Oklahoma vs. Villanova: How the teams match up in the Final Four

Oklahoma guard Jordan Woodard (10) is the Sooners' second-leading scorer at 17 points a game.

April 1, 2016 4:54 PM PT

WHO: No. 2 Oklahoma (29-7) vs. No. 2 Villanova (33-5)

WHAT: NCAA Final Four, Saturday, 3 p.m.

WHERE: NRG Stadium, Houston. TV: TBS; Radio: 710.

UPDATE: No player this tournament has been as electrifying, or seemingly unstoppable, as Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield. He scored 36 points against Virginia Commonwealth and 37 points against Oregon, when he made eight of 13 three-pointers. Hield is shooting nearly 57% in the tournament, has drawn praise from Kobe Bryant and brings the highest scoring average (25.4) of any Final Four player since 1990.

The pressure will be on Villanova’s Josh Hart, who will likely guard Hield, but teams that have focused too much on Hield have suffered — guard Jordan Woodard, who is averaging almost 17 points per game, can also be lethal. Hield and Woodard, plus guard Isaiah Cousins and forward Ryan Spangler, have played 104 consecutive games together. Villanova will again try to make the game “ugly,” as the team proudly described its win over Kansas, when it won a grinder of a game with defense and rebounding. Villanova likes that style — its defense is seventh in efficiency. But its offense is even better: fourth in efficiency. Hart leads the team in scoring (15.3 points per game) and forward Kris Jenkins is a tough matchup who can shoot from the outside (he makes 38% of his three-pointers). The Wildcats are on a redemption tour after winning just one game in the last two tournaments. Now, there’s another game to avenge: in December, Oklahoma rained down 14 three-pointers and destroyed Villanova, 78-55.

STARTERS

Oklahoma; Ht; Wt; PPG | Pos. | Villanova; Ht; Wt; PPG

Jordan Woodard; 6-0; 187; 13.0 | G | Jalen Brunson; 6-2; 199; 9.8

Buddy Hield; 6-4; 214; 25.4 | G | Josh Hart; 6-5; 202; 15.3

Isaiah Cousins; 6-4; 200; 12.8 | G | Ryan Arcidiacono; 6-3; 195; 12.3

Ryan Spangler; 6-8; 234; 10.3 | F | Kris Jenkins; 6-6; 240; 13.5

Khadeem Lattin; 6-9; 208; 5.7 | F | Daniel Ochefu; 6-11; 245; 10.1

RESERVES

Dinjiyl Walker; 6-1; 203; 3.4 | G | Phil Booth; 6-3; 185; 6.6

Christian James; 6-4; 218; 2.9 | G | Mikal Bridges; 6-7; 191; 6.3

Dante Buford; 6-7; 221; 3.6 | F | Darryl Reynolds; 6-8; 225; 3.8

Jamuni McNeace; 6-10; 215; 1.1 | F | Patrick Farrell; 6-5; 200; 0.4