In this year’s first Inside Scoop, we’re taking a look at Villanova from the eyes of a Wildcat blogger, Chris from I Bleed Blue and White. He sent me a bunch of questions in preparation for tomorrow’s game, and you can read my responses over at his site. Then I followed up by asking him some questions of my own.

Johnny: Villanova has basically the same team from last year. What’s been the difference that has given Nova so much more success this season.

Chris: Basically, everyone is a year older. Corey Fisher has really grown up and that has made a huge difference. He and Corey Stokes both learned to play defense. Last year, we didn’t have any seniors, so the leaders were juniors. Now they are a year older and really leading by example.

Shane Clark is over his injuries and is becoming a force on the offensive glass. Dwayne Anderson is the heart and soul of the team. And as you know, Dante Cunningham has come out of nowhere. He’s probably the biggest difference. We finally have a low post presence and it’s really freeing up the guards. Cunningham’s development has been remarkable to watch for 4 years. When he was a freshman, Jay Wright insisted he would be an All-Big East forward before he left. I was skeptical, but Wright was dead on.

Johnny: How are Villanova fans looking forward to this game? I know that Nova fans are big into this rivalry, but this being a down year for Georgetown and a good year for the Wildcats so far, is this still a big draw? Are the fans gonna get pumped up for this game or has the wins against Cuse and Pitt overshadowed the Hoyas?

Chris: Well, the students are on spring break, which is going to make it less of an electric atmosphere, but I think Villanova fans are really looking forward to the game in general. We sense that Top 4 seed in the BET is not far off, so there should be no let down, even though Georgetown is struggling. The Pitt and Marquette wins were our biggest of the year, but I think we all usually get pretty excited when a marquee Big East team comes to town.

Plus, after last year and the questionable foul on Stokes at the end, I think the team will really want this one.

Johnny: What’s it like having Senior Day in the middle of February? I know you guys have like a thousand home courts, but how does it work – is it confusing / do the seniors have anything to play for anymore?

Chris: Well, the reason they did it so early was because the last 2 home games are over spring break for the students, so they wanted to give the seniors are home game while everyone was on campus. The game itself (vs. Rutgers) was kind of a dud. It was emotional, especially for us seniors, because the current senior class has been amazing in terms of development and carrying this program.

As far as if anything is left to play for, yes there is. The current seniors can become the winningest class in ‘Nova history if they win Saturday, so that’s big for them. Also, they know they have a chance to make a run this year, and they want to set themselves up for the NCAA Tournament. So winning down the stretch is essential, and they know it.

Johnny: With the new format for the Big East Tournament, being one of the top four teams is a HUGE advantage. Is this something the team is thinking about or do they take it one game at a time? With the injury to Dominic James, does that make Marquette’s 4th place even more tempting?

Chris: It’s absolutely on their minds. With Marquette and Pitt both having 3 losses now, that goal is well within reach. It would actually be easier for us to pass Pitt (still have a date with UConn and Marquette) than it would be to pass Marquette, because we own the head to head over Pitt. Actually, if we win out, we automatically get a Top 4 seed (because Pitt and Marquette play each other). So their destiny is in their hands.

The James injury is going to be a killer for Marquette. I think with their guard play they were probably a sure fire Elite 8 team, but now, they’ll struggle to get out of the 1st weekend. They are just in a brutal stretch of scheduling right now, but I think Wes Matthews and Jerel McNeal are good enough to carry them and possibly hang on to a Top 4 seed.

Johnny: I’m gonna throw this last question right backatcha. Finally, what’s your feeling on the game? Villanova struggled with DePaul badly on Wednesday, but Georgetown is reeling. The Villanova students will largely be on break, which helps Georgetown immensely. Any predictions?

Chris: I think the bad taste that last year’s game left is on Villanova’s minds, and the near upset at DePaul will wake them up. The Wachovia Center will be a little more dead than usual, but I like Villanova to beat the Hoyas. I think the guard play of Villanova will prove to be greater than Georgetown’s, and Dante Cunningham is going to teach Greg Monroe a thing or two.

 
So thanks to Chris for setting this up. Be sure to check out his site before the game, and hopefully his prediction about the outcome won’t come true.