It’s a good time to be a Wildcat! NBA players and fans all over the country went nuts when Villanova University won the NCAA Championship on Monday, April 4 — and for good reason.
The Wildcats battled the North Carolina Tar Heels all night, bouncing back from a deficit at the half and then losing a double-digit lead in the final minutes of the game. The teams were tied at 74 points each with just five seconds left on the clock when junior Kris Jenkins raced down the court and made a buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer thanks to an assist by senior Ryan Arcidiacono.
Villanova coach Jay Wright had the best reaction at the buzzer. “Bang,” he could be seen mouthing from the sidelines.
Jenkins, 22, opened up about the incredible play during an appearance on Good Morning America on Tuesday. “We put the ball in Ryan’s hands because we know he’s going to make the right decision,” he explained. “He usually makes the shot but last night he made the pass.”
The young forward also revealed who taught him how to play — his mom, Felicia Jenkins. “She started with me when I was young,” he gushed, “and she even coaches me on my shots still to this day.”
Jenkins played against his brother, UNC star Nate Britt, on Monday night. According to ESPN, Felicia asked Nate’s parents to be Kris’ legal guardians in 2007. She reportedly liked how the parents disciplined, but no further reasoning for her decision was given.
Felicia, meanwhile, was on hand to support both men at the heated match. Kris told GMA that Felicia was “shocked” that he was wide open to make the final play. NBA stars far and wide felt the same way, despite often going through their fair share of high-pressure situations.
“Now that was a GAME!!!” Miami Heat superstar Dwyane Wade tweeted. Wade’s teammate Chris Bosh added: “Best championship finish I’ve ever seen! Wow! #NationalChampionship #Villanova.”
Charlotte Hornets player Frank Kaminsky III also watched the game. “That was the best college basketball ending I have ever seen,” he wrote. Myles Turner share the same sentiment. He tweeted: “What an incredible game! Flat out phenomenal.”
Check out more reactions below:
Now that was a GAME!!!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) April 5, 2016
Best championship finish I’ve ever seen! Wow! #NationalChampionship #Villanova
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) April 5, 2016
That was the best college basketball ending I have ever seen.
— Frank Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) April 5, 2016
Devastating…
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) April 5, 2016
Unbelievable!!! #NationalChampionship
— kevin seraphin (@kslife7) April 5, 2016
What an incredible game! Flat out phenomenal
— Myl3s Turn3r (@Original_Turner) April 5, 2016
Unbelievable finish!!!! #NationalChampionship #NCAA #ILoveBasketball
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) April 5, 2016
Woow
— Marreese Speights (@Mospeights16) April 5, 2016
OH MY GODx2!!!
— Myl3s Turn3r (@Original_Turner) April 5, 2016
GAME!
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) April 5, 2016
OMG!!! Best college game I ever watched
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) April 5, 2016