By all accounts, the newly refurbished Finneran Pavilion is a spectacle and a fine new home to Villanova basketball. And eventually, it should become a pit unto which no opponent will want to venture for 40 agonizing minutes. But for now, it is only about half that.
Forget, for a moment, the abysmal first half (17-44) to Michigan in November. (Hey, look at that! The Wolverines are still undefeated!)
Take a look instead at the Wildcats’ last two games there, both Big East contests. They trailed DePaul by four and St. John’s by five after 20 minutes and rebounded with seconds halves of +9 and +10.
In fact, VU has won five of its seven second halves at The Finn and even tied Michigan (29-29) over the Second 20. The only second half in which they were outscored there was against Furman, 24-29. (Hey, look at that! The Paladins are 15-3!)
PIck: Villanova Second Half -4