Tag: Villanova

Watch: Eric Paschall does Splash Brothers impression in Rising Stars Challenge

Watch Eric Paschall knock down a three-pointer during the 2020 NBA Rising Stars Challenge.

The 2020 edition of NBA All-Star weekend is a little different for the Golden State Warriors. Injuries to Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have slowed down the Warriors’ normal schedule when it comes to All-Star weekend.

Instead of sending a bevy of players to partake in All-Star festivities, the Warriors only had one member in Chicago. Rookie Eric Paschall was invited to the NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge to compete against other rookies and second-year players from across the league.

Paschall checked into the game in the first quarter and got on the board quickly, scoring his first bucket on a drive through the lane.

The Villanova product followed up his layup with a long-distance 3-pointer, shades of his Splash Brothers teammates.

Paschall knocking down a wing 3-pointer is a bit uncharacteristic for the rookie. Although Paschall can score the basketball at a proficient rate, most of his buckets come inside the arc.

Paschall is only shooting 28.2 % from 3-point land and has only made three long-range shots in his last 11 games before the All-Star break.

However, this is the Rising Stars Challenge, and for a chance at winning Most Valuable Player, Paschall was going to have to let it fly.

Does Eric Paschall have a chance at winning the 2020 Rising Stars Challenge MVP?

Can Warriors’ rookie Eric Paschall bring the Rising Stars Challenge MVP hardware back to the Bay Area?

With Golden State’s record sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, there hasn’t been much to be proud of during the 2019-20 season for Warriors fans.

Stephen Curry’s return from injury, and how newly-acquired Andrew Wiggins fits in with the Warriors are exciting things to watch in the second half of the season, but leading up to the All-Star break, it’s been bleak.

However, one of the pleasant surprises in a down season filled with injury has been the opportunities opened up for players on the backend of the rotation.

Eric Paschall, the Warriors second-round pick in 2019, has evolved into one of Steve Kerr’s leading scorers. The Villanova product is averaging 13.2 points per game on 48.2 % from the field.

The rookie has thrived with opportunity, earning a spot in the 2020 NBA Rising Stars Challenge in Chicago.

Paschall’s numbers may have dipped from his Rookie of the Year caliber start, but he’s been surprising people all season long —  so why count him out as a contender for the game’s Most Valuable Player award?

Here’s a look at how Paschall can bring an MVP trophy from Chicago back to the Bay Area.

Veteran mindset

The Rising Stars Challenge is a display of the NBA’s youth, and while Paschall is still very young, he’ll be one of the oldest players on the floor Friday night in Chicago.

Paschall, 23, is only behind Miami Heat guard Kendrick Nunn and Charlotte Hornets’ guard Devonte’ Graham, who are both 24 from the original roster. Nicolo Melli, 29 from the New Orleans Pelicans, was added as a replacement for Phoenix center Deandre Ayton.

The Rising Stars Challenge is one game where Paschall will have an edge when it comes to experience. What Paschall learned during his junior and senior years at Villanova could benefit him while playing against 19 and 20-year-olds.

Bully ball

One thing Golden State’s fanbase has learned about Paschall is his strength. The New York native is already big in size that carries into a sense of physicality every time he touches the ball.

Paschall has registered high scoring totals throughout his rookie season, including two 30-point games. Yet, he hasn’t shot the ball well from deep. In Paschall’s top five scoring contests, he’s only made 10 shots from beyond the arc total.

In an All-Star game where other players may be camping around the three-point line to show off their long-distance shooting, Paschall could be in line to clean up points in the lane.

Posterization

Pairing with off his physicality is Paschall’s eye for the aggressive dunk. Paschall athleticism is an underrated part of his game. Throughout his rookie year, Paschall has had multiple rim rocking dunks.

If Paschall can stuff the stat sheet using a veteran mindset and add one highlight-reel dunk, the Warriors rookie could be in line for some hardware.

Omari Spellman is earning a larger role in Steve Kerr’s rotation

Omari Spellman has been playing well of late for the Warriros, and is earning himself more minutes in Steve Kerr’s rotation.

In a year where the Golden State Warriors have struggled to secure wins, the development of younger players has been the silver lining to an otherwise down season. One of the Warriors bright spots of late has been sophomore big-man, Omari Spellman.

Spellman, after spending his rookie season with the Atlanta Hawks, has been impressive in his first season in Golden State.

Spellman is averaging 7.1 points, 4.9 rebounds per game with 44.8 % shooting from the field this season, while also adding 39.3 % from beyond the arc. Spellman’s numbers with the Warriors in 2019-20 are all above his career averages.

In the past two games, the Villanova product has played over 20-minutes off the bench and registered double-digit scoring numbers in each game. The Cleveland native has also added a rim-rocking dunk in each of his last two contests.

Without Kevon Looney, and Draymond Green getting ejected, Spellman played a significant role against the Detroit Pistons. The former Atlanta Hawk dropped a career-high 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting, adding a perfect 4-of-4 from the 3-point range.

With two Warriors frontline pieces out of the game, Spellman used his opportunity against Detroit as an audition for more minutes in Steve Kerr’s rotation.

Honestly, I just was going out and trying to play aggressive, and seize the opportunity — I don’t want to lay down and just accept losing minutes — I’m going to just stay ready, but I’m not going to take that lying dow— I want to prove that I can play, I should be out there in my opinion.

In the Warriors practice over the weekend, following their 111-104 loss to Detroit, Kerr agreed Spellman had earned more playing time.

I think Omari has absolutely earned more minutes, he played great last night, played well for us early in the season before things kind of went against him — sometimes it’s just circumstantial, but circumstances turn, especially if you have the fortitude to keep working and remain patient like he has and remain positive — that’s probably the thing I’m most proud of him for.

Both of Spellman’s frontcourt mates, Looney, and Green are dealing with injuries. Neither will suit up against the Sacramento Kings, opening up another opportunity for the Warriors eager forward to build on his impressive play.

Xavier at Villanova odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s Xavier Musketeers at Villanova Wildcats sports betting odds and lines, with NCAA basketball betting picks, tips and bets.

The Xavier Musketeers (11-2, 0-0 Big East) and Villanova Wildcats (9-2, 0-0 Big East) open the conference schedule at Finneran Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. ET Monday. We analyze the Xavier-Villanova odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Xavier at Villanova: Three things you need to know

1. These Big East rivals faced each other three times last season, with the Wildcats winning 85-75 to cover the spread on Jan. 18 and also hitting the Over. In the rematch, the Musketeers won 66-54 to cover as the Under hit. They also met in the conference tourney, with ‘Nova winning in overtime, as Xavier covered with the Over.

2. The Musketeers have covered four of the past 13 games overall, and they’re 7-3 against the spread in the past 10 games on the road.

3. The Wildcats have covered 29 of the past 42 games at home, but they’re just 1-5-1 ATS in the past seven overall, and 1-4-1 ATS in the past six against winning sides.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!

Xavier at Villanova: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 9 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Villanova 77, Xavier 75

Moneyline (ML)

There was no moneyline available at the time of publishing.

Against the Spread (ATS)

XAVIER (+5.5, -106) will look to add to ‘Nova’s (-5.5, -115) woes against the number. The Wildcats have been scratching out wins, but failing to cover, going 1-5-1 ATS in the past seven. Look for a close battle in this conference opener, as the two rivals feel each other out early before a close finish at the end.

Over/Under (O/U)

OVER 139.5 (-106) is the play in Philly, as the over has hit in six of the past eight for XU, and 12 of the past 17 for ‘Nova.

Want some action in this one? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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No. 1 Kansas made the wrong kind of history in loss to Villanova

DOWN GOES KANSAS.

These days, it seems like being the number one ranked team in college basketball is a curse. No one wants it.

Kansas was the latest top team to fall in a close game. They lost 56-55 to Villanova in a close game that came down to the wire.

With just a bit over 20 seconds left to play in the game, Villanova forward Jermaine Samuels hit what would essentially be the game winning shot with 20 seconds to play. Overall, the Wildcats shot 10-41 from deep, but they needed every single one of them — especially the last one — to seal the game against the country’s top team.

Kansas nearly hit a game winner themselves on the other end, but came up just short after Devon Dotson missed a final layup attempt.

At this point, just avoid the number one spot if you want to keep winning. Kansas is the 5th different team to lose after being ranked number one and the third team to lose a game within a week of gaining their ranking.

It’s already the most number ones to fall before January in the history of the top 25 poll, per ESPN.

Man, it’s going to be so good when we finally get to March. We’ve already seen a ton of upsets. Hopefully, for us, it only gets better from here.

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Watch: Ohio State basketball head coach Chris Holtmann talks Villanova and previews Stetson

Ohio State head basketball coach Chris Holtmann met with the media in Columbus Friday to discuss Villanova and to look ahead to Stetson.

Ohio State looked awfully impressive against the tenth ranked Villanova Wildcats Wednesday night, winning by a wide margin 76-51. There’s no doubt it was a head-turning victory. However, a season is not made by one impressive victory, and that’s no doubt that’s the message Holtmann is giving his team.

The head man in charge met with the local media Friday night to reflect upon the game against Villanova and to look ahead to the next opponent, Stetson.

We’ve got the entire press conference for you in case you didn’t catch it courtesy of the Ohio State University Men’s Basketball Facebook page. Holtmann discussed how laser focused his team was against Villanova, tried to temper expectations because of youth, looked ahead to Stetson and more.

Click on the below, watch — and get a listen. As a bonus, you can also catch questions posed to Danny Hummer and freshman E.J. Liddell at the beginning. Holtmann appears midway through the video.

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https://www.facebook.com/OhioStateMensBasketball/videos/2242103142747919/