Q&A With Noah and Chase: Notre Dame vs Villanova Predictions
Josh Hart and V.J. Beachem look to move their team to 10-0 as Notre Dame vs Villanova tips off on Saturday.
It’s hard to deny this won’t be one of the best games of the 2016-2017 season. It’s only December, but these two squads are looking more and more like Final Four contenders each game.
It won’t be a breeze for either team. The matchups in this game are some of the best fans will see all year. The Fighting Irish will have an enormous challenge on their hands in shutting down Josh Hart. Hart has dominated for the Wildcats all season. His
Notre Dame is also going to need to adjust on the road. The Prudential Center has been one of the hardest arenas to compete in for years. In a top 25 battle against two of the hottest teams in college basketball, it should be rocking.
Nothing is guaranteed for either team. Both units will need to have nearly perfect days to pull off a win in this game. Players like V.J. Beachem, Bonzie Colson, Josh Hart, and Kris Jenkins are going to be deciding factors. If one team’s superstars can take over, they should be able to pull off a W.
There’s a lot to look at in this game. With more than enough predictions to think about, the Slap the Sign staff has all the answers.
Can Bonzie Colson dominate the paint?
Noah – Bonzie Colson is easily Notre Dame’s biggest reason for their hot start. The lack of post players for Notre Dame was a major concern for the Irish, but Colson has stepped up. His 10.7 rebounds per game as a smaller forward is impressive. What’s even more impressive is his ability to lead this Notre Dame team while having to be their big man. Reynolds is a more significant player, but Colson plays with more aggression on the boards. I see Colson having a major impact on this game and controlling the paint for most of the game.
Chase – We have seen what Bonzie Colson has been able to do against teams with a true big man and without one. He still plays his game and has had an impact on each one. This should be a free for all buffet against Reynolds. Not only will Reynolds not have a way to guard the versatile Colson, but I also expect Colson to have a career high in rebounds after this game. He has a junkyard dog mentality that’s hard to match up against.
Who will have the biggest impact in Notre Dame’s success?
Noah – Matt Farrell. Villanova has one of the best backcourts in the country lead by Josh Hart. Farrell is leading Notre Dame’s backcourt defensively. This season, he’s taken off and is one of the Irish’s most reliable players. He’ll be responsible for slowing down Hart and whatever Nova player is hot. If Notre Dame wants to win, they’re going to need to slow down the guards of Villanova. Farrell will be the head of this charge. If Notre Dame wins, it will be because Farrell steps up.
Chase – It’s hard to say that V.J. Beachem hasn’t made an impact because he has and is arguably the most valuable player to the Irish, but it’s also hard for me to say that I’ve seen what I’ve wanted out of him. Beachem showed out in March, and I’m expecting the same in a game of this caliber. On both sides of the ball, he has the opportunity to be the best player on the court. Not to mention that there’s going to be a lot of hype behind this game as well. Beachem has that mild temper that he can use to keep himself in check and to lead his teammates.
How important is home court advantage?
Noah – In college basketball, games are won and lost because of homecourt advantage. Villanova has one of the best crowds in the country. This will only affect the Irish if the keep it close. Notre Dame needs to keep the crowd quiet early so they can gain momentum. As soon as they allow the fans to get into it, they’re in trouble. The homecourt advantage is going to be full force in this game. With so much on the line, the fans are going to be rowdy. For Villanova, having home court advantage is going to benefit them, but it may not win them the game.
Chase – Normally I would give homecourt a huge advantage, but against the Irish maybe not so much. There are some interesting personalities on this team. Beachem and Steve Vasturia both have a calm and cool demeanor and with those two leading the team, the rest will follow and not let it phase them too much. Then you have players like Colson and Farrell who are gritty and can use the crowd as motivation. Plus this is a veteran team that’s seen two Elite Eights, they’ve been on bigger stages before.
What does a win/loss mean to Notre Dame?
Noah – If Notre Dame wins against the second-ranked team in the country it proves a lot. The Irish are right outside the top 25 after being considered one of the lower ACC teams of 2016-2017. A victory for the Irish means everything they’ve shown thus far is true. Bonzie Colson is one of the best players in the country, and Notre Dame is going a lot further than most thought.
If Notre Dame loses, it means the complete opposite. A loss shows that everything Notre Dame has done this season wasn’t a fluke, but it wasn’t meaningful. The Irish haven’t played any substantial competition yet. A loss to Villanova means Notre Dame isn’t a real as people think.
Chase – A win for Notre Dame would mean everything. It would show just how dangerous they are and would make a huge impact in the long run. Sometimes playing in a tough conference like the ACC, you can get lost in the shuffle because there’s going to be a lot of losses passed around even to the best teams in the nation. This would hold significance once Selection Sunday rolls around.
Of course, a bad loss would give everyone the right to continue to look past the Irish, but a close loss could still be beneficial. The Irish would get some props and some respect from teams who will face the Irish down the road. Ultimately, Notre Dame will not get real respect because “Notre Dame is a basketball school” is something that’s hard to roll off the tongue.
Who wins?
Noah – Notre Dame shocks the world. The Irish have started the season hot, and I’m not one of the people who believe it’s a fluke. Notre Dame has one of the best group of guards in the nation, and this will be the game they finally get recognition. Colson should be able to control the paint. As long as V.J. Beachem and Matt Farrell stay sharp, they should pull off a victory. Notre Dame wins 82-75.
Chase – If this game was in South Bend there would be no doubt in my mind that Notre Dame would pull off the upset of another #1 team. But it’s not. Even with that, I still think that this team has recognized the amount of disrespect thrown their way. And I believe that they’ve had this one marked on the calendars for awhile. The talent on this roster is enough to keep it close. It’s hard to match up against the nontraditional Irish, and that’s why I’m still giving them the advantage. Notre Dame wins 72-66
More from Slap the Sign
This article originally appeared on 
