Villanova Is Going to the Final Four

Taking a Look Inside the Numbers in the 50 – 44 Win Over Houston in the South Regional Final

Jermaine Samuels Named Most Outstanding Player of the Regional

March 26, 2022 –

The Wildcats will be in the Final Four, their third visit since 2016. This year the Cats will be going as the South Regional champion with their 50 – 44 win over the Houston Cougars in the Elite Eight.

How? Let’s take a look at some of the numbers in this game and see show it affected the outcome.

Defense, Defense, Defense

Credit the defense on both sides for making points hard to come by in this game.

Points – Obviously the most important statistic as points on the scoreboard determines the winner. The 44 points scored by the Cougars is their season low. The previous fewest points scored for the team happened in the home game against Memphis on February 12 when Houston put up 59 points. In the NCAA Tournament the previous low by the Cougars came in 1984 totaling 49 versus Virginia. The Cougars average 75.7 points per game, and in this game were 31 points below that total. Defensively, Villanova was held to 50 points, 22 points under their average.

Shooting Percentage

The game turned on the inability of Houston to make their three-point shots. They made just 1 of 20 attempts, 5%. Their record low. The Cougars get 8 per their average.

In the game Houston had a better shooting percentage 17 of 57 for 29.8%. Villanova made 15 of 52 (28.8%). The previous low for the Cats was 22.2% in their 57 – 36 loss at Baylor.

Trends

Houston made 1 of their last 11 shots, and none of the last five.

Players Held Under Their Average

Kyler Edwards scored an average of 14.1 points per game, this game just 4 making 1 of 12 from the floor. Fabian White had 2 points well under his average of 12.8. Taze Moore led Houston with 15 points.

Justin Moore was held to 8 points on 2 of 10 shooting. He averages 15 per game. Near the end of the game Moore suffered a lower-leg injury. The extent of the injury is unknown at this time.

Offensive Differential

The Cats made 5 of 21 three-pointers, four more than than the Cougs. Then at the free throw line Houston made 9 of 14 while Villanova sank a perfect 15 of 15. The Wildcats have the highest free throw shooting percentage in the nation. Three times this season the Cats made all of their free throws; 26 against Howard, 16 at Georgetown, and 15 in this game. In NCAA Tournament games the Cats stand at 53 of 59, 90% rounded.

Villanova had two players get double-figures scoring. Jermaine Samuels had 16 points and Caleb Daniels 12. Collin Gillespie scored 6 points, with four coming on a jumper with just over 5 minutes to play to give Nova a 44 – 40 lead. His free throws at the 25 second mark were the last points of the game. Not a lot of points, but were at the right time.

Jermaine Samuels

The graduate forward was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Regional. In this game in addition to his point total, Samuels had a game-high tying 10 rebounds. In NCAA Tournament games this year he is averaging 17.5 points per game along with 8.5 rebounds.

Boards

Taze Moore led Houston with an equal number of boards. Eric Dixon pulled down 9 caroms. The Cougars won the battle of the boards by 39 – 38. The advantage for Houston was plus-7 on average.

On To New Orleans for Villanova.

Boxscore

Written By: Glenn Papazian

Contact: glenn@phillycollegesports.com

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