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VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

ONE NOVA NATION

TOGETHER WE RISE

THE MOMENTS THAT UNITE US

When I reflect on Villanova’s second Men’s Basketball NCAA National Championship in three seasons, one word keeps coming to mind—Unitas. As an Augustinian university, it’s one of our core values and, thus, central to our identity. As I have realized since becoming president, few events or moments unite our University community quite like Men’s Basketball.

Thousands of Villanovans from around the country traveled from Pittsburgh to Boston and on to San Antonio. It was wonderful to witness you coming together from near and far to cheer this team to victory and to celebrate Easter Sunday Mass with more than 3,300 fellow Villanovans. The unfailing support and enthusiasm of the Nova Nation definitely played a part in the team's success this season, and all of us share in this exciting accomplishment.

To Coach Wright, his staff and a wonderful group of young men, congratulations on an incredible season. It was an unforgettable run that Villanovans, and countless others, won’t soon forget. I especially thank you for representing Villanova so admirably throughout the tournament. As student-athletes, you are great ambassadors for the University, both on and off the court. Your humility, teamwork and commitment to academics were often discussed and lauded, and made everyone in the Nova Nation very proud!

In addition, thank you to the city of Philadelphia for your support. You embraced us at the Wells Fargo Center, lit up the city in blue and hosted us for our third victory parade. We are tremendously grateful.

Thanks to all who played a role in this remarkable journey. Congratulations again to the team—your 2018 National Champions! Go Cats!

Sincerely,

Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD,

’75 CLAS

VILLANOVA WILDSTATS

FIRST ROUND:

Jalen Brunson led the team with 16 points.

Three players making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearances—Omari Spellman, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree and Collin Gillespie combined for 29 points and also contributed multiple rebounds, blocks and steals.

SECOND ROUND:

Mikal Bridges was the top scorer with 23 points.

Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo together contributed 10 of the Wildcats’ 14 three-pointers.

“There is a youthful exuberance with this team that is exciting to me.”

JAY WRIGHT

© Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos

VILLANOVA vs.

Radford16

The Wildcats’ first win of the tournament was a true team effort, with six players scoring in double digits as the team charged out of the gates to defeat No. 16-seeded Radford. The team combined for 52 percent shooting from three-point range, and Eric Paschall delivered Villanova’s 400th three-pointer of the season. The Wildcats would go on to establish a new NCAA Division I record for made three-pointers in a season (464).

VILLANOVA vs. Alabama9

Villanova overcame No. 9 seed Alabama’s strong defense to earn a trip to the Sweet 16. After entering halftime with just a five-point lead, the Wildcats exploded on offense. Mikal Bridges scored 16 points in the first five minutes of the second half, including a dunk to open the half, and later, three consecutive three-pointers in less than a minute.

VILLANOVA vs.

West Virginia5

Overcoming a 60-54 deficit in the second half, the Wildcats rallied to defeat No. 5 seed West Virginia, ending the game with a 36-18 run to move on to the Elite Eight. Jalen Brunson had 27 points and Omari Spellman 18 in the victory, but defense was also key in the game, as the Wildcats held the Mountaineers to just 39 percent shooting.

VILLANOVA vs. Texas Tech3

Solid defense and clutch free throws at the end of the game helped the Wildcats overcome a challenge by No. 3 seed Texas Tech. The Red Raiders’ defense restrained Villanova’s shooting at times, but the Wildcats answered with their own defensive display, limiting their opponents to just 33 percent shooting. In the end, Villanova was able to edge ahead for good and cut down the nets as winners of the East Regional.

VILLANOVA WILDSTATS

“We play every game like it’s our last, sticking to our core values.”

JA LEN BRUNSON

SWEET 16:

Four players scored in double digits: Jalen Brunson (27), Omari Spellman (18), Mikal Bridges (16) and Eric Paschall (14)

For the seventh time in their last eight games, the Wildcats held their opponent to 43 percent shooting from the field or lower.

ELITE EIGHT:

The Wildcats advanced to their sixth Final Four appearance and their third in the last 10 years.

Jalen Brunson was again the game’s top scorer with 15 points, and Eric Paschall ended with 14 rebounds.

© Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos

VILLANOVA WILDSTATS

The Wildcats shattered a Final Four record by dropping in 18 threepointers. Villanova made 45 percent (18 of 40) of its shots from long range on the night.

Eric Paschall posted a career-high 24 points, and he made 10 of 11 field goals—matching the best accuracy rate in a Final Four game in 45 years.

Six Wildcats ended the game scoring in double figures.

“We play together as a team. And that’s what we did tonight.”

ERIC PASCHALL

VILLANOVA vs. Kansas1

Ta king on fellow No. 1 seed Kansas, Villanova brought the offensive fireworks to San Antonio. The Wildcats had tied the record for three-pointers in a Final Four game by halftime and went on to shatter the record with 18 total triples. Villanova confounded the Jayhawks’ defense, and their pinpoint accuracy from three-point range allowed them to run away with the game.

After the final buzzer, the Wildcats had earned their second trip to the championship game in three years—and words of praise from Kansas Head Coach Bill Self: “We played against a team that may have played their best game."

© Greg

VILLANOVA vs. Michigan3

It was the culmination of a season that had seen Villanova hold the No. 1 national ranking for eight weeks, win the BIG EAST title, break records for scoring, and outlast one talented opponent after another throughout an NCAA tournament that will be remembered for its historic upsets of top-ranked teams. But that Monday night in San Antonio, nothing mattered but the game at hand. All that remained was 40 minutes of Villanova basketball against a No. 3 seed with a storied history and a hunger to experience its own upset.

Michigan came charging into the game, taking an early lead before Donte DiVincenzo came off the bench and provided the spark his team needed to take a lead at the end of the first half and never let it go. The second half was a scoring bonanza for the Wildcats, with DiVincenzo continuing his hot streak and Mikal Bridges contributing 19 points of his own. In this game, as with all others throughout this remarkable season, it was the consummate team effort right through until the final minutes. They struggled together, they persevered together and, ultimately, they triumphed together.

“I really can’t get my mind around it. I never dreamt of this.”

JAY WRIGHT

VILLANOVA WILDSTATS

Donte DiVincenzo was the undisputed Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four. His 31 points, in addition to being a career high, set a record for a non-starting player in the NCAA tournament, and was the most scored by a single player in a championship game since 1997.

Villanova defeated its six opponents throughout the tournament by an average of 17.6 points per game. Only three other teams in history have won all of their tournament games by at least 12 points.

The Wildcats ended the year with a 36-4 record, the first 36-win season in program history. Villanova also became the first team in NCAA Division I history to win at least 32 games in four consecutive seasons.