Sunday Preview: Villanova looks to keep rolling vs. undefeated Towson

Who:  Towson (3-0) vs. Villanova (2-0)

When: Sunday, 5 p.m.

Where: The Pavilion – Villanova, PA

TV/Radio:  Fox Sports 1 / CBS Sports Radio 610-AM

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By JOHN HEALEY

Philahoops Staff

@heal3y

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Coming off a 90-59 thrashing of Mount St. Mary’s on Wednesday, Villanova welcomes CAA favorite Towson to the Pavilion Sunday night. The Tigers, who blew out their first two opponents and then defeated Temple on Thursday, represent the Wildcats’ first real test this season.

Led by defending CAA Player of the Year Jerrelle Benimon, Towson has had one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent college basketball history. After posting just one victory the entire 2011-12 season, head coach Pat Skerry‘s squad won 18 games last year and is off to a fast start this season.

The 6-foot-8 Benimon stands at the center of an undersized yet solid unit. The senior, who transferred after two frustrating years at Georgetown, put up big numbers last year (17 points and 11 boards per game) and is picking up right where he left off. In three games he has collected 41 rebounds, recorded two double-doubles, and posted a monster 32-point performance against Temple. While back-to-the-basket scoring is how Benimon makes his most obvious impact, the senior leader can take over games in multiple ways. He may have only scored six points in the season opener against Navy, but he pulled down 17 boards, blocked three shots, and had four assists. Additionally, he grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out six assists in a rout of Morgan State. It’s safe to say that JayVaughn Pinkston and Daniel Ochefu will have their hands full trying to contain Benimon in the paint and on the boards.

Complementing the dominant big man is a solid cast of experienced teammates. Seniors Marcus Damas and Rafriel Guthrie are each averaging 14 points a game thus far, and sophomore point guard Jerome Hairston–although he’s getting off to a slow start–is back after a full season at the helm of the offense. Additionally, former America East Rookie of the Year Four McGlynn has joined Towson from Vermont, giving the Tigers a crucial shooting threat from outside.

While  it’ll be hard to replicate their ridiculous performance Wednesday night (62-percent from the field!), the Wildcats appear primed and ready to go for this first non-conference test. Ryan Arcidiacono is healthy, the rest of the guard corps is firing on all cylinders, and JayVaughn Pinkston is being his usual self down low with two 20+-point games to start the year. Freshman Josh Hart also had his coming out party last game (17 points, 11 rebounds), indicating his ability to come off the bench and cause serious problems for opponents all season long.

The key and most entertaining matchup to watch tomorrow night will be Benimon versus Pinkston. The two stars may not end up guarding each other, but they will certainly be trading buckets and banging bodies throughout the game. Whichever one of these two is able to best impose his will against the other team will likely lead his team to victory, remaining undefeated and sending the opponent its first loss of the season.

-Scouting Towson: Benimon has averaged 19.7 points and 13.7 boards per game this season, including a 32-point, 10-rebound performance against Temple on Thursday…The sharpshooting McGlynn, who sat out last season after transferring from Vermont, was the 2011-12 America East Rookie of the Year…The Tigers hold a +32 rebounding edge over opponents over its first three games…Towson has won 11 of its last 12 games dating back to last season.

-Scouting Villanova: Villanova last faced the Tigers en route to its most recent Final Four run, beating them 64-47 in November of 2008…Through two games the Wildcats are shooting 51 percent from the field, but just 23 percent from behind the arc…Although Arcidiacono has averaged just six points per game in his first two contests, backcourt teammates Bell, Hilliard, and Hart have picked up the scoring slack, with all three of them averaging in double figures…Ochefu, who got in early foul trouble last game and was largely ineffective, is averaging only 13.5 minutes per game thus far.

Prediction: Benimon has a field day against Villanova, but the Wildcats muster another solid team effort to down the Tigers and improve to 3-0.

Sound Off: Which Villanova offense will we see on Sunday? The one that shot 38 percent from the field in its first game, or the one that shot 62 percent in its second game?

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John Healey covers Villanova for Philahoops.com. Reach John @heal3y on Twitter and/or comment below.