Villanova guard Justin Moore suffered a torn Achilles late in the team’s win over Houston on Saturday. The exact nature of the injury was unclear in the immediate aftermath of the game, though signs—including his emotions on the bench after the win—pointed toward it being serious.
Worst fears were confirmed a day later when Villanova announced the injury mere hours after its Final Four opponent, Kansas, defeated Miami in the Elite 8. Now, the Wildcats prepare to play the Jayhawks on Saturday as 4.5-point underdogs, likely in part due to Moore’s absence.
And even that spread feels a little generous.
"Justin's work ethic and dedication will help bring him through this recovery and we look forward to the day where we see him back on the court fully healthy." – @VUCoachJWright
Read More 📰: https://t.co/sbH49Y0dS9#ATTITUDE
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB) March 27, 2022
Moore is Villanova’s second-leading scorer behind senior Collin Gillespie at 14.8 points per game. He’s also second to Gillespie in assists at 2.3 per game. His presence as a secondary ball-handler and playmaker on offense alleviates the stress placed on Gillespie to create for the team. Without him, Villanova doesn’t have another player who averaged over two assists per game.
Additionally, Moore shoots nearly 36% on 3-pointers while attempting and making the second-most on the team. His absence means Kansas will have one less offensive threat to worry about. Fourth-leading scorer Caleb Daniels can step into the starting lineup and provide similar, if not better shooting from the outside, but that eliminates the team’s best and only real offensive threat off the bench.
Moore also defends at a high level, another area Kansas should be able to exploit without him. He could’ve taken on the assignment of guarding Jayhawks leading scorer Ochai Agbaji, but that responsibility will likely fall on someone less capable now. Kansas has other perimeter players like Christian Braun and Remy Martin, who Moore also could’ve helped defend.
Villanova’s starting lineup may still be effective against Kansas. And coach Jay Wright has earned the benefit of doubt that he and staff will be able to scheme up something positive. But the team’s depth takes a hit without Moore. Don’t be surprised to see the Gillespie-Daniels-Jermaine Samuels-Eric Dixon-Brandon Slater lineup play almost the entire game.
Kansas plays at a faster tempo, however, and if they’re able to control the pace of this game, those guys may eventually wear down. It’s easy to see a deeper Kansas team eventually pulling away for the cover. As a No. 1 seed, Kansas was likely to be favored in this matchup anyway, but the outcome would’ve been a fun debate. With Villanova down a man, it’s tough to imagine how Kansas doesn’t come out on top.
