ESPN Power Rankings

[1SE]

I agree, "D" has been where expectations have been exceeded this year.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/25379665/golden-eagles-soaring

[Goose]

1SE

I agree the D is much better this season. Only caveat I have, yesterday and the Badger game, some wide open shots were just missed by opponents. The D helps create that, but definitely benefited from some open shots being missed. All that said, am happy with the improved overall D.

[GB Warrior]

Funny this article praises our defense right below a video about how Nova 'blew it' 

[Big tuna]

Normally a team behind would shoot with 5-6 seconds left allowing for tip, rebound etc.
Watching Booth he clearly could have pulled up with about 5 seconds left.  Once he went that deep in lane he was cooked.  Simply a poor decision and play.  Kudos for Morrow for stepping in once he started to drive.

[BM1090]

1SE

I agree the D is much better this season. Only caveat I have, yesterday and the Badger game, some wide open shots were just missed by opponents. The D helps create that, but definitely benefited from some open shots being missed. All that said, am happy with the improved overall D.

Definitely. But good teams get themselves open shots, and Nova made plenty of very tough shots to offset those open misses.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

1SE

I agree the D is much better this season. Only caveat I have, yesterday and the Badger game, some wide open shots were just missed by opponents. The D helps create that, but definitely benefited from some open shots being missed. All that said, am happy with the improved overall D.

I'll give a counter caveat. Villanova,  Paschall specifically, made some really tough contested shots. The defense was perfect on those shots but the offense just willed it in.

When wet beat Nova in 2017, that was an example of bad offense making the defense look good. Yesterday was just good defense

[MuMark]

Every team will give up open shots in every game.

Sometimes you give up open shots to one player because you want to take away something else. Sometimes a good offensive team just runs good offense and gets a good look.

[Dawson Rental]

Normally a team behind would shoot with 5-6 seconds left allowing for tip, rebound etc.
Watching Booth he clearly could have pulled up with about 5 seconds left.  Once he went that deep in lane he was cooked.  Simply a poor decision and play.  Kudos for Morrow for stepping in once he started to drive.

I don't think so, it looked to me like a play designed for a layup if it was there, otherwise kick it out to Eric Paschall for a shot from the corner.  Fortunately for us, Sam didn't bite so Samuels was Booth's only option.  Samuels missed his chance because he also looked to get it to Paschall and couldn't because Sam again was blocking the passing lane causing Samuels to be late on his shot.