Early exits from the NCAA tournament have cast a shadow over the powerhouse Jay Wright has built at Villanova. Despite the program winning the 2016 national championship, skepticism lingered because the Wildcats failed to survive 2017's opening weekend.
They choke. That's what they do in March.
But after Sunday's 71-59 victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Villanova has provided what should be a final point of evidence to remove that negative perception.
The most successful program of the past half-decade—and one of the best in the last 10 years—is headed to the Final Four for the second time in three years.