Villanova 69, UConn 64

As Mike Patrick would say, "Holy Toledo!"

Man oh man, the 'Cats of Villanova are just nasty. They operate at full octane for about 35 minutes a game, and when they are on, they are downright tough.

Kyle Lowry and Allan Ray put on a show last night, each picking a half to dominate. Randy Foye had a tough night-- 3 for 10 shooting, just 10 points-- but it didn't matter as Ray and Lowry combined for 43 points and seven steals.

'Nova was everywhere. UConn couldn't put the ball on the floor during the big Villanova runs or they'd lose it. The Wildcats just ran, ran and then ran some more.

UConn was able to start the second half well, going on a 13-0 run to open up a 12-point lead. During that stretch, the Huskies controlled the pace of the game and used their inside presence to their advantage. But foul trouble and stubborn coaching allowed 'Nova to get back in the game and play at the tempo they wanted.

Jim Calhoun is one of the best coaches around, no doubt about it. He is arguably one of the top three or four college coaches of all-time. But last night, his old fashioned, New England stubbornness lost the game for UConn.

He goes by the principle that if a player has two fouls in the first half, he will sit the remainder of the half. In the second half, if the player collects a third foul, he will sit until the clock reaches single digits and then maybe, just maybe, he will return.

Last night, Marcus Williams, debatably the best ball handler and point guard in the country, committed his second foul with 6:25 left in the first half. He sat the rest of the period, leaving freshman Craig Austrie as the default point guard. Austrie is good, don't get me wrong, but in that atmosphere and that kind of pressure, he is in trouble.

Why is he in trouble? Because Austrie and Williams are the only two legitimate ball handlers on the team. Rashad Anderson and Denham Brown combined for five turnovers last night, often dribbling to the wings without paying attention to the collapsing guards returning from the 1-2-2 press.

Calhoun isn't the only coach who practices this, but Williams committed his third foul with 18:07 left in the game, and immediately sat. Not that Williams had a great game-- six turnovers while just five of 13 shooting-- but he is the team leader and primary floor general. Without him on the floor, UConn looked lost. The guards of Villanova were too quick for Josh Boone, Rudy Gay or Hilton Armstrong to be dribbling towards the corners without being aware of the crashing guards.

Villanova had 13 team steals, 13! If they win the turnover battle, they will sink their opponents. The outside shooting brought 'Nova back in the game in the second half. The slashing ability of Kyle Lowry gave them the lead in the first period. The combination of a hot-handed Allan Ray with baseline jumpshooting virutuoso Will Sheridan will devastate any team 'Nova plays.

I would not want to be the coach that prepares for Villanova in the tournament. If Kyle Lowry is penetrating at will, Randy Foye and Allan Ray are shooting, slashing and dishing, and Will Sheridan and Jason Fraser get going down low, this team might very well win the NCAA title (and that's without me even mentioning Mike Nardi, one of the best point guards in basketball). The keys for 'Nova come tournament time will be maintaining the high level of pressure and intensity on defense, taking smart shots, creating scoring chances off the dribble and getting the big men involved. If they can avoid foul trouble and health problems, this 'Nova team could hustle and heart its way to a national title.

What a game. I hope we see the same in Storrs in less than two weeks. Last night was one of the best games I've seen in a while-- and I've seen a whole lot of college basketball. The speed of Villanova was just electric, but let's see how they do on the road without the energy of the Wachovia Center behind them.

I love this here game of basketball. Or "Baskabawl" as Dicky V. would say.