No. 1 Villanova flexed its muscle Wednesday with an 89-65 win over No. 10 Xavier.
The Wildcats took a commanding 40-28 lead into halftime, and backed it up with a spirited second half, stifling Xavier's potent scoring attack. Villanova (15-1) moved back into the top spot in the rankings this week, and made a case to remain there for a while.
MIKAL. BRIDGES. 🔨#NOVAvsXavier pic.twitter.com/7lRMgx2gkZ
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) January 11, 2018
Here are three takeaways from Villanova's win:
1. Villanova owns Xavier — Entering Wednesday night's game, Xavier had played at Villanova four times in conference play, since arriving in the Big East prior to the 2013-14 season, with the Wildcats winning each outing by an average of 23.0 points.
Xavier's plight at Villanova was continued by the Wildcats' junior guard Phil Booth exploding for 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Villanova's well-balanced lineup featured five double-figure scorers, but Booth's first-half shooting helped set the tone.
2. Jalen Brunson is the floor general every team needs — What's not to like about Brunson's game? The tough point guard can score points in bunches, dish out assists and make life miserable for opposing guards. Brunson controlled the tempo Wednesday by dishing out five assists while turning the ball just once.
Brunson, who specializes at getting to the basket, scored 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting. He also knocked down two 3-pointers, proving he has range and versatility on offense. Defensively, Brunson held Xavier point guard Quentin Goodin to zero points on 0-for-7 shooting. Brunson is the kind of guard coaches want in the NCAA Tournament.
3. When Trevon Bluiett and J.P. Macura are cold, Xavier struggles — Most teams would find life difficult if their two best players failed to provide quality performances, but Xavier especially relies on its two playmakers. Bluiett has developed into one of the best all-around scorers in college basketball, while Macura is a lights-out shooter that has become more consistent this season.
However, Bluiett scored just 11 points, while struggling from the field and free-throw line, and Macura was nearly non-existent throughout the game. He finished with just five points on 2-of-9 shooting and failing to make a 3-point basket. The Musketeers need high-profile freshmen Naji Marshall and Paul Scruggs to live up to their billing.