Nova blows out upset-minded No. Texas
North Texas was in the early stages of authoring yet another shocker in this upset laden COVID-19 bubble NCAA Tournament.
The 13th-seeded Mean Green were not being very hospitable to favored No. 5-seed Villanova, leading the Wildcats 21-13 nearly midway through the first half of Sunday’s South Region secondround game in Indianapolis.
Then Villanova remembered it was Villanova, and all hell broke loose for North Texas, which had been riding a high since its stunning upset of No. 4-seeded Purdue two nights earlier.
The eight-point North Texas lead became a 20-point Villanova lead by halftime — 47-27 — after a dizzying 34-6 run in the final 11:32 of the half. The 47 points were a season high for Villanova in a half.
By the time the game was over, Villanova, cruising through the second half after building its large halftime lead, was an 81-64 winner and advanced to play No. 1-seed Baylor in the Sweet 16.
“They’re so good,’’ Villanova coach Jay Wright said of Baylor. “I felt like I was watching an NBA team watching them [earlier Sunday in a win over Wisconsin]. Wisconsin played well, but Baylor is so good and so experienced.
“We played them last year and lost to them and they’ ve got all their guys back and we lost a first-round draft pick [Saddiq Bey]. We’re going to play the best. I think they’ ve been one of the best teams in the country all year, them and G on zag a .’’
The 18-6 Wildcats were 9 of 15 from 3-point range in the first half, with six different players hitting at least once from long range. By game’s end, Villanova tied an NCAA Tournament record with eight different players making at least one 3-point shot.
Defensively, North Texas simply couldn’t contain the Wildcats, who shot 55.4 percent (31 of 56) from the field and 50 percent (15 of 30) from 3-point range. The Mean Green had gone the previous 35 games without allowing a team to score 80 or more points before Sunday.
Villanova was led by Jeremiah Robinson-Earl’s 18 points and six rebounds. Jermaine Samuels scored 15 points and had nine rebounds. Justin Moore also scored 15 points.
North Texas was led by star guard Javion Hamlet, who had yet another terrific game in the tournament with 25 points, six rebounds and four assists while not turning the ball over once.
“Javion Hamlet is a hell of a player,’’ Wright said.
Sadly, for the tournament, it loses Hamlet, because March Madness is made for colorful, dynamic players like him.
Few outside of Memphis, where Hamlet is from, or Denton, Texas, where Hamlet goes to college, had any idea who he was until this magical weekend.
This is what the NCAA Tournament does for some: It allows them to make a name for themselves, introduce themselves to the sports world and enjoy their 15 minutes of fame.