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Final Four-bound Villanova displayed true grit in taking down Kansas Final Four-bound Villanova displayed true grit in taking down Kansas
(about 20 hours later)
LOUISVILLE — Jay Wright should have been prepared because his Villanova players had tricked him before. After the Wildcats won the Big East tournament in 2015, they showered Wright with bottles of water, drenching his pinstriped suit, fiddling with his sartorial elegance. Yet as he entered a victorious and seemingly empty locker room on Saturday night, the coach still wasn’t ready for an ambush.LOUISVILLE — Jay Wright should have been prepared because his Villanova players had tricked him before. After the Wildcats won the Big East tournament in 2015, they showered Wright with bottles of water, drenching his pinstriped suit, fiddling with his sartorial elegance. Yet as he entered a victorious and seemingly empty locker room on Saturday night, the coach still wasn’t ready for an ambush.
He looked around the room, surprised, basking in the Wildcats’ Philly-tough 64-59 victory over No. 1 seed Kansas in the South Region final of the NCAA tournament. Then the players emerged from a wall they hid behind, all holding chilled bottles. By the time they finished, Wright’s light purple shirt was several shades darker.He looked around the room, surprised, basking in the Wildcats’ Philly-tough 64-59 victory over No. 1 seed Kansas in the South Region final of the NCAA tournament. Then the players emerged from a wall they hid behind, all holding chilled bottles. By the time they finished, Wright’s light purple shirt was several shades darker.
“They just continued to do it, kept coming,” Wright said. “Took my breath away. I know what those football coaches feel like now. I’m just glad I’m not outside, and it’s 20 degrees. I can’t imagine that.” “They just continued to do it, kept coming,” Wright said. “Took my breath away. I know what those football coaches feel like now. I’m just glad I’m not outside and it’s 20 degrees. I can’t imagine that.”
[Wildcats claw past top-seed Kansas and into the Final Four][Wildcats claw past top-seed Kansas and into the Final Four]
He wasn’t complaining, however. Not that Wright was complaining.
“I wear it as a badge of honor,” he said.“I wear it as a badge of honor,” he said.
He wears it as a symbol of a team that embodies its coach better than any of this year’s Final Four participants. The Wildcats are Wright’s ideal team. Their offense is as stylish as one of Wright’s suits, and it has reached a new level of brilliance for most of this tournament. But as they proved against Kansas at the KFC Yum! Center, they can be as nasty as they need to be, matching the gritty foundation upon which Wright has built this program. He wears it as a symbol of a team that embodies its coach better than any of this year’s other Final Four participants. The Wildcats are Wright’s ideal team. Their offense is as stylish as one of Wright’s suits, and it has reached a new level of brilliance for most of this tournament. But as they proved against Kansas at the KFC Yum! Center, they can be as nasty as they need to be, matching the gritty foundation upon which Wright has built this program.
Just as you can’t underestimate the competitor within Wright’s tailored threads, you can’t mistake the Wildcats for being soft because they play small ball and shoot jumpers long enough to send Golden State into a high-fiving frenzy.Just as you can’t underestimate the competitor within Wright’s tailored threads, you can’t mistake the Wildcats for being soft because they play small ball and shoot jumpers long enough to send Golden State into a high-fiving frenzy.
Villanova outlasted Kansas in a tense and rugged Elite Eight game that was far more entertaining than most low-scoring affairs. In a matchup in which every possession was contested, the Wildcats emerged as the toughest team, holding the Jayhawks to their lowest point total of the season and ending the 17-game winning streak of a team regarded as the nation’s best.Villanova outlasted Kansas in a tense and rugged Elite Eight game that was far more entertaining than most low-scoring affairs. In a matchup in which every possession was contested, the Wildcats emerged as the toughest team, holding the Jayhawks to their lowest point total of the season and ending the 17-game winning streak of a team regarded as the nation’s best.
[NCAA tournament: Complete coverage of the Elite Eight, and more][NCAA tournament: Complete coverage of the Elite Eight, and more]
Finally, the most undependable top-tier team in college basketball achieved greatness. Despite all Villanova accomplished the past three seasons, it had developed a reputation as a tournament choker. In 2014, the Wildcats lost in the second round as a No. 2 seed. In 2015, they lost in the second round as a No. 1 seed. If they hadn’t advanced past the round of 32 this year, they would’ve become the first team ever to hold a top-two seed for three consecutive tournaments and fail to make it past the first weekend. Finally, the most undependable top-tier team in college basketball achieved greatness. Despite all Villanova accomplished the past three seasons, it had developed a reputation as a tournament choker. In 2014, the Wildcats lost in the round of 32 as a No. 2 seed. In 2015, they lost in the round of 32 as a No. 1 seed. If they hadn’t advanced past the round of 32 this year, they would’ve become the first team ever to hold a top-two seed for three consecutive tournaments and fail to make it past the first weekend.
The year before this senior class arrived, Villanova went 13-19 during the 2011-12 season, the worst record of Wright’s 15 years in Philadelphia. The seniors helped turn the program around, starting with an NCAA tournament appearance their freshman year. But until this run, they only had a 2-3 record in this event. They’ve been open and introspective about the hardships and the choker label. Now they’ve eliminated it. The year before this senior class arrived, Villanova went 13-19 during the 2011-12 season, the worst record of Wright’s 15 years at the school. The seniors helped turn the program around, starting with an NCAA tournament appearance their freshman year. But until this run, they only had a 2-3 record in this event. They’ve been open and introspective about the hardships and the choker label. Now they’ve eliminated it.
All that March disappointment led to a team that can withstand anything. Wright gets emotional when talking about the evolution.All that March disappointment led to a team that can withstand anything. Wright gets emotional when talking about the evolution.
[The Buddy Hield show carries Oklahoma into the Final Four][The Buddy Hield show carries Oklahoma into the Final Four]
“It’s like being — you know, when you’re a parent, you think your kids are the greatest, and then when you see them live that out and become great, it just makes your heart swell,” Wright said. “Even if they would have lost, you still think they’re great, but you can see they’ve proved to everybody else they’re great, and I’m so proud of them and happy for them.”“It’s like being — you know, when you’re a parent, you think your kids are the greatest, and then when you see them live that out and become great, it just makes your heart swell,” Wright said. “Even if they would have lost, you still think they’re great, but you can see they’ve proved to everybody else they’re great, and I’m so proud of them and happy for them.”
When asked to expound on that thought, Wright captured the reward of coaching as poetically as any coach ever has.When asked to expound on that thought, Wright captured the reward of coaching as poetically as any coach ever has.
“You just believe in your guys so much, and you’re telling them how great they can be,” he said. “And you know it. You see it in them, but they’re 18-to-22 years old. Sometimes, they don’t realize it, and you get them maybe 75 percent of the way there, and they leave you. “You just believe in your guys so much, and you’re telling them how great they can be,” he said. “And you know it. You see it in them, but they’re 18 to 22 years old. Sometimes, they don’t realize it, and you get them maybe 75 percent of the way there, and they leave you.
“You feel good for them. They got partly there, but you feel like you failed them a little bit. It’s the greatest feeling in the world to see these guys get to that point where everyone else sees that they’re as good as we see they can be, and that they see. I could tell in that locker room. They had more fun in the locker room soaking me. They were having fun with that. But after that, it was a real sense of accomplishment, and I think they really felt good about themselves individually. And that’s the greatest thing you can experience as a coach.”“You feel good for them. They got partly there, but you feel like you failed them a little bit. It’s the greatest feeling in the world to see these guys get to that point where everyone else sees that they’re as good as we see they can be, and that they see. I could tell in that locker room. They had more fun in the locker room soaking me. They were having fun with that. But after that, it was a real sense of accomplishment, and I think they really felt good about themselves individually. And that’s the greatest thing you can experience as a coach.”
[Flashback: Relive Villanova’s last trip to the Final Four in 2009][Flashback: Relive Villanova’s last trip to the Final Four in 2009]
A team without a superstar beat Kansas as a hard-fisted unit. The Wildcats took Kansas forward Perry Ellis out of the game, holding him to four points. They harassed the Jayhawks into missing 16 of 22 three-pointers. They forced 16 Kansas turnovers, eight of which came during a 10-possession span in the first half.A team without a superstar beat Kansas as a hard-fisted unit. The Wildcats took Kansas forward Perry Ellis out of the game, holding him to four points. They harassed the Jayhawks into missing 16 of 22 three-pointers. They forced 16 Kansas turnovers, eight of which came during a 10-possession span in the first half.
“That’s probably about the worst ball we’ve played in a while during that stretch,” Kansas Coach Bill Self said.“That’s probably about the worst ball we’ve played in a while during that stretch,” Kansas Coach Bill Self said.
After the Jayhawks recovered and turned a five-point halftime deficit into a 45-40 lead midway through the second half, Villanova didn’t budge. The Wildcats’ best offensive player during this tournament, Kris Jenkins, was on the bench with four fouls. The Wildcats entered the Elite Eight shooting 53 percent from behind the three-point line during the tournament, but they were only 4 of 18 on Saturday. They had to win on resolve and toughness, and that’s what they wanted to show.After the Jayhawks recovered and turned a five-point halftime deficit into a 45-40 lead midway through the second half, Villanova didn’t budge. The Wildcats’ best offensive player during this tournament, Kris Jenkins, was on the bench with four fouls. The Wildcats entered the Elite Eight shooting 53 percent from behind the three-point line during the tournament, but they were only 4 of 18 on Saturday. They had to win on resolve and toughness, and that’s what they wanted to show.
“We wanted to make it a street fight, make it an ugly game,” senior guard Ryan Arcidiacono said.“We wanted to make it a street fight, make it an ugly game,” senior guard Ryan Arcidiacono said.
Arcidiacono is the quintessential Villanova player. He specializes in the little things. He’s not the most physically imposing, but he plays harder than anyone. Ask him about his favorite part of the game, and he’ll talk about taking charges. He grew up in Bucks County, Pa., the son of parents who went to Villanova. This was his dream school. And when he arrived, he developed chemistry quickly with Wright.Arcidiacono is the quintessential Villanova player. He specializes in the little things. He’s not the most physically imposing, but he plays harder than anyone. Ask him about his favorite part of the game, and he’ll talk about taking charges. He grew up in Bucks County, Pa., the son of parents who went to Villanova. This was his dream school. And when he arrived, he developed chemistry quickly with Wright.
“It’s amazing,” Wright said. “He is me.”“It’s amazing,” Wright said. “He is me.”
When Villanova needed a big defensive play late in the game, mini-Wright came through. With the Wildcats leading 62-59, Frank Mason III hunted for a shot to tie the game, but Arcidiacono stripped him, and Mikal Bridges recovered the ball with 4.6 seconds remaining. Jalen Brunson made two free throws — part of eight straight Villanova made in the final 33 seconds — to seal the win and the program’s first trip to the Final Four since 2009. When Villanova needed a big defensive play late in the game, mini-Wright came through. With the Wildcats leading 62-59, Frank Mason III hunted for a shot to tie the score, but Arcidiacono stripped him and Mikal Bridges recovered the ball with 4.6 seconds remaining. Jalen Brunson made two free throws — part of eight straight Villanova made in the final 33 seconds — to seal the win and the program’s first trip to the Final Four since 2009.
“It was ugly, but it was beautiful to us,” Villanova guard Josh Hart said.“It was ugly, but it was beautiful to us,” Villanova guard Josh Hart said.
As the Wildcats stood on stage for the South Region championship trophy presentation, the fans sang “Happy Birthday” to Arcidiacono, the player who best represents their toughness and willingness to scrap on every possession. Arch put his arms around his teammates and swayed to the melody. As the Wildcats stood onstage for the South Region championship trophy presentation, the fans sang “Happy Birthday” to Arcidiacono, the player who best represents their toughness and willingness to scrap on every possession. Arch put his arms around his teammates and swayed to the melody.
Then, not yet satisfied, the players continued the celebration by singing the upbeat Stevie Wonder remix. Arch did a silly dance while holding the trophy over his head.Then, not yet satisfied, the players continued the celebration by singing the upbeat Stevie Wonder remix. Arch did a silly dance while holding the trophy over his head.
While the players goofed, the fans kept cheering. One man in the crowd held up a single crutch.While the players goofed, the fans kept cheering. One man in the crowd held up a single crutch.
Villanova was once that crutch, a great team that would break down in March. Not anymore.Villanova was once that crutch, a great team that would break down in March. Not anymore.
For more by Jerry Brewer, visit washingtonpost.com/brewer.For more by Jerry Brewer, visit washingtonpost.com/brewer.