Reynolds’s buzzer beater lifts Wildcats past Panthers, into Final Four
Scottie Reynolds slithered past the Panters cemented defense for the game-winner, sending the Wildcats to the Final Four. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Games like this aren’t played very often. Villanova’s battle with Pittsburgh was one for the ages. Both Big East teams represented their stout conference well, bruising, fighting, and clawing their way—with an unmatched will to win.
Wildcats guard Scottie Reynolds struggled. A non-factor offensively, he found his teammates, mainly Dwayne Anderson and Dante Cunningham, who scored 17 and 14 points, respectively. Yet, with 5.5 seconds on the clock in a tie game, there was no doubt who would glide into the lane and send his team to the Final Four.
Pittsburgh’s three-headed monster of beastly center DeJuan Blair, point guard and leader Levance Fields, and slashing sharpshooter Sam Young was in full force. Problem was, Villanova had a three-pronged attack as well. This made for exhilarating basketball. The best March Madness has to offer. Back and forth they went, frantically scrambling for loose balls while finding time to drain shot after shot.
To say the finish was incredible would be an understatement. Pandemonium began with 10 seconds left, with the Wildcats ahead by two and in possession. All Villanova had to do was inbound the ball safely and force Pittsburgh to foul. A teammate could no be found, as each was blanketed heavily. Reggie Redding took a risk, chucking a pass down-court to Dante Cunningham. Cunningham corralled the pass, but his momentum took him out of bounds. In mid-air, he cleverly attempted to ricochet the ball off a Panther, but to his dismay, Jermaine Dixon avoided the toss, collected it, and then passed it to Fields.
Out of control, Fields ran down a Wildcat, but was given a gift by the referees and was awarded two free throws. Calm, cool, and poised, the senior knocked down both free throws. The game should not have been, but it was tied.
Smartly, Villanova didn’t call a timeout. By letting his players improvise, they were able to catch Pittsburgh off guard. Fields was lost, but he wasn’t the only one. After having a rough time finding a Wildcat, Cunningham called for the ball with a defender on his back. He received the pass, and then shoveled it off to Reynolds, who was sprinting up court. Reynolds went untouched into the lane, evading measly swipes by the backpedaling Panthers. Finally, Pittsburgh was sensible enough disrupt his attempt, but Reynolds could not be stopped. He absorbed the bump and swished through the winner.
Time remained, a half a second, enough for a catch-and-shoot, but Fields dribbled then heaved, meaning his desperation attempt off the backboard would not have counted. Villanova jumped in jubilation. The third-seed (which I foolishly losing to Duke) was alive and well, equipped for another final four run. Their last turned out well, a championship in 1987. This Wildcats team could do the same.
