(Note: This is more than likely going to be the longest thing I have ever written on here. So if need be, print this one out and take it to “the office” or a place where you can sit back, relax, and relive the memories.)
As I drove back to Villanova this morning, I was listening to Evan Roberts and Joe Benigno on WFAN. Benigno repeatedly used the phrase “one of the all-time great games” to describe Villanova’s monumental win over Pittsburgh to send the team to the Final Four. Every time he said that, all I could think of was that this was one of the all-time great weekends. If you were lucky enough to be there, it was special. And even if you weren’t, and you were at one of the various alumni functions, or just on your couch, you’ll remember it for the rest of your life.
My weekend started on Thursday morning when I left Villanova, picked up Liz at Newark Airport and proceeded up to Boston. We got into town around 4:30, picked up our tickets at 5:30. and headed over to The Greatest Bar, where ‘Nova alums gathered. Not knowing we needed to register for this event, we weren’t allowed in, and instead headed next door to DJ’s and grabbed a few drinks. A few hours later, we got into The Greatest Bar, and that is where the night really began.
We began to meet up with friends, whether they were current students, recent graduates, our friend’s fathers, and alums we’d never met. It was out of control. Everyone was buzzing about the game and the atmosphere was flat-out incredible.
With about 20 minutes to game time we headed over to The Garden and found out seats, which were about 5 rows from the court behind the basket. We had been talking about this all night, but the Thursday night crowd felt like it was 80-20 in ‘Nova’s favor. The fans were everywhere. We ourselves had a great section of Villanova fans, and Boston fans in general who just wanted to see us knock the snot out of Duke.
The crowd, including an amazing student section in the upper tank, was out of control all game. It felt like we were at home, but better. Villanova home crowds rarely get that wild, much less when we’re on the road. But ‘Nova Nation came out in droves and took over Boston all weekend.
Anderson loved the beatdown of Duke (AP/Winslow Towson)
Despite our proclamations all week that we were going to kill Duke, I have to admit the nerves set in as the opening tip was thrown into the air. But a monster dunk by Dante Cunningham set the tone for the night — we were not going to lose. Our defense swarmed the Dukies all night. They looked like they had never seen anything like that. At one point a Celtics fan behind me remarked, “They don’t just look scared. They are legitimately afraid to do anything.” And it was true.
Duke, led by fearless Jon Scheyer couldn’t muster the courage to take the ball into the lane. Maybe they had seen our dismantling of UCLA and feared for their lives, but I’ve never seen a team look like a deer in headlights like the Blue Devils. Gerald Henderson and Kyle Singler, two players who were lauded all week, were taken completely out of the game. With about 10 minutes left, I yelled out, “It’s over!” to the delight of everyone around me except for Liz, who slapped me and was convinced I had jinxed us.
But it didn’t matter, that game was in the bag. With each play, the crowd got louder. We could feel it. When it was over, we went wild. About two rows in front of us, our friends Ted, Thomas, Keith and Brian had been going ballistic all game. I posted it before, but as Brian continually belted out,”There’s something special about this team!” you could begin to feel the people in the arena really starting to believe it.
At Hurricane O’Reilly’s after the game, it was a party. We were living the dream. But in the back of our minds we knew a greater challenge awaited us. We weren’t going to get a soft scared team on Saturday night. We were going into the trenches for a war.
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When Saturday morning rolled around, even more people had come up to Boston. For whatever reason, be it work or other obligations, nearly everyone knew some other person or group who was making their way up for what was going to be an epic night.
We were wiser this time around, opting to register for the alumni pre-game reception. There was such a big turnout on Thursday that the Boston Alumni had to rent out a 2nd bar to host everyone. We made it to Hurricane O’Reilly’s at about 3:45, and were greeted with 100 people standing outside ready to start the festivities.
What occurred in that bar was nothing short of spectacular. Alumni of all ages, as well as current students, and even future Wildcats began to party like we had already won. People offered toasts, cheers, drinks, etc. It was a great afternoon with great people (most of whom I didn’t even know). But the fact that we were all ‘Nova fans brought us all together.
Finally, it was time for the game. I had been saying all morning that I just wanted it to start. I couldn’t wait. And now, it was here. Liz and I made our way down to our seats, and then realized that the pro-Nova section we had on Thursday was completely dominated by the Pitt fans. Damn. No matter, because we’re here and we’re going to make the best of it.
I know that everyone who reads this blog saw the game, so I’m going to skip to the last 4 minutes. This game was a war. That’s really all that needs to be said about the first 36 minutes.
With just under 4 minutes left, and ‘Nova and Pitt trading baskets and stops, Pittsburgh made a mini-surge and built a 4 point lead. The Pitt fans exploded. The ‘Nova fans were stunned. Could this really be the end?
Pitt brought the ball up the court with a 4 point lead. And then the crowd noise rose. Jermaine Dixon had nowhere to go. And then boom! Dwayne Anderson is taking off in the other direction with the ball, and he gets hacked, and STILL manages to lay it in! The Garden was going bonkers. My ears hurt from the noise, and even as I tried to yell as loud as I could, I couldn’t hear myself. It was insanity.
Then another turnover (this time by Sam Young)! Reggie Redding finds a slashing Corey Fisher for the layup! We have the lead back! I’m shaking a random Bostonian next to me, and he is shaking me back.
Pitt scores again, but it’s short lived. Anderson drains a 3 from the top of the key. The building is shaking. Fans from both teams are on their feet and losing their minds. Just 90 seconds left. I’m praying for the clock to move faster, but it won’t. Young jacks up a 3. Missed, but Levance Fields snags the board and dishes it to DeJuan Blair. Blair turns it over! Now the place is really rocking. We can feel it. We’re going to do it.
Corey Fisher steps to the line with under a minute to go. He had a rough first half, but now it’s his time. He calmly drains both free throws. We’re up by 4, and we can feel. And just like that, we’re quickly shut up as Sam Young drills a 3 with Shane Clark draped all over him. I’m upset, scared, angry and impressed all at the same time. What is going on?
Pitt fouls Fisher. He drains both shots again. Does this kid have ice water running through the veins or what? Now we’re up just 3. Villanova isn’t giving up another 3 again. They are pressing at the top of the key. Fields launches a 3 but it’s no good! I’m now about 4 rows from my actual seat just jumping around and going nuts.
The team celebrates the win( AP/Winslow Towson)
Reggie Redding steps to the line. A Pitt fan realizes ‘Nova is perfect from the stripe. “They’re due to miss” he yells out. And he’s right. Redding’s first attempt rattles in and out. It’s okay, just make the next one and make this a two possession game. Redding puts it through.
No 3’s, no 3’s. We’re all screaming. Villanova overplays Fields, who finds a wide open Blair for a layup. Now I’m nervous again. With 10 seconds left, there is plenty of time.
After a timeout, Redding is inbounding the ball. He looks and looks. Nobody is open. Cunningham is streaking down the court. Reggie decides he’s Peyton Manning and launches a home run pass. It’s overthrown, and Pitt is rushing back the other way. Fisher tries to take a charge, but is called for the block. Fields to the line. That kid is a warrior. Before he even steps up I know that both are going in.
With 5 seconds left, ‘Nova Nation is stunned. Are we really going to overtime? Redding with the ball again. He’s looking far down court! Please don’t heave it deep again, Reg. He finds Cunningham, who hands it off to a streaking Scottie Reynolds! This is the Scottie Reynolds who never saw a big-time shot he didn’t like.
He’s in the open court! He’s crashing into the lane and getting hacked by Pitt players. 3 seconds. 2 seconds. He’s starts to rise and gets met by Gilbert Brown.
The ball is at the rim with 1 second left, and it falls through. Don’t ask me what happened next, because I don’t remember. All I know is that I had a random 10 year old boy hoisted over my head. His father didn’t mind at all, and was even jumping up and down next to me.
There was one final heart attack as Levance Fields decided he was going to hoist a 70-footer and miss by 1 foot, but we did it. We’re going to the Final Four!
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The team was rushing the court. Players, coaches and fans embraced. Magic was in the air. The cutting of the nets was something I’d never seen, and it was incredibly special. Nearly all the fans stuck around to witness this piece of history, but the night was young.
We headed back to The Westin at the Waterfront, which just so happened to be the official hotel of Villanova’s trip to Boston. Hundreds of fans gathered in the lobby. Drinks flowed everywhere. You could tell this party was going to go on all night.
After about 45 minutes, and countless cheers whenever the TV’s showed Reynolds’ last shot, a police motorcade approached the hotel. Fans streaked to the front doors. Slowly, chants of “Let’s Go Nova” poured out. And finally, the team entered to cheers even louder than the ones at the game.
Chatting with Rollie was one of the highlights of my trip (AP/Winslow Towson)
Players hugged fans, and fans cried. This felt more like war heroes returning from the battlefield than a basketball team returning from the hardwood, and I guess in some ways, it was.
Jay Wright stood up and thanked everyone for all the support. Dwayne Anderson said it was a night he’d never forget. And finally Dante Cunningham reminded everyone that we had not 1, but 2 more games left to win.
That brought the house down, and then ‘Nova Nation partied all night.
Congrats to everyone everywhere, this was one weekend that we’ll never forget.
Pat Forde: Bennett: I would say the Big East is approximately 7,000 times better than the Big Ten. Maybe 8,000. Not to say the Big Ten is terrible, but there’s no way it’s as good as the Big East. I see one Final Four caliber team in the Ten (Michigan State) and four in the East (Pitt, UL, UConn and Nova).
