Villanova’s Magical Performance In The National Championship Game

Villanova’s Men’s Basketball team played in possibly the most exciting NCAA National Championship game ever, and they won.

Villanova has brought home the national title. Jay Wright‘s team played the powerhouse UNC team in the NCAA National Championship game and is now bringing the title home to Philadelphia. Villanova’s season was filled with anxiety, becoming one of the many teams to hold the #1 team in the nation position only to lose it.

Villanova entered the tournament as a 2-seed. They started the tournament by blowing out UNC Asheville out of the water 86-56. They moved on to handle Iowa 87-68. Villanova gave Miami (FL) a beating: 92-69. Villanova saw their first sweat-worthy tournament game in the Elite Eight against Bill Self and Kansas. After getting off to a hot start, Villanova was able to hold on and upset the Jayhawks.

There next test was Oklahoma, led by one of the top players in the nation Buddy Hield. Hield was able to keep Oklahoma in the game…for a half. Nova exploded in the second half and blew out Hield’s Sooners 95-51. Villanova set themselves up for a matchup for a championship showdown in Houston with UNC. Nova entered the game winning their tournament games by an average of 23.6 points. 

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There was not going to be a blowout in the National Championship game however. The offense for both teams started off quick. Villanova’s leader Ryan Arcidiacono was able to hit his first few shots, before tailing off later in the half. Phil Booth carried the load throughout the entire game on offense shooting 6-7 all game.

It was a battle of guards, as UNC’s scoring was led by Marcus Paige and Joel Berry, who combined for 41 points. Booth, Arcidiacono, and Josh Hart combined to score 48 to combat Paige and Berry. It was a back and forth game, with Villanova climbing back from a 5-point halftime deficit to end up leading by as much as 10 points. UNC climbed back into the game, and finally tied it with a miracle 3-pt shot by Marcus Paige with 4 seconds left.

The Villanova title dream seemed like it would be delayed, to overtime at least. Jay Wright called a timeout after the shot, to draw up a final play. The ball was inbounded to Arcidiacono, who took it past halfcourt and gave it to Kris Jenkins behind the 3-pt line.

Wow. The best college championship game ends with a game winning shot from Kris Jenkins. Nova wins. A special game because the ending, but that’s not only what makes Villanova’s performance special. Villanova shot 57.1% from 3-pt range, the best performance from the winning team in the National Championship game from 2011-2016. Nova also shot a ridiculous 58.3% from the field, which also the best percentage from the winning team in a championship game from 2011-2016.

Nova’s efficient offense was what put them in position to win. UNC shot 42.9% from the field, but were saved by out-rebounding Nova 33-23. It was the greatest show any basketball fan could ask for, two teams finding their own ways to score. Two great coaches showing their wit. A miraculous shot to win.

Villanova will bring in their first NCAA title since 1985, where they were once again underdogs to Patrick Ewing‘s Georgetown team. The 1985 team shot 78.6% and escaped with a victory over Georgetown 66-64. Arcidiacono, Booth, Jenkins and the rest of the Villanova team are now in the same historical place as the 1985 team led by Nova great Ed Pinckney.

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Villanova brought the NCAA title home to Philadelphia, and surely the rest of the Big 5 Philly schools are ramping up to take down their now-champion nemesis. Villanova Men’s Bastkeball has reached the pinnacle of their sport, and now the rest of Philadelphia’s universities will look to re-spark the intense inner-city rivalry.