Second Round Recap: Villanova/Wisconsin

Villanova

Josh Hart
6-6, SF, Senior
19 points, 5-9 FG, 8-10 FT, 5 turnovers

Hart is as tough as they come.  Whether it comes to being the man to hit big shots down the stretch, or get a stop, he's up to the task.  He's really stretched his game this year to be more of a playmaker, it showed in this game. He was relentless attacking the basket going both directions and if he didn't finish the layup, he got to the line.

He has underrated athleticism. He looked comfortable going off both feet in the air. He had a nice dunk off his right foot where he got up high, surprising for a right handed player. His jumper looks better than it did last year, but he still shoots it on the way down sometimes, leaving the shot short. Hart projects to be a 3-and-D wing who can also create a little bit, attack a closeout and make a play.  There's a large chance he is the highest senior drafted in June because of that.

 


Jalen Brunson
6-2, PG, Sophomore
11 points, 2 steals, 0-4 3FG

Brunson doesn't have the quick twitch, explosive athleticism that some of the top point guards in this draft have. What he lacks in those areas, he makes up for it with his toughness, competitiveness, and savvy.  Brunson never hunts his own shot and lets the game come to him, a huge evolution for him given that he was a big time scorer at Chicago Stevenson High School.  He has a tendency to over dribble at times and get himself into trouble, but for the most part his decision making is sound. Villanova does a great job of involving everybody and having a free flowing system, and Brunson is the head of the snake.

Defensively, Brunson has plus length that disrupts opposing ball handlers.  Combine that with his instincts and ability to slide step for step with guards and you have a sound defensive lead guard. Unfortunately for him, he isn't explosive vertically which will more than likely limit his ceiling as a draft prospect. He doesn't normally create his own shot either, looking more so to get his team involved.  That leaves him as a possible backup point guard who can keep the train moving when the starting point guard needs a blow.


Kris Jenkins
6-6, PF, Senior
6 points, 2-9 FG

Jenkins was forcing his shot a lot in this game and couldn't seem to find the bottom of the net.  He took a lot of contested mid range jumpers, a really inefficient shot.  He doesn't have any explosiveness so he couldn't create his own shot either, which is part of the reason why he settled for a lot of tough contested jumpers.

Defensively, he tries to use his body to make guys uncomfortable but he often ends up reaching and getting blown by. He doesn't close out well because his feet are slow and he falls for shot fakes easily.  Jay Wright was subbing him out on defense late in the game. Jenkins has been a great college player for Villanova and hit that memorable shot to win the championship but it's hard to project him as an NBA player without the baseline athletic tools and playmaking ability.


Mikal Bridges
6-7, SF, Sophomore
0 points, 7 rebounds, 0-4 FG

Bridges didn't have the best game by his standards.  He was able to show off his defensive and athletic tools.  He has long arms, great feet, and can switch and contain smaller ball handlers.  He has the potential to be the full package defensively as a wing. He even crashes the glass and grabs rebounds out of his area.

Offensively, he's pretty limited.  He doesn't look comfortable putting the ball on the floor, especially going left.  He isn't a playmaker either for himself or others.  His jump shot didn't look bad coming out of his hands and he's shooting it well from deep this season (39% from 3).  He's got raw tools you like, which will make him an interesting prospect to keep tabs on.


Donte DiVincenzo
6-5, SG, Sophomore
15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 3-4 3FG

DiVencenzo carried Villanova for stretches of this game. He was their best player in their opening round game and he looked the part in this game at times as well. He's a knock down shooter and isn't afraid to pull it from anywhere. He showed some poise bringing the ball up the floor and competes hard on defense.  He's having a solid tournament so far, but the question is whether he can overcome his athletic limitations on defense and what his role will look like at the NBA level.  Next year at Villanova, he should have an increased role with several players leaving. He projects to have a similar impact than Ryan Arcidiacono had for Villanova.

Wisconsin

Bronson Koenig
6-4, PG, Senior
17 points, 6-11 FG, 3-6 3FG

Koenig sat with foul trouble for a large part of this game, but when he came in, he hit some huge shots down the stretch for the Badgers.  His shot has great elevation and a quick trigger. He's automatic from the mid range and smooth on catch and shoot three pointers.  His handle is underrated as well, comfortable going both ways off the dribble and going into his shot.

He isn't an explosive athlete, which will lower his ceiling as a pro defensively.  He competes, but sometimes he gets caught crawling to far up into guys and gets blown by. He doesn't look to create for others as much and is more two than one.  If that's the case, he definitely won't be able to guard opposing wings at the NBA level with his frame only being 190 pounds.  That is what will be the death nail for his NBA aspirations.


Nigel Hayes
6-7, PF, Senior
19 points, 8 rebounds, 8-15 FG

Hayes started the game slow, but ended up finishing well and hitting the go ahead shot late that won Wisconsin the game.  He is strong and when he gets low to the ground on post catches, he is impossible to move.  He has a nice face up game and can hit a 15 footer smoothly.  It doesn't look as smooth out to three, which shows in his 30.9% three point numbers.  He also struggled at the line, going 3-7 this game and shooting 59.8% on the year from the stripe.  Offensively, outside of a decent post game, he doesn't show much.

Hayes is a decent athlete with super long arms.  He moves well laterally but he leaves you wanting more in that department.  He is strong and long enough to grab rebounds out of his area, but if you want him to be this switch everything power forward, its hard to see it.  Without the shooting and the lateral mobility, it seems like Hayes' NBA potential is limited.

Ethan Happ
6-9, C, Sophomore   
12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 5-8 FG

Happ sat most of the first half with foul trouble, but made his presence felt in the second half. He has great length that helps him make up for his minus athleticism and height.  He rebounds well out of his area and protects the rim well.  He also uses his length to come up with steals denying the post and containing the ball in pick and roll.  He has a lot of little things that effect the game and fill out the stat sheet.  He even knows how to read the floor and pass out of double teams in the post.

The questions will be with his height and his athleticism.  He plays low to the ground, especially in the post, where he relies on spin moves, counters, and up and unders to get to his shot.  He loves to use his right hand even going over his right shoulder. At 6-9, he projects to guard power forwards at the next level, and he will get exposed in space.  He isn't strong to guard centers and he doesn't project to be a good shooter (49.4% at the line).  If he doesn't do those things, then its hard to see what his role in the NBA will be.