This is an continuation of our Final Four Preview. We just looked at the UNC vs Syracuse game, and now we will be looking at Oklahoma vs Villanova. Two #2 seeds battling for the chance to win a National Championship. It’s going to be legit, and if you don’t watch, you will be sorry.
#2 Oklahoma (West Region) vs #2 Villanova -1.5 (South Region)
Historically, these two programs are very similar. Both programs have made it to four Final Fours and both have coaches who have past experience in the Final Four. Both have a similar number of tournament appearances, though Villanova has won a national championship, something the Sooners have never accomplished.
For the Sooners, they are led by Buddy Hield, a college legend on par with Curry, Laettner, Fredette and Walker. Hield is probably the best college basketball player in the world today, regardless of what the Associated Press believes. He leads his team with 25.4 points per game, a whole 12 points more than the Sooners #2 scorer, Jordan Woodward. He is shooting 46% from three, 88% from the free throw stripe, and an astonishing 50.4% from the field. Hield is ridiculous, and is a freak on the hardwood. Watch for him to take over the game for his team, and if Villanova allows him to, it could be a death wish for Nova.
The boy from the Bahamas, Hield, is helped by the Junior Woodward and Seniors Isaiah Cousins and Ryan Spangler to try and provide a spark for the offensive side of the ball. All three players average over ten points a game, as well as Cousins and Woodward averaging 7 assists cumulatively, while Spangler averages close to 10 rebounds per game. Lon Kruger, the head coach for the Sooners, is reaching his second Final Four, his first since 1993. Kruger and Oklahoma are hoping to ride Hield to a National Championship, and it’s very possible they will.
For the Wildcats, Coach Jay Wright has coached the team to his second Final Four appearance. The Wildcats are led by Seniors Ryan Arcidiacono, Daniel Ochefu and Juniors Kris Jenkins and Josh Hart. Between the four, they average 51 points a game, over 65% of the teams total points. Arcidiacono and Jenkins are clutch from three, leading the team with 94 and 71 respectively. Arcidiacono is more efficient than Jenkins but only by a small margin. Arcidinacono is also a graceful facilitator, dishing out 5 dimes per game. Ochefu is a big body who averages 7 rebounds a game and provides a presences in the paint. Ochefu will be depended on against Oklahoma due to his size and ability to match up against the Sooner’s bigs. In fact Ochefu is the only Wildcat over 6’9, and will have to deal with three potential 6’10 and up players from Kruger’s team. Hart is the leading scorer on the team, and if he and Arcidiacono can keep Hield and Woodward in check, the Wildcat’s could easily be playing for a National Championship Monday evening.
For the game, watch for Hield to try and assert his dominance early, and help the Sooners get out to an early lead. Star players shine on the biggest stages and this is definitely the biggest stage Hield has been on. Also watch for Oklahoma to use their size inside to try and win the paint, and intimidate the smaller Villanova team. As for Villanova, watch for their committee of players to rally around each other, specifically Arcidiacono and Ochefu, who could be playing in their last collegiate game Saturday. Also watch for Jay Wright to attempt to shut down Hield, in order to stop the flow of offense for Oklahoma.
Prediction: 70-68 Oklahoma over Villanova
