As he walked down a hallway in Milwaukee's Bradley Center late Saturday afternoon following an 89–79 win over Marquette, Jay Wright encountered a tall kid with a smiling face, coming from the opposite direction. Michael Massimino had caught Villanova's coach by surprise, but Wright eagerly extended a hand. "'Mass'!" he exclaimed. "I forgot you were here! Great to see you!" Michael, the grandson of former Wildcats coach Rollie Massimino, returned the handshake and Wright kept moving. But it figured: Around every corner, there's some reminder about what the No. 3 Wildcats are expected to accomplish March.
The elder Massimino famously guided the Wildcats to the national title in 1985, knocking off defending champion Patrick Ewing and Georgetown in the championship game.