NCAA Tournament 2010 Predictions: Robert Morris vs Villanova
by Dave D
The NCAA Tournament cranks up in Providence, R.I., as Villanova takes on Robert Morris in one of the first games of the opening round’s afternoon session.
Robert Morris Colonials vs. Villanova Wildcats
Thursday, March 18th – 12:30 PM ET
Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI
Broadcast: CBS
: Villanova -18
The Week That Was: Robert Morris
Coach Mike Rice’s club had the past week off, but in the first 10 days of March, the Colonials were busy punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Robert Morris won three games in a seven-day span to capture the Northeast Conference Tournament title and the automatic bid that came with it.
In the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 4, Robert Morris – the second seed in its tournament –fought off seventh-seeded Central Connecticut State, 71-63. Five different Colonials scored in double figures, and guard Karon Abraham led the way with 18 points.
In the semifinals on Sunday, March 7, Robert Morris popped third-seeded Mount Saint Mary’s, 80-62. After a racehorse brand of basketball produced a 47-40 halftime score, the Colonials buckled down on defense and limited the visiting Mountaineers to just 22 points in the second half.
On Wednesday, March 10, Rice’s roster took home the NEC Tournament championship by outlasting top-seeded Quinnipiac, 52-50. With 10 seconds left and the Colonials leading, 50-48, Robert Morris forward Dallas Green blocked a 3-pointer. He was fouled with seven seconds left and then hit two free throws to seal the game with seven seconds remaining.
The Week That Was: Villanova
The Wildcats were given a double-bye in the Big East Tournament in New York, but once they took the court in the quarterfinal round of the five-day event, they didn’t stick around for very long. On Thursday, March 11, coach Jay Wright’s lineup was bested by Marquette, 80-76.
Fourth-seeded Villanova sat around and waited over the first two days of the tournament, while Marquette – as the fifth seed – was able to play a game in Wednesday’s second round. That extra game for Marquette seemed to loosen up the Golden Eagles, while Villanova was stale after four days off.
The game’s key moment came with 46 seconds left and Marquette nursing a 73-70 lead. MU had just run 34 seconds off the shot clock, but three Villanova players could not outfight Marquette guard David Cubillan for a rebound.
Cubillan gained position and drew a foul, after which he hit two free throws to extend the Golden Eagles’ lead to 75-70. Villanova couldn’t answer, and as a result, the Wildcats lost their fifth game in their last seven outings.
Outlook & Pick:
Villanova has really struggled over the past few weeks, and it’s also true that Robert Morris – as a No. 15 seed – pushed Michigan State for roughly 30 minutes in last year’s NCAA first round.
However, this is still a 15 seed against a second seed, and that means the Wildcats – perhaps after a sluggish first half – should certainly be able to overwhelm the Colonials with superior backcourt speed and more active bodies on the glass.
College Basketball Betting Pick: Villanova
