There was not a better college basketball game played this season than the one tonight in Boston to decide the East Regional and a birth in the Final Four. Pitt and Villanova epitomized everything that was great about March Madness, college basketball, the Big East, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or anything the relates to competition and sport. As I sat on my coach and studied the television for those 40 minutes, the Panthers and Wildcats each were able to play their own brand of hoops that was beautiful to watch. And for all but one second, the game was perfectly even.
Like my buddy Gaetan said, "If they play ten times, Nova wins five and Pitt wins five."
The problem for me is that it's not a ten-game series.
With a terrific play at the end of the game, Scottie Reynolds ripped the hearts from everyone in Western Pennsylvania, ending the careers of three of Pitt's sterling seniors, and slamming the door on Pitt's best Final Four hopes since the Nixon era.
There are so many plays and surges in the game that are zooming through my memory bank right now that it's hard to gather them all. You never thought either team had a command on the tempo or the lead; there was just too much leadership and skill on both sides. The coaches were too polished. The moment was too precious.
Villanova, though, was more than deserving of their victory this evening. Quietly, they watched as Pitt, Louisville, and Connecticut took the spotlight in the conference for the duration of the season. They stood to the side as Syracuse was making it's run in the Big East Tournament and ascension to a #3 seed. They remained quiet even as Marquette's best player got injured at the end of the season and stole some of the headlines.
On the biggest stage, Villanova proved why it's not just a terrific basketball team, but a terrific basketball school. Last year, they were a 12 SEED and made it to the Sweet Sixteen. Three years ago, they made it to the Elite Eight and lost to National Champ Florida. Four years ago they got robbed in the Sweet Sixteen and fell to National Champ North Carolina. Jay Wright has the program anchored in successful seas. If we were to lose to any school in the conference, I would probably want it to be them.
Despite the final score, I have never in all of my years as a Pittsburgh sports fan been more appreciative of the work and heart the team put together, really, over 54 weeks. I was there last March when practically the same squad ran ragged through the Big East in New York City to capture the conference title, winning four games in four days, culminating with a win over mighty Georgetown. They play hard every game, will go toe-to-toe with anyone in the country, and leave an impression on all of their opponents. Along with the rest of the city and alumni, I would not have wanted anything more than to see the beloved Panthers in Detroit next weekend. It will sting every time we have to watch the highlights of Reynolds' game winning drive. They probably won't show Blair's coast-to-coast layup plus the foul or Young's clutch three-pointer to pull within one or Dixon's steal with seconds left or Fields' two free throws to tie the game with 5.5 seconds. You'll remember the dribble drive and the shot to send the Wildcats forward and the Panthers home.
It might feel like all is lost, but it isn't. The team proved it can get past the Sweet Sixteen hurdle, something it had not done in over 30 years. It proved it can beat a #1 team in the country, taking down UConn twice after losing their previous 13 attempts at a #1 team. It proved it can beat a team higher than a #5 seed in the NCAA tournament. It's proving it can harvest NBA talent. The hurt will stay with Coach Dixon and the players forever, but they should be proud of their 31 victories and their stake as a powerhouse in the best basketball conference in the country. Villanova may have won this round, but there may be nine more opportunities down the line.
More tomorrow...
No comments:
Post a Comment