Josh Hart comes up big again
The play may not have been called for him, but Villanova’s Josh Hart has never been one to shy away from inserting himself into a big moment. With under 15 seconds left and his Wildcats trailing the Seton Hall Pirates, 53-52, in the Big East tournament’s semifinals, Hart made a game-winning play.
The National Player of the Year candidate watched from the 3-point line as teammate Kris Jenkins hoisted his own potential game-winner. Jenkins pulled up from deep behind the 3-point arc, but his shot careened off the back of the rim. Hart was there to clean up the miss, though. In one leap, he lunged through a pair of Seton Hall defenders to grab the offensive rebound, make the putback and get fouled:
AND WON!
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 11, 2017
(via @BIGEASTMBB) pic.twitter.com/Du5g2WMWG7
Hart drained the ensuing free throw to give Villanova a two-point cushion with 9.6 seconds to win. The Pirates couldn’t convert the game-tying chance as Angel Delgado’s layup didn’t go.
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These are the type of plays that have made Hart’s career. He’s revered for his unselfishness and his willingness to make whatever play is necessary. Last season, Hart grabbed a game sealing rebound against the Georgetown Hoyas to close out a game in Washington, DC, for example.
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These are also the type of plays that National Player of the Year voters remember. While some awards have already been handed out, Hart has spent the year locked in a dead heat with Kansas point guard Frank Mason. Perhaps this moment — on a national stage during championship week — will swing the mind of a few voters and tilt the award in his favor.
Even if it doesn’t, Hart’s play sent Villanova through to the Big East finals and kept it on the path towards the NCAA Tournament’s overall No. 1 seed. All in a days work for the Wildcats’ senior.