You always want one more. With this team, one more would have been icing, but every team but one leaves the NCAA Tournament with a loss. Villanova lost to Kentucky, 67-58, in a first-round NCAA Tournament game at the United Center.
Kentucky played the toughest schedule in the country and had lost more heartbreakers than just about anybody. This was a team with a lot of losses, not a losing team. Villanova was a team with some missing parts, but it was a team in the best sense of the term. 'Nova might go, but it would never go easily.
Unless you are one of the superpowers, it is quite hard to sustain success anymore. Villanova has beaten the odds, extending its run to three seasons. With some high-profile recruits on the way, this run might get even better.
The style of play has been established. In an ever more coach-restricted sport, this coach will not only loosen the reins for his best players, but also will insist they just keep firing, consequences and basketball purists be damned. Play defense as if it really matters and there is freedom on offense. Think that doesn't appeal to the modern player?
Last night, it was Villanova from 20 feet against Kentucky from 2 feet. The math was working quite well, early as 'Nova was trading its threes for UK's twos. Kentucky could not do much with point guard Scottie Reynolds, who had 14 points at the break. Villanova could do little with Randolph Morris in the lane. He had 10 points by halftime and had missed one shot.
