Nova-Missouri writeup from Nova guy

OK, so is Nova Mizzou's toughest opponent so far? Well, probably not.  Cal is on par if not better than Nova.  The biggest difference in this game for Mizzou is the game is being played outside the state of Missouri - which is where the ND (who is TERRIBLE this yr) and Cal games took place.  This game is at MSG, 2 hrs from Nova's campus and a place Nova plays at yearly.  They will have the crowd.

Nova's loss to Santa Clara was a terrible loss, but if you watched the game you would know the result was a wild fluke.  Nova led by 8 with 50 secs remaining then turned the ball over unforced 3 times, missed 2 front end 1 and 1's, and fouled Santa Clara 4 times all in the last 50 secs. It was an incomprehensible fluke finish.  Nova has played one real opponent, St. Louis.  The Cats had the game in their grasp for much of the first half before St. Louis started bombing from 3, making a ridiculous 14-26 while Nova started to misfire from deep at the other end...leading to the main point of tonight's game....

Perimeter shooting.  Mizzou has it in spades, Nova struggles shooting from deep.  Nova is a top 3 team in the country shooting FT's (81%), though, and live at the line.  Against a smallish Mizzou team they need to make it an ugly halfcourt game and get Yarou involved early and often.  That said, this Nova team just isnt that good right now.  3 freshmen are playing substantial mins and there are no seniors.  If Nova tries to run with this team, they will get wrecked.

In the end, this Mizzou team just has too much scoring, too much shooting and too much experience.  Ratcliffe, Pressey, Denmon, Dixon, English are 5 primary scoring options compared to Nova's 2 with Yarou and Wayns.  Come the end of the season (and next season) this Nova team will be pretty good but they are incorporating too many new pieces right now to be truly competitive with this opponent.  Missouri doesnt cruise here, but wins by 8+.

Missouri -7

I read that Villanove thought they had a foul to give late in the game and up three and they were wrong. Guy on Santa Clara banged down both foul shots then Villanova missed a 1-and-1 and then fouled again with just seconds left and SC hit both shots. Jay Wright went bananas after the game.

I agree about the pace. Obviouwsly Mizzou wants to push and if the young players on Nova get caught up in the "we can run with them" attitude that can happen with lack of experience, they will get pole-axed by 25+

Got Mizzou last nite @ -6.5

Jay Wright is not an idiot tho. He will not try to run with that team. Missouri should still cover but this won't get wildly out of hand. Nova is decent, they're far from terrible.

VILLA are 3-18 ATS in their last 21 games overall.

Can't blame him...

Oh my

Nova is horrible ats bc their lines are still inflated from the '09 final four appearance.

Jacksonville Jaguars were 10-1 to the under this season until last night. All good things come to an end my friend. That's alot of points for Nova to be catching @ home. Just saying...

Good write-up, rza.

Nova isn't at home. This game is at the Garden. Were this on Novas campus the line would be 5-6 Pts lower.

Nova didn't play poorly. MU is just good.

I was surprised how well Nova played. This was the first game I watched, and in retrospect i'm surprised they don't have better results. They have a couple good pieces and could knock off a good team or two this season.

What made nova lose tho? Any bad refs?

My bad. I didn't like this game enough to look past the match up page or live odds screen. Just seen Nova on the home side of the wager card and assumed. Nice hit...

Nova will be solid by seasons end.