“What”s better than this?” Villanova celebrates hoops title

Last Updated on April 3, 2018 7:16 pm by admin

 

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) Amid chants of ”Nova! Nova!” Villanova students and fans have loudly welcomed their men’s basketball team back to campus, a day after the Wildcats claimed their second national championship in three years.
Players were treated like rock stars Tuesday night as they made their way into the ancient Jake Nevin Field House for a celebration.
”What’s better than this?” coach Jay Wright said as the crowd roared.
Behind Donte DiVincenzo’s career-high 31 points off the bench, Villanova routed Michigan 79-62 on Monday in San Antonio to win the school’s third national title.
The top-seeded Wildcats (36-4) won all six of their NCAA Tournament games by double digits, bucking the trend of upsets thanks to depth, a buzzing offense and improved defense.
Rain forced the celebration inside from the football stadium, but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm at the Catholic school of about 6,500 undergraduates in suburban Philadelphia.
Next up, a parade Thursday in Philadelphia that will end with a rally outside City Hall as the region basks in its recent sporting success. The Eagles won their first Super Bowl two months ago.

More AP college basketball: https://collegebasketball.ap.org ; https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 and https://www.podcastone.com/ap-sports-special-events