It certainly tells a lot about this team that it's possible to overlook the value Ochefu brings, simply because the other 7 guys in the rotation are all peaking and evolving at the same time. HOWEVER...I still think it can be said that without Ochefu we don't sniff this game on Saturday.
Throughout the BE season, we wondered what was up with the chef. Everyone knew his value, but he was either not getting a lot of minutes, or oscillating up and down in terms of impact. He was never playing bad, but it always felt like he could be doing more. Then he got hurt the first time, and a second time...and a third time. As we approached the BET, his health was front and center. He hardly impacted those 3 games, and didn't start any of them. What would we get from him in the NCAA?
Then the games started, and the best of all things Daniel showed up. He looked healthy, he logged big minutes, he scored, defended, rebounded, passed like a guard. Then against Miami, he looked to tweak his ankle again and it looked bad. But a quick trip to the sideline and tightening of the laces seemed to do the trick and he was back.
Going into each of the last 3 NCAA games the mantra from this board and the media was the same as the last 3 years. How would Ochefu handle non BE bigs? Everyone thought Iowa, Miami and especially Kansas would all have an advantage. And Ochefu proved them all wrong. Ochefu has been the best big man in nearly every single game he's played all year, including the last 3 games, and especially Kansas. He will again be the best against OK.
He is not only the anchor of our defense, the key to our rebounding strategy, and the reliable go-to option on offense...but he is a willing leader.
Thinking back to last March and all the ups and downs of his career, it's not hard to say that nobody is peaking better or more impressively this year than Daniel.
http://nypost.com/2016/04/01/meet-the-other-villanova-star-whos-just-as-important-as-arch/
Throughout the BE season, we wondered what was up with the chef. Everyone knew his value, but he was either not getting a lot of minutes, or oscillating up and down in terms of impact. He was never playing bad, but it always felt like he could be doing more. Then he got hurt the first time, and a second time...and a third time. As we approached the BET, his health was front and center. He hardly impacted those 3 games, and didn't start any of them. What would we get from him in the NCAA?
Then the games started, and the best of all things Daniel showed up. He looked healthy, he logged big minutes, he scored, defended, rebounded, passed like a guard. Then against Miami, he looked to tweak his ankle again and it looked bad. But a quick trip to the sideline and tightening of the laces seemed to do the trick and he was back.
Going into each of the last 3 NCAA games the mantra from this board and the media was the same as the last 3 years. How would Ochefu handle non BE bigs? Everyone thought Iowa, Miami and especially Kansas would all have an advantage. And Ochefu proved them all wrong. Ochefu has been the best big man in nearly every single game he's played all year, including the last 3 games, and especially Kansas. He will again be the best against OK.
He is not only the anchor of our defense, the key to our rebounding strategy, and the reliable go-to option on offense...but he is a willing leader.
Thinking back to last March and all the ups and downs of his career, it's not hard to say that nobody is peaking better or more impressively this year than Daniel.
http://nypost.com/2016/04/01/meet-the-other-villanova-star-whos-just-as-important-as-arch/
