ESPN'S Take On the Game

[Muskie]

Link (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/15136968/villanova-wildcats-second-national-title-brings-hope)

"That's why Kris Jenkins (http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/66172/kris-jenkins)' game-winning 3-pointer with fractions of a second on the clock stood for hope. Hope that college basketball's season-long promises of parity and opportunity for all will persist. Hope that we may never again see the monarchy that UCLA manufactured under John Wooden. Hope that the governing clique of the game will still make room for any team that's willing to blast through the wall.Because Ryan Arcidiacono (http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/61757/ryan-arcidiacono), Phil Booth (http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/3147656/phil-booth), Josh Hart (http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/66173/josh-hart), Daniel Ochefu (http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/61760/daniel-ochefu) and Jenkins -- the anchors of what could be the first team to win a national title without any first-round picks in its starting lineup since Indiana in 1987 -- came to the fiesta in street clothes, pushed the bouncer aside and crashed the festivities."

[XUMIOH12]

Link (http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/15136968/villanova-wildcats-second-national-title-brings-hope)

"That's why Kris Jenkins (http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/66172/kris-jenkins)' game-winning 3-pointer with fractions of a second on the clock stood for hope. Hope that college basketball's season-long promises of parity and opportunity for all will persist. Hope that we may never again see the monarchy that UCLA manufactured under John Wooden. Hope that the governing clique of the game will still make room for any team that's willing to blast through the wall.Because Ryan Arcidiacono (http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/61757/ryan-arcidiacono), Phil Booth (http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/3147656/phil-booth), Josh Hart (http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/66173/josh-hart), Daniel Ochefu (http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/61760/daniel-ochefu) and Jenkins -- the anchors of what could be the first team to win a national title without any first-round picks in its starting lineup since Indiana in 1987 -- came to the fiesta in street clothes, pushed the bouncer aside and crashed the festivities."

so basically they dont seem like they realize Villanova was a top 5-10 team pretty much all season and has averaged over 30 wins over the past 3 seasons.

[Muskie]

Well most of those wins didn't occur on their family of networks. You can't blame them for not recognizing them (Sarcasm).

[Masterofreality]

ESPN Report-"Villanova wins basketball game on Lucky Shot" *Immediately switches to College Football discussion for 58 minutes* #SarcasmFont

[ArizonaXUGrad]

Honestly not surprising at all, ESPN has been all about the ACC/B1G for a while now. Even to the extent where they have set aside their journalistic morals. Is anyone really surprised about this?

[nuts4xu]

ESPN can be butt hurt all they want. Big East member Villanova is the current National Champion and they will hold this title for at least the next 12 months. I don't care what ESPN thinks of the league anymore, college basketball fans understand what a good team Nova was this season. They also should be able to understand how good this league was this year. It's fine if there is a lack of respect for the BE right now...the league will continue to thrive and show the country how good this bunch of teams can be.

[X-band '01]

MOR was close - they now have Dook and their 2016-17 Top 25 on their front page for MBB.

[xubrew]

I think he's actually trying to be complimentary??

He's failing, but I actually think that was his intent.

[bleedXblue]

We are so sensitive...who gives a rats ass.

Enjoy the victory and validation for our league!!

[Xville]

I don't think the article is bad at all. In fact, I kind of liked it. The writer realizes that Villanova was a damn fine team, they just aren't a blue blood. And the writers hope is that blue bloods don't always dominate the college basketball landscape. What do some of you see that have a problem with this article because i dont see it. Geez I don't like ESPN either but relax.

[SemajParlor]

I think he's actually trying to be complimentary??

He's failing, but I actually think that was his intent.

Yeah, I don't see the problem. Pretty cool stat.

[JTG]

I think it was more a matter of the writer saying they did it without a 1st round draft pick on the roster. Bob Knight had few 1st round draft picks on his great teams. Most were looking marginally athletic white guys , who bought into his system. It can be done, it's just not the current popular way to do it. Not that Villanova is unathletic, they just did it with a team that, as a whole was better than some of it's parts.