Kentucky’s loss actually has been Villanova’s achieve.
Freshman level guard Acaden Lewis dedicated to Kentucky early in his senior 12 months, however decommitted in April in the hunt for someplace new. That place occurred to be at Villanova with new coach Kevin Williard, who recruited the Washington, D.C. native onerous when he was nonetheless the boss at Maryland.
Lewis, who was listed because the nation’s No. 33 prospect on the Recruiting Providers Consensus Index (RSCI), already has received the Massive East’s Freshman of the Week honor 4 instances — together with the latest award — as Villanova (10-2, 1-0 Massive East) welcomes visiting DePaul (8-5, 0-2) on Wednesday evening.
The sleek lefty ranks second on the Wildcats in scoring (12.3 ppg) whereas main the best way in passing (5.0 apg) and steals (1.6 spg). He orchestrates an offense that options all 5 starters scoring in double figures.
“He is one of many nicest youngsters that there are, however he is a competitor. He desires to compete. He did not play overly effectively at BYU. Nobody performed effectively in opposition to Michigan,” mentioned Willard, referencing Villanova’s solely losses. “However he is a younger man who’s beginning to discover his groove, beginning to discover out what he must do defensively. He is received nice imaginative and prescient, nice handles.”
Second-year DePaul coach Chris Holtmann has but to discover a blue-chipper fairly on Lewis’ stage, however he likes the best way his collective has improved. When UConn visited on Dec. 21, the Blue Demons held them to 9 factors within the first 10 minutes — and DePaul solely trailed by 10 with lower than 4 minutes to go earlier than falling 72-54.
“We have been in a position to have some actually, actually optimistic stretches of play right here,” Holtmann mentioned. “We have got to have the ability to play higher longer than we’re in a position to do proper now.”
One space specifically the place DePaul can enhance: scoring within the paint. Of their two Massive East video games to this point, the Blue Demons went 6 for 20 on layups at St. John’s and 6 for 19 versus UConn.
DePaul’s massive males are both shorter than the norm for league play (6-foot-8 senior starter NJ Benson) or much less skilled (7-2 freshman Fabian Flores, who was anticipated to redshirt when the Spain native signed in September). Benson, a 65.9% shooter for the 12 months, hit simply 3 of 12 makes an attempt in opposition to the Huskies.
“The pictures on the rim, I feel there have been some actually good ones that we simply have to have the ability to end by contact higher,” Holtmann mentioned. “NJ’s received to have the ability to end on the rim higher than what he did (in opposition to UConn) — and we do throughout the board.”
–Discipline Degree Media
