Let’s clear the air about something: Villanova is not a three-point reliant team in the traditional sense. A few rare instances aside, this is not a unit that will simply fire shots from the perimeter because three points is worth more than two. There is a logic behind its strategy, one that insists that Jay Wright‘s group is much more balanced than people think. The threes taken are seldom contested, a product of Villanova’s mechanical drive-and-dish offense that forces opponents to make a decision between preventing a layup or a three. And his personnel fits the system perfectly: Josh Hart is an incredibly effective finisher off the dribble; Daniel Ochefu is a deceivingly smart passer out of the low post; and Kris Jenkins, Ryan Arcidiacono and others are all strong shooters who force defenders to stay honest. There’s a reason Villanova is one of the most effective teams in the country at the rim (68.7%; 12th nationally) despite having only one player standing 6’8″ or taller. The four-out, one-in offense perfected by the NBA champion Golden State Warriors has allowed Villanova to become a lethal offensive group. Let’s take a look at how they run it.
First and foremost are a series of high-screens that puts pressure on opposing big men. Playing off the ball to defend the screener leaves the ball-handler with an open look, certain to be the wrong decision when defending a team full of shooters.
Hedging hard, however, forces a third defender to pick up the screener and leaves a different player open. Given how well Villanova spreads the floor, the decision by a defense to hedge is a gamble that the tertiary defender will be quick enough to recover to the perimeter.
Post play is also an important part of Villanova’s offense. For all of the talk about the guards, Ochefu and Darryl Reynolds convert field goals at rates in the 60 percent range, and both use a variety of post moves to score. This low-post effectiveness calls for another forced defensive decision: double-down on the post or sacrifice a high percentage shot.
Here, Providence chooses the former with the obvious danger being a three-point shooter. Every entry passer is a capable shooter.
Another key facet of Villanova’s offense is ball reversal. With four perimeter players and screens that often result in mismatches, the players are quick to recognize them. Perimeter passing will again put pressure on a weak point in the defense. This results in either an open shooter — if there are too many defenders on one side of the court — or a rapid closeout that leaves a defender off balance and susceptible to a drive.
Above all, perhaps the most important part of Villanova’s offense is its collective passing ability. Without big men who can pass out of the post or guards who have the vision to locate open players, the outstanding ball movement that fuels the team’s efficiency would stagnate. Villanova may take a large number of threes relative to other teams, but these attempts are simply a product of how defenses choose to defend the Wildcats. What Jay Wright’s team does exceptionally well is force its opponents into difficult and exploitable decisions.