Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2009, 5:01 PM | 10 comments |
 

Wildcats win at buzzer
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NEW YORK – For the first time in 3 years, Villanova is in the Big East semifinals.

But not before the Wildcats went through a serious sweat.

Dwayne Anderson’s layup just before the final buzzer, his third and fourth points of the game (and first field goal) off a perfect bounce-pass from the foul line by Reggie Redding, gave Villanova a 76-75 win over Marquette this afternoon.

“We tried to attack, tried to get the ball to Scottie but they face guarded him,” Anderson said. “Reggie is a playmaker. It’s what he does. It definitely means a lot. I’ve been through a lot these four years, the ups and downs, the highs and lows. ... We’re not quite there, we’re getting close to it.”

The fourth-seeded Wildcats (26-6) led by 16 at the half.

They now will get top-seeded Louisville (26-5) at 7 p.m. Friday in the first half of a semifinal doubleheader. It’s their first trip to the semis since 2006.

The 10th-ranked Wildcats fell behind, by one, with 1:40 to play, on a three-pointer from the key by Lazar Hayward. It was Marquette’s first lead since 5-4.

The fifth-seeded Golden Eagles (23-9) were still up one with 40 seconds to go, and had possession. But Jerel McNeal’s driving layup was blocked by Dante Cunningham, and the Wildcats, who were out of timeouts, had one final chance.

Redding found himself with the ball as the clock wound down. It looked as if he would have to put up some kind of desperation shot, but at the last instant he saw Anderson cutting for the basket and found him in stride.

The officials had to check the replays to make sure it counted. But it wasn’t really that close.

Scottie Reynolds had 21 for Villanova, 18 in the first half. Corey Stokes finished with 20, 17 after intermission.

Marquette got 19 from Jimmy Butler, the first time he has led the team in scoring all season.

The Golden Eagles have now dropped five of six since losing point guard Dominic James with a broken foot. All the losses were to ranked teams.

While nothing will be certain until Sunday night, this victory pretty much assures that Villanova will get a third seed and be sent to South Philadelphia for the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

 
Posted by Mike Kern @ 5:01 PM  Permalink | 10 comments
10
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:13 PM, 03/12/2009
    Absolutely! Go Cats!
    — Misfit1
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:21 PM, 03/12/2009
    Way to go NOVA!
    — Reggie92
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:24 PM, 03/12/2009
    Wow, what a finish! Thank you Anderson. Go Cats!!!
    — unreal
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:32 PM, 03/12/2009
    Absolutely . They had them beaten the first time . Go Cats !
    — Joe R.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:51 PM, 03/12/2009
    Not good on an old man's heart. . . why weren't the Cats prepared to protect a 16-point lead and where was Scottie for 18 minutes of the second half? . . . A real fear: He may have a concussion and possibly could not play tomorrow, which would be OK, but I surely hope they thoroughly check him out.
    — lharris537
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:26 PM, 03/12/2009
    The opening sentence is incorrect- "For the first time in 3 years, Villanova is in the Big East quarterfinals." 'Nova lost in the quarters last year (and the year before) to Georgetown.
    — vuhoops.com
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:41 PM, 03/12/2009
    Agree w/ lharris - Scottie's head actually bounced off the floor in that fall and he did not seem himself after... It would not be the worst thing ever if Scottie did not play tomorrow or if they lost to Louisville -- it's the NEXT tournament we really want to win! Great job, Wildcats!!!
    — *Callie*
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:42 AM, 03/13/2009
    That 2nd half sucked until the last few seconds...that would have been a tough one to stomach but congrats Cats!! Harris - Marq hit almost everything in that 2nd half. Most teams would have lost that game..
    — wokmaster
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:49 AM, 03/13/2009
    Hey, it's a "W", that is all that matters. We can talk about the hows and whys later, getting past the next game is all we should look at now. Can Nova beat Louisville, yes. Will they may depend on the referees and how the moon and stars line up. This team has heart. How appropriate that yesterday the DN ran a Dwayne Anderson momento feature and he makes the clinching basket. Karma?? Go Cats!!! Ruffle some Cardinals feathers tonight!
    — RJM16
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:58 AM, 03/13/2009
    In what universe does this win "assures that Villanova will get a third seed and be sent to South Philadelphia for the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament". Come on, I hope your right, but so much depends on what happens from here. If Nova beats Louisville, they have got to be considered for a 2 seed, which would mean they likely would not play in Philly. Maybe the committee will keep them a 3 no matter what happens -- but you have no idea. Either do they, since they haven't met yet. Go Cats!
    — RichNC


10 comments
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