Stretch Four Staff Picks
The Stretch Four staff takes a look at five of the weekend’s most enticing matchups and offers insight on which teams leave victorious and why.
No. 23 Notre Dame (9–0) vs. No. 1 Villanova (9–0) (Game played in Newark, N.J.)
12:00 P.M. Saturday, Dec. 10 | CBS
Only eight teams remain undefeated in Division I college basketball, and we’re lucky enough to see two of them take the same court at the Prudential Center this weekend. Villanova and Notre Dame haven’t met since the Irish left the Big East in 2013, but the level of competition that Jay Wright and Mike Brey’s play at will give college basketball fans across the country a warm sense of nostalgia.
Josh Ellis: Villanova. The defending national champs have too many weapons on offense, all of which can hold their own on defense. This one could be a shootout but right now Notre Dame’s best win is against Colorado and that doesn’t give me enough confidence to believe they’ll pull of the upset. Wildcats in a close one.
Derek Terry: Villanova. This might be the best game on Saturday. It’s a battle of two unbeaten teams and also an old Big East matchup. The game will be played on a neutral court in New Jersey, but that should have little impact on the game. Notre Dame is a surprising team, but it won’t have enough to beat the Wildcats.
Anthony Crawford: Villanova. At this point in the season, it will take a lot to pick against the defending champs, especially with how consistent they’ve been to start the season. Neither team should struggle to score, but I trust guys like Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins more in crucial moments than any player suiting up for the Fighting Irish. Villanova pulls away late to win comfortably.
Chris Angolia: Villanova. The Irish have been a surprise so far this season, especially Bonzie Colson, and they are playing good basketball. However, the defending national champs have too many weapons that will give the Irish all sorts of trouble. Josh Hart is in the early conversation for player of the year and the rest of their team is extremely balanced on both ends off the floor. In the end, Nova’s pressure will get to the Irish allowing them to get the W quite comfortably.
No. 17 Wisconsin (8–2) at Marquette (7–2)
2:00 P.M. Saturday, Dec. 10 | FS1
The I-94 rivalry is in its 123rd all-time meeting and sets up for another down-to-the-wire finish. The winner of the last two meetings between the Badgers and Golden Eagles has won by an average margin of 6.5 points.
Josh Ellis: Marquette. If the Badgers go cold at any point in this game I think there’s a possibility that Marquette could run away with this one. However, I don’t think that will happen and Wisconsin puts up a good fight until the end… but it still won’t be enough. Golden Eagles will have just enough to squeak by.
Derek Terry: Wisconsin. The Badgers are playing good basketball right now and have revenge on their mind after last season’s loss to Marquette. Bronson Koenig and Nigel Hayes will push Wisconsin over the top and beat its hated rival.
Anthony Crawford: Wisconsin. The Badgers have responded well in recent weeks since the beating they took at the hands of UNC with impressive wins over Syracuse and Oklahoma and I expect them to keep up their great play on the road against the Golden Eagles. I think Marquette will have a tough time defending the Badgers and have to play from behind for most of the game as a result. It probably ends up being close, but the Badgers escape with another quality win.
Chris Angolia: Marquette. Steve Wojciechowski’s squad went to Madison last year and left with a win. And while the Badgers are pretty much the same team that they were a year ago, the environment in Milwaukee is going to be nuts. Not only that, but Golden Eagles big man Luke Fischer should give Ethan Happ a tough test and I think the rest of Marquette will feed off of the intensity of their home crowd to take home the W over Wisconsin for the second straight year.
No. 22 Cincinnati (7–1) at No. 16 Butler (8–1)
4:30 P.M. Saturday, Dec. 10 | FS1
Hinkle Fieldhouse has already sold out in anticipation for this one. There’s no better way for the Bulldogs to bounce back from a bad loss at Indiana State than with an impressive win over a Cincinnati team that has won five straight. Roosevelt Jones hit a game-winner as time expired the last time these two teams clashed. This year it will have to be a different Bulldog that steps up.
Josh Ellis: Butler. Don’t go against the Bulldogs at home. Hinkle Fieldhouse is one place I would not want to play as the visitor and it’s going to be extra rowdy on Saturday. The Bearcats went on the road and earned an impressive win over Iowa State, but Butler is much more efficient on offense and just as good on defense.
Derek Terry: Butler. Like Josh said, not many opposing teams win in Hinkle Fieldhouse. Add in a raucous atmosphere and it’s tough to see Cincinnati being able to pull out a win. However, it would be a nice resume building win for the Bearcats if they’re able to pull it off.
Anthony Crawford: Butler. Personally, I think the basketball gods played a big part in Larry Bird’s alma mater getting the win over the Bulldogs this past week. Butler has shown already this season how good they can be, and they will have even more reason to show it again in front of the home crowd at Hinkle Fieldhouse as they get the win over Cincinnati.
Chris Angolia: Butler. Butler is coming off a loss to Indiana State earlier in the week, and Cincinnati is two games removed from its big win over Iowa State. But the big player in this one is not how the two teams are playing, but rather where it is being played; legendary Hinkle Fieldhouse. There are very few teams that can go in to Hinkle and win, and Cincinnati is not one of them. A motivated Butler team coming off a loss, at home, will out battle the Bearcats in a tight matchup.
Michigan (7–2) at No. 2 UCLA (9–0)
8:00 P.M. Saturday, Dec. 10 | ESPN2
The Bruins are arguably one of the hottest teams in the nation after their win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena — a task that’s been accomplished only five times since John Calipari became the head coach of the Wildcats. A win on Saturday would give UCLA its longest winning streak at any point in the season since 2012–13.
Josh Ellis: UCLA. I don’t think this game will be close, at all. So far I haven’t bought into Michigan and unless it shows me something spectacular against the Bruins I’ll continue to doubt it as a tournament team. UCLA’s offensive will continue to give teams fits and should have no problem with the Wolverines.
Derek Terry: UCLA. All four of us watched UCLA in Rupp Arena last Saturday. I’m not picking against UCLA for a while after its 97 point performance in Lexington. Michigan might be able to hang around for a while, but if the Bruins offense is rolling then the Wolverines will be in for a long day.
Anthony Crawford: UCLA. I really wanted to pick Michigan here, but I just can’t after seeing how well the Bruins played in Rupp Arena last weekend against the top-ranked Wildcats. Even though, I think Michigan will find a way to stay in it for awhile. The Wolverines have been overlooked some this season but have great veterans in guys like Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irving. In the end you have to give the advantage to the Bruins in Pauley Pavilion.
Chris Angolia: UCLA. After watching the Bruins go in to Rupp Arena and beat then No. 1 Kentucky last week, I am sold on Steve Alford’s team. With Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf and company, the nations new No. 2 team showed that they are for real. Not only that, but watching Michigan blow a lead at home to Virginia Tech and lose gives me no reason to think that they can go into Pauley Pavillion and win. Bruins win easy at home.
No. 21 Florida (7–2) at Florida State (9–1)
4:00 P.M. Sunday, Dec. 11 | ESPNU
If there’s only one game you watch this weekend, it should be this one. The last three meetings between these two? 67–66 (UF), 65–63 (FSU), 73–71 (FSU). Dwayne Bacon scored 24 in his rivalry debut, and could certainly top that performance on Sunday.
Josh Ellis: Florida. The Gators played Duke really tight for most of the game on Tuesday, which showed me they are a true top-25 team. Mike White has the program trending in the right direction and a win over their in-state rival puts Florida right back on track for a 20+ win season. Bacon is held in check for most of the game and the Gators escape Tallahassee with a W.
Derek Terry: Florida State. I like what Mike White is doing at Florida. He’ll probably get the Gators in the NCAA Tournament this season and could be a contender in the SEC, but I like Florida State in this game. The Seminoles have a talented team, led by former five-star recruits Dwayne Bacon and Jonathan Isaacs. Florida State is also deep. Nine players have played in every game for the Seminoles and they’re all averaging double-digit minutes.
Anthony Crawford: Florida State. The Gators have played a lot better than many expected, playing both Duke and Gonzaga close on neutral courts. But I have to give Florida State the advantage with the game being in Tallahassee and with all the talent the Seminoles have. Jonathan Isaac and Dwayne Bacon are two high-level athletes and scorers, and it also doesn’t hurt that Florida State has a big size-advantage inside with multiple seven-footers to throw at the Gators. Seminoles wins the rivalry matchup in convincing fashion.
Chris Angolia: Florida. I have not seen much from either team, but one thing that stands out to me about the Gators is the intensity that they play with. Coach Mike White has his team playing at a high level and they hung around with an extremely talented Duke team for much of the game. Speaking of talent, the Seminoles have Dwyane Bacon and Jonathan Isaac who can both score the ball. And even though the ‘Noles have Bacon and Isaac along with a home court advantage, the Gators and their toughness are going to prevail.
