Third year in a row going to the Prudential Center for this game. Every year, the game is a total nightmare. A few comments here to throw out for conversation.
1. Atmosphere. That was a TOUGH crowd to play against. It's generally the same every year but last night's was particularly rowdy. We could've put them away several times, and quieted the crowd, and just didn't.There's just an underdog intensity in that arena, beginning with their fans sitting court side. That's a very good win for us.
2. Prudential Center. With the curtains up, it actually does feel like an intimate arena vs some big professional venue. They do a nice job with it..although I wonder what their attendance is like in non-Villanova (ie Top 5-10) games. Even last night, a lot of empty seats. I don't care what time it is, #4/conference rival in town. The fans that are there bring it, in their defense.
3. Whitehead. I wonder what SHU fans think of him. IMO, they are better when he is not on the court. He did hit a bunch of clutch shots, but for every good play he makes two errant plays whether they be out of control shots or wild passes when he actually decides to pass. For every open three Rodriguez hit, there was another where he didn't even see the ball. Their "comeback" stretch in the middle of the 2nd half was with Whitehead out of the game. He had plenty of chances to win the game for them, and didn't. Too much emotion and the intensity beat him. Carrington is a player and should be their guy.
4. Williard. I know it's a joke on here that we hate every coach, but this guy takes the cake in the BE for me, by far. Sure Jay gets after refs, but this guy is at half court, 3 feet in bounds the entire game, every game. You just look at him and see no control of the team; complete inmates run the asylum feeling. In such an emotional game, you need to the head coach to show composure -- I don't think it's a coincidence that poor shot selection, bad passes, etc cost them the game. We won the first 35 minutes of that game, but they had us on the ropes in the final 5 and should not have walked out of there with a win.
1. Atmosphere. That was a TOUGH crowd to play against. It's generally the same every year but last night's was particularly rowdy. We could've put them away several times, and quieted the crowd, and just didn't.There's just an underdog intensity in that arena, beginning with their fans sitting court side. That's a very good win for us.
2. Prudential Center. With the curtains up, it actually does feel like an intimate arena vs some big professional venue. They do a nice job with it..although I wonder what their attendance is like in non-Villanova (ie Top 5-10) games. Even last night, a lot of empty seats. I don't care what time it is, #4/conference rival in town. The fans that are there bring it, in their defense.
3. Whitehead. I wonder what SHU fans think of him. IMO, they are better when he is not on the court. He did hit a bunch of clutch shots, but for every good play he makes two errant plays whether they be out of control shots or wild passes when he actually decides to pass. For every open three Rodriguez hit, there was another where he didn't even see the ball. Their "comeback" stretch in the middle of the 2nd half was with Whitehead out of the game. He had plenty of chances to win the game for them, and didn't. Too much emotion and the intensity beat him. Carrington is a player and should be their guy.
4. Williard. I know it's a joke on here that we hate every coach, but this guy takes the cake in the BE for me, by far. Sure Jay gets after refs, but this guy is at half court, 3 feet in bounds the entire game, every game. You just look at him and see no control of the team; complete inmates run the asylum feeling. In such an emotional game, you need to the head coach to show composure -- I don't think it's a coincidence that poor shot selection, bad passes, etc cost them the game. We won the first 35 minutes of that game, but they had us on the ropes in the final 5 and should not have walked out of there with a win.