Bench Helps Villanova Beat Hartford
Villanova Wildcats guard Collin Gillespie (2) returns the ball against the Hartford Hawks in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena. (David Butler II/USA Today Sports).
In Villanova's two most recent championship runs, they have benefitted from guys off the bench to make an impact: Phil Booth and Mikal Bridges in 2016, and Donte DiVincenzo in 2018. Maybe this is a sign for Swider in 2020-21.
Article by Dave Nguyen, AKSM Sports
UNCASVILLE, CT - In a last minute change of opponents, the Villanova Wildcats had 40 bench points that helped them defeat the Hartford Hawks 87-53. This change was due to St. Joe's having a COVID case that had to postpone the "Holy War". Since the Wildcats were still located at Mohegan Sun, and Hartford is in close proximity, it wasn't hard for it to slide into St. Joe's spot to play against the Wildcats.
When scheduling a game like this last minute and playing against a school that is a non-power five, games like this are beneficial for players on Villanova's roster that don't get much playing time and use this opportunity to gain more minutes on the floor. Bench players like Eric Dixon, Brandon Slater, and Cole Swider not only benefit from games like this, but it can give them confidence when they are inserted into competitive games for short spurts in the future.
The Wildcats started off on a 9-2 run in the opening four minutes of the first half thanks to triples from Caleb Daniels, Justin Moore, and Swider. With five minutes remaining in the first half, the Wildcats doubled up Hartford 34-17. The presence of redshirt-freshman Eric Dixon helped with the first half lead, scoring seven points during one stretch in order for it to increase. He finished with his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. With the absence of Damir Cosby-Roundtree for a period of time due to an injury, Dixon will be called upon to give Jeremiah Robinson Earl a rest, especially for times when he's in foul trouble. With his double-double against Hartford, Jay Wright will have the confidence to insert him into a game to defend, rebound, and score a few baskets.
Villanova held a 43-24 halftime lead, the Wildcats never looked back. Four minutes into the second half Brandon Slater hit a three to give the 'Cats a 52-30 advantage, en route to a 13 point performance. Less than a minute later, Swider cashed in beyond the arc extending the Villanova lead to 58-31. He would finish with 13 points as well, and throughout the season will be one of the first guys off the bench to give the WIldcats a spark of energy when he enters the floor. Between Swider, Slater, and Dixon, the three bench players combined for 40 points, which gives each of them confidence, as well as the team as a whole. When you can insert guys off the bench to give a team high energy, intensity, and production on the scoreboard and on the glass, qualities like that can go a long way.
In Villanova's two most recent championship runs, they have benefitted from guys off the bench to make an impact: Phil Booth and Mikal Bridges in 2016, and Donte DiVincenzo in 2018. Maybe this is a sign for Swider in 2020-21. In the first four games this season, Swider has played no less than 16 minutes per contest, shooting 48 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three. Expect big production from Swider off the bench throughout the season.
Of the starting five for Villanova, three of them reached double-figures: Daniels with 11, Collin Gillespie added 10, and Justin Moore led the team in scoring with 15. Jermaine Samuels logged in nine, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl was held in check with two points, going 1-5 from the floor.
The Wildcats next opponent will be a Top-25 showdown in Austin, Texas as Villanova will face off against Shaka Smart's 17th ranked Longhorns. Texas is coming off an impressive performance in the Maui Invitational (held in Asheville, NC due to COVID-19), where they defeated the 14th ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game on a game-winning step-back jumper from senior guard Matt Coleman III with 0.1 seconds left. The game is scheduled for 1pm on Sunday on ESPN.