Returning to the happy confines of the Finneran Pavilion could not have come at a better time for the Villanova Wildcats.
After three straight road losses and staring down a visit from Marquette - the current top seed in the Big East race whom the Wildcats are chasing – the newly renovated home court never looked so good. They played seven of their first 16 games on campus this sesaon but have appeared there just twice in their last 12. They have won six straight there after suffering consecutive losses to Michigan and Furman.
With this being their final on-campus appearance (they host Butler at the Wells Fargo Center Saturday), it will be Seniors Night, honoring not only the five currently on the roster (Phil Booth, Eric Paschall among them), but also Mikal Bridges, who left after his junior season for the NBA Draft last June and will be in attendance.
Bridges in the front of VU’s three-quarters court press was one of the main factors in the Wildcats’ two national championships. So, expect these Wildcats to amp up the defense with Bridges there Wednesday, specifically after intermission and any of Jay Wright’s defensive adjustments that need to be made.
The Second Half Over/Under for Marquette is 36.5 points. Although the Wildcats’ opponents have posted 45, 43 and 39 in three second halves of the current losing streak, they haven’t allowed more than 36 in any second half at Finneran all season and are holding teams to an average of 30.9 in the second 20 minutes there over nine games. That’s good enough to get us to double our normal $5 Prop wager.
And if the Golden Eagles get rolling, Bridges can always slip on a game jersey and pretend he has eligibility left.
Pick: Marquette Second Half Under 36.5 (-$10/115)