NCAA Tournament national championship game
(3) Michigan vs. (1) Villanova
April 1 at Alamodome in San Antonio, TX
TBS
There were a ton of great stories in this NCAA Tournament:
* Maryland Baltimore County becoming the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed, stunning the top overall seed Virginia 74-54 in the South Region.
* Also in the South - No. 14 seed Buffalo blew out No. 3 Arizona in the first round and Loyola-Chicago went from a No. 11 seed to the final four.
* Syracuse does what Syracuse apparently does all the time now - win tournament games as a low seed, this time taking a No. 11 and winning a first four game, then upsetting sixth-seeded TCU and third-seeded Michigan State to get to the Sweet 16. The Orangemen lost to No. 2 seed Duke by just four.
* Michigan got hot at the right time, winning the Big 10 Tournament, then reaching the national title game with a five-game run in the NCAAs, which included a buzzer-beater over No. 6 seed Houston in the round of 32.....
....but there was one great team - Villanova, which won its second national championship in three years with a convincing, 79-62 victory over the Wolverines on Monday.
Showing posts with label villanova wildcats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label villanova wildcats. Show all posts
Games 598-600: Final four is set
NCAA Tournament regional finals
600 - (3) Texas Tech vs. (1) Villanova
March 25 at TD Garden in Boston, MA
CBS
The Wildcats got to their second final four in three seasons (and third in Jay Wright's 17 seasons) thanks to huge edges in rebounding (51-33) and at the free throw line (29-of-35, Tech attempted 18).
I'd put Villanova as a slight favorite to win the whole thing, though Midwest champion Kansas, its opponent in next week's national semifinals, is just as capable of winning two more games.
599 - (9) Florida State vs. (3) Michigan
March 24 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
TBS
598 - (11) Loyola-Chicago vs. (9) Kansas State
March 24 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA
TNT
Not much more to say about the Missouri Valley Conference champions, which shot 57% from the field, hit half of their 18 three-point attempts and rolled into the program's first final four since winning the title in 1963.
This was actually the first comfortable outcome for the Ramblers, who won by a combined four points in their first three tournament games, but 78-62 on Saturday. This one really wasn't all that close for much of the day. Ben Richardson was fantastic (23 points on 7-of-10 shooting) and his 3-pointer 3 1/2 minutes into the game put Loyola up for good. The lead grew to as much as 61-38 on a Lucas Williamson lay-up with 9:40 to go.
What a run and it continues in the national semifinals, next Saturday against Michigan.
600 - (3) Texas Tech vs. (1) Villanova
March 25 at TD Garden in Boston, MA
CBS
The Wildcats got to their second final four in three seasons (and third in Jay Wright's 17 seasons) thanks to huge edges in rebounding (51-33) and at the free throw line (29-of-35, Tech attempted 18).
I'd put Villanova as a slight favorite to win the whole thing, though Midwest champion Kansas, its opponent in next week's national semifinals, is just as capable of winning two more games.
599 - (9) Florida State vs. (3) Michigan
March 24 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA
TBS
598 - (11) Loyola-Chicago vs. (9) Kansas State
March 24 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA
TNT
Not much more to say about the Missouri Valley Conference champions, which shot 57% from the field, hit half of their 18 three-point attempts and rolled into the program's first final four since winning the title in 1963.
This was actually the first comfortable outcome for the Ramblers, who won by a combined four points in their first three tournament games, but 78-62 on Saturday. This one really wasn't all that close for much of the day. Ben Richardson was fantastic (23 points on 7-of-10 shooting) and his 3-pointer 3 1/2 minutes into the game put Loyola up for good. The lead grew to as much as 61-38 on a Lucas Williamson lay-up with 9:40 to go.
What a run and it continues in the national semifinals, next Saturday against Michigan.
Game 536 - Villanova women at Marquette
February 16 at Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, WI
Big East Network
Really strong second half, and fourth quarter in particular, for Marquette, which won 90-69 to end Villanova's six-game winning streak.
The Golden Eagles led by five at halftime, then shot 66% (10-of-15) over the final 20 minutes. Starting at about the minute and a half mark of the third - with an Erika Davenport lay up - the hosts went on a 21-7 run and midway through the fourth it was 73-57.
Davenport played really well, contributing 16 points on 8-of-15 shooting and grabbing a game-high eight rebounds. Combine that performance with the job done by Natisha Hiedeman, who dazzled all day, scoring 26 points (more than 13 above her average) on 10-of-14 shooting (in only 24 minutes!), and didn't commit a turnover, and Danielle King, who had eight assists and one turnover to go along with 15 points in a team-high 35 minutes.
That's how Marquette moves to 12-3 in league play and remains in the running for the top seed in next month's tournament.
Big East Network
Really strong second half, and fourth quarter in particular, for Marquette, which won 90-69 to end Villanova's six-game winning streak.
The Golden Eagles led by five at halftime, then shot 66% (10-of-15) over the final 20 minutes. Starting at about the minute and a half mark of the third - with an Erika Davenport lay up - the hosts went on a 21-7 run and midway through the fourth it was 73-57.
Davenport played really well, contributing 16 points on 8-of-15 shooting and grabbing a game-high eight rebounds. Combine that performance with the job done by Natisha Hiedeman, who dazzled all day, scoring 26 points (more than 13 above her average) on 10-of-14 shooting (in only 24 minutes!), and didn't commit a turnover, and Danielle King, who had eight assists and one turnover to go along with 15 points in a team-high 35 minutes.
That's how Marquette moves to 12-3 in league play and remains in the running for the top seed in next month's tournament.
Game 379 - (8) Wisconsin vs. (1) Villanova
NCAA Tournament second round
March 18 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY
CBS
Villanova made a remarkable run to the national championship last season, and I think that has made some forget that the Wildcats haven't been very good the last half-decade or so in the round of 32.
Nigel Hayes' nifty reverse lay-up with 11 1/2 seconds to play was the difference as Wisconsin knocked out the defending champions with a 65-62 victory.
That's the fourth time since 2010 that Villanova has been eliminated in the second round and each time it was either a No. 1 or 2 seed.
Hayes shared a game-high in points (19) with Villanova's Josh Hart, who was looking for the tying basket when he drove and didn't get a shot off with four seconds to play.
Hayes (8-of-15 from the field) and Bronson Koenig (7-of-11, 17 points) led a Badgers' team that shot 53% from the field & continued the best four-year run in program history. Wisconsin advanced to their fourth consecutive Sweet 16 and are looking to get to the national semifinals for the third time during that four-year stretch.
One thing to look out for as Wisconsin moves on (they'll play either No. 4 seed Florida or fifth-seeded Virginia in the regional semifinals) is the free-throw shooting. The Badgers are one of the nation's worst teams from the line - 64% coming in - and they made just 7-of-16 Saturday.
March 18 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY
CBS
Villanova made a remarkable run to the national championship last season, and I think that has made some forget that the Wildcats haven't been very good the last half-decade or so in the round of 32.
Nigel Hayes' nifty reverse lay-up with 11 1/2 seconds to play was the difference as Wisconsin knocked out the defending champions with a 65-62 victory.
That's the fourth time since 2010 that Villanova has been eliminated in the second round and each time it was either a No. 1 or 2 seed.
Hayes shared a game-high in points (19) with Villanova's Josh Hart, who was looking for the tying basket when he drove and didn't get a shot off with four seconds to play.
Hayes (8-of-15 from the field) and Bronson Koenig (7-of-11, 17 points) led a Badgers' team that shot 53% from the field & continued the best four-year run in program history. Wisconsin advanced to their fourth consecutive Sweet 16 and are looking to get to the national semifinals for the third time during that four-year stretch.
One thing to look out for as Wisconsin moves on (they'll play either No. 4 seed Florida or fifth-seeded Virginia in the regional semifinals) is the free-throw shooting. The Badgers are one of the nation's worst teams from the line - 64% coming in - and they made just 7-of-16 Saturday.
Games 375-376: Pair of night games
376 - (12) Nevada vs. (5) Iowa State
NCAA Tournament first round
March 16 at Bradley Center in Milwaukee, WI
TruTV
375 - (16) Mount St. Mary's vs. (1) Villanova
NCAA Tournament first round
March 16 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY
CBS
Other games watched:
(14) Florida Gulf Coast vs. (3) Florida State
(9) Virginia Tech vs. (8) Wisconsin
(10) VCU vs. (7) St. Mary's
(15) South Dakota vs. (2) Arizona
NCAA Tournament first round
March 16 at Bradley Center in Milwaukee, WI
TruTV
375 - (16) Mount St. Mary's vs. (1) Villanova
NCAA Tournament first round
March 16 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY
CBS
Other games watched:
(14) Florida Gulf Coast vs. (3) Florida State
(9) Virginia Tech vs. (8) Wisconsin
(10) VCU vs. (7) St. Mary's
(15) South Dakota vs. (2) Arizona
Game 366 - (6) Creighton vs. (1) Villanova
Big East championship
March 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
FS1
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March 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
FS1
'Game 359 - (8) Saint John's vs. (1) Villanova
Big East quarterfinals
March 9 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
FS1
St. John's didn't really take care of the ball (14 turnovers), though the eighth-seeded Red Storm actually shot well - 40% on threes and 47% overall. The problem was, Villanova is just exceptional in every facet of the game & the Wildcats put on an impressive shooting performance in Thursday's 108-67 romp.
Let's talk about the second half first, where the defending national champions missed just five of their 24 field goal attempts (79%!).
You're wondering about the first 20 minutes? Well, the top seed only went 17-of-33 from the field, handing out 11 assists on those 17 made baskets & didn't commit a foul. In fact, Villanova's first foul came at the 18:18 mark of half No. 2.
It's the first time a Villanova team has reached the 100-point mark since also defeating St. John's in the regular season finale in March, 2015.
Individually, Donte DiVicenzo came off the bench and scored a career-high 25 points, including a near-perfect, day from the field (7-for-8) and three-point range (5-for-6), to lead all scorers.
There are plenty of national title contenders this season - North Carolina, Kansas, Gonzaga, along with one of the top three Pac 12 teams, and possibly Kentucky, Louisville or Duke seems to be a solid list at this point. But right at the top is this Villanova team. What a performance today in their postseason opener.
March 9 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
FS1
St. John's didn't really take care of the ball (14 turnovers), though the eighth-seeded Red Storm actually shot well - 40% on threes and 47% overall. The problem was, Villanova is just exceptional in every facet of the game & the Wildcats put on an impressive shooting performance in Thursday's 108-67 romp.
Let's talk about the second half first, where the defending national champions missed just five of their 24 field goal attempts (79%!).
You're wondering about the first 20 minutes? Well, the top seed only went 17-of-33 from the field, handing out 11 assists on those 17 made baskets & didn't commit a foul. In fact, Villanova's first foul came at the 18:18 mark of half No. 2.
It's the first time a Villanova team has reached the 100-point mark since also defeating St. John's in the regular season finale in March, 2015.
Individually, Donte DiVicenzo came off the bench and scored a career-high 25 points, including a near-perfect, day from the field (7-for-8) and three-point range (5-for-6), to lead all scorers.
There are plenty of national title contenders this season - North Carolina, Kansas, Gonzaga, along with one of the top three Pac 12 teams, and possibly Kentucky, Louisville or Duke seems to be a solid list at this point. But right at the top is this Villanova team. What a performance today in their postseason opener.
Game 287 - Georgetown at Villanova
February 7 at The Pavilion in Villanova, PA
FS1
Georgetown, in desperate need of a big win for its NCAA Tournament resume, fell short against the defending national champions, losing 75-64.
The Hoyas had nearly erased a 17-point deficit when they got within two points on a Rodney Pryor free throw at the 2:18 mark, but couldn't get any closer. The Big East's top scorer, Josh Hart hit a 3-pointer - his first field goal of the second half - with 1:20 left to make it 66-59 and later added a lay-up and a pair of free throws to polish off a 25-point night.
Pryor, the league's third-leading scorer, finished with 20 points and L.J. Peak scored 18 of his team-high 21 points in the second half.
Villanova is an incredible 58-8 in Big East regular season play since the start of the 2013-14 season.
* Play-by-play man Tim Brando said "Pryor gets that nylon song to ring," so we can't let him get away with that.
FS1
Georgetown, in desperate need of a big win for its NCAA Tournament resume, fell short against the defending national champions, losing 75-64.
The Hoyas had nearly erased a 17-point deficit when they got within two points on a Rodney Pryor free throw at the 2:18 mark, but couldn't get any closer. The Big East's top scorer, Josh Hart hit a 3-pointer - his first field goal of the second half - with 1:20 left to make it 66-59 and later added a lay-up and a pair of free throws to polish off a 25-point night.
Pryor, the league's third-leading scorer, finished with 20 points and L.J. Peak scored 18 of his team-high 21 points in the second half.
Villanova is an incredible 58-8 in Big East regular season play since the start of the 2013-14 season.
* Play-by-play man Tim Brando said "Pryor gets that nylon song to ring," so we can't let him get away with that.
Game 214 - (2) Villanova vs. (1) North Carolina
NCAA national championship game
April 4 at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX
TBS
Hard to top a national championship game that ends on a buzzer beater.
Incredible.
Kris Jenkins' 3-pointer as time expired lifted Villanova to a 77-74 win & its second national title (first since 1985), completing a phenomenal season for the Big East school.
Couple things:
* Marcus Paige made what I thought was the 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. And by "3-pointer" I mean a ridiculous few moments where the guard rose to shoot, started to adjust mid-air and did some sort of stationery bicycle move before hitting the absurd shot to pull the teams even at 74-74 with 4 1/2 seconds to go.
* Ryan Arcidiacono had a really good two games in Houston (15.5 points, 11-15 FG) and was named the final four's Most Outstanding Player. His teammates also had a good final four as Josh Hart (17.5 points, 14-21 FG, including 10-for-12 in the blowout over Oklahoma), and Jenkins (16 points, 12-21 FG) were extremely valuable. But the only difference between the three is JENKINS HIT A BUZZER BEATER TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
How does hitting a shot at the buzzer to win the national title not give Jenkins the edge over his teammates for MOP?
I heard some post game on the radio and John Thompson was saying Arcidiacono deserved the MOP for the two games he had & because he set up Jenkins for the winning three. Now, Arcidiacono did a fine job of getting the in-bounds pass and racing up the floor as quickly as possible, then setting up perfectly his teammate for a wide-open three.
But Jenkins was the one who MADE the three.
It's a minor thing, and I'm sure no one on Villanova cares at all, and they shouldn't because it doesn't really make any difference, but Kris Jenkins was the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.
April 4 at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX
TBS
Hard to top a national championship game that ends on a buzzer beater.
Incredible.
Kris Jenkins' 3-pointer as time expired lifted Villanova to a 77-74 win & its second national title (first since 1985), completing a phenomenal season for the Big East school.
Couple things:
* Marcus Paige made what I thought was the 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. And by "3-pointer" I mean a ridiculous few moments where the guard rose to shoot, started to adjust mid-air and did some sort of stationery bicycle move before hitting the absurd shot to pull the teams even at 74-74 with 4 1/2 seconds to go.
* Ryan Arcidiacono had a really good two games in Houston (15.5 points, 11-15 FG) and was named the final four's Most Outstanding Player. His teammates also had a good final four as Josh Hart (17.5 points, 14-21 FG, including 10-for-12 in the blowout over Oklahoma), and Jenkins (16 points, 12-21 FG) were extremely valuable. But the only difference between the three is JENKINS HIT A BUZZER BEATER TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
How does hitting a shot at the buzzer to win the national title not give Jenkins the edge over his teammates for MOP?
I heard some post game on the radio and John Thompson was saying Arcidiacono deserved the MOP for the two games he had & because he set up Jenkins for the winning three. Now, Arcidiacono did a fine job of getting the in-bounds pass and racing up the floor as quickly as possible, then setting up perfectly his teammate for a wide-open three.
But Jenkins was the one who MADE the three.
It's a minor thing, and I'm sure no one on Villanova cares at all, and they shouldn't because it doesn't really make any difference, but Kris Jenkins was the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.
Games 210 & 211 - Two remain
NCAA national semifinals
211 - (10) Syracuse vs. (1) North Carolina
210 - (2) Oklahoma vs. (2) Villanova
April 2 at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX
TBS
When the first of the following phrases were said by the announcing team:
* Grant Hill's first time calling Bill Raftery "Coach" - 14:21 left in first half
* Jay Wright dresses well. The reason I know this is because the announcers mention it EVERY SINGLE TIME VILLANOVA PLAYS. Hill invented yet another GQ/Jay Wright nickname and it was "JQ" (9:15 left in first)
* "Blow by" - 1:10 in first
* "Dribble drive" - 18:52 in second half
Some other made-up nonsense:
"Post rubs" (said twice)
"Space dribble (2)
"Trying to body search"
"Value the ball"
"Pick and pop" (2)
* And finally, Raftery said "they gotta get into the game a little bit, Oklahoma, the sooner the better" and "a little ricochet romance!", so he wasn't getting away with either of those things.
211 - (10) Syracuse vs. (1) North Carolina
210 - (2) Oklahoma vs. (2) Villanova
April 2 at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX
TBS
When the first of the following phrases were said by the announcing team:
* Grant Hill's first time calling Bill Raftery "Coach" - 14:21 left in first half
* Jay Wright dresses well. The reason I know this is because the announcers mention it EVERY SINGLE TIME VILLANOVA PLAYS. Hill invented yet another GQ/Jay Wright nickname and it was "JQ" (9:15 left in first)
* "Blow by" - 1:10 in first
* "Dribble drive" - 18:52 in second half
Some other made-up nonsense:
"Post rubs" (said twice)
"Space dribble (2)
"Trying to body search"
"Value the ball"
"Pick and pop" (2)
* And finally, Raftery said "they gotta get into the game a little bit, Oklahoma, the sooner the better" and "a little ricochet romance!", so he wasn't getting away with either of those things.
Game 206 - (2) Villanova vs. (1) Kansas
NCAA Tournament regional final
March 26 at KFC Yum Center in Louisville, KY
CBS
March 26 at KFC Yum Center in Louisville, KY
CBS
Game 200 - (3) Miami vs. (2) Villanova
NCAA Tournament regional semifinals
March 24 at KFC Yum Center in Louisville, KY
CBS
Our 200th game turned into a night of counting how many times Grant Hill called Bill Raftery "Coach", which to me seems fitting.
Total times said: 24
First half: 14
Notable: "He's the x-factor, Coach"
Second half: 10
Notable: "They keep getting better, Coach"
It was also important to note when (certainly not "if") the announcing crew mentioned for the first time
* Jay Wright's attire/looks - 4:34 left in second half (wow! that's late) (and sadly no one said "GQ Jay", which I think if left out of a Villanova broadcast is now a $140 fine)
* The Masters - 5:31 left in first half
* How lucky Jim Nantz is to be announcing the Masters - midway through second half
* The complete nonsense term "dribble drive" - 11:00 left in second half
Other game watched:
(3) Texas A&M vs. (2) Oklahoma
March 24 at KFC Yum Center in Louisville, KY
CBS
Our 200th game turned into a night of counting how many times Grant Hill called Bill Raftery "Coach", which to me seems fitting.
Total times said: 24
First half: 14
Notable: "He's the x-factor, Coach"
Second half: 10
Notable: "They keep getting better, Coach"
It was also important to note when (certainly not "if") the announcing crew mentioned for the first time
* Jay Wright's attire/looks - 4:34 left in second half (wow! that's late) (and sadly no one said "GQ Jay", which I think if left out of a Villanova broadcast is now a $140 fine)
* The Masters - 5:31 left in first half
* How lucky Jim Nantz is to be announcing the Masters - midway through second half
* The complete nonsense term "dribble drive" - 11:00 left in second half
Other game watched:
(3) Texas A&M vs. (2) Oklahoma
Games 177-179: Championships won
179 - (3) Seton Hall vs. (1) Villanova
March 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Fox Sports 1
178 - (2) Virginia vs. (1) North Carolina
March 12 at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
ESPN
177 - (4) Troy women vs. (2) Little Rock
March 12 at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, LA
espn3.com
March 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
Fox Sports 1
178 - (2) Virginia vs. (1) North Carolina
March 12 at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
ESPN
177 - (4) Troy women vs. (2) Little Rock
March 12 at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, LA
espn3.com
Game 136 - Villanova at Xavier
February 24 at Cintas Center in Cincinnati, OH
Fox Sports 1
Information we don't need
Josh Hart - Villanova
Food I hate: mashed potatoes
Fox Sports 1
Information we don't need
Josh Hart - Villanova
Food I hate: mashed potatoes
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