Wildcats done in by zebras on Big Monday
Sorry Villanova fans, I feel for you, I really do.
The Wildcats’ most recent defeat to No.8 Georgetown signaled the end of Rivalry Week, but it wasn’t without some dramatics. It was everything you’d expect. Two big time rivals going head-to-head, with the memory of 1985 still fresh in everyone’s minds.
As difficult as wins are to get in the Big East, the Wildcats nearly pulled off the upset over the Hoyas, a win that would given the Wildcats confidence, but new life going into the last leg of their schedule. But instead, for the sixth time in the last seven games, the Wildcats were left with an empty and losing feeling.
Villanova guard Corey Stokes was whistled for a foul on Georgetown guard Jonathan Wallace with 0.1 seconds left in the game, and Wallace walked almost 70 feet the other, sunk both free throws and rescued Georgetown from the upset. At first, I thought the whistle was blown because Wallace had stepped out of bounds, but it became apparent that the official signaled Stokes for a foul.
There’s a couple ways to look at this, but ultimately that was an awfully touchy call to make in such a crucial point in the game. Certainly, you don’t hear any of the Hoyas refuting the call and rightfully so. A win is a win is a win, and Georgetown was damn lucky to pull out the victory. But I’m sorry, on a good, chilly day along the East coast in February, there are strong winds that have bumped or nudged Wallace harder than Stokes did.
What’s lost in all this is the fact that I have no clue how in the world Villanova was in the game. They shot 25 percent in the game. They were 4-of-31 shooting in the second half, and went 1-of-21 in the final 12 minutes of the game. And still, Scottie Reynolds had a chance to win it on Villanova’s last possession of the game. Again I’ll state: Villanova shot 13 percent in the second half, and STILL almost won.
From the Georgetown side of things, this may be the most perplexing win of the season. How they held Villanova to such a putrid night shooting from the field, especially holding them to one field goal in the last 12 minutes, and still came away with the win is head scratching. Sometimes it’s just better to be lucky than good, and the zebras helped bail out the Hoyas in the end.
Tags: Big East Basketball, Georgetown Hoyas, NCAA Men's basketball, Villanova Wildcats