“We’re not done yet.”
Villanova’s motto throughout March Madness has finally proven itself to be true as the Wildcats stunned the No. 1 Tar Heels and took the national title on Monday, April 4th, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
With less than five seconds remaining, our hearts stopped as North Carolina’s Marcus Paige tied the game. In that moment, we had to put faith in our coach Jay Wright and our selfless leader and captain, Ryan Arcidiacono, who raced up the court and passed the ball to Kris Jenkins to sink the buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
The drought finally ended as the Wildcats won their first National Championship since 1985 under the reign of coach Rollie Massimino, who was seen teary-eyed at Monday’s game.
Villanova fans could not have felt more pride and love for the boys as they stormed the court in Houston, cheered in the Pavilion, and witnessed this magic from their homes and bars across the nation. The No. 2 Wildcats from the Big East, who had been doubted all season, had just won the 2016 NCAA Championship Game.
Besides this win being important to the Villanova community, it was essential to college basketball, serving as a sign of hope to those who are doubted. In the past twenty years, the basketball powerhouses (Connecticut, Duke, Kentucky, and North Carolina) have dominated the national championships. The Villanova Wildcats won this title not only for themselves, Jay Wright, their fans, and those who came before them, but to prove to those who doubted them that they were a talented team.
We could not be more proud of our seniors: Ryan Arcidiacono, Daniel Ochefu, Henry Lowe, Patrick Farrell, and Kevin Rafferty for a legendary final season. They have created a legacy at Villanova that no one will ever forget.