Kris Jenkins Lifts Villanova Over North Carolina 77-74 With Buzzer Beating Three To Capture National Title

“One, two step, shoot `em up, sleep in the streets.”

It was as simple as that for Villanova junior forward Kris Jenkins on what is perhaps the greatest shot in NCAA history.  Jenkins had to answer after North Carolina senior point guard Marcus Paige hit a seemingly impossible, double-clutch three pointer to tie the game at 74 with 4.7 seconds remaining.

Jenkins Lifts Nova Over UNC 77-74 In Title Game For The Ages

After Paige’s improbable game tying shot, Wildcats’ coach Jay Wright called a timeout to discuss how to win the game and avoid overtime.  Wright decided to run the play that the Cats practice everyday: Jenkins inbounds to senior point guard Ryan Arcidiacono, senior forward Daniel Ochefu would set a screen near mid-court to create space and let Arcidiacono run the offense.

“I didn’t have to say anything in the huddle,” Wright said. “We have a name for it, that’s what we’re going to do. Just put everybody in their spots.”

As the senior point guard approached the three point line, “If I could get a shot, I was going to shoot it,” said Arcidiacono, who finished with 16 points and two assists, “But I heard someone screaming in the back of my head. It was Kris. I just gave it to him and he let it go with confidence.”

Jenkins was oozing confidence after hitting the game winner, standing on the press table courtside and flexing his muscles while letting everyone know, “I have ice in my veins!”

After the game the 22-year old said, “I think every shot’s going in. And this one was no different.”

“Bang.” Coach Wright obviously agreed, watching the play unfold how he drew it up, reacted about as stoically as possible before shaking UNC coach Roy Williams‘ hand after the game.

The Tar Heels seemed to have a miscommunication about who was supposed to guard Jenkins, a 38% 3pt shooter, after the inbound play. Arcidiacono drew two defenders and UNC’s Isaiah Hicks was too late on his rotation and Jenkins’ shot eluded the 21-year old junior’s outstretched left arm.

Coach Williams could only watch as hopes for his third title were dashed by Jenkins in 4.7 seconds. “It was helpless. It was not a good feeling.”

Jenkins finished with 14 points in just 21 minutes for Villanova, who turned a five point halftime deficit to a 10 point lead with 5:29 remaining following two free throws from Phil Booth. Booth provided a huge spark off the bench for the Wildcats, scoring 20 points in 25 minutes while shooting 6-7 from the field and making all six free throw attempts.

Arcidiacono finished his college career with 16 points and was named the MVP of the Final Four after averaging 15.5 points in the Wildcats’ wins over Oklahoma and North Carolina.

For the Tar Heels it was a tough pill to swallow, especially for Williams along with seniors Paige and Brice Johnson.

In their final game, Paige finished with 21 points, six assists and five rebounds. Johnson, a First-Team All-American, finished with 14 points and eight rebounds. After the game Johnson was overcome with emotion as tears ran down his face during the handshake line.

There is uncertainty surrounding the immediate future of the athletic programs in Chapel Hill, so it is unknown if the 65-year old Williams will return to the sidelines of the Dean Smith Center. He has a career record of 783-209 (.772 Win %) and ranks second all time in wins at UNC (365) behind his mentor Dean Smith (879), and Kansas (418) trailing only Phog Allen (590).

Villanova kept their torrid shooting pace throughout the tournament, shooting 58.3% in the title game, which isn’t quite the white hot 71.4% of the semi final against the Sooners, but an outstanding percentage nonetheless.

The title was the team’s second in history (1985) and meant a lot for the Wildcats, who were coming off back-to-back eliminations in the Round of 32 in the previous NCAA Tourneys. Coach Wright had eight players on his roster that experienced those March disappointments and for a change it was their turn to shock the basketball world. This win for Villanova showed that the little schools can wrestle the title away from the college basketball bloodlines North Carolina, Duke, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Kansas, who had won seven of the previous eight titles.

Article by Nick Vigliotti