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Villanova vs Notre Dame recap: 3 things we learned

By Chris Stone

Dec 6, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) talks with head coach Jay Wright during the second half against the La Salle Explorers at Palestra. The Villanova Wildcats won 89-79. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) talks with head coach Jay Wright during the second half against the La Salle Explorers at Palestra. The Villanova Wildcats won 89-79. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Villanova gutted out another Top 25 win on Saturday by defeating Notre Dame. Here’s a look at what we learned.

Top 25 matchups are always a treat during non-conference play and the Villanova Wildcats’ 74-66 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday afternoon showed us why. The two teams played a hotly contested game that went down to the wire as Josh Hart’s career-high 37 points helped carry the Wildcats to victory. So, what’d we learn from Villanova’s latest big win?

1. Josh Hart is the front-runner for National Player of the Year

Hart was one of the favorites to win the award entering the season alongside Duke’s Grayson Allen, but the Villanova guard has separated himself from the pack with a series of do-it-all performances. Hart has become one of the Wildcats’ most valuable distributors, but against Notre Dame he delivered the baskets himself.

The 6-foot-5 guard finished with a career-high 37 points on 10-for-14 shooting from the field in the win. He showed a masterful ability to run the pick-and-roll and control the game’s tempo, frequently getting into the teeth of Notre Dame’s defense.

National Player of the Year awards are often highlighted by big time performances on the national stage, and after scoring 24 points in a road win against Purdue earlier this season, this was Hart’s latest reminder to the country who the favorite for the award should be.

2. Villanova can repeat as national champions

Maybe this is something we already knew after the Wildcats’ 9-0 start and impressive efficiency metrics, but it’s always interesting to see how a team fights back from adversity. Villanova trailed by one with 6:32 remaining in the second half before going on a 13-4 run to close out the win.

College basketball hasn’t seen a repeat champion since the Florida Gators won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, but this Villanova team is capable of winning it all again. The Wildcats are stacked with talent at every position, have a five-out offense that’s incredibly difficult to defend and have one of the best players in the country who can carry the team when everyone else is having an off night.

3. Don’t be fooled by the loss, Notre Dame is worth keeping an eye on

The ACC is loaded with quality teams this season, and amidst all the talk about the top tier of the league, it’s easy to lose sight of a program like Notre Dame. The Irish have a legitimate NBA talent in 6-foot-8 forward V.J. Beachem who entered Saturday’s contest averaging 16.8 points per game and are one of the most experienced teams in the country.

Head coach Mike Brey let his frustrations be known yesterday with the media’s focus on star freshmen, and although his team came away with a loss on Saturday, the Irish made it clear more people should be watching.

Next: How Jayson Tatum can help Duke compete for a title

Their roster is loaded with outside shooters which will make them a tough cover for any opponent. Notre Dame has scored nearly 40 percent of its points from behind the three-point arc and the Irish are excellent at getting plenty of looks by creating turnovers and grabbing offensive rebounds. That type of potent offense can win you a lot of games even in a tough league like the ACC.