2016 NCAA Tournament Preview: No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 7 Iowa

By Jason Fletcher

On Sunday, the No. 2 seed in the South Region Villanova Wildcats will match up with the No. 7 seeded Iowa Hawkeyes. The winner moves on to play the No. 3 seed Miami Hurricanes in the Sweet 16.

After a bit of a slow start, the the Wildcats rebounded to take down the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in the Round of 64, 86-56. Villanova was led by forward Daniel Ochefu who poured in 17 points and 10 rebounds. Five Wildcats in all scored in double figures for head Jay Wright.

The Hawkeyes advanced to the Round of 32 following a controversial buzzer-beating tip-in by Adam Woodbury against Temple. Woodbury seemed to have pushed a Temple player in the back on the rebound, but there was no foul called. Iowa got 23 points and five rebounds from Jarrod Uthoff and 16 points and seven rebounds from Peter Jok.

What To Watch For

If Villanova is going to return to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2009, then they are going to need another big performance from Ochefu. The Hawkeyes have two big guys down low in Uthoff and Woodbury which gives them a size advantage on the Wildcats. Ochefu needs to stay out of foul trouble and battle down low.

Iowa has to take advantage of that size. Against Temple, the Hawkeyes settled for 28 three-point attempts and only knocked down seven. If they use that same attack against Villanova, they will be headed home quickly.

Iowa is going to give Villanova problems, but the experience of the Wildcats should give them an edge. Expect ‘Nova to use their quickness to get into the lane as they punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.

Prediction: Villanova 78, Iowa 65

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