The phrase “Round of 32” will send shivers down many Villanova fans’ spines, but this year’s Villanova Wildcats weren’t rattled.
After a closely contested first half—in which the Wildcats led a defensive showdown by five—Villanova was able to get hot in the second half and pull away to win 81-58, advancing to its second Sweet 16 in three years.
Villanova started the second half with an 18-1 run to spur ahead and take a commanding 50-28 lead. From there, the Crimson Tide would never recover and the Wildcats would pour it on, leaving very little doubt as Mikal Bridges and Co.