After six rounds of action the 2018 NCAA March Madness Tournament came to an end.  Just one of the 64 teams that made who tournament now stands on top: Villanova

The two final four matchups were miracle eleven seed Loyola Chicago against number three Michigan, and a game between two number one seeds in Kansas and Villanova.  Michigan was the first to punch their ticket to the National Championship with their 69-57 win over Loyola. After being down 29-27 at halftime, Michigan junior forward Moritz Wagner helped the Wolverines outscore the Ramblers 47-28 in the second half and claim the win.  The battle of the number one seeds would later decide who Michigan would play in the championship. The Villanova Wildcats were able to get a 95-79 win over the Kansas Jayhawks as they shot 45 percent from the three point line setting a final four record by making a total of 18 three pointers in the game.  With this win, they set the championship matchup between Michigan and Villanova.

“I wanted Loyola Chicago to make it to the National Championship because they became a big underdog story as they advanced in the tournament,” sophomore Navon Richmond.

Villanova took control of the championship in the first half as they entered halftime with a 37-28 lead.  The second half was just more of the same as Michigan was outscored 42-34 as Villanova secured the National Championship win.  The Wildcats were led by Donte DiVincenzo who came off the bench to score 31 points in the game and shot 10 for 15 from the field.  For the second time in three years, the Villanova Wildcats and head coach Jay Wright cut the nets down and hoisted up the championship trophy at the end of the March Madness tournament.

“I thought for sure Villanova was going to win after their dominant performance against Kansas in the final four,” freshman Jack Borgmeyer.

With his performance, Villanova’s sophomore guard Donte DiVincenzo was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.  He became the first player to score 31 or more points in the National Championship since Seton Hall’s John Morton scored 35 and Michigan’s Glen Rice scored 31 twenty-nine years ago when the Wolverines took down the Pirates.  DiVincenzo was also able to set the record for most points ever score off the bench by a single player in a championship game.

“DiVincenzo definitely deserved the Most Outstanding Player award.  What he was able to do off the bench was unbelievable,” sophomore Justin Smith said.

Action of the next NCAA Men’s Basketball March Madness Tournament begins march 19 and if this is any indication, it will be a good one.