Tuesday's Tussle

Jay Wright's Villanova Wildcats have a tall order tonight: Beat sixth-ranked Texas (6-1) in New York. And it won't be easy. Texas has tested itself against some of the best competition in the country; No. 15 Villanova hasn't necessarily played the World's Hardest Schedule.

But here's a big chance to see where 'Nova (8-0) belongs. A win here proves the Cats belong in the top circles of college hoops this year (you know, the tier juuuust below North Carolina, which stands alone in its own group); a loss means there is more work to be done with Big East play lurking around the corner.

We know Villanova can defend. And the perimeter talent is always there. But can the Wildcats score against Texas' blistering D? Texas only allows 57 points a game, forcing opponents to shoot just 35 percent from the field. More importantly, the Longhorns have one of the most efficient defenses in the nation, according to Ken Pomeroy's scouting reports.

But 'Nova is no slouch on the defensive end, either. The Wildcats allow the same amount of points per game (albeit against lesser competition) and hold their opponents to 37 percent shooting. And their efficiency ratings are arguably better than the Longhorns'.

Key matchups: It has to be out on the perimeter, where AJ Abrams will try to continue his hot start to the season. It's simple really: When Abrams does well, so does Texas.

The same can be said for Scottie Reynolds at Villanova. Reynolds, however, hasn't exactly scorched the nets in his first eight games. Not that he hasn't had an impact -- the 6-2 shooting guard still averages 14 points, five assists and three rebounds a game -- but Reynolds only just found his shooting stroke, and it was against Houston Baptist. He's shooting 39 percent from the field, which is right around his career average, but he has always needed to be more selective with his shots.

And the key point to make is this: Even with Reynolds struggling in the early going of the 08-09 season, everyone else, especially Dante Cunningham, has picked up the slack. So any added showtime from Scottie will make 'Nova tough to beat.

Elsewhere
-- Another good, albeit quietly, game is West Virginia-Davidson. Bob Huggins's boys love to defend, and it will be interesting to see how WVU matches up with Stephen Curry. A key Davidson guard, Mark Paulhus Gosselin, received a suspension today from the Southern Conference. Keep an eye on how that impacts Curry's trust in his teammates.

-- Just a quick sidenote on college football: Texas got screwed, so'd Alabama. Ohio State shouldn't even be in a BCS bowl. And while I'm at it, does Georgia have to choke every year, or is that just a thing the Bulldogs like to do on their own?