Kristian Ferrell
The Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team has won the national championship three times: in 1985, 2016, and 2018. Their 1985 victory as an 8th seed remains the lowest seed to win the title. Their 2016 win will be remembered for Kris Jenkins' buzzer-beating shot, and their 2018 victory is considered one of the greatest college basketball seasons of all time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of first national championship win | 1985 |
| Year of most recent national championship win | 2018 |
| Total number of national championship wins | 3 |
| Year of first buzzer-beater triumph | 2016 |
| Year of first appearance in the NCAA tournament | 1920-21 |
| Total number of appearances in the NCAA tournament | 39 |
| Number of Final Four appearances | 6 |
| Number of Big East Regular Season Championship wins | 8 |
| Number of Big East Tournament Championship wins | 6 |
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What You'll Learn
Villanova Wildcats' 1985 underdog victory
The Villanova Wildcats' 1985 underdog victory remains one of the most memorable and compelling moments in college basketball history. The Wildcats, an eighth seed, beat defending national champion Georgetown—a 10-point favourite—66-64 to win the NCAA championship. This victory, known as "The Perfect Game", is considered one of the most surprising runs in NCAA tournament history.
The 1985 championship game was a tight and tense affair, with Villanova's deliberate tempo and sensational shooting putting them in a position to win. The Wildcats played very deliberately, almost always with purpose, and shot 22-of-28 from the field, an incredible 78.6% success rate. They held Georgetown star Patrick Ewing to just 14 points, and only two points in the final 13 minutes of the game. Dwayne McClain scored 17 points, while Harold Jensen added 14, and Ed Pinckney contributed 16 points.
Villanova's victory was the result of a quirky work of art that included both phenomenal shooting and plenty of carelessness. The Wildcats' unexpected presence in the championship game took their fans to new heights in Rupp Arena, with even Kentucky's Wildcats fans supporting Villanova. The game was the last before the introduction of the shot clock, and it was the first time that three teams from the same conference (Big East) made it to the Final Four.
The Villanova Wildcats' 1985 underdog victory remains an iconic moment in sports history, with the team's performance and the unexpected outcome etching it into the memories of basketball fans and the broader sports community.
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2016: Kris Jenkins' buzzer-beater
The Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team won the national championship in 2016, defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74. This was their second national championship, following their 1985 victory. The 2016 championship game is known for Kris Jenkins' buzzer-beating three-pointer, which gave the Wildcats the victory.
With 13 seconds remaining, Villanova held a three-point lead. However, North Carolina's Marcus Paige sunk an off-balance three-pointer, tying the game with 4.7 seconds left. Villanova called a timeout to set up their final play, "Nova", which they had practised daily throughout the season. Ryan Arcidiacono inbounded the ball and passed to Jenkins with less than two seconds remaining. Jenkins then hit a buzzer-beating, championship-winning three-pointer, securing the national title for Villanova.
Jenkins' shot is considered one of the greatest in NCAA tournament history. It was the first buzzer-beating shot to win an NCAA men's national title since 1983 and the first-ever title game to be decided by a buzzer-beating three-pointer. Jenkins' shot capped off a remarkable season for Villanova, who also won the 2016 Big East Conference regular-season championship.
The 2016 national championship was a significant moment in Villanova's basketball history, adding to their proud tradition in the sport. The team's success that year is a testament to their hard work and dedication, with their victory in the championship game securing their place in college basketball history.
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2018: Four players drafted by the NBA
The Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team has had a rich history, winning the national championship three times: in 1985, 2016, and most recently in 2018. This 2018 victory was considered by many to be one of the greatest college basketball seasons ever witnessed.
Following this triumph, four players from the championship team were drafted by the NBA in the same year. This was the most in the program's history, marking a memorable night for Villanova Basketball. The four players were:
- Jalen Brunson: National Player of the Year and Final Four Most Outstanding Player. He was picked outside of the first round and joined the Dallas team.
- Mikal Bridges: Selected as the 10th pick by the 76ers, but was soon traded to the Phoenix Suns.
- Donte DiVincenzo: Known for his stellar junior season at Villanova, including a 31-point performance in the national championship game against Michigan. He was drafted by the Bucs.
- Omari Spellman: Despite being projected as the lowest-ranked Wildcat, he was selected with the final pick in the first round by the Atlanta Hawks.
These players' selection in the NBA draft is a testament to their talent and hard work, and it fulfilled a lifelong dream for each of them.
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Villanova's six Final Four appearances
The Villanova Wildcats have made six Final Four appearances in the NCAA Tournament, with their first coming in 1939, followed by 1971, 1985, 2009, 2016, and 2018. They have also appeared in the tournament a total of 39 times, the eighth-highest total in NCAA history.
In 1939, Villanova made their first Final Four appearance, and in 1971, they made their first appearance in an NCAA basketball tournament championship game. Nicknamed the "Iron Men", Villanova, led by coach Jack Kraft, took on the UCLA Bruins, who had won six of the previous seven NCAA championships. Despite their best efforts, Villanova lost by six points in what was their first of many Final Four appearances.
In 1985, the Wildcats completed one of the most surprising runs in NCAA tournament history by winning the national championship as an eighth seed, the lowest seed to ever win the title. They beat Dayton, top-seeded Michigan, Maryland, and second-seeded North Carolina to win the Southeast Regional en route to the Final Four in Lexington, Kentucky. In the national semifinals, they defeated Memphis State before facing defending champion Georgetown, led by Patrick Ewing. The Wildcats held Ewing to 14 points and pulled off an improbable two-point victory, shooting an incredible 22-of-28 from the field.
Villanova made another Final Four appearance in 2009, led by future NBA player Dante Cunningham. They beat #1 seeded Pittsburgh to win the Elite 8 but lost to North Carolina in the national semifinals.
In 2016, the Wildcats won their second NCAA Championship, defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 thanks to Kris Jenkins' buzzer-beating three-pointer. This was the second of only two NCAA Men's Championship games to be won on a buzzer beater.
Villanova's most recent Final Four appearance in 2018 culminated in their third national championship. They defeated Kansas in the semifinals and the Wolverines in the championship game, with a final score of 79-62. Donte DiVincenzo, named the 2018 Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, scored 31 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out 3 assists, and had 2 steals and 2 blocks.
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The Wildcats' 39 NCAA Tournament appearances
The Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team has a rich history, with 39 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The team first competed in the 1920–21 season and has since become a member of the Philadelphia Big Five, a group of five Philadelphia college basketball teams with a passionate rivalry.
The Wildcats have won the national championship three times: in 1985, 2016, and 2018. Their 1985 victory was particularly notable, as they were an 8th seed—the lowest seed ever to win the title. That year, they beat Dayton, top-seeded Michigan, Maryland, and second-seeded North Carolina to win the Southeast Regional and advance to the Final Four in Lexington, Kentucky. They then defeated 2-seed Memphis State in the national semifinals before facing defending champion Georgetown, led by Patrick Ewing. The Wildcats pulled off a surprising two-point victory, shooting an impressive 78.6% from the field.
The 2016 championship game against the North Carolina Tar Heels ended with a heroic, buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Kris Jenkins, giving the Wildcats a 77-74 victory. This was the second time in NCAA history that a men's championship game was won on a buzzer beater.
The Wildcats' most recent national championship in 2018 capped off a season considered one of the greatest in college basketball history. They have also made the Final Four in 1939, 1971, 2009, 2016, 2018, and 2022, for a total of seven appearances. In addition to their national success, the Wildcats have won the Big East regular-season championship eight times and the Big East tournament six times.
The Wildcats' performance in the NCAA Tournament has solidified their place as one of the top college basketball programs in the country, with a strong tradition of excellence.
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Frequently asked questions
Villanova won their first national basketball championship in 1985.
Villanova has won the national basketball championship three times.
Villanova is 3-1 in national championship games.
Villanova beat Georgetown 66-64 to win the 1985 national championship.
The 2018 Villanova national championship team featured four future NBA players: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Donte Divincenzo, and Omari Spellman.
