Villanova/Marquette previews from VU blogs/sites

[Villanova Viewpoint]

Hello, Marquette fans-

I thought that perhaps some previews of the game, from several VU-focused sites, might be interesting to you, including my own preview of the game, from a VU perspective.  Feel free to comment on my blog, if you like or dislike it.  I like your site - I have you and Cracked Sidewalks on my links collection for Marquette.  I've also included, in this post, several other Villanova sites which have posted previews on Marquette.

I am optimistic enough to think that we might pull out a victory this evening, since we'll have the home-court advantage of playing at the Pavilion.  We usually don't play ranked opponents there, as those games get moved to the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.  So the on-campus building will be really raucous.

Nonetheless, I think you have a great team and given how you beat us on New Year's, it'll be a battle. 

Is there anyone on your roster, who's playing better of late and whom we might not have noticed that much on New Year's?

Thanks.


Sincerely,

Publisher, Villanova Viewpoint

FTL-

http://villanovaviewpoint.blogspot.com/2009/02/10-marquette-13-villanova-preview.html


Pete's Let's Go 'Nova site - http://www.letsgonova.com/

I Bleed Blue and White site - http://ibbw.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/pregame-13-villanova-vs-12-marquette/

VUHoops.com site - http://vuhoops.com/2009/02/08/game-24-marquette/

Villanova By the Numbers (VBTN) - http://vbtn.blogspot.com/2009/02/preview-marquette-second-game.html

'Nova News - http://villanovanews.blogspot.com/2009/02/marquette-rematch.html

[rocky_warrior]

Hey VV thanks for stopping in. 

Good preview.  I'd say we're largely still a 4 man team in James, McNeal, Matthews, and Hayward (at least for scoring).

As of late, Jimmy Butler has been playing well off the bench.  He's got a nose for the ball, so expect him to get a few rebounds, and follow up points.  He's started attacking a little bit more on offense, but not so much that he's going to tear anyone apart.  His D is lagging behind the veterans, but is improving.

Other than him - it's about the same team.  I expect a close battle tonight, and unfortunately I agree with you that VU might "pull out a victory".  In fact, given that you're at home, I think we're the team that will need to do the pulling tonight if we want to win.

Cheers.

[Skatastrophy]

Villanova By the Numbers (VBTN) - http://vbtn.blogspot.com/2009/02/preview-marquette-second-game.html

Villanova version of Cracked Sidewalks, to be sure.  It was like living in a bizarro world reading that

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

[TVDirector]

no no no...
we go, uh, 18 deep!

plan your game around containing frozena..
that's FRO-ZEEE-NAH...

and, uh, Hazel.
you gotta stop him... he's so quick it'll hardly seem like he gets off the bench.

and..............


seriously... good luck.
looking forward to a great game.

[Norm]

Of the three times we've played at Villanova since joining the Big East, we have played twice at the Pavillion. We have hosted Villanova twice.

[GOMU1104]

Of the three times we've played at Villanova since joining the Big East, we have played twice at the Pavillion. We have hosted Villanova twice.

So far we have played Nova 4 times.  Twice at the BC, once at the Pavillion and once at he Wachovia Center.

This will be our 2nd time at the pavillion.

[Villanova Viewpoint]

Hello, Marquette -

GOMU1104 is correct on this one.  Of the four BE meetings, two were at the Bradley Center.  The first BE game against you was played at the Pavilion in Feb. 2006 (that was our Elite Eight year and you almost won, with your current stars as freshmen).  Last year, your game here was moved to the much larger Wachovia Center in the city.

I also was wondering if someone could describe the circumstances under which Tom Crean left, since you obviously are far more familiar with it than I am.  In my own preview, I devote a good deal of coverage to Marquette's storied history, Al McGuire, and then the circumstances under how Tom Crean arrived and Marquette's efforts to keep him there and not lose him to a Big Ten school after the Final Four in 2003. 

Thanks,

Publisher, Villanova Viewpoint - http://villanovaviewpoint.blogspot.com/2009/02/10-marquette-13-villanova-preview.html

[Norm]

So far we have played Nova 4 times.  Twice at the BC, once at the Pavillion and once at he Wachovia Center.

This will be our 2nd time at the pavillion.

Um, I was counting tonight as a game played. Tonight will make our 5th game against Villanova, the 2nd time at the Pavillion.

[sigep80]

VV

You don't want to go there - I'm talking about your request for info re: Crean leaving

Look out for Heyword and Rawdog

[reinko]

Hello, Marquette -

GOMU1104 is correct on this one.  Of the four BE meetings, two were at the Bradley Center.  The first BE game against you was played at the Pavilion in Feb. 2006 (that was our Elite Eight year and you almost won, with your current stars as freshmen).  Last year, your game here was moved to the much larger Wachovia Center in the city.

I also was wondering if someone could describe the circumstances under which Tom Crean left, since you obviously are far more familiar with it than I am.  In my own preview, I devote a good deal of coverage to Marquette's storied history, Al McGuire, and then the circumstances under how Tom Crean arrived and Marquette's efforts to keep him there and not lose him to a Big Ten school after the Final Four in 2003. 

Thanks,

Publisher, Villanova Viewpoint - http://villanovaviewpoint.blogspot.com/2009/02/10-marquette-13-villanova-preview.html

Hey VV,
Thanks for stopping in.  I thought I would chime in fairly quickly about Mr. Crean.  A few posters on this site are TC's love child, a few posters want to eat TC's children, and everybody else is somewhere in the middle.

Essentially, TC was under a 10 year (?) contract, great PR man, reinvigorated a segment of the fan base, helped along with a lot of other people get us into the Big East.  He landed Dwyane Wade (one reason being because he was academically ineligible for any BCS conference, and MU was in the Conference USA at the time)...MU only achieved 1 tourney victory after the Final Four year (against Kentucky in 2008), he did land our big 4 now (Lazar, Wes, DJ, and McNeal).  Yadda yadda yadda, some great years in the BE...we lose to Stanford last year, and 3 days later, surprise...TC to Indiana.  

What's sticks in most people's craw is that it was leaked to the media before the players knew...he rushed them all to his house to tell them the news 5 hours after it broke on ESPN.

[Villanova Viewpoint]

Hello, Marquette-

Great, thanks for the info and the welcome.  Good luck in the second half... it's been a tremendous game thus far, for both teams - very fast-paced...

[1990Warrior]

Congratulations on your win.  You guys are playing great right now. 

I hope we meet again in the BE tourney for the rubber game of the series.