Villanova reaches 3rd Final Four since 2016: NCAA basketball media reacts
By Scott Rogust
The Villanova Wildcats are heading to the Final Four, as they defeated the No. 5 Houston Cougars 50-44 on Saturday.
The last time the Villanova Wildcats made it to the Final Four, they won the National Championship. That happened back in 2018. Now, they are looking to hoist the title in New Orleans in 2022.
On Saturday night, No. 2 Villanova defeated the No. 5 Houston Cougars 50-44 to clinch a spot in the Final Four for the seventh-time in program history and the third time since 2016.
Members of college basketball media shared their thoughts on the Wildcats continuing their run in the NCAA Tournament.
Twitter reacts to Villanova advancing to the Final Four
Villanova Basketball. A Fortune 500 Company.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 27, 2022
Villanova makes another Final Four. Recent history has shown that the Wildcats win every national title in even years when the tournament is actually played.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 27, 2022
NOVA IS BACK TO THE FINAL FOUR ❄️@NovaMBB DENIES Houston's run at a second straight semifinal appearance! pic.twitter.com/s9ovAilUk3
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 27, 2022
The @NovaMBB squad is on another level. pic.twitter.com/Gffp3ePVyO
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 27, 2022
*checks phone* 📱
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2022
IT'S FINAL FOUR TIME @NovaMBB 🗣#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/QvE7CGHGGw
For the seventh time in school history and for the third time in the past six NCAA Tournaments, Villanova is going to the Final Four.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 27, 2022
Blueblood.
Villanova has 3 losses in the NCAA Tournament since 2015-2016. (19-3 in that span with 2 national titles, a third one is 2 wins away.)
— Patrick Schmidt (@PatrickASchmidt) March 27, 2022
Jay Wright may be the best coach in college basketball.
Just let St. Peter's take Houston or Villanova's Final Four spot. This is a chore.
— Cody Williams (@TheSizzle20) March 27, 2022
Collin Gillespie is a robot and you cannot convince me otherwise.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 27, 2022
Under head coach Jay Wright, the Wildcats have made the most of their NCAA Tournament appearances since 2016. Following this victory over Houston, the Wildcats have a 20-3 record in tournament games.
It was far from a pretty game for Villanova, as they were only able to shoot 28.8-percent from the field. Luckily for them, Houston had a field goal percentage of 29.8. But, Houston did have a comeback attempt in the second half and dropped 24 points. It was not enough for the Cougars to advance to the Final Four for the second-consecutive season.
The Wildcats got a boost from a double-double performance by senior forward Jermaine Samuels, as he scored 16 points while shooting 6-for-10 from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Villanova did have a scare late in the game, as junior guard Justin Moore fell on the court late in the second half with a leg injury and had to be helped to the sidelines. As the Wildcats were cutting down the net after the game, Moore emerged on crutches. It will remain to be seen how severe his injury is.
With this victory, the Wildcats are heading to Caesars Superdome, where they will play the winner of No. 1 Kansas and No. 10 Miami (Fla.) in the Final Four on Apr. 2.
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