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NCAA Tournament 2018: 5 reasons Villanova won’t win it all

By Chris Stone

CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 17: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats talks with Jalen Brunson #1 during a game against the Xavier Musketeers at Cintas Center on February 17, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Villanova won 95-79. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - FEBRUARY 17: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats talks with Jalen Brunson #1 during a game against the Xavier Musketeers at Cintas Center on February 17, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Villanova won 95-79. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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ST LOUIS, MO – MARCH 10: Collin Sexton #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide watches the action against the Kentucky Wildcats during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – MARCH 10: Collin Sexton #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide watches the action against the Kentucky Wildcats during the semifinals of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 10, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2. Collin Sexton is really good

Honestly, this one isn’t even Villanova’s fault. You can blame the Selection Committee. The Wildcats are facing down a potential second round matchup with a future lottery pick in Alabama’s Collin Sexton. You might remember him as the guy who nearly beat a full strength Minnesota team in a 3-on-5 game.

Sexton is one of college basketball’s fiercest competitors and he’s been on fire in March. This month, he’s averaging 29.8 points and 4.7 assists per 40 minutes while posting a 68.3 true shooting percentage. His jump shot is falling, too, and that makes him a nearly impossible guard.

Sexton gets to the rim as often as any guard in college basketball. He possesses tremendous change of pace dribble moves and a bulldog mentality. He’s seventh nationally in fouls drawn per 40 minutes as a result. Jalen Brunson might be a good team defender, but he doesn’t stand a chance in a one-on-one battle against a driving Sexton.

Against the Alabama freshman, the Wildcats might have to roll out some different defensive alignments to slow him down. Perhaps a bit of fullcourt pressure or a halfcourt zone to try to cut off penetration. Maybe defending him with a longer and more active guard like Phil Booth. There are plenty of options, but any time those types of changes happen, things can get dicey.

Of course, there’s no guarantee Villanova will actually have to face Sexton in the second round. The Crimson Tide have a tight opening round contest against Virginia Tech to get passed first, but if they win, the Wildcats are on notice.

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