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Villanova wins NCAA championship with buzzer-beater
Villanova junior Kris Jenkins buried a buzzer-beating 3-pointer holding off North Carolina with a 77-74 win on Monday night.
Kris Jenkins #2 of the Villanova Wildcats shoots the game-winning three pointer to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 in the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.Getty Images
By
MS NOW staff and
Olivia Kestin
HOUSTON — They call it “Nova.”
They practice the play every day during the “Wildcat Minute.” The purpose is to be prepared, regardless of the time on the clock, the score of the game and how many timeouts they have available. It’s a play that’s been in Jay Wright’s arsenal for years. Before Monday, the most famous shot during Wright’s tenure at Villanova came using “Nova” as point guard Scottie Reynolds took the ball the length of the floor in 5.5 seconds and finished a runner in traffic to beat Pitt in the 2009 Elite Eight.
The 2016 version of “Nova” substitutes Reynolds for Ryan Arcidiacono. Villanova’s trusted senior point guard is given the ball and tasked with taking a shot or finding an open option.
With 4.7 seconds left and Villanova tied with North Carolina at 74 with the national championship on the line, Arcidiacono made the right read, as he found trailing teammate, and inbounder, Kris Jenkins for the game-winning 3-pointer from the right wing as the Wildcats captured their second national championship in program history with a 77-74 win over North Carolina on Monday night.
Brice Johnson #11 of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Daniel Ochefu #23 of the Villanova Wildcats battle for the opening tip-off during the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.Getty ImagesVillanova head coach Jay Wright speaks to players in huddle during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, April 4, 2016, in Houston, Texas.APNorth Carolina’s Brice Johnson (11) goes up for a basket during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, April 4, 2016, in Houston.APNorth Carolina Tar Heels fans cheer in the first half during the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game between the Villanova Wildcats and the North Carolina Tar Heels at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.Getty ImagesHead coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on in the first half against the Villanova Wildcats during the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.Getty ImagesVillanova’s Phil Booth (5) shoots during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston.APThe Villanova Wildcats bench reacts in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Getty ImagesVillanova basketball fans view a broadcast of the national championship between Villanova and North Carolina, April 4, 2016, in Villanova, Pa.APNorth Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) drives to the basket against Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) during the first half in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.ReutersNorth Carolina Tar Heels guard Marcus Paige (5) shoots and scores a three point basket against the Villanova Wildcats in the second half in the championship game to tie the game in the final seconds of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four on April 4, 2016 in Houston Texas.ReutersKris Jenkins #2 of the Villanova Wildcats shoots the game-winning three pointer to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 in the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas. Getty ImagesKris Jenkins #2 of the Villanova Wildcats shoots the game-winning three pointer to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 in the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.Getty ImagesNorth Carolina head coach Roy Williams, right and his players on the bench react after the Villanova game winning three pointer at the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against Villanova, April 4, 2016, in Houston.APVillanova players celebrate after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston.APThe Villanova Wildcats celebrate defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 to win the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.Getty ImagesRyan Arcidiacono #15 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates with Phil Booth #5 and Mikal Bridges #25 after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 to win the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.Getty ImagesVillanova Wildcats forward Kris Jenkins (2) reacts after making the game winning three pointer over the North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.ReutersVillanova Wildcats forward Kris Jenkins (2) and forward Daniel Ochefu (23) celebrate after beating the North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.ReutersNorth Carolina’s Theo Pinson sits in the locker room after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against Villanova, April 4, 2016, in Houston.APHead coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 to win the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship game at NRG Stadium on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.Getty ImagesVillanova Wildcats forward Daniel Ochefu hoists the national championship trophy with teammates after defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four on April 4, 2016 in Houston, Texas.Reuters
