Charles Barkley Leaps For Joy After Villanova Wins NCAA Championship

Charles Barkley seemed unable to contain his excitement for Villanova following the Wildcats’ victory in Monday night’s National Championship game.

Charles Barkley Leaps For Joy After Villanova Wins

Barkley looked just as poised as everyone else, and just like many others, jumped for joy immediately after Kris Jenkins sank the buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave the Wildcats a 77-74 win over the UNC Tar heels.

Barkley went on to explain his reaction in the following way:

“My daughter was living and dying with every game for the last three weeks, so I was really more excited for her, to be honest with you,’’ Barkley, who did commentary for TNT during the NCAA tournament, told USA TODAY Sports. “She’s been going to a Villanova bar in New York City every game. She didn’t even want to come to the game because she didn’t want to jinx the game.”

Barkley’s poor co-commentator Kenny Smith, a North Carolina alum, did not look even remotely as pleased by the result.

Barkley is also a longtime close friend of NBA great Michael Jordan, a former Tar heel. The two were close until Barkley grew critical of Jordan’s performance as owner of the Charlotte Hornets. On Monday, Barkley said, he saw Jordan in the crowd, but only the images that TNT captured for its broadcast.

“I was working all night,’’ Barkley said when asked if they spoke.

The Wildcats’ National Championship title was their first since 1985.