Captain of ND's Destiny (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Irish's Kurz finds Hard Work Key to Success


Click below for our brief preview and prediction on this game and don't forget to leave your prediction in the comments section.

READ REST OF PREVIEW...CLICK "Read More" BELOW


It is just the fifth conference game for the Wildcats tonight, but it is hard to believe that this is not one they must have when they host Notre Dame at the Pavilion tonight in a game shown on ESPNU. Villanova is coming off a disappointing loss to Syracuse at the Dome on Saturday and is still trying to find their footing this season. Senior Curtis Sumpter is back and healthy leading the way, but he has not been getting consistent help from their frontcourt, mostly because the Villanova attack is still perimeter orientated and without Kyle Lowry, Randy Foye and Allan Ray, it is not nearly as effective. Shane Clark, Dante Cunningham and Will Sheridan have all had their moments, but the Villanova game plan has not concentrated on them consistently. Senior Mike Nardi and freshman Scotty Reynolds are both dead-eye shooters, but Villanova is too dependent on having them be 'on' to win. The only exception was in their victory at Georgetown when their 3/4-court and full court pressure forced Georgetown completely out of their comfort zone offensively, they will probably unleash a similar defensive gameplan tonight.

Notre Dame has started out with three of their first four conference games at home and did exactly what they needed to do, win them. The Irish have held serve against Louisville, West Virginia and Seton Hall, their only conference blemish, a road disaster against Georgetown. Villanova will bring a similar defensive ability with some athletic and long frontcourt players and will look to trap and pressure the Irish ballhandlers. At this point, freshmen Tory Jackson and Jonathan Peoples are their main ballhandlers while Kyle McAlarney remains suspended. This is a match-up that Villanova will like to exploit and test the youngsters ability to control tempo when being pressured. With Luke Harangody and Rob Kurz, the Irish frontcourt is more effecient than their counterparts from Villanova, but the Wildcats' group will pose a big challenge with thier efforts on the defensive end and the boards. This is a nice match-up to watch develop throughout the game.

I look for a big effort defensively tonight from Villanova. The Irish can shoot the ball and some 3's from Falls and athletic plays by Russell Carter will keep them in it, but Curtis Sumpter is the best player on both teams and playing in the cozy Pavilion should put the Villanova perimeter shooters in their comfort zone.

Villanova is forecasted as a 1-pt winner by Pomeroy and a 3-pt favorite by the oddsmakers.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Villanova 67 Notre Dame 61