2015 NCAA Tournament: Villanova falls to NC State

Photo Credit: FanSided.com

Photo Credit: FanSided.com

It is officially true madness! The first one seen is quickly gone in the Round of 32 as the Villanova Wildcats have fallen to eight seed North Carolina State by a final score of 71-68. The Wolfpack held Villanova to 31% field goal shooting and out-rebound the Wildcats by thirteen rebounds as they continue an official Cinderella-run.

It wasn’t quite like Jim Valvano’s historic court running after NC State won the national championship over Hakeem Olajuwon and the University of Houston in 1983, but it is sweet altogether as the Wolfpack are heading to Syracuse, NY to play in the Sweet Sixteen over the winner of tomorrow’s game against Northern Iowa and Louisville. Trevor Lacey was among four wolves in double-figure scoring with 17 points. Freshman Abdul-Malik Abu and sophomore Lennard Freeman both brought in 12 rebounds in a dominating effort down in the low-post. The Wolfpack shot 45% from the floor in the game.

However, Villanova would not give in, despite being down at halftime and not being able to establish any sort of rhythm offensively. As stated earlier, the Wildcats were held to 31% from the floor while making nine triples on 28 attempts; of the nine triples their guards went 0-14, which includes starting guards Dylan Ennis (0-6 3 PT) and Big East Co-Player of the Year Ryan Arcidiacono (0-3 3 PT). However, Nova’s senior standout Darrun Hilliard came to play, as he has all year long, finishing with 27 points in his final collegiate game.

Villanova finishes the season at 33-3 and certainly cannot let this early exit take anything away from an outstanding overall season. Unfortunately, the Wildcats saw their sixteen game winning streak come to an end, and have now gone six straight years without making it past the opening weekend of March Madness.

The Wolfpack are now 22-11, and now have defeated the Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, Villanova Wildcats, and perhaps their upcoming opponent the Louisville Cardinals throughout their season. Can you really call them a Cinderella? These guys have been for real all season long.