Close range: Baylor grinds to Elite 8 in 62-51 win ova 'Nova
Davion Mitchell, a 46% shooter from 3 this season, went 0 for 3 from long range on a 14-point day. Jared Butler scored nine points on 1-for-9 shooting from 3, and MaCio Teague had five points without a 3. The guards did a great job of not settling and probing more.โBecause of that, Baylor shot 53% in the second half, even though it made only one 3. Constantly harassing Villanova shooters who'd carved out space in the first half, Baylor held Villanova to 37.5% shooting in the second and 0 for 9 from 3. Forward Brandon Slater left the game about midway through the second half after landing awkwardly during a fight for a rebound.
Georgetown upsets Big East top seed Villanova 72-71 at MSG
The Hoyas are back in the Big East Tournament semifinals for the first time in six years, with the former Georgetown and Knicks star leading the way. Georgetown last reached the Big East semifinals in 2015. โWe played against the Cadillac, the Bentley, whatever you want to call them, of the Big East โ the class of the Big East. The quarterfinal day at the Garden is often the best of the Big East Tournament. They had not won even a single Big East Tournament game since 2016 before beating Marquette in the first round Wednesday.
Late tip-in helps Providence hold off No. 10 Villanova 54-52
(AP Photo/Stew Milne)David Duke made a tiebreaking tip-in with 2.8 seconds left on Saturday and Providence held on after blowing a 20-point lead to beat No. Duke and Nate Watson scored 20 points apiece, and Noah Horchler had 10 points and 13 rebounds for Providence (13-12, 9-10 Big East). PC led 38-18 in the first before Villanova scored the first 11 points of the second. He joined Gillespie on the bench for the second half, wearing a boot. SECOND HALF WOESProvidence took an 11-point lead into halftime in its last game, against St. Johnโs on Wednesday.
Villanova wins Big East title; McDermott coaches under fire
McDermottโs use of a phrase evoking slavery overshadowed what was expected to be fantastic showdown between the top two teams in the Big East. 10 Villanova capture the Big East title with a 72-60 win over 14th-ranked Creighton. โThe pain I saw in their eyes was immense,โ McDermott said after the game. The Big East title was a formality on the Main Line โ Villanova is 114-26 with two national titles since the conference was reconfigured in 2013. BIG PICTURECreighton: McDermott isnโt off the hot seat yet.
No. 19 Creighton rolls past No. 5 'Nova behind Zegarowski
The Bluejays pulled away early in the second half of the meeting of the Big East's top two teams. Early in the second half, Zegarowski made a move to get Gillespie to go the other way, then swished a one-handed floater in the lane. The Wildcats had shot 70% in the second half of that game and a season-best 63% overall. The Wildcats weren't nearly as good at CHI Health Center, shooting 33% in the second half and 37.5% for the game. Creighton: This was the performance the Bluejays had been looking for from Zegarowski, who had been up and down following offseason knee surgery.
No. 3 Villanova rolls to 9th straight, handles Seton Hall
3 Villanova went up by 16 points in the second half, Jay Wright never felt comfortable against Seton Hall. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl scored 23 points in a foul-plagued 21 minutes and Villanova rolled to ninth straight victory with an unexpectedly easy 80-72 decision over Seton Hall on Saturday. Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard was disappointed. That kills you against really good teams.โUP NEXTVillanova: at St. John's on Wednesday. Seton Hall: at Providence on Wednesday.
No. 3 Villanova edges Seton Hall in return from 27-day break
Cole Swider hit the winning free throw with 1.9 seconds left and Gillespie scored 22 points to help No. 3 Villanova win its first game in 27 days, 76-74 over Seton Hall on Tuesday night. Myles Cale pulled Seton Hall to 72-70 with 2:33 left and Novaโs Justin Moore was whistled for an offensive foul. Gillespie missed a 3 and Shavar Reynolds grabbed the defensive board to set up a late look for Seton Hall. โWe lost a basketball game โ we didnโt lose a puppy,โ Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard said.