BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Cincinnati @ Villanova

February 14, 2007


Villanova looks tp climb over .500 for the first time this season in Big East play as the welcome last-place Cincinnati to Philadelphia for a conference game. The Bearcats are struggling in Mick Cronin's first season as head coach of his alma mater at 1-9 in the conference and have found themselves almost inventing new ways to lose games down the stretch as well as getting blown out from time to time.

Here are the pregame stories and previews found on the internet this morning:

Past is Future for UC (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Father Feels Mick's Pain (Enquirer)
Nova's Sumpter Conquers Injuries (Cincinnati Post)
UC Tries to End 6-Game Skid (Enquirer)
Wildcats Offense Better than it Looks, Nardi Says (Philadelphia Inquirer)


Villanova is a 15.5-pt favorite in tonight's Big East conference match-up. The Wildcats will look to use their expererince with three senior starters in the line-up to move over .500 in the Big East. The Bearcats have a lot of athletic ability, but they were a team thrown together late in the process by Mick Cronin and it often shows in their play. There is some talent there, but adjusting to the High-Major world of college basketball has been a trying experience for Mick Cronin's squad.

Things are unlikely to get an easier tonight as Villanova looks to score inside and out and force Cincinnati into turnovers with their agressive trapping defense. The Bearcats will need to take care of the ball and shoot well, especially from beyond the arc, or this game could get ugly.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Villanova 76 Cincinnati 62