Villanova Wildcats-Pittsburgh Panthers: Elite Eight Matchup Preview

The following article is a detailed preview of the upcoming Elite Eight matchup on March 28, 2009 at 7:05 PM ET between the Villanova Wildcats and the Pittsburgh Panthers. I will go through a detailed comparison of position matchups, bench advantage, x-factor, and finally my prediction.

Player Comparisons

Levance Fields (Pittsburgh Guard) vs. Scottie Reynolds (Villanova Guard)

In this matchup, we have two of the country's elite guards facing off against each other. Levance Fields averages 10.7 points per game and 7.5 assists per game, while Scottie Reynolds averages 15.2 points per game and 3.4 assists per game.

Both players have the ability to take over a game. They both can have cold streaks but consistently have the ability to hit the big shot. Scottie Reynolds is 6'2", while Levance Fields is only 5'10", which could give Reynolds a small advantage.

Levance Fields is a senior, while Scottie Reynolds is a junior, so Fields has the edge in experience. Scottie Reynolds has had some ball handling and turnover problems of late.

Advantage: Levance Fields. He gets the slight advantage here because if he gets hot, watch out for a high scoring game from him, plus Scottie Reynolds' turnover problems might show up.

Jermaine Dixon (Pittsburgh Guard) vs. Reggie Redding (Villanova Guard)

In this matchup, we have two junior guards who play big for guards. Jermaine Dixon is 6'3" and 195 pounds, while Reggie Redding is 6'5" and 205 pounds. Jermaine Dixon averages 8.5 points and two assists per game, while Reggie Redding averages 7 points per game and 3.1 assists per game.

Reggie Redding is a lock down defensive player who also has the ability to take the ball to the rim. He also has a decent outside shot, shooting 29.5 percent from three.

Advantage: Reggie Redding. His defense is what gives him the slight edge here.

Tyrell Biggs (Pittsburgh Forward) vs. Dwayne Anderson (Villanova Forward)

Here is a matchup of two experienced senior forwards. Tyrell Biggs averages 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, while Dwayne Anderson averages 8.8 points and six rebounds per game. Both players are a threat from three, as Tyrell Biggs shoots 39.6 percent, while Dwayne Anderson shoots 32.6 percent. Also, Dwayne Anderson has been playing well in the NCAA Tournament.

Advantage: Dwayne Anderson. His NCAA Tournament play so far has been better than Biggs, and that's what gives him the advantage here.

Sam Young (Pittsbugh Forward) vs. Shane Clark (Villanova Forward)

Here is a matchup of a role player and a superstar. Sam Young averages 18.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, while Shane Clark just averages 5.4 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game. Sam Young can be a great wing player because he shoots 37 percent from three but also has the ability to drive.

Advantage: Sam Young. It's clear to anybody that Sam Young has the overwhelming advantage here.

DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh Forward) vs. Dante Cunningham (Villanova Forward)

Here is a matchup of a young sophomore superstar and a much improved senior. DeJuan Blair is an offensive monster in the paint, averaging 15.6 points per game and 12.4 rebounds per game. He is a double-double machine.

Dante Cunningham, who won Big East most improved player of the year, averages 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. He has a very nice jab step move that often translates into 10-15 foot jumpers.

Blair's game is dominating the boards in the paint, and Cunningham's game is taking Blair out of the paint and trying to take spot up jumpers. This is going to be the matchup that could decide the game, as two very good players go head to head.

Advantage: DeJuan Blair. He gets the advantage because he is an absolute monster in the paint, plus his rebounding ability helps out his other teammates.

Bench Comparisons

Pittsburgh Bench vs. Villanova Bench

Pittsburgh has three main bench players who get some playing time and average above four points per game. Brad Wanamaker, guard, averages 5.9 points per game. Gilbert Brown, guard-forward, averages 5.1 points per game. Ashton Gibbs, guard, averages 4.3 points per game. Those are the three main bench players for Pittsburgh.

Villanova has a much deeper bench, with three players who average above five points and two players who average around 10 points. Corey Fisher, guard, averages 10.8 points per game. He is a great ball handler who can drive and has a nice shot. Corey Stokes, guard, averages 9.7 per game. He is a three-point machine, averaging 43 percent from three. Antonio Pena, forward, averages 5.5 points per game.

Advantage: Villanova Bench. Villanova has three players who could start, while Pittsburgh has three players who are just bench players.

X-Factors

Pittsburgh's Revenge vs. Villanova's Dominance, Pitt's Sloppy Play

In a matchup earlier in the season, Villanova beat Pittsburgh 67-57. Dejuan Blair got into foul trouble early and fouled out early in the second half, only playing 20 minutes. Villanova also held Pittsburgh to one field goal in the last five minutes.

Let's get this straight right now—neither one of those will happen this time. Blair will be smarter, plus Levance Fields now knows how to take over in the end of a game. Pittsburgh will be wanting to seek revenge for this game, so watch out for them to come out steaming hot to start.

So far in this year's NCAA tournament Villanova has been dominating, while Pittsburgh has been struggling. Other than the first half against American, Villanova has played lights out on both sides of the ball. Pittsburgh has struggled to get by every team so far in this NCAA tournament.

Advantage: Villanova's Dominance, Pitt's Sloppy play. I believe Pitt will come out pumped in warm-ups, but will not able to sustain it during the game.

Prediction

Villanova Wildcats vs. Pittsburgh Panthers

This game is supposed to be battle, and that is the way everyone is looking at it. It's supposed to be a typical Big East, grind it out until the final seconds type of game.

I completely disagree.

Villanova, other than UNC and Louisville, has been the most impressive team in this tournament. First, they completely dismantled UCLA and then did the same to Duke. They're scorching hot on both ends of the ball. They held Duke to their lowest shooting percentage of all time during the NCAA tournament.

Pittsburgh has barely escaped elimination in all three of their tournaments so far. Everyone on ESPN, and all other commentators, think that Blair will not foul out and dominate. Well, he has been in every other NCAA tournament game and they barely got by.

Do not be surprised if Villanova has a lead into half-time, and then pulls away in the second half. I got Villanova big in this one. I believe they will win by at least 10 points. And they will be onto their first Final Four since 1985, when they won the national championship.

I'm putting this out their right now; if they play like they did against Duke and UCLA WATCH OUT. This is a team who will be reckoned with to win the national championship.