Villanova-North Carolina scouting report

The Daily News spoke with a coach from a team that played both North Carolina and Villanova this season. In exchange for anonymity, he was willing to share his observations on both teams and how he sees the matchup.

"Villanova," the coach said, "needs to hold its own on the glass."

The coach sees Dante Cunningham as a very difficult matchup for the Tar Heels. He thinks Cunningham is too quick for Tyler Hansbrough and, if Deon Thompson or Ed Davis guards him, "he needs to knock down the 15-footer that he has all season. That's one area I think Villanova can win."

From Villanova's defensive standpoint, he wonders who matches up with Hansbrough. "The problem," he said, "is second-chance points. They've got to get a great scheme to help in the post."

The coach really likes Villanova's depth.

"The supporting cast for [Scottie] Reynolds and Cunningham has been unbelievable," the coach said. "Villanova has all interchangeable pieces."

And it will need them to guard North Carolina, the most efficient offensive team in the country.

"Here is the issue with Carolina," the coach said. "They have better one-on-one players than any team in America. Villanova's one-on-one defense has to be as good as it's ever been."

He thinks Villanova can attack the Tar Heels off the dribble. Which is 'Nova's game anyway.

"Offensively, the two areas I would be attacking are the mismatches off the dribble," the coach said. "Don't settle for threes against Carolina because you have to shoot at such a high number to stay in the game. I think Villanova can run. The [Tar Heels'] fours and fives [power forwards and centers] aren't outrunning Villanova's fours and fives."

North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson is the most important player in the game, the coach said.

"If Lawson keeps Reynolds out of the lane, Villanova is going to have trouble," the coach said.

And that is not the biggest problem Lawson presents. "Villanova hasn't faced anybody with the speed that Lawson plays at," the coach said.

No team has unless that team has played North Carolina.

Conversely, Lawson is not a great defender. You can be sure Villanova will attack him off the dribble.

Both Villanova's Jay Wright and North Carolina's Roy Williams coach as though the best defense is to attack on offense, taking a team's legs and, eventually, its will. This game has the potential to be played at a dizzying pace. *