CINCINNATI -- The flash of the first half had disappeared.
And that’s when No. 3 Villanova sent a group text to the field with a resilient second half in a 95-79 win at No. 4 Xavier: We’re the team to beat in March.
In a murky, national climate without a dominant regular-season force like 2014-15 Kentucky -- maybe without a 2016-17 Kentucky -- Villanova offered the most convincing argument of its preeminence in Saturday’s lopsided win over a squad with Final Four talent.
The victory started with Nova’s 11-for-19 effort from the 3-point line in the first half.