Villanova: 1985 NCAA champs

'Nova escapes Pitt of uncertainty

By Dick Weiss

Villanova coach Rollie Massimino finally can kick off his shoes and relax a while. His Wildcats all but wrapped up a sixth consecutive NCAA tournament bid last night with a 69-61 victory over Pitt in the first round of the Big East Conference Tournament at Madison Square Garden.

Pinckney sets standard for Villanova

By Ray Didinger

It was the kind of basket you concede, even in a Big East Conference Tournament game. Give 'em the two points, shrug and forget it.

Redmen skin feisty 'Cats

By Dick Weiss

Lou Carnesecca knows this town can't wait to start beating the drums for another Georgetown-St. John's rematch.

Gallery: 1985 'Nova Championship

A killing field for Big 5

By Rich Hofmann

On the day they decided which 64 college basketball teams would play in the NCAA tournament, joy and sadness and pride and passion and prejudice and power - especially power - were on display for all to see.

'Cats rise in Dayton's place

By Dick Weiss

Villanova center Ed Pinckney has been watching the promos for the NCAA tournament on ESPN. And the Wildcats' 6-9 senior has gotten hooked on a feeling after hearing the sound track that accompanies the ad campaign.

Jensen and 'Nova have a future

By Mark Whicker

As the wiseacre kid in "Risky Business" kept saying, sometimes you just have to say what the hell (liberal translation). Harold Jensen set himself on the right wing of Villanova's spread offense, score tied, 49-49, 1:10 remaining against Dayton on Dayton's homecourt in the first round of the NCAA Southeast Regional.

Wildcats 'D'-rail Michigan

By Dick Weiss

The "D-Train" is running and the next stop is Birmingham, Ala. Villanova senior forward Dwayne "D-Train" McClain was back on track yesterday, scoring 20 points as the Wildcats derailed second-ranked Michigan, 59-55, in the second round of the NCAA Southeast Regional.

'Cats had a feeling it would be their day

By Mark Whicker

From the beginning, they played as if they were the keepers of a deep, delicious secret. Ed Pinckney looked up and saw no Patrick Ewing or Bill Wennington, looming 7 feet above ground. That was a plus.

It's the Big East vs. the ACC

By Mark Whicker

Finally, they sat at the same table last weekend - the stubborn old president, the pragmatic young premier. It wasn't their choice, but they got down to business.

'Cats on Heels of Final Four

By Dick Weiss

Admit it. Eddie Pinckney has not always received the credit he deserved during his marvelous career at Villanova. It is tough to seize center stage in the Big East when you play in the same league as Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin. But, the talented 6-9 senior center has put the Wildcats in a rare position to reach the NCAA Final Four.

Wildcats spring into final eight

By Mark Whicker

It is the first weekend of spring, and the three Villanova kids are still playing basketball. They have done this before. Eddie Pinckney, eyes bulging, mouth agape, rising straight up and then, somehow, hanging ...

'Cats incredible

By Dick Weiss

Ed Pinckney does not care whether folks refer to Villanova as the Cinderella team in this weekend's NCAA Final Four.

Capturing Villanova's win for posterity

By Mark Whicker

Snapshots from a victory (Villanova 56, North Carolina 44, NCAA Southeast Regional, March 24, 1985): There was The Pasta Speech. Halftime in Villanova's room was, in the understated, smiling words of Dwight Wilbur, "kind of loud."

McLain has gotten his point across

By Mark Whicker

The list of people who will watch Gary McLain play basketball this Saturday is positively Olympian. There's Steve Alford, who made the Olympic team, and Mark Price, who nearly did. And Pearl Washington.

WIldcats left trail of omens for Tigers

By Rich Hofmann

"If they're a Cinderella team, then Cinderella wears boots." - Dana Kirk, Memphis State coach

'Cats' purrfect tale?

By Dick Weiss

Perhaps Villanova coach Rollie Massimino should call Jim Valvano for some final instructions on how to play Cinderella before the Wildcats meet Georgetown tonight for the NCAA championship at Rupp Arena.

Villanova will be wearing the white hats

By John Schulian

Yea, though they walk through the valley of death, the Villanova Wildcats are going to kick up their heels. Let the world beyond the NCAA championship game know that they have already lit a cigar for their beloved trainer, Jake Nevin, and gone swimming in the best spaghetti sauce Rollie Massimino could find hereabouts.

In the end, it's all 'Nova

By Dick Weiss

They came to watch a coronation. What they saw was a palace revolt. Yes, Villanova, a team that no one thought had much of a chance to beat mighty Georgetown, is the national champion today.

Villanova's sensational April Fools joke

By John Schulian

With all the dire predictions of what mighty, misanthropic Georgetown was supposed to do to Villanova, the date had been forgotten. It was as if everyone was so eager to be done with the ugly business of an NCAA championship execution that the page on the calendar had already been flipped.