9:35 pm
November 26

#3 Villanova @ #18 Arizona State

Who will WIN the championship?

#3 Villanova Wildcats (1-0)

#18 Arizona State Sun Devils (1-0)

 

Current odds:

Villanova Wildcats: (-250)

Arizona State Sun Devils: (+210)

 

• The line for this game is Villanova by 5.5 points.

• No. 3 Villanova survived a surprising challenge from unranked Boston College in the opener of the 2K Empire Classic on Wednesday. The task will become much more daunting for the Wildcats in the championship game Thursday night against No. 18 Arizona State in Uncasville, Conn. The Sun Devils defeated Rhode Island 94-88.

• Villanova rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit for a 76-67 victory over the Eagles thanks in large part to 18 points and 10 rebounds from Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. Collin Gillespie added 15 points while Justin Moore and Caleb Daniels added 14 each. The Wildcats looked out of sync for stretches but ultimately made enough plays down the stretch for the season-opening win.

• Villanova’s depth was tested a bit as it played without injured Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree and Bryan Antoine. The Wildcats received only eight points from their bench but the imposing starting lineup was enough to overcome Boston College. Gillespie didn’t shoot well (5 for 16), but he provided the type of senior leadership Wright has relied on for two decades on the Main Line.

• Arizona State also won its opener by overcoming a pesky unranked team in Rhode Island, which was a late replacement for Baylor because of COVID-19 issues. In a game marred by 55 fouls, the Sun Devils received 26 points, six rebounds and five assists from Remy Martin. It was the 26th time in Martin’s career that he eclipsed the 20-point mark. Arizona State also picked up a huge lift from freshman Marcus Bagley, who had 16 points in his first collegiate game.

• The Sun Devils’ program has been revived under the guidance of head coach Bobby Hurley, a two-time national champion as the point guard at Duke in 1991 and ’92. Hurley is used to winning and refuses to be fazed by national rankings. Arizona State’s six-point season-opening win was far from artistic. But any win counts the same.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#3 Villanova Wildcats
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