Villanova/Connecticut

Whenever the #1 team in the country travels to the home court of the #4 team in the country, there's obviously a lot of hype about the game. And this one didn't disappoint.

Allan Ray scored 25 and Kyle Lowry chipped in 18 as Villanova beat #1 UConn 69-64. Rudy Gay led Connecticut with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

My general observations from the game:

- Allan Ray was definitely the player of the game. Not only because of his numbers, but when he put them up. It was 45-33 Connecticut early in the 2nd half, and they were on a 15-0 run when Ray hit 4-straight three-pointers to make it 47-45, then Mike Nardi hit a 3 to put Villanova up by 1, and they never looked back. Also, on the final play, you'll remember it was Ray that came up with the steal (with an assist from Rashard Anderson). Great game for Allan Ray.

- Kyle Lowry single-handedly kept Villanova in the game in the 1st half. He hit some outside shots, blew by his defender off the dribble, and was seemingly everywhere defensively, as he finished with 3 steals.

- If Villanova can get more contributions like the 13 points/10 rebound performance tonight from Will Sheridan, they're going to be really really tough to beat. Especially when you consider that potential Big East Player of the Year Randy Foye, and guard Mike Nardi both had off nights.

- Villanova was seemingly running a Pick & Roll Clinic out there. UConn kept going under the screens, and Villanova kept hitting the outside shot. Wash, rinse, repeat. It was beautiful to watch.

- As Rudy Gay goes, UConn goes. He's got great talent, but he has to put up performances like he did tonight for them to go deep, because they don't have a lot of guys that can create their own shot. He shot well with men in his face and drove to the hoop well. You could certainly see why Gay is projected to possibly be the #1 pick.

- Speaking of NBA Drafts, the announcers were talking about how Hilton Armstrong has probably played himself into a first round pick, maybe even a lottery pick. I didn't really see that. He's a decent rebounder, and he's a very good shot blocker, but he doesn't have that good of an offensive game (although he did have one really nice play.) That's how desparate the NBA is for big men, I guess.

- Nice game for Marcus Williams tonight. He made some big buckets late, got to the hoop, and gave guys the ball at the right time. I was impressed.

- My pick to win it all has been Villanova, and I saw nothing to convince me otherwise tonight. They play good defense, their guards are solid rebounders, and when they're hot they're unstoppable. UConn also looks like a National Championship team, with a good outside-inside balance, and they're defensively, especially down low.

- Is it March yet?