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College basketball

Villanova Claims Regular-Season Big East Championship in Thrilling Victory Over Syracuse

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the beloved senior Gerry McNamara said farewell to his Syracuse crowd in an emotional pregame ceremony, Villanova made it a day to remember by claiming its first regular-season Big East championship since 1996-97, sharing the title with Connecticut. The Wildcats, who dominated Syracuse 92-82, will take a No. 2 seed into the Big East tournament, where they will face either Seton Hall or Rutgers. Despite the Orange's desperate attempts to intimidate them, Villanova remained focused and victorious, capping off an impressive 16-game schedule in arguably the toughest conference.

Key Takeaways:

  • Villanova won the regular-season Big East championship with a 24-3 record, securing the No. 2 seed in the Big East tournament.
  • The Wildcats defeated Syracuse 92-82, with senior guard Randy Foye scoring 21 points, while Allan Ray tied a season high with 28 points.
  • Gerry McNamara, Syracuse's beloved senior, left with the devotion of the record crowd of 33,633, scoring 29 points and setting a Big East record for three-pointers with 183 in his career.
  • The Wildcats will face Seton Hall or Rutgers in the Big East tournament quarterfinals, where they will look to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
  • Kyle Lowry played a crucial role in Villanova's victory, finishing with 17 points and making key plays to keep the Orange at bay.
  • The regular season is a grind, and Coach Jay Wright said that the hardest part of the season is over, with the Wildcats set to make a push in the NCAA tournament.

Statistics:

  • Villanova finished the regular season with a 24-3 record, 14-2 in the Big East.
  • The Wildcats set a school record for victories in head-to-head Big East matchups with a 14-2 record.
  • Gerry McNamara scored 29 points, leaving with an orange towel around his neck and a kiss to the crowd.
  • Kyle Lowry made 17 points, including key plays in the fourth quarter to distance Villanova.
  • The Wildcats shot 52.3% from the field and 46.9% from three-point range in the victory.

Sources:

  • "Villanova Claims Regular-Season Big East Championship in Thrilling Victory Over Syracuse" by Shannon Ryan (The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 6, 2006)

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