< Previous201 9 -20 M ED IA G U I D E WILDCAT LEGENDS 158 HUBIE WHITE’S CAREER STATISTICS YEAR GP FGM-FGA FG% FTM-FTA FT% REB PTS AVG 1959-60 28 193-485 .398 109-165 .661 237 495 19.0 1960-61 24 188-458 .419 133-185 .718 232 509 21.2 1961-62 26 243-555 .437 118-180 .655 285 604 21.5 TOTALS 78 624-1498 .417 360-530 .679 754 1608 20.6 ALVIN WILLIAMS’ CAREER STATISTICS YEAR GP-GS FGM-FGA FG% 3FG-3A 3FG% FTM-FTA FT% O D TOT PF PTS AST BLK TO STL MIN 1993-94 31/0 79-203 .389 20-51 .392 67-96 .698 20 67 87 82-2 245 88 3 57 41 720 1994-95 33/18 79-195 .405 15-57 .263 61-82 .744 24 92 116 84-3 234 159 5 75 53 963 1995-96 33/33 129-284 .454 35-101 .347 71-100 .710 22 95 117 89-3 364 177 18 80 46 1078 1996-97 34/34 198-412 .481 63-171 .368 121-163 .742 45 124 169 86-2 580 129 12 91 60 1163 TOTALS 131/85 485-1095 .442 133-380 .350 320-441 .726 111 378 489 341-10 1423 553 38 303 200 3924 ALVIN WILLIAMS GUARD • 6-5 • 185 PHILADELPHIA, PA. GERMANTOWN ACD. 1993-97 #20 An important cog in the Wildcats success’ of the mid-1990s alongside fellow Philadelphia natives Jonathan Haynes and Jason Lawson … Named first team All-BIG EAST as a senior in 1996-97 while leading the ‘Cats to a 24-10 record and share of the regular season title … Dished out 553 career assists, an average of 4.2 assists per game … Received the Rob- ert Geasey Award as Philadelphia Big Five co-Player of the Year in 1997 … In his four seasons, the Wildcats posted a 95-37 record and won the 1995 BIG EAST Tournament championship and 1994 NIT title … Started 67 straight games to finish his career … Aver- aged 20.4 points per game over the final 16 games of his college career … Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft … Went on to average 9.0 points and 4.1 assists per game over a career that included an impressive stint with the Toronto Raptors (1998-2006). HUBIE WHITE GUARD • 6-3 • 193 PHILADELPHIA, PA. W. PHILA. H.S. 1959-62 #14 This Philadelphia native was a 1962 All-Amer- ican and the Philadelphia Big Five Player of the Year … Was selected first team All- Philadelphia Big Five in each of his three seasons … A 1976 inductee in the Big Five Hall of Fame … Averaged 20.6 points and 9.7 rebounds per game in his three year career … Closed his career with 1,608 points … His No. 14 was retired by Villanova on Jan. 27, 2001 at halftime of a game between the Wildcats and Boston College at the Pavilion … Selected as the 14th overall pick of the 1962 NBA Draft by the San Francisco Warriors … Later played for the Philadelphia 76ers as well as Miami and Pittsburgh in the American Basketball Association. DOUG WEST GUARD • 6-6 • 200 ALTOONA, PA. ALTOONA H.S. 1985-89 #42 One of the most accomplished scorers in Villanova history, this Altoona, Pa., native scored 2,037 points across four seasons … Started 121 times in 139 career games played for the Wildcats of Coach Rollie Massimino … Helped Villanova compile an 80-59 record in his tenure, highlighted by a run to the NCAA Regional Final in 1988 … Scored a career high 30 points against Drexel in 1988 and had a career best 13 rebounds vs. Temple in 1986 … Averaged double figures in points in each of his four seasons, capped by an 18.4 points per game effort as a senior in 1988-89 … A career .394 shooter from beyond the 3-point arc … Named to the 1988 Southeast Regional All-Tournament Team … Chosen in the second round of the 1989 NBA Draft by Minnesota … Played for the Timberwolves through 1998 before closing his career with the Vancouver Grizzlies. DOUG WEST’S CAREER STATISTICS YEAR GP FGM-FGA FG% 3FG-3A 3FG% FTM-FTA FT% REB-AVG. PTS-AVG. AST 1985-86 37 158-307 .515 N/A N/A 60-88 .682 136-3.7 376-10.2 32 1986-87 31 180-376 .479 16-43 .372 94-129 .729 151-4.9 470-15.2 51 1987-88 37 215-433 .497 61-143 .427 92-127 .724 181-4.9 583-15.8 82 1988-89 33 226-488 .463 66-177 .373 90-125 .720 162-4.9 608-18.4 92 TOTALS 138 779-1604 .486 143-363 .394 336-469 .716 630-4.6 2037-14.8 257 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL HISTORYTOU R NA M E N TSOVERALL RECORD: *WON 64, LOST 35 39 APPEARANCES 2019 — Defeated St. Mary’s 61-57 (Hartford, Conn.); Lost to Purdue 87-61 in the second round (Hartford, Conn.) 2018 — Defeated Radford 87-61 (Pittsburgh, Pa); Defeated Alabama 81-58 in the Second Round (Pittsburgh, Pa).; Defeated West Virginia 90-78 in East Regional Semifinal (Boston, Mass.); Defeated Texas Tech 71-59 in East Regional Final (Boston, Mass.); Defeated Kansas 95-79 in Final Four (San Antonio, Texas); Defeated Michigan 79-62 in NCAA Final (San Antonio, Texas). 2017 — Defeated Mount St. Mary’s 76-56 (Buffalo, N.Y); Lost to Wisconsin, 65-62 in the second round (Buffalo, N.Y) 2016 — Defeated UNC Asheville 86-56 in first round (Brooklyn, N.Y.); Defeated Iowa 87-68 in the second round (Brooklyn, N.Y.); Defeated Miami 92-69 in South Regional semi-finals (Louisville, Ky.); Defeated Kansas 64-59 in South Regional finals (Louisville, Ky.); Defeated Oklahoma 95-51 in the National semi-finals (Houston, Texas); Defeated North Carolina 77-74 in the National Championship Game (Houston, Texas) 2015 — Defeated Lafayette 93-52 in second round; Lost to N.C. State 71-68 in third round (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 2014 — Defeated Milwaukee 73-53 in second round; Lost to Connecticut 77-65 in third round (Buffalo, N.Y.) 2013 — Lost to North Carolina 78-71 in second round (Kansas City, Mo.) 2011 — Lost to George Mason 61-57 in second round (Cleveland, Ohio) 2010 — Defeated Robert Morris 73-70 (OT) in the first round (Providence, R.I.) Lost to St. Mary’s 75-68 in the second round (Providence, R.I.) 2009 — First Round (Philadelphia, Pa.): Defeated American 80-67; Second Round (Philadelphia, Pa.): Defeated UCLA 89-69; Third Round (Boston, Mass.): Defeated Duke 77-54; East Regional Final (Boston, Mass.): Defeated Pitt 78-76; Final Four (Detroit, Mich.): Lost to North Carolina 83-69 2008 — First Round (Tampa, Fla.): Defeated Clemson 75-69; Second Round (Tampa, Fla.): Defeated Siena 84-72; Midwest Semifinal (Detroit, Mich.): Lost to Kansas 72-57 2007 — First Round (Chicago, Ill.): Lost to Kentucky 67-58 2006 — First Round (Philadelphia, Pa.): Defeated Monmouth 58-45; Second Round (Philadelphia, Pa.): Defeated Arizona 82-78; Minneapolis Regional Semi-final (Minneapolis, Minn.); Defeated Boston College 60-59 (overtime); Minneapolis Regional Final (Minneapolis, Minn.): Lost to Florida 75-62 2005 — Defeated New Mexico, 55-47, in Syracuse Region first round; Defeated Florida, 76-65, in Syracuse Region second round; Lost to North Carolina, 67-66, in Syracuse regional semifinal. 1999 — Lost to Mississippi 72-70, in East first round; 1997 — Defeated Long Island, 101-91, in East first round; Lost to California, 75-68, in East second round. 1996 — Defeated Portland, 92-58 in Midwest first round; Lost to Louisville 68-64, in Midwest second round. 1995 — Lost to Old Dominion, 89-81, in East first round. 1991 — Defeated Princeton, 50-48, in East first round; Lost to North Carolina, 84-69, in East second round. 1990 — Lost to LSU, 70-63, in the Southeast first round. 1988 — Defeated Arkansas, 82-74, in the first round; Defeated Illinois, 66-63, in the second round; Defeated Kentucky, 80-74, in the Southeast regional semifinals; Lost to Oklahoma, 59-78, in the Southeast regional finals. 1986 — Defeated Virginia Tech, 71-62, in the first round; Lost to Georgia Tech, 61-66, in the second round. 1985 — Defeated Dayton, 51-49, in the first round; Defeated Michigan, 59-55, in the second round; Defeated Maryland, 46-43 in the Southeast regional semifinals; Defeated North Carolina, 56-44, in the Southeast regional finals; Defeated Memphis State, 52-45, in the semifinals; Defeated Georgetown, 66-64, in the National Championship game. 1984 — Defeated Marshall, 84-72, in the first round; Lost to Illinois, 56-64, in the second round. 1983 — Bye first round; Defeated Lamar, 60-58, in the second round; Defeated Iowa, 55-54, in the Midwest regional semifinals; Lost to Houston, 71-89, in the Midwest regional finals. 1982 — Bye first round; Defeated Northeastern, 76-72, in triple overtime in the second round; Defeated Memphis State, 70-66, in overtime in the Eastern regional semifinals; Lost to North Carolina, 60-70, in the Eastern regional finals. 1981 — Defeated Houston, 90-72, in the first round; Lost to Virginia, 50-54, in the second round. 1980 — Defeated Marquette, 77-59, in the first round; Lost to Syracuse, 83-97, in the second round. 1978 — Defeated LaSalle, 103-97, in the first round; Defeated Indiana, 61-60, in the second round; Lost to Duke, 72-90, inthe Eastern regional finals. 1972 — Defeated East Carolina, 85-70, in the first round; Lost to Pennsylvania 67-78, in the second round; Lost to South Carolina, 78-90, in consolation. 1971 — *Defeated St. Joseph’s, 93-75, in the first round; Defeated Fordham, 85-75, in the second round; Defeated Pennsylvania, 90-47, in the Eastern regional finals; Defeated Western Kentucky, 92-89, in double overtime in the semifinals; Lost to UCLA, 62-68, in the National Championship game. 1970 — Defeated Temple, 77-69, in the first round; Defeated Niagara, 98-73, in the second round; Lost to St. Bonaventure, 74-94, in the Eastern regional finals. 1969 — Lost to Davidson, 61-75, in the first round. 1964 — Defeated Providence, 77-66, in the first round; Lost to Duke, 73-87, in the second round; Defeated Princeton, 74-62, in the consolation. 1962 — Defeated West Virginia, 90-75, in the first round; Defeated NYU, 79-70, in the second round; Lost to Wake Forest, 69-79, in the third round. 1955 — Defeated Duke, 74-73, in the first round; Lost to Canisius, 71-73, in the second round; Defeated Princeton, 64-57, in the consolation. 1951 — Lost to North Carolina State, 62-67, in the first round. 1949 — Lost to Kentucky, 72-85, in the first round; Defeated Yale, 78-67, in the consolation. 1939 — Defeated Brown, 42-30, in the first round; Lost to Ohio State, 36-53 in the Final Four. *1971 NCAA Tournament games were later declared null and void by the NCAA. 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL 201 9 -20 M ED IA G U I D E 160 NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY TOURNAMENTS Jermaine Samuels Jr.NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS 2019 -20 M EDIA GUIDE 161 NCAA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS 2018 Donte DiVincenzo (Final Four Most Outstanding Player) Eric Paschall (All Final Four, All East Region) Mikal Bridges (All Final Four) Omari Spellman (All East Region) Jalen Brunson (East Region Most Outstanding Player) 2016 Daniel Ochefu (All-South Region) Josh Hart (All-South Region, All-Final Four) Kris Jenkins, Most Outstanding Player (South Region) Phil Booth (All-Final Four) Ryan Arcidiacono (All-South Region, Final Four, Most Outstanding Player) 2009 Dante Cunningham (All-East Region) Dwayne Anderson (All-East Region) Scottie Reynolds, Most Outstanding Player (East Region) 2006 Randy Foye (All-Minneapolis Region) 2005 Randy Foye (All-Syracuse Region) 1988 Doug West (All-Southeast Region) Kenny Wilson (All-Southeast Region) 1985 Harold Jensen (All-NCAA Championship) Dwayne McClain (All-NCAA Championship) Gary McLain (All-NCAA Championship) Ed Pinckney (MVP NCAA Champ. game, All-NCAA Champ., MVP Southeast Region, All-Southeast Region) Harold Pressley (All-Southeast Region) 1983 John Pinone (All-Midwest Region) 1982 Ed Pinckney (All-Eastern Region) John Pinone (All-Eastern Region) 1978 Keith Herron (All-Eastern Region) 1972 Hank Siemiontkowski (All-Eastern Region) 1971 Howard Porter (MVP NCAA Championship game, All-NCAA Championship, MVP All-Eastern Region, All-Eastern Region) Chris Ford (All-Eastern Region) Hank Siemiontkowski (All-Eastern Region) 1970 Howard Porter (All-Eastern Region) 1964 Wali Jones (All-Eastern Region) 1962 Hubie White, Wali Jones (All-Eastern Region) 1955 Bob Schafer, Jack Devine (All-Eastern Region) Opponent Record Alabama 1-0 Arkansas 1-0 American 1-0 Arizona 1-0 Boston College 1-0 Brown 1-0 California 0-1 Canisius 0-1 Clemson 1-0 Connecticut 0-1 Davidson 0-1 Dayton 1-0 Duke 2-2 East Carolina 1-0 Florida 1-1 Fordham 1-0 George Mason 0-1 Georgetown 1-0 Georgia Tech 0-1 Houston 1-1 Illinois 1-1 Indiana 1-0 Iowa 2-0 Kansas 2-1 Kentucky 1-2 Lafayette 1-0 Lamar 1-0 LaSalle 1-0 Long Island 1-0 LSU 0-1 Louisville 0-1 Marquette 1-0 Marshall 1-0 Maryland 1-0 Memphis State 2-0 Miami 1-0 Michigan 2-0 Milwaukee 1-0 Opponent Record Mississippi 0-1 Monmouth 1-0 Mount St. Mary’s 1-0 New Mexico 1-0 New York University 1-0 Niagara 1-0 North Carolina 2-5 North Carolina State 0-2 Northeastern 1-0 Ohio State 0-1 Oklahoma 1-1 Old Dominion 0-1 Pennsylvania 1-1 Pittsburgh 1-0 Portland 1-0 Providence 1-0 Princeton 3-0 Purdue 0-1 Radford 1-0 Robert Morris 1-0 St. Bonaventure 0-1 St. Joseph’s 1-0 St. Mary’s 1-1 Siena 1-0 South Carolina 0-1 Syracuse 0-1 Temple 1-0 Texas Tech 1-0 UCLA 1-1 UNC Asheville 1-0 Virginia 0-1 Virginia Tech 1-0 Wake Forest 0-1 West Virginia 2-0 Wisconsin 0-1 VILLANOVA YEAR-BY-YEAR IN THE POSTSEASON 2019 NCAA 2018 NCAA 2017 NCAA 2016 NCAA 2015 NCAA 2014 NCAA 2013 NCAA 2011 NCAA 2010 NCAA 2009 NCAA 2008 NCAA 2007 NCAA 2006 NCAA 2005 NCAA 2004 NIT 2003 NIT 2002 NIT 2001 NIT 2000 NIT 1999 NCAA 1997 NCAA 1996 NCAA 1995 NCAA 1994 NIT 1992 NIT 1991 NCAA 1990 NCAA 1989 NIT 1988 NCAA 1987 NIT 1986 NCAA 1985 NCAA 1984 NCAA 1983 NCAA 1982 NCAA 1981 NCAA 1980 NCAA 1978 NCAA 1977 NIT 1972 NCAA 1971 NCAA 1970 NCAA 1969 NCAA 1968 NIT 1967 NIT 1966 NIT 1965 NIT 1964 NCAA 1963 NIT 1962 NCAA 1960 NIT 1959 NIT 1955 NCAA 1951 NCAA 1949 NCAA 1939 NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY FACTS TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES 59, Kentucky 1942-2019 50, UCLA, 1950-2018 50, North Carolina, 1941-2019 47, Kansas 1940-2018 43, Louisville, 1951-2019 43, Duke 1955-2019 40, Indiana, 1940-2019 40, Syracuse, 1957-2019 39, Villanova, 1939-2019 36, Notre Dame, 1953-2016 36, Arizona, 1951-2019It was April 1, 1985 when David met and beat Goliath. It was a game remem- bered by many as one of the most perfectly- played NCAA champi- onship games ever. It was a game few felt the undermanned Villanova Wildcats had much of a chance winning. What the capacity crowd in Rupp Arena, and one of the largest national television audi- ences ever witnessed on April 1, 1985 was as stunning of an upset as there has ever been in an NCAA championship game. Head coach Rollie Massimino’s Wildcats claimed Vil- lanova’s first national basketball title by shocking one of college basketball great- est teams ever, Georgetown, 66-64. It was a trio that coined themselves “The Expansion Crew,” Ed Pinckney, Dwayne McClain and Gary McLain. And of course it was a typical Villanova team effort with Harold Pressley, Harold Jensen and Dwight Wilbur being most noticeable. And Villanova’s victory was no fluke. On April 1, 1985, Villanova was simply the best team. The Wildcats, as expected, played stellar defense and controlled the tempo just as many thought they would have to in order to keep it a game. Massimino, in a press conference the day before the championship clash, stated that he believed in order for his Wildcats to upend the Georgetown Hoyas it would probably take a perfect game. His Wildcats weren’t perfect, but they were close. The ‘Cats sank an amazing 22 of 28 field goal tries for a sizzling and unheard of 78.6 percent field goal per- centage. Even more startling, the ‘Cats in the second half, when things really began cooking, connected on nine of 10 field goals. 90 percent field goal shooting! From the foul line the ‘Cats went 22 of 27, including 11 of 14 pressure packed ones in the last two minutes. What made Villanova’s shooting per- formance even more startling was who it was accomplished against. Patrick Ewing and company were the number one defense in the country and had limited opponents to just 39 percent shooting from the field for the entire season. Having lost twice to Georgetown in the regular season, the two squads were familiar foes. Georgetown jumped on the ‘Cats quickly and enjoyed 10-6, 18-12 and 20-14 leads in the game’s early going. But for every Georgetown offensive, Vil- lanova regrouped and rallied and when Harold Pressley followed up his own missed shot with just four seconds left before half, Villanova went to the locker room leading 29-28 while a nation-wide audience stared in disbelief. Villanova’s halftime lead lasted until 10:41 was left when the Hoyas moved into the lead 42-41. The lead would exchange hands five times until Villano- va had silently slipped out to a 53-48 advantage. But Georgetown roared back, and with 4:50 to go had a 54-53 lead. In possession of a one-point lead and the ball, Georgetown tried to spread the floor and run the clock. However, the ‘Cats Dwayne McClain, a player remembered for the many big shots he made in his career, came up with a crucial steal and as Vil- lanova patiently worked for a good shot, fresh- man Harold Jensen nailed a 16 footer to push Villanova to a 55-54 lead with 2:36 to go. Pinckney, at the other end, blocked David Wingate’s driving baseline layup and was fouled retrieving the ball, and after making both free throws, the Wildcats had a 57-54 lead. Vil- lanova’s ability to sink free throws was crucial in the closing minutes and with 18 seconds left, Villanova led 65-60. A Villanova free throw and two Georgetown layups made it 66-64 with two seconds left. Dwayne McClain, who had tripped and fallen to the floor, caught the inbound pass on the floor and when the final two seconds ticked off the clock, the victory was Villanova’s. “Needless to say, this is probably the greatest moment in Villanova basketball history. I am extremely elated, proud and grateful for everything that happened this year. These kids were just great. I think we beat one of the greatest teams in history. Georgetown played extremely well and we played great.” For the Villanova Wildcats, it was a fairy tale finish. The 1984-85 Villanova Wildcats (l to r): Dwight Wilbur, Veltra Dawson, R.C. Massimino, Gary McLain, Brian Harrington, Harold Jensen, Steve Pinone. Standing: Wyatt Maker, Ed Pinckney, Mark Plansky, Harold Pressley, Head Coach Rollie Massimino, Dwayne McClain, Connally Brown, Chuck Everson. 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS 201 9 -20 M ED IA G U I D E 162 1985 NCAA CHAMPIONS VILLANOVA 66, GEORGETOWN 64 APRIL 1, 1985 — RUPP ARENA, LEXINGTON, KY VILLANOVA MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA REB A PF PTS Pressley 40 4 6 3 4 4 1 1 11 McClain 40 5 7 7 8 1 3 3 17 Pinckney 37 5 7 6 7 6 5 3 16 Wilbur 5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 McLain 40 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 8 Jensen 34 5 5 4 5 1 2 2 14 Plansky 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 Everson 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 200 22 28 22 27 17 14 12 66 Turnovers: 17 (Jensen 6; McClain 5; Pinckney 3; McLain 2; Pressley, 1); Blocks: 1 (Pressley); Steals: 8 (Pressley 3; McClain, Pinckney 2; Jensen 1). G’TOWN MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA REB A PF PTS Martin 37 4 6 2 2 5 1 2 10 Williams 29 5 9 0 2 4 2 3 10 Ewing 39 7 13 0 0 5 2 4 14 Jackson 37 4 7 0 0 0 9 4 8 Wingate 39 8 14 0 0 2 2 4 16 McDonald 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Broadnax 13 1 2 2 2 1 2 4 4 Dalton 4 0 1 2 2 0 0 1 2 TOTALS 200 29 53 6 8 17 18 22 64 Turnovers: 11 (Wingate 4; Williams 3; Martin, Ewing, McDonald, Broadnax 1); Blocks: 1 (Ewing); Steals: 6 (Ewing 2; Williams, Jackson, Wingate, Broadnax 1); Halftime Score: VU 29-28; Attendance: 23,124On the heels of con- secutive upset defeats in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 in 2014 and 2015, the prevail- ing sentiment greeting the 2015-16 Wildcats was that this team had something to prove. And that something could only be addressed in March. Villanova head coach Jay Wright disagreed with the premise. He asked his team, which included two return- ing starters, to embrace the actual day-to-day grunt work it would take to even position themselves for another chance at postsea- son glory. The challenges were real. Holdover captains Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu were joined in the revamped starting lineup by juniors Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins along with freshman guard Jalen Brunson. The key reserves were sophomore guard Phil Booth, redshirt freshman Mikal Bridges and junior forward Darryl Reynolds. The Wildcats opened with four straight victo- ries at the Pavilion by an average margin of 26.3 points. Next came a Thanksgiving stop in Brook- lyn where they earned the NIT Season Tipoff title with wins over Stanford and Georgia Tech. They then took care of Saint Joseph’s on Hawk Hill for their seventh consecutive triumph. Next came a long journey to Pearl Harbor where the No. 9 Wildcats would take on No. 7 Oklahoma set against the backdrop of the 74th anniversary of the attack on the island. It was a thoughtful weekend of reflection off the court but Villanova proved no match for the Sooners on this warm day at Bloch Arena, falling 78-55. Villanova rebounded with a home-court victory over La Salle before flying south to meet another Top 10, squad, Virginia. The Cavaliers outlasted the Wildcats 86-74. The Wildcats went back to the workshop and posted home-court wins over Delaware and Penn, setting the stage for a BIG EAST Conference opener at the Pavilion against undefeated, sixth ranked Xavier. A scary fall in the first two minutes suffered by the Musketeers’ Edmond Sumner changed the tenor of the meeting quickly. With Brunson bat- tling the effects of a virus, Arcidiacono stepped forward with a brilliant offensive performance. The senior’s 27 points ignited the Wildcats’ offense as Villanova rolled past Xavier 91-64. VU reeled off six more BIG EAST wins, includ- ing a pair over Seton Hall, to carve a 7-0 confer- ence mark headed into a scheduled showdown with Providence. A winter storm delayed the game by a day to Jan. 24 and PC upended VU 82-79 in overtime. Less than two weeks later, the two teams met again in Providence. With Ochefu sidelined by the effects of a concussion, Reynolds started and provided 19 points and 10 rebounds in 36 minutes to key a 72-60 win. VU was 10-1 in the BIG EAST and poised for a promotion from its No. 3 national ranking when the polls were released on Feb. 8. For the first time in its history, Villanova was ranked at the top of both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches poll when the polls were announced. The Wildcats picked up wins over DePaul and St. John’s to remain at No. 1 for a second week. Wins at Temple and on Senior Day over Butler extended the run atop the polls into a third week. Xavier got the better of the Wildcats in the rematch on Feb. .24 in Cincinnati before Villanova closed out the year with three more BIG EAST wins to complete a 27-4 regular season. For the third time in as many seasons, VU’s 16-2 confer- ence record earned it the BIG EAST regular sea- son championship. Villanova’s quest to repeat as BIG EAST Tourna- ment champions took it to the title game game against Seton Hall. In a close game throughout, the Wildcats were unable to score on their final possession and Seton Hall won, 69-67. A No. 2 seed in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament brought the Wildcats back to Brooklyn for the sec- ond time. A late first half spurt helped carry Villanova past UNC Asheville 86-56 to set up a second round clash with Iowa, a team that had spent much of the season ranked in the Top 25. Villa- nova cleared the sec- ond round hurdle with little fuss. Hart scored 19 points to spark a balanced attack in an 87-68 triumph. In the Sweet 16, Miami and Villanova were both challenged to contain the oppo- nents’ substantial firepower. The Wild- cats strung together enough second half stops to pull away to a 92-69 win in Lou- isville. That set up an Elite Eight clash with Kansas and this time Villanova won a gritty game unlike anything they had seen to this point in the NCAA Tournament. Some fine defensive work by Bridges and clutch free throws from Arcidiaco- no helped the Wildcats slip past the Jayhawks 64-59. Awaiting Villanova at the Final Four in Houston was Oklahoma. Against the Sooners, Villanova earned the largest margin of vic- tory ever recorded in a Final Four game, a 95-51 victory. Hart’s 23 points and eight rebounds led the way. On championship Mon- day, the Wildcats and Tar Heels staged a classic. North Carolina took a 39-34 lead into halftime. The Wildcats opened a 67-57 lead near the end of the second half but North Carolina kept coming. The Tar Heels forged a 74-74 tie when Marcus Paige tossed in a deep 3-pointer while being hounded by a defender. 4.7 seconds remained on the clock. Jenkins inbounded the basketball to Arcidiaco- no, who accepted the feed and began dribbling towards the frontcourt along the left side. As he crossed halfcourt, the Tar Heels defense shifted towards the Villanova guard. Behind him, Arcidi- acono heard Jenkins calling his name. Arcidiacono drifted two his right and sent a pass to a trailing, open Jenkins. Jenkins took the pass, stepped into the shot, and it fell through the net as the horn sounded. NRG Stadium erupted. The Villanova Wildcats were the 2016 NCAA national champions. VILLANOVA 77, NORTH CAROLINA 74 4/4/16 • NRG STADIUM • HOUSTON, TX VILLANOVA • 35-5 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS # PLAYER FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OFF DEF TOT PF TP A TO BLK STL MIN 02 JENKINS, Kris f 6-11 2-4 0-1 0 2 2 4 14 1 3 0 2 21 23 OCHEFU, Daniel f 4-5 0-0 1-2 1 5 6 2 9 2 2 2 0 32 01 BRUNSON, Jalen g 1-4 1-2 1-2 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 22 03 HART, Josh g 4-9 1-3 3-4 1 7 8 3 12 1 2 1 1 38 15 ARCIDIACONO, Ryan g 6-9 2-3 2-2 0 2 2 2 16 2 2 0 1 37 05 BOOTH, Phil 6-7 2-2 6-6 0 2 2 0 20 0 1 1 1 25 25 BRIDGES, Mikal 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 4 2 0 0 1 0 15 45 REYNOLDS, Darryl 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 10 Team 0 0 0 Totals 28-48 8-14 13-17 2 21 23 16 77 6 10 5 5 200 FT % 1st Half: 14-24 58.3% 2nd half: 14-24 58.3% Game: 28-48 58.3% 3FT % 1st Half: 3-7 42.9% 2nd half: 5-7 71.4% Game: 8-14 57.1% FT % 1st Half: 3-4 75.0% 2nd half: 10-13 76.9% Game: 13-17 76.5% Deadball Rebounds: / NORTH CAROLINA • 33-7 TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS # PLAYER FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OFF DEF TOT PF TP A TO BLK STL MIN 03 Kennedy Meeks f 1-8 0-0 2-2 6 1 7 3 4 0 2 0 1 21 11 Brice Johnson f 6-10 0-0 2-3 1 7 8 2 14 1 1 1 0 31 44 Justin Jackson f 3-8 3-4 0-2 2 2 4 2 9 2 2 1 1 34 02 Joel Berry II g 7-12 4-4 2-2 0 3 3 2 20 4 3 0 0 37 05 Marcus Paige g 7-17 4-7 3-4 2 3 5 3 21 6 1 0 1 34 00 Nate Britt 1-4 0-2 0-0 1 0 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 9 01 Theo Pinson 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 12 04 Isaiah Hicks 2-4 0-0 0-0 2 2 4 4 4 0 1 1 2 20 42 Joel James 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 Team 2 1 3 Totals 27-63 11-17 9-13 16 20 36 20 74 16 11 3 5 200 FT % 1st Half: 15-28 53.6% 2nd half: 12-35 34.3% Game: 27-63 42.9% 3FG % 1st Half: 7-9 77.8% 2nd half: 4-8 50.0% Game: 11-17 64.7% FT % 1st Half: 2-3 66.7% 2nd half: 7-10 70.0% Game: 9-13 69.2% Officials: Michael Stephens, John Higgins, Terry Wymer Technical fouls: Villanova-None. North Carolina-None. Attendance: 74340 2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Score by periods 1st 2nd Total Villanova 34 43 77 North Carolina 39 35 74 Back Row (L-R): Graduate Manager Nick DiPaola; Equipment Director Lionel Brodie; Strength Coach John Shackleton; Head Athletic Trainer Jeff Pierce; Assistant Coach Kyle Neptune; Associate Head Coach Baker Dunleavy; Eric Paschall; Tim Delaney; Kevin Rafferty; Head Coach Jay Wright; Daniel Ochefu; Darryl Reynolds; Mikal Bridges; Kris Jenkins; Special Assistant to the Head Coach Jason Donnelly; Director of Student-Athlete Development Mike Nardi; Graduate Assistant Ryan Harkins; Graduate Manager Mickey Mikulski; Graduate Manager Mike Clark. Front Row (L-R): Video Coordinator George Halcovage; Donte DiVincenzo; Jalen Brunson; Josh Hart; Ryan Arcidiacono; Patrick Farrell; Phil Booth; Henry Lowe; Assistant Coach Ashley Howard 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS 2019 -20 M EDIA GUIDE 163 2016 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS 201 9 -20 M ED IA G U I D E 164 2018 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Before the 2017-18 college basketball season began, the Villanova Wildcats understood that they would be without two elements that have often been crucial ingredients to success. Villanova’s roster included exactly zero scholarship seniors. What’s more, the Wildcats would also be without an on-campus home, due to the $65 million renova- tion project that transformed the original Pavilion into the Finneran Pavilion. The campaign would be a road show of sorts, with 12 games played at the team’s sec- ond home, the Wells Fargo Center, and others in neu- tral settings like Allentown, Pa., and Hempstead, N.Y. On paper, those loomed as significant obstacles. In reality, they became mere footnotes to as impressive a march through a season as Villanova has made its 98 years of Division I hoops. From opening night – a 75-60 triumph over Columbia – to the final Monday night of the season in San Antonio, Tex., the Wildcats were extraordinary. Junior floor leader Jalen Brunson teamed with classmates Mikal Bridges and Phil Booth to lead the way on a remarkable journey that hit an early high note with the program’s second Battle 4 Atlantis championship in five years. The Wildcats rallied from a 46-34 halftime deficit to upend Tennessee 85-76 in the semifinals and then held off UNI 64-50 in the title game in the Bahamas. Brunson was selected as the event’s Most Outstanding Player. It would only be the first of what turned out to be a series of awards in what would become the most decorated single season in program history. Villanova turned back the clock by hosting a regular season game in the Jake Nevin Field House – capacity 2,200 – for the first time since Jan. 4, 1986 when Penn came to campus on Nov. 29. In front of a raucous audience comprised mostly of students, the Wildcats rolled as redshirt freshman Omari Spellman flashed his upside with 14 points and seven rebounds in a 90-62 Philadelphia Big Five triumph. A trip to New York City for the Jimmy V Classic was a December highlight. A 28-point outburst by Bridges that included a highlight reel second half dunk helped lift VU past 2017 NCAA Finalist Gonzaga 90-72. The Wildcats took a 12-0 mark into the open- ing of BIG EAST play on Dec. 27 at DePaul and came away with a 103-85 victory in their first ever visit to Wintrust Arena. For the second time in three seasons, Butler handed Villanova its first loss, on Dec. 30. Brunson’s 31 points weren’t enough as sizzling long range shooting pushed the Bulldogs to a 101-93 win before a raucous crowd at Hinkle Field House. The Cats’ quickly got back on track in January, climbing the BIG EAST standings thanks to a perfect month that also included an 81-61 non-conference win over former league rival Connecticut on Jan. 20. After posting a 98-78 victory over Creighton at the Wells Fargo Center on Feb. 1, the Wildcats stood at 21-1. Injuries that had begun to mount in January became more challenging in a month with nine games in 28 days. Three Wildcats – Collin Gillespie, Jermaine Samuels, and Phil Booth – were sidelined for multiple games with the same injury – a broken bone in the hand. Booth’s loss following a Jan. 23 win over Providence, was especially damaging. Then, when Eric Paschall went to the sidelines with a concussion following a Feb. 4 win over Seton Hall, the mountain grew steeper still. St. John’s knocked off Villanova 79-75 in South Philadelphia on Feb. 7. But the Wildcats bounced back with terrific effort, downing Butler 86-75 with Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo combining for 57 points. There would be two more BIG EAST defeats in the month – at Providence and at Creighton – but the most significant element is that the ‘Cats were regaining their health. Booth returned on Feb. 24 in a win over DePaul, joining Gillespie and Samuels who had returned earlier. Not long after their arrival in Manhattan, it was announced that Brunson was the recipient of both the BIG EAST Player and Scholar Athlete of the Year awards. It would begin a run of honors that saw him become the consensus National Player of the Year, becoming the first Wildcat to be named the winner of the John R. Wooden, Naismith and Oscar Robertson Trophy as the country’s top player. The Wildcats continued to roll in their first two games, downing Marquette 94-70 and then blitzing Butler 19-0 in the opening minutes to take control of a semifinal clash. The theatrics of Bridges and Brunson helped carry the Wildcats past Providence in over- time 76-66 to produce the program’s third BIG EAST Tournament crown in four seasons. Bridges took home the Dave Gavitt Award as the event’s Most Outstanding Player. Villanova earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and travelled to Pittsburgh to meet Radford in the open- ing round. The Wildcats built a 44-23 halftime lead over Radford and glided to an 87-61 win in the opening round. Booth and Bridges helped to contain Alabama star Collin Sex- ton in the second round. That, and a burst early in the second half carried VU past the Crimson Tide. Bridges finished with 23 points and DiVincenzo added 18. The Wildcats returned to Boston, the launching point of their 2009 march to the NCAA Final Four, for the 2018 Eastern Regional. In the semifinal, the Wildcats found themselves in old school BIG EAST battle against their former confer- ence rival West Virginia. The Mountaineers held a 57-51 lead with 11:08 remaining to play in regulation. Enter Brunson and Spellman. The duo fueled a monstrous closing burst that culminated in a 90-78 triumph. Two days later, the Wildcats downed another representative of the Big 12, holding off Texas Tech 71-59. The Wildcats thus punched their ticket to Texas, site of their 2016 NCAA national title victory. In the semifinals, Villanova drained an NCAA Final Four record 18 3-pointers on their way to a 95-79 win over Kansas. Paschall was sensational, dropping in 10-of-11 field goal attempts while compiling 24 points. Two nights later, the Wildcats found themselves trailing Michigan by seven points after 9:01 of game action. That’s when the BIG EAST’s Sixth Man of the Year stepped forward with a performance for the ages. DiVincenzo would finish with 31 points as the ‘Cats pulled away for a 79-62 triumph. The Wilming- ton, Del., product would be named Most Outstanding Player. The story of Villanova’s march through the mad- ness was its dominance. Villanova won all six of its NCAA games by double digits with an average mar- gin of victory of 17 points per contest. Two days after returning to Philadelphia, the Wild- cats were celebrated with a parade near City Hall. MICHIGAN VS VILLANOVA 4/2/18 • 8:20 PM AT ALAMODOME • SAN ANTONIO, TX MICHIGAN 62 • 33-8 TOTAL 3-PT REBOUNDS # PLAYER FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OFF DEF TOT PF TP A TO BLK STL MIN 04 LIVERS, Isaiah f 0-2 0-2 0-0 1 3 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 20 13 WAGNER, Moritz f 6-11 1-4 3-4 0 7 7 4 16 1 4 0 0 33 01 MATTHEWS, Charles g 3-9 0-2 0-4 0 3 3 5 6 1 3 1 2 33 03 SIMPSON, Zavier g 4-8 0-2 2-3 1 2 3 1 10 2 3 0 1 34 12 ABDUR-RAHKMAN, M-A g 8-13 2-7 5-6 0 1 1 2 23 0 0 0 0 34 02 POOLE, Jordan 1-5 0-2 1-1 0 1 1 2 3 1 0 0 1 10 05 SIMMONS, Jaaron 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 15 TESKE, Jon 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 2 3 1 2 1 0 0 0 7 22 ROBINSON, Duncan 0-3 0-3 0-0 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 22 23 WATSON, Ibi 1-2 0-1 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 24 BAIRD, CJ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+ 51 DAVIS, Austin 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+ 55 BROOKS, Eli 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Team 1 0 1 Totals 24-55 3-23 11-18 6 21 27 20 62 6 10 1 6 200 FG % 1st half: 11-28 39.3% 2nd half: 13-27 48.1% Game: 24-55 43.6% 3FG % 1st half: 2-13 15.4% 2nd half: 1-10 10.0% Game: 3-23 13.0% FT % 1st half: 4-7 57.1% 2nd half: 7-11 63.6% Game: 11-18 61.1% Deadball Rebounds: 4 VILLANOVA 79 • 36-4 TOTAL 3-PT REBOUNDS # PLAYER FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OFF DEF TOT PF TP A TO BLK STL MIN 04 PASCHALL, Eric f 2-5 1-3 1-2 1 7 8 4 6 0 2 1 0 27 14 SPELLMAN, Omari f 3-8 0-2 2-2 4 7 11 3 8 0 1 0 0 29 25 BRIDGES, Mikal f 7-12 3-7 2-2 2 2 4 2 19 1 2 0 1 36 01 BRUNSON, Jalen g 4-13 1-5 0-0 0 2 2 4 9 2 2 0 2 28 05 BOOTH, Phil g 1-4 0-3 0-0 1 1 2 4 2 0 0 0 1 23 02 GILLESPIE, Collin 0-0 0-0 4-4 0 5 5 0 4 1 0 0 1 16 10 DiVINCENZO, Donte 10-15 5-7 6-10 3 2 5 1 31 3 4 2 0 37 21 COSBY-ROUNDTREE, D 0-0 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 23 SAMUELS, Jermaine 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+ 34 DELANEY, Tim 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+ Team 0 0 0 Totals 27-57 10-27 15-20 12 26 38 18 79 7 12 3 5 200 FG % 1st half: 14-31 45.2% 2nd half: 13-26 50.0% Game: 27-57 47.4% 3FG % 1st half: 4-13 30.8% 2nd half: 6-14 42.9% Game: 10-27 37.0% FT % 1st half: 5-6 83.3% 2nd half: 10-14 71.4% Game: 15-20 75.0% Deadball Rebounds: 2,2 Officials: Doug Sirmons, Terry Wymer, Jeff Anderson Technical fouls: MICHIGAN-WAGNER, Moritz. Villanova-SPELLMAN, Omari. Attendance: 67831 2018 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Score by periods 1st 2nd Total Michigan 28 34 62 Villanova 37 42 79On March 27, 1971, Villanova made its first appearance ever in a NCAA basketball tournament championship game. The unheralded Wildcats had the unenviable job of taking on none other then the Wizard of Westwood, legendary John Wood- en and his mighty UCLA Bruins. It was a 28-1 UCLA squad that was paced by Sydney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, Henry Bibby and Steve Patterson. “Gimme Five” boldly exclaimed buttons worn by UCLA fans in the Houston Astrodome for the champi- onship game. UCLA, heading into the 1971 championship game, had won an incredible four-straight NCAA champi- onships and had won six of the previ- ous seven NCAA titles. Equally impres- sive, UCLA had run up an amazing 144-5 record dating back five seasons, and the Bruins had won 27-straight NCAA Tournament games. Jack Kraft’s Villanova Wildcats might have been small in number, however, they certainly were not small in deed. Despite featuring a squad made up of just nine members, the Villanova “Iron Men,” as they came to be known, had plenty of talent. Led by Howard Porter, Clarence Smith, Hank Siemiontkowski, Chris Ford and Tom Ingelsby, Villanova had rolled along to a 27-6 record, had shocked a powerhouse Penn squad 90-47, and the Wildcats were making their 10th straight postseason appear- ance. It had all the makings for another David and Goliath story. Playing in front of a record crowd of 31,765, the Wildcats began the contest in its traditional two-three zone, con- centrating defensively on Wicks and Rowe. With Wicks and Rowe finding the going tough, UCLA looked to 6-9 fifth-year senior center Steve Patter- son. Patterson would burn the ‘Cats for 20 points by half, hitting nine of 13 field goals, and finish with a game high 29. “It just shows you what a good team can do. You hold down Wicks and Rowe as well as we did and that third guy kills you,” exclaimed Wildcat men- tor Kraft. UCLA opened up in its usual pressing zone defense and the anxious Wildcats quickly turned the ball over four times in the first five minutes and fell behind 15-10. But the Wild- cats bounced back to take a 22-21 lead after a Porter follow- up, and trailed 26-25 with 9:11 to play. UCLA out- scored the Villa- nova squad 13-7 over the next four minutes, and took a 39-32 lead with just over five minutes to play, then went to the surprising tactic of a stall to force the Wildcats from their zone defense. Vil- lanova finally obliged and switched to its man-to-man, and by half the Bruins had taken a commanding 45-37 lead. “I didn’t think they could beat us man-to-man. We went to the slow- down to bring them out of their zone defense and it worked. Yes, it did hurt our momentum but that’s a gamble you have to take,” explained Wooden. The second half was much the same. Wooden instructed his team to spread the floor and force Villanova from its zone defense. However, this time it was the ‘Cats who reaped the benefits of the defensive change to man-to- man. After a sweeping hook shot by Por- ter, the ‘Cats pulled within four, 58-54 with 5:09 to play, UCLA went again to Patterson for what many would later call the game’s crucial play. Taking a pass from Bibby, Patterson flipped a short shot which ‘Nova’s Porter brutal- ly rejected. However, the official called goaltending giving the Bruins a 60-54 lead with 4:34 to go. Twice, Porter would drill a jumper to cut the lead to three, 61-58 after a Porter baseline-turnaround jumper and 63-60 after a Porter 15-footer, but that’s as close as the ‘Cats could come as UCLA sealed its victory with three free throws from Bibby and another goaltending call on a Patterson layup. The crown tipped and wavered but did not fall. The dynasty lived on. In the loss, Villanova earned a conso- lation prize of sorts. The six-point victory spread was the narrowest among UCLA’s seven title-clinching victories. UCLA 68, VILLANOVA 62 MARCH 27, 1971 — HOUSTON ASTRODOME, HOUSTON, TX VU MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA REB A PF PTS Smith 40 4 11 1 1 2 0 4 9 Porter 40 10 21 5 6 8 0 1 25 S’ntkowski 38 9 16 1 2 6 0 3 19 Ingelsby 40 3 9 1 1 4 7 2 7 Ford 40 0 4 2 3 5 10 4 2 McDowell 2 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 TOTALS 200 26 62 10 13 27 18 14 62 UCLA MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA REB A PF PTS Rowe 40 2 3 4 5 8 2 0 8 Wicks 40 3 7 1 1 9 7 2 7 Patterson 40 13 18 3 5 8 4 1 29 Bibby 40 6 12 5 5 2 3 1 17 Booker 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Schofield 26 3 9 0 0 1 4 0 6 Betchley 9 0 0 1 2 1 0 1 1 TOTALS 200 27 49 14 18 29 20 9 68 Halftime Score: UCLA 45-37. The 1970-71 Villanova Wildcats (l to r): Clarence Smith, Hank Siemiotkowski, John Fox, Head Coach Jack Kraft, Howard Porter, Gary Jentz, Joe McDowell. Standing: Manager Tom Himes, Assistant Coach Dan Dougherty, Mike Daly, Bob Gohl, Ed Hastings, Chris Ford, Tom Ingelsby, Greg Newman, Manager Larry Morgan, Trainer Jake Nevin. 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS 2019 -20 M EDIA GUIDE 165 1971 NCAA FINALISTSIt arrived at Villanova in the fall of 2005 without fanfare. With the school’s first NCAA Sweet 16 Tournament appearance in 17 years fresh in the rear view mirror, little heed was taken of an incoming crop of freshmen who seemed destined to wait their turn behind a veteran core that included two All-Americans and a starting lineup of accomplished upperclassmen. Four years later that same class, consist- ing of Dwayne Anderson, Shane Clark, Dante Cunningham and Frank Tchuisi, completed their career as the cornerstones of a unit that will long be recalled on the Main Line. They exited the stage literally, on the ele- vated floor before more than 70,000 people at Detroit’s Ford Field, home of the 2009 Final Four. Behind them were the treasured memories of a remarkable farewell tour that included a school-record 30 victories and the program’s first Final Four appearance since the 1985 NCAA championship. “Even through our last practice in Detroit the day before the Final Four,” said head coach Jay Wright, “this team kept getting better.” It was a glamorous and thrilling end for a no-frills contingent that simply went about its business calmly and with a clear purpose. Ahead was a BIG EAST Conference that would establish a new record in January with no fewer than nine of its members ranked in the Top 25. The challenges proved formidable in the early going. There were three losses in the first 18 days of January to top 25 squads – Marquette, Louisville and Connecticut – by a total of 14 points. But Villanova’s players got together in Cunningham’s hotel room in Florida before facing USF and that gath- ering helped ignite an impressive run that began with a hard-fought 70-61 win over the Bulls. Next, came a methodical 67-57 win over No. 3 Pitt in the final basketball game ever at the Spectrum that set the tone for the second half of the BIG EAST regular season. Villanova then hit its stride in February rolling to wins over Cincinnati, Providence, Syracuse and Marquette. By the time the regular season wrapped up at the Pavilion with a 97-81 win over Providence, Villa- nova was 13-5 and earned a double-bye to the BIG EAST Conference Tournament. In New York, the Wildcats found them- selves up against Marquette for the third time in 12 weeks. VU built a large halftime lead, saw the Golden Eagles rally to reclaim the edge, and then watched as Reggie Red- ding found Anderson under the basket for a layup that nearly rimmed out as the horn sounded for a 76-75 win. On Selection Sunday, Villanova learned it would begin its NCAA Tournament jour- ney just down the road at the Wachovia Center in South Philadelphia as a No. 3 seed in the East Region. Patriot League champion American would be the open- ing round foe and the Eagles were firing in long-range bombs en route to a 12-point edge early in the second half. But Villa- nova’s veterans, led by Anderson and Cun- ningham, methodically wore down Ameri- can and the ‘Cats ultimately pulled away to an 80-67 victory. From start to finish against a storied UCLA program, Villanova was in com- mand. Fisher was electric in helping stake the ‘Cats to a 38-19 lead they never looked back from. The final was 89-69. With its fourth visit to the Sweet 16 in the past five seasons, the Wildcats advanced to the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston where another brand name of college basketball awaited. ACC Tournament champion Duke, the region’s second seed, never did get untracked against the ‘Cats with Villanova pulling away to a 77-54 win after halftime. That set up a return engagement with BIG EAST rival Pitt for a trip to the Final Four. It was a seesaw contest with 15 lead changes that captivated the sellout crowd from the opening tip to the final horn. Pittsburgh carved out a 67-63 lead with 3:24 left in regulation but an Anderson steal and 3-point play changed the texture of the final minutes (the senior would finish with 17 points and be named to the All- East Region team along with Cunningham and Most Outstanding Player Reynolds). Villanova sank 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch and appeared to be in control with less than 10 seconds left. But an errant inbounds pass that sailed over the head of Cunningham on an inbounds play and a Wildcat foul allowed Pitt to tie the game at 76 on a pair of Levance Fields free throws with 5.5 seconds left. That set up one of the more notable plays in Villanova basketball history. With the official counting down near the five second limit to inbound the basketball, Red- ding lobbed a high pass to Cunningham near midcourt. Cunningham leaped high, collected the pass and immediately dished it off to a streaking Reynolds. The junior guard dribbled down the right side, eluded DeJuan Blair and drove into the lane, where he hung in the air and sent a shot over Jermaine Dixon towards the net. The shot fell, the horn sounded, and after a final desperation heave from Pitt’s Levance Fields was off line, Villanova celebrated a trip to the Final Four. The Wildcats fell to eventual champion North Carolina in the national semifinals but the legacy of the class of 2009 was secure: through workmanlike toil, it had authored a truly spectacular final act. Back Row: Graduate Manager Adam Fisher; Administrative Intern Kyle Neptune; Assistant Coach Jason Donnelly; Shane Clark; Antonio Peña; Frank Tchuisi; Casiem Drummond; Head Coach Jay Wright; Maurice Sutton; Dante Cunningham; Taylor King; Dwayne Anderson; Corey Stokes; Assistant Coach Doug West; Team Chaplain Rev. Rob Hagan, O.S.A.; Graduate Manager George Halcovage. Front Row: Head Athletic Trainer Jeff Pierce; Strength Coach Lon Record; Russell Wooten; Reggie Redding; Corey Fisher; Scottie Reynolds; Jason Colenda; Manager of Basketball Operations Keith Urgo; Associate Head Coach Patrick Chambers 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS 201 9 -20 M ED IA G U I D E 166 2009 NCAA FINAL FOURVILLANOVA, OHIO STATE WIN N.C.A.A. BASKETBALL GAMES By Edward J. Klein (Reprinted with permission from the Philadelphia Inquirer) While three Palestra scoring standards were shattered, Villanova’s towering toss- ers and Ohio State’s sky-scraper squad marched into the final in the Eastern Divi- sion of the National Collegiate A. A. basket- ball championships last night, jolting semi- windup rivals in a twin-bill before 3500 at Penn’s Palestra. Selected to represent the Middle Atlantic States in the title tournament, Villanova outclassed Brown, 43 to 30, in the lid lifter, while vaunted Ohio State, champion of the Western Conference, walloped Wake Forest, 64 to 52, in a wild-scoring fray that hardly ever lacked for action. The Wildcats and Buckeyes tangle tonight in the Eastern windup at the Palestra. The opening tap-off being slated for 8:30. The winner will automatically qualify to meet the Western division victor in the tournament final at Evanston, Ill., on March 27. ’CATS NEVER PRESSED There was never really any doubt about the outcome of Villanova’s duel with Brown, standard-bearer of the New England area. The Wildcats, tied at 2-2 in the opening two minutes, went ahead shortly afterwards and always remained in the van. At the halftime halt the Main Liners owned a 17-7 edge. All three Palestra scoring records were created in the whirlwind windup. Ohio State’s total established a new team peak, surpassing the 53 mark set up by Army against Penn earlier this season. And the joint State-Wake Forest sum of 116 easily topped the 87 made by Army-Penn when the Cadets tabbed 53 points. Far different from the opener was the duel waged by two bands of sharp-shooters in the nightcap. Wake Forest, member of the Southern Conference, weathered a see- saw first half to lead, 29-23, at the intermis- sion, but the Deacons couldn’t stop Ohio State’s roaring rush from the fear in the second session. BAKER SETS PACE But to Richard (Dick) Baker, at 5’11”, the only Buckeye first-stringer under six feet in height, went to the laurel of both, blazing the trail to Ohio State’s triumph and setting the evening’s top total. Dick achieved the twin goal by chalking up 25 points, the result of 10 field goals and five free tosses. Baker’s brilliant basket-bombing erased the existing Palestra criterion of 21 points established by Penn’s Ray Menzel in 1937 and Dickinson’s Lou Meyer in 1931. Baker, a senior forward from Anderson, Ind., had scored 99 counters thus far this season, the fourth best figure on the Buckeye band. The top scorer in Villanova’a victory was 155-pound, 5-foot-9-inch Johnny Krutulis, senior from North Braddock, Pa., who hit the hoops with a half-dozen field goals and a brace of singletons for 14 points, Big Jim Montgomery, with an even dozen, also aided materially. Contrary to advance warning, Brown came here without the band of eagle-eyed sharp- shooters who could cut the cords from mid-floor. Even broad-shouldered Harry Platt, who scored 240 points for the New Englanders this semester, was conspicuously silent in the early stages. Later he got going and tabbed seven markers. Villanova, which took almost twice as may shots at the scoring strings as Brown did, repeatedly broke up the visitors’ plays by intercepting passes. The losers hindered themselves considerably by frequent misses of easy lay-up tosses. VILLANOVA SURGES AHEAD After shattering the 2-2 stalemate, the Wildcats stepped out swiftly. They piled up an 11-3 advantage with eight minutes gone and, paced by the brilliant Krutulis, were ahead 17-7 at half time. The Main Liners were on top by 28-12 and 36-18 at stages in the second session, easing up in the last five minutes to thus allow Brown to whittle the winning margin. Ohio State, which five times traded the lead with the Deacons from Dixie and on six occasions — at 3-3, 5-5, 11-11, 13-13, 14-14, 39-39 -- held parity with its smaller rivals, jumped into a 41-39 advantage with some eight minutes of the second session elapsed and stayed there ever after. Three field goals by Baker, all on lay- up shots, enabled the Buckeyes to tie at 39-39. And it was Baker who put State out in front, breaking the knot with a short stab from near the sidelines. After that, Wake Forest threatened often, but never enough to catch the tall lads from Columbus. BoByd Owen, six-foot guard, showed the way for the Southerners. He bucketed seven field scores and two charity conversions for 19 points. Captain Jim Waller, forward, tabbed 14 markers before he was forced out on personals, just after Baker had created the 39-39 deadlock. OHIO STATE JARS VILLANOVA; HULL STARS IN TOURNEY TILT By Edward J. Klein (Reprinted with permission from the Philadelphia Inquirer) Ohio State University’s sky-scraping passers exploded Villanova’s long-cherished dreams of a national championship last night by walloping the Wildcats, 53 to 36, in the Eastern division final of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s basketball tournament before 3000 at Penn’s Palestra. Led by mark-making exploits of Captain Jim Hull, five-foot 11-inch senior forward from Greenfield, Ohio,the Buckeyes, champions of the Western Conference, stepped out into the lead at the very start, stayed there all the way, and never were seriously threatened. Just 24 hours after Richard (Dick) Baker, his running-mate, established an individual Palestra scoring standard by chalking up 25 points against Wake Forest, Hull bombed the baskets with 10 field goals, eight fouls, to post a new peak of 28 markers. BUCKEYES EASTERN FINALIST Victory earned Ohio State the right to represent the East in the tournament finals at Evanston, Ill. On March 27. The Buckeyes qualified for the Eastern division windup by whipping Wake Forest in a wild-scoring duel that produced 116 points, while Villanova drubbed Brown to enter the regional final. Operating around the sharp-shooting Hull, Ohio State, easily the best point- making band ever to invade the Palestra, led only by 4-3 in the opening six minutes, but skyrocketed its edge to 21-8, during the ensuing nine minutes. At the halftime halt, the Buckeyes were ahead, 25-10. Still surging onward, Ohio State widened its advantage to 21-12 in the starting quarter of the second session, but thereafter slackened its pace considerably, content to coast in on its huge margin. Coach Harold Golsen aided the slow-up measurably by taking out Hull with seven minutes remaining. VILLANOVA OUTCLASSED Villanova, representing the middle Atlantic District in the tournament, never could get really started. The Wildcats, who didn’t look too impressive in defeating Brown, were plainly outclassed. They missed numerous stabs at the scoring strings, and of ten sadly lacked on defense, a department in which they were regarded highly all season. In fact, the only Villanova youth who played up to par was Paul Nugent, sophomore guard, who tallied 16 points, twice as many as any of his mates. Paul caged but five markers in the opening half, but opened up in the middle and late stages with a barrage that almost alone kept the Cats even near to the Buckeyes. While Hull, who scored 13 of his 28 points within the 13 minutes he saw action in the second half, accounted for the lion’s share of Ohio State’s scoring. Baker, a 25-marker- man against Wake Forest, tabbed only four, the result of a pair of field goals. Six foot and a half inch Bill Sattler, substitute centre, contributed eight counters in the winner’s behalf. Bill did most of his scoring in the later half of the second session, serving to counterbalance the bombing of the trailing Wildcats, Nugent in particular. 2019-20 VILLANOVA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS 2019 -20 M EDIA GUIDE 167 1939 NCAA FINAL FOURNext >