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
