Announcers: Lundquist and Raftery
Where and When: Boston, 9:57 pm
Line: Duke -2
Kenpom says: Duke, 75-72.
Matchup to watch: Reggie Redding, who defended Gerald Henderson in high school, will likely be one of the many guys to slow Duke’s best player. Dwayne Anderson and Shane Clark should get a shot, too.
Also worth keeping an eye on: Villanova’s Dante Cunningham against Duke’s Kyle Singler. Villanova’s 8-1 when Cunningham gets a double-double.
Common opponents: Duke beat Texas last week, 74-69; Villanova lost to Texas in December, 67-58. Duke and Villanova both beat St. John’s and Rhode Island. Duke beat Georgetown, while Villanova lost to Georgetown.
Oddities: Villanova’s Corey Stokes went to high school with Duke’s Lance Thomas; Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds roomed with Duke’s Kyle Singler at USA basketball camp.
Advantage, Duke: Frontcourt depth. Not a lot of talent, but certainly Duke has a size advantage.
Advantage, Villanova: Backcourt talent. Reynolds, Fisher and Stokes trump Scheyer, Williams, Smith and Paulus. As long as they’re not turning the ball over at an alarming rate like they did against Georgetown (20) and Louisville (23).
The guess: Villanova 74, Duke 71.