At a glance: UW vs. Villanova, 1:40 p.m. Saturday (CBS)
BASICS
Teams: No. 8 Wisconsin (26-9) vs. No. 1 Villanova (32-3).
When: 1:40 p.m. Saturday.
Where: KeyBank Center, Buffalo
Broadcasts: CBS.
RELATED: UW needs Koenig, Hayes to come through again vs. Villanova
RELATED: Iverson blocks out pain, soars for UW
RELATED: At a glance: UW vs. Villanova, 1:40 p.m. Saturday (CBS)
BRACKETS: Bracket Challenge | Updated printable bracket
SCOREBOARD: Live NCAA Tournament scores, box scores
MORE COVERAGE: NCAA Tournament section
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
Coach: Jay Wright, 508-245, 23rd season overall (386-160, 16 seasons at Villanova).
Team colors: Navy blue and white.
NCAA performance last year: Defeated North Carolina, 77-74, to win the title.
Starting five: Kris Jenkins, 6-6, Sr., F; Mikal Bridges, 6-5, Soph., F; Darryl Reynolds, 6-9, F, Sr.; Jalen Brunson, 6-2, Soph., G; Josh Hart, 6-6, Sr., G.
Top reserves:Donte Divincenzo, 6-5, Fr., G; Eric Paschal, 6-7, Soph., F.
How they win: Villanova, which is holding teams to 62.6 points per game, can rely on its defense. The Wildcats also can win with ball movement and balanced scoring as they average 14.3 assists per game and four starters average at least 10 points per game.
MATCHUPS
Frontcourt: Villanova’s Kris Jenkins, Darryl Reynolds and Mikal Bridges vs. Wisconsin’s Nigel Hayes, Ethan Happ and Vitto Brown.
Jenkins, who hit the game-winning three-pointer in the national title game last season, was 0 of 6 from three-point range and 2 of 13 overall in the first-round victory over Mount St. Mary’s. Don’t expect a similar performance against UW. Jenkins entered the tournament shooting 37.2% from three-point range. Reynolds, who averages 23.9 minutes per game, isn’t asked to score. His tasks are to rebound (5.4 per game) and defend. Bridges (10.0 ppg, 55.9% shooter) struggled early against Mount St. Mary’s but regrouped and finished with 13 points, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
Happ picked up his first foul against Virginia Tech just 18 seconds into the game. His second came with 10 minutes 13 seconds left in the first half – when he gambled trying to deny a post feed – and the redshirt sophomore sat the rest of the half. That can’t happen Saturday as UW needs to work Happ and Hayes inside. That duo combined for 26 points and 18 rebounds against Virginia Tech, including 22 points and 11 rebounds after halftime. Hayes dominated down low and hit 8 of 9 free-throw attempts, all in the second half. Brown made several critical errors against Virginia Tech. However, he played terrific defense to help force a late shot-clock violation with UW leading by three. He must be better Saturday. Edge: UW.
Backcourt: Villanova’s Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson vs. UW’s Bronson Koenig and Zak Showalter.
Hart (18.7 points, 6.5 rebounds) could be the best all-around player in the country. He has led Villanova in scoring 16 times and in rebounds 18 times this season. And he is coming off a quiet game (11 points, five rebounds). Brunson is a powerful guard who can take defenders down low and shoots 39.3% from three-point range. He attempted only one three against Mount St. Mary’s yet still finished with 14 points on 7-for-11 shooting.
Showalter fouled out against Virginia Tech’s active guards. He likely will draw the assignment of trying to slow Hart. If he can’t contain Hart, UW’s victory chances will be slimmer. Koenig’s three-point barrage (8 of 17) against Virginia Tech was impressive, but many came because defenders lost track of the UW senior, who moved into open areas of the zone. Villanova likely won’t make such mistakes. Edge: Villanova.
Reserves: Villanova’s Donte Divincenzo and Eric Paschall vs. UW’s Khalil Iverson, D’Mitrik Trice and Jordan Hill.
Divincenzo, a 6-foot-5, redshirt sophomore, is aggressive and explosive. He proved a spark when the Wildcats were struggling early against Mount St. Mary’s and finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, both team-high marks.
Iverson, playing less than a week after learning two cousins were shot to death back home in Ohio, provided a similar spark for UW. The sophomore appeared supremely confident and attacked the rim and the ball on both ends and finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes. Trice gave UW three assists and three rebounds against Virginia Tech. But all seven of his shots were three-point attempts and he made just two. UW might need more scoring Saturday. Edge: Villanova.
Coaches: Villanova’s Jay Wright vs. Wisconsin’s Greg Gard.
Wright has 753 games on his resume. Gard has 58. Both are smart, flexible coaches who appear to have a good feel for the strengths and weaknesses of their personnel. But you can’t beat experience. Edge: Villanova.