The defending NCAA Tournament champions will not repeat this year, as No. 8 Wisconsin knocked off No. 1 Villanova 65-62 in the second round of East region action on Saturday in Buffalo.
It was a back-and-forth, thrilling game throughout. And with the game tied 62-62, Badgers senior Nigel Hayes made this pretty baseline layup with 11.4 seconds left to serve as the game-winner:
(After the game, Hayes talked about being influenced by Michael Jordan’s fake spin move)
Michael Jordan fake spin back comparison with Nigel Hayes clutch shot against Villanovahttps://t.co/cn6gVndbMl
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) March 18, 2017
On the ensuing play, Villanova star guard Josh Hart tried to go up for a game-tying layup in the paint, but was denied with a great defensive effort from Wisconsin bigs Ethan Happ and Vitto Brown:
Brown was then fouled and made one of two free throws, but the Wildcats were unable to get a shot off, securing the Wisconsin upset victory:
Now, this upset certainly wasn’t as stunning as most 8-1 upsets, as Wisconsin (27-9) probably shouldn’t have been seeded as low as an eight-seed. And this is now — incredibly — the Badgers’ fourth consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Wisconsin: Second in B10, B10 Tournament finalist, beat Minnesota twice, and Badgers were an 8-seed and Gophers a 5-seed?
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) March 18, 2017
Sweet 16 bound!
Wisconsin has made each of the last 4 Sweet 16s, the only team that can make that claim. pic.twitter.com/I1PKVnKaOp
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 18, 2017
17 tournament wins now for the #Wisconsin seniors, far and away the most in the entire tournament. Talent, experience, coaching. Impressive.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 18, 2017
Why, it's almost as if Wisconsin isn't really an 8-seed
— ‘Miserable’ Pablo Torre 🕳️ (@PabloTorre) March 18, 2017
Two of the past three tournaments, Wisconsin has eliminated the overall No. 1 seed.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) March 18, 2017
The NCAA Tournament is about matchups. Wisconsin — much like Butler — was a bad matchup for Villanova. There will be no repeat in 2017.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 18, 2017
Here’s more Twitter reaction to the Badgers’ victory:
SWEET. pic.twitter.com/adGsUrNWuN
— UW–Madison (@UWMadison) March 18, 2017
Wisconsin has won 3 of its last 4 games against the AP No. 1 team.
It lost 17 of its first 18 vs AP No. 1.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 18, 2017
Wisconsin to America's brackets … #marchmadness pic.twitter.com/9i5rqQSeg3
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 18, 2017
Just 5.8 percent of Yahoo Tourney Pick 'Em brackets had Wisconsin bouncing Villanova.
— Brad Evans (@NoisyHuevos) March 18, 2017
And then there were 9. With Villanova's loss there's just 9 perfect brackets remaining of the over 18 million in ESPN's Tournament Challenge
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) March 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/843209276575440896
Everyone who had Villanova winning it all… #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/mdxIzuz9r8
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) March 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/Adam_Jacobi/status/843209663592235008
[CBS]
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About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.