On this date, four years ago, Villanova and North Carolina would battle it out for what would be immediately known as an instant classic.
The Journey for a Championship
Jay Wright took over a Villanova program and completely changed the culture for the better. After a few years of transition, the Wildcats consistently went deep into the NCAA Tournament, with a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2004-2005 and an elite eight trip in 2005-2006. Wright was able to recruit key players like current NBA star Kyle Lowry, and others like Randy Foye and Allan Ray that set the stepping stone for future players to commit to Nova to make it the powerhouse that it is today.
In 2008-2009 the Wildcats finally made it to the Final Four, it was the first time since 1985, when they won the National Championship under Rollie Massimino as they beat Patrick Ewing and Georgetown 66-64.
This was a Villanova team that was having it’s best run in the tournament in 24 years. Nova greats, Scottie Reynolds, Dante Cunningham, and Corey Fisher powered the Cats all the way to the Elite Eight, where a back and forth battle with then conference rival Pitt came down to the wire. A Scottie Reynolds last second shot sealed the deal for a huge victory.
That victory almost would have never happened, as most people forget that Nova overcame a double-digit halftime deficit to 14 seeded American in the first-round. Nevertheless, Villanova scratched and clawed its way to a date with a daunting matchup.
The team that Nova ran into was the perennial buzzsaw in North Carolina. Roy Williams was an experienced head coach, and he led a loaded team that consisted of eight McDonald’s All-Americans. To say that this team, that was led by Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Danny Green, and Wayne Ellington, was good was an understatement. They were elite.
The Tar Heels easily handled the Wildcats in Detroit by a score of 83-69 and would eventually go on to win their fifth National Championship. It was their first title in four years. Fast forward to 2016, and Villanova would have a chance for revenge.
April 4, 2016
Nova was having a record year. The 35-5 record was the best in school history as the Cats surpassed last year’s win total of 33. Led by seniors Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu and juniors Kris Jenkins and Josh Hart, Jay Wright had grown and built another talented team that was hungry for a championship. This time, they would not be denied.
Roy Williams and UNC were not underdogs by any measure, in fact they were heavily favored. All-Americans Marcus Paige, Joel Berry, and Justin Jackson powered a young but talented Tar Heel team to a 33-7 record and an ACC Championship.
The stage was set for the rematch. Millions of fans watched on their screens, and thousands of others packed the seats of NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. They were all in store for a show.
For the first 17 minutes of the first half, Villanova was able to keep UNC at bay. Phil Booth stepped up for the Cats as he led the team in scoring with 20 points.
The Tar Heels started to heat up as the half winded down. Joel Berry hit shot after shot, as Carolina went on a 12-5 run, but a buzzer-beater by Phil Booth cut the deficit to five at half time (39-34). This shot gave Villanova the momentum they needed to take back control of the game.
In the first six minutes of the second half, Villanova went on a 10-5 to knot things up at 44 a piece, and just like that, it was a new ball game. A three by Booth and a fadeaway by Kris Jenkins stretched the Villanova lead to five at 51-46, but like the boxing match this game was, UNC punched back.
It wouldn’t happen until late in the half, but the Tar Heels were able to weather a few runs by Nova. Down six with 1:34 left, Marcus Paige hit a corner three to put life back into the UNC faithful. Fast forward a minute and a half later, Paige would have a chance to tie it.
Down three with the clock winding down, Berry passed it to Paige, a diving Daniel Ochefu almost broke up the pass but Paige regained it. Immediately he was swarmed by both Arcidiacono and Mikal Bridges, but Paige shot it anyway, he had no choice.
In mid air, Paige double clutched the ball but was still able to get the shot off. Somehow, someway, the ball rattled around the hoop and went in. It was just that kind of night for the senior from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Just like that it was all tied up once again, 74-74.
With 4.7 seconds left, Villanova had time to run one final play. They would have to go the length of the court to do it.
Arcidiacono brought it up, he got by a half court screen set by Ochefu, then went right to the three point line. Many thought he would shoot it, Arcidiacono was a lethal shooter from beyond the arc. Others thought he would pass it to Phil Booth who was open on the wing, Booth was having a career night as the majority of his shots found twine. However, few people thought he would dish it to Kris Jenkins who was trailing right behind him, waiting for his chance to end the game. The rest was history.
Jim Nantz who was on the call for TBS, was able to capture it perfectly. “Three seconds at mid-court, gives it to Jenkins, for the championship…” At that moment everything except the ball stood still as it gracefully flew through the air. Jay Wright took one look at it, and said, “bang.” He knew it was going in the moment it left Jenkins hand. As the ball finally went through the basket, pure exuberance was exhaled from the Nova Nation because at long last, after 31 years, they could celebrate.
Four years later, you can still hear the words of Jim Nantz as he exclaimed, “OOOOHHH! Villanova! Phenomenal! The National Champions!” and Bill Raftery saying, “How bout those onions?!”
The shot heard round the world was a fitting end to a fantastic game that will be remembered for plenty years to come.
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