Final Four!
Final Four!
Final Four!
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Somehow, some way, Villanova is going to the Final Four.
It was a classic game. It was a game that will be talked about for as long as they talk about college basketball in Philadelphia. It was a tight, physical, brutal wonderful game – and Scottie Reynolds won it with a driving layup with 0.5 seconds left.
The final score was Villanova 78, Pittsburgh 76. And when everyone got done holding their breath at the end, when a Levance Fields 75-footer at the buzzer crashed off of the backboard and away, the Wildcats erupted to celebrate the school’s first Final Four appearance since 1985.
It is so hard to describe how tough and good this game was, and how it would have felt if the Wildcats had come up short. It was that good. It was that difficult.
Villanova had a 76-72 lead with 20 seconds left and then held on, through emotions and misplays and Pitt’s quiet, physical dignity. And in the end, it was Reynolds who drove the lane, taking the inbounds pass with 5.5 seconds left and heading for the rim, crashing, careening, making the layup.
The whole thing really went very much according to form in the first half. Most people who looked at the game had one question: how would Villanova be able to get to the rim? They had beaten UCLA and Duke just that way, relentlessly attacking in the paint. But this would be different, with DeJuan Blair and the boys. How would the Wildcats adjust?
What they did was play on the perimeter. They built an early lead, 22-12, raining down jumpers, with Shane Clark bombing in three threes to lead the way. But the old adage is true, that if you live on the outside, you can die that way, too. The Wildcats went cold and the Panthers began to methodically pound the ball inside. Ironically/coincidentally, it was a Levance Fields three-pointer with 1:54 left in the half that brought Pitt back into a 30-30 tie, and fields waved to the Pitt section of the crowd for vocal encouragement as he ran back on defense.
Pitt led at halftime, 34-32. And in their locker room, you could only wonder what Jay Wright and his staff were plotting to counteract the trend. Clark was 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and the rest of the team was 0-for-11.
They were better in the second half at getting inside. In the final minutes, Corey Fisher was fearless on his drives.
And in the end, it was a play at the rim by Reynolds that won it.
Final Four. Incredible
A great game. This team reminds me of that '85 team. I was on campus that night when they upset Georgetown (though I didn't go to 'Nova) and it was awesome. They too found ways to win, just like this team. Let's hope they can keep the dream going!— phillyinsd- Wow... I am drained from just watching that game !— MrMayhem
- Great game. RAFTERY is an idiot announcer.— YIPO
Last time this many teams made the Final Four, Nova won. WOW, what a finish!!! Keep it rollin'— cange30
What a game!! I'm exhausted too but absolutely ELATED. Too early to worry about the next game...I'm gonna enjoy this one for awhile!!!— wokmaster
Comment removed.- First.— khazoie
- Pitt's bad foul shooting lost them the game.— whatthe?
- Villanova's foul shooting won them the game.— whatthe?
- A few commentators said, before the game, that it would be an "ugly" game between teams that "knew each other." It was anything but ugly. I hated to see either team lose. Pitt played its usual rugged and skilled game, but Villanova is, as Coach Wright says, "still improving." Especially on defense. That was a Cheney defense they played, squared. I hope no one figures it out next week.— Ed - Washington DC
- Villanova's foul shooting won them the game. It comes down always to fundamentals. You have to make the free throws. Those who can always win but Pitt and Memphis are out because they cannot shoot foul shots.— Horlet
They beat a great team.Looked like a lock 20 seconds out and then 2 mistakes.I was looking forward to OT as i (being selfish)did not want this game to end. Two very classy organizations.— HO HUM- Tenacity!— wetland68
- Hey Phillyinsd I too was on campus the night Nova won it, though I was student at Drexel at the time. I remembering taking a bus to Nova's campus. A great night. I never saw so many happy people in my life. Ironic thing is I graduated an Owl. Go Nova. Go Philly hoops.— fgdavis
- It makes us Villanovans proud to see the spirit and hard work of the Cats tonight.I met Jay Wright two or three times over the last 6 years. He is a quality guy, and instills great passion for the game, and a love for each other. They played outstanding and we salute you...— Jerrysam
- Villanova "V for Villinova" "V" for Villanova "V" for Victory "B" for Blue and "Double-U" for White For the Blue and White, we will fight, fight, fight, fight! Fight! for VILLANOVA! Fight for Victory! VILLANOVA lead the way With a capital "V" for Victory! VIL-LA-NO-VA! V-I-L-L-A-N-O-V-A "V" for Vic-to-ry! V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!— DIAGFMCNABB
- Team defense and guard play gets it done in the NCAA tournament.
- Were the refs from Pitt? The Cats should have gone to the line more.— fred13
- What a game! I was terrified of Fields missing his second foul shot because I knew Blair would get the rebound and score. Of course, he was in perfect position had Fields missed. Now I'm hoping for a rematch with UNC to avenge that loss on the phantom travel.
- Nice game. Amazing foul shooting - really unusual to be that accurate in such a pressure game. That last shot by Reynolds was stellar. Looks like he could be a good pro.— chollie
- They overcame a poorly officiated game that favored Pittsburgh, too. What a performance.— DS17
- This is gonna be an ESPN instant classic. Glad Nova pulled it out. But give credit to Pitt for playing them tough. It made for a great game. This is good for Philly hoops. It let's the nation know that we still got players.— ads254
- All hail the 'Cats! - Ron '78— ronzoni2
- That was the best college basketball game I've seen this decade—and one for the ages. It was two heavyweights going toe to toe. What a great second half. Good luck to Villanova, and Pitt has nothing to be ashamed of.— kevin_donahue
- Posted by cange30 09:50 PM, 03/28/2009 Last time this many teams made the Final Four, Nova won. WOW, what a finish!!! Keep it rollin' ^^^ What?— cmp1968
- Assuming that Louisville takes care of business, the last time 3 Big East teams made the Final 4, Nova won it all.
- UNC will end this run. I am a UNC grad. You guys have no shot against a team with a point guard who will absolutely shred your hand checking defense. Villanova gets away with a lot of cheap fouls.— Philadel12
- That long throw-in pass almost gave Pitt the game. Raftery is a genius. 2 more games Cats fans.— Nezhy
- "UNC will end this run. I am a UNC grad." - Don't you have to beat Oklahoma first ?? Jack*ss— MrMayhem
- I can't wait to see Hansbrough put on his back.
- Hey, fgdavis, that was a great night. I remember that we got a great parking spot right in front of an Irish bar (I can't remember the name of it now!) and the Channel 6 Action News van asked us if they could take our spot. My buddy and our driver, who was 19 at the time, told them they could have the spot if they put him on the 11:00 news that night. Agreed. Sure enough, they put him on the news, but he looked like an idiot because they listed him as a student (he wasn't) and he called Ed Pinckney "Ed Pickey." Embarrassing! I just remember the sheer emotion and hugging strangers. . . and I didn't even go to 'Nova! Let's hope the Phils' luck will rub off on the 'Cats.— phillyinsd
- it came down to the last 20 seconds and was won it the last half seconds of those 20 seconds...amazing, the flyers, eagles and nova in the final four and the phils winning the series. Philly sports rock!— stimmer
- Hansbrough is a p*ssy. Go cats!!
- I just went to the greatest game in college basketball history. That was incredible. Back and forth, back and forth, crowd going crazy, no voice left. Absolutely worth the drive up.— hegzatsc
HERE WE GO AGAIN! ED IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA VILLANOVA'70- I have been watching Dwayne & Dante since they were freshman at St. Johns HS in DC. What a absolute pleasure to see them make it to the Final Four together. Go Wildcats All The Way !!!!— zsmith
- It was hustling for loose balls, rebounding but most importantly their nearly perfect free throw shooting making at least 20 in a row. Pitt's last shot was close but no cigar.— mpala007
- This was an awesome game, and makes up for all of the blow outs that occurred so far. I still can't believe that Nova almost blew it at the end with that ridiculous hail marry inbounds pass.— FloridaBrian
- I was so juiced at the 2:05" point. I thought Nova would lose, but that turnover was so huge. Thanks Cats— Andrewsgvl
- Comment removed.
- Pitts Blair is an idiot. Did you hear him say at the press conference, "We won this game, they just had more points." What an idiot! Nova would have had a lot more points if he didn't get away with pushing under the boards all night.— Air Force One
- wow - great game. i was up there for it.....one of the best nights of my life— boom
- As a pitt fan[but who doesn't like Villanova] I have to say Villanova deserved it.They just TOOK the game away from us.We missed our foul shots-they made theirs.Whatever COULD have happened....DID!!— mike garman
- what a great night to be a Villanova alum and share in the moment.— anthonycbis
- Comment removed.
- Nova was the product of playing three overrated teams all year. UCLA was a shell of the past few final four teams and should have been much lower than a 6 seed. Duke is always overhyped and was ripe for the picking. And Pitt hasn't played a good game since the last game of their regular season. Nova has had a cupcake slate this tournament. UNC will POUND THEM in the Final Four, I expect at least a 20 point margin.— jeffmacnow1234
I love all Big 5 Basketball teams, especially being stationed over seas and rarely getting to watch them... I was clapping and whooping and hollering for V...this was the best game since Laettner hit that crazy catch and turn around Jumpshot in 92 I think att the Spectrum... keep it up!— kjuggs77- Savor the win, because the "road" to the championship comes to a dead end with the next game.— Flyersnut
- So many times I watch college basketball games and find mysel repeating the matra if you can shoot free throws you don't deserve to win. This team wins on fundamentals and teamwork - and their coach is such a class act. What a great day to be a Wildcats fans!!!! I felt really bad for Blair, Fields, and Young in the interview room after the game. They just had their hearts ripped out and the have to face the press. I don't blame Blair for walking out.— jimmyeagles
- college hoops is the best— ispep
- Turnovers and missed fouls shots doomed Pitt in the final 3 minutes. VU is really smart and tough. Tough game to lose; great game to win.How did Pitt's defenders miss blocking Reynolds' final shot? Pitt was outcoached in the end.— t8034mc1
- Turnovers and missed fouls shots doomed Pitt in the final 3 minutes. VU is really smart and tough. Tough game to lose; great game to win.How did Pitt's defenders miss blocking Reynolds' final shot? Pitt was outcoached in the end.— t8034mc1
- Turnovers and missed fouls shots doomed Pitt in the final 3 minutes. VU is really smart and tough. Tough game to lose; great game to win.How did Pitt's defenders miss blocking Reynolds' final shot? Pitt was outcoached in the end.— t8034mc1
- Posted by cange30 09:50 PM, 03/28/2009 Last time this many teams made the Final Four, Nova won. WOW, what a finish!!! Keep it rollin' ummm....last time i checked four teams have made the final four every year haha....oh well, GO NOVAAA!— glackattak
