Villanova rose from the dead, only to return to the grave.
Even after surviving Cam Jones’ apparent buzzer-beating bank shot (which officials reviewed and determined was touching his fingertips as time expired) in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals, No. Villanova lost the matchup to No. 2 in a season-defining overtime game. 3 Market, 71-65, likely ending the Wildcats’ hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament.
Marquette (24-8), playing without injured star guard Tyler Kolek, advances to the semifinals against No. 7 Providence on Friday at Madison Square Garden and defends its Big East Tournament title. Two more wins.
“When you get a shot like that and you’re elated that you won, and then you get it taken away, it’s dangerous,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said. “The longer the review takes, the more obviously he’s ready for the possibility of playing five more minutes. We have really good eye contact with each other about what needs to happen next. I did.”
“But obviously for every minute it takes, you’re preparing to play five more minutes.”
If Villanova (18-15) is relegated to the NIT again under second-year coach Kyle Neptune, it would be the first time in 20 years that the Wildcats have missed back-to-back NCAA tournaments.
