Wildcats whip Wolverines

Villanova Wildcats celebrate defeating the Michigan Wolverines 79-62 in Monday's NCAA Final Four National Championship game at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. [Photo/Agencies]

DiVincenzo makes it rain as Villanova overpowers Michigan for second NCAA title in three years

SAN ANTONIO－When he wasn't dribbling behind his back, winking to the TV announcers, stuffing shots or dishing out assists, Villanova guard Donte DiVincenzo was making it rain.

First, 3-pointers.

Later on, confetti.

The redheaded kid with the nickname 'Big Ragu' came off the bench to score 31 points on Monday and lift the Wildcats to another blowout tournament victory－this time 79-62 over Michigan for their second title in three seasons.

The sophomore guard had 12 points and an assist during a first-half run to help the Wildcats (36-4) pull ahead, then scored nine straight midway through the second to snuff out the Wolverines.

DiVincenzo capped the second shooting skein with a 3-pointer from a step behind the arc, then punctuated it with a knowing wink over to the sideline, where TV announcers Jim Nantz and Bill Raftery were sitting.

Yep, he knew he could do it. And his teammates were more than willing to let him steal the show.

"If someone's hot, feed 'em," said Jalen Brunson, the NCAA Player of the Year, who finished with nine points and was perfectly fine with playing a supporting role on this night.

Villanova won all six games by double digits over its tournament run, joining Michigan State (2000), Duke (2001) and North Carolina (2009) in that rare air.

The last team to win its two Final Four games by 16 or more: UCLA in 1968.

One key question: Does Jay Wright's team belong on the list of the best ever?

Maybe so, considering the way Villanova dismantled everyone in front of it in a tournament that was dripping with upsets, underdogs and at least the appearance of parity.

Maybe so, considering the Wildcats won in seemingly every way imaginable.

This victory came two nights after they set a Final Four record with 18 3-pointers, and one week after they relied more on defense in a win over Texas Tech in the Elite Eight.

"We don't really look at it that way," Wright said. "We don't look at it as, did we just dominate that team? No. We played well."

And really, that debate's for later.

Villanova's Donte DiVincenzo takes a souvenir cutting from the basket after leading the Wildcats to the championship. [Photo/Agencies]

DiVincenzo squashed any questions about this game with a 10-for-15 shooting night－5 for 7 from downtown－that was, frankly, better than that. He was a no-doubt winner of the Final Four's MVP award.

With Michigan refusing to go away early in the second half, he opened his game-sealing run with an around-the-back dribble to get to the hoop and get fouled.

At the other end, he delivered a two-handed rejection of Michigan's Charles Matthews－his second block of the game, to go with five rebounds and three assists－when Matthews tried to bring it into the paint.

The 3 that sealed it came from a big step behind the arc and put Villanova in front by 62-44 with 7:58 left.

"Honestly, I didn't look at the score at all," DiVincenzo said.

"I didn't know how many points I had, I didn't know any of that. I was just trying to make the right play. And Omari (Spellman) was setting unbelievable screens for me getting me open."

About the only drama at the end was whether DiVincenzo could unwrap himself from his teammates' mob hug to toss the ball underhanded toward the scoreboard after the buzzer. He succeeded there, too.

"Sometimes I think about whether I'm a good defender, because in practice he makes me look bad," said junior Mikal Bridges, who likely made this his final audition for the NBA with a 19-point night on 7-for-12 shooting.

What a couple of months it's been for Philly. First the Eagles, now this. The Super Bowl, though, was a classic. This one was only beautiful to one team.

Michigan (33-8) came out playing the tough-nosed defense it relied on over a 14-game winning streak that shot the Wolverines to their second final in six years.

Moe Wagner scored 11 early points to continue his great play in the Final Four. Villanova started 1 for 9 from 3-point range.

And yet, after DiVincenzo banged down a 3 from a step behind the arc for Villanova's second of the night, coach John Beilein looked at the scoreboard and saw his team behind, 23-21.

Wildcats head coach Jay Wright salutes fans at the Alamodome after Monday's 79-62 victory over Michigan. [Photo/Agencies]

"The way DiVincenzo shot the ball, it was just incredible for us to try to win that game with the roll he went on," said the coach.

If his first 3 wasn't demoralizing enough, DiVincenzo made another, then took a bounce pass from Brunson for a dunk, then paid it forward with an assist to Spellman. It was part of a 23-7 run that gave the Wildcats a nine-point lead at halftime; they never looked back.

For the record, DiVincenzo competed hard for a starting spot this year, but didn't win it. He made the best of it as a sixth man.

Wright waited all of 52 seconds in the second half to get him back on the floor.

"It just shows how much depth we have, and that we don't care who gets the credit," Brunson said.

Though he didn't play in the 2016 Final Four, DiVincenzo got his fair share for that title, too.

His season cut short because of a knee injury, he was healthy enough to run the scout squad for Villanova during its first title run. Some on the team said he was better at doing Oklahoma star Buddy Hield than Hield himself.

But maybe more apt comparisons are to Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

DiVincenzo joins them in the rare club of players to crack 30 points while also shooting better than 66 percent from the floor in a Final Four game.

(CHINA DAILY)