Villanova-American: 'Nova Avoids Upset Behind Cunningham and Anderson

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Well here you go folks, the first major upset of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

Or so we thought.

American University sought out to be the first major upset of the tournament. It looked as if they would do so until the Villanova Wildcats realized that they could not go head-to-head in a shootout.

American, who can shoot the lights out, were deadly early on completing 8-of-15 from three-point range in the first half.

For American, it seemed easy.

Get the ball to No. 5, Garrison Carr.

Carr hit 4-of-7 heading into halftime giving the Eagles a 41-31 lead. That lead was much in large part of holding Villanova's star guard Scottie Reynolds to zero points. He would finish with eight.

Now, everyone knew the Wildcats would make a run one way or another. They just did it the way they were supposed to.

Get the ball inside to the post and get to the line.

Nova did so by entering  Dante Cunningham and Dwayne Anderson. American, who is an all-perimeter team had no answer for the post presence Cunningham and Villanova brought.

Garrison Carr and the rest of American went cold beyond the arc and the Wildcats took advantage by erasing a 14-point deficit.

Carr sat most of the second half on the bench with four fouls and the Wildcats got to the line at will.

Villanova finished the game 26-of-29 from the charity stripe, compared to American's 3-of-5.

They made three times as many free throws as American attempted.

That'll win games come tournament time, which is a big reason the Wildcats finished off the game 80-67.

So, yet again, we'll have to wait for that big upset. There are many games to look forward to and we'll keep an eye out.

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