Monday was a rare off night for the entire NBA, with the spotlight placed exclusively on the NCAA’s title game in Houston between North Carolina and Villanova.
The second-seeded Wildcats, of course, came out on top with an incredible 77-74 victory over the top-seeded Tar Heels, punctuated by a game-winning three at the buzzer from Kris Jenkins. It’s the second NCAA crown for Villanova, which won its first NCAA Tournament title in 1985.
Here’s a sampling of the NBA community’s response to the upset win by Villanova, where current NBA players including Kyle Lowry, Randy Foye and Dante Cunningham went to school.
What a finish… That’s why I love basketball. Best sport in the world hands down.
— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) April 5, 2016
Unbelievable finish!!!! #NationalChampionship #NCAA #ILoveBasketball — Pau Gasol (@paugasol) April 5, 2016
Icey!!!
— trevorariza (@TrevorAriza) April 5, 2016
Wow it’s over he gamed them! — Kenneth Faried (@KennethFaried35) April 5, 2016
GAME!
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) April 5, 2016
This is why basketball is an amazing sport!!!! #FinalFour #CLUTCH — Nikola Vucevic (@NikolaVucevic) April 5, 2016
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— Jared Sullinger (@Jared_Sully0) April 5, 2016
WOW!!!!!! One of the best national championship games ever. — Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) April 5, 2016
Now that was a GAME!!!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) April 5, 2016
That’s crazzzzzyyyyyyy
— Marcus Thornton (@OfficialMT23) April 5, 2016
OH MY GODx2!!!
— Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) April 5, 2016
OH MY GOD!!!!!!????????????????????????????????????????
— Festus Ezeli (@festus) April 5, 2016
Best college game ever!!! Smh for real
— Austin Rivers (@AustinRivers25) April 5, 2016
One shinning Moment!! #Jenks
— Isaiah Canaan (@SiP03) April 5, 2016
Devastating…
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) April 5, 2016
Damn… Sick way to go out
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) April 5, 2016
Great Game
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) April 5, 2016
Incredible finish! #NationalChampionship
— Hakeem Olajuwon (@DR34M) April 5, 2016
Paige crazy shot to tie it. But the answer for the win!!! Best championship I ever watched… #HandsDown
— Jared Sullinger (@Jared_Sully0) April 5, 2016
MJ crying meme gone be in full effect tonight ????????????
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) April 5, 2016
One of the best national Championship games I’ve ever seen. Congrats to UNC for an unbelievable year. Way to go Villanova
— Festus Ezeli (@festus) April 5, 2016
Wow! Once in several lifetimes shot by Jenkins for the title. #NationalChampionship #MarchMadness #Villanova
— Sean Elliott (@seanelliott_32) April 5, 2016
Congrats to Villanova you showed some true heart! This Carolina team has nothing to be ashamed of…..#instant classic!
— Chris Webber (@realchriswebber) April 5, 2016
Best NCAA final game I have seen. Both teams played their hearts out. Congrats Nova! #UNCvsNOVA #FinalFour
— Al Horford (@Al_Horford) April 5, 2016
The next major date involving NCAA players, as far as the NBA is concerned, is April 24. That’s the deadline for non-seniors to announce early entry eligibility for this summer’s NBA Draft.
The NBA Draft Combine will then be held from May 11-15, and early entrants will have until May 25 to decide whether to stay in the draft or withdraw, provided they do not hire an agent beforehand.
Ben DuBose is a veteran sports reporter who has followed the Houston Rockets and the NBA since Hakeem Olajuwon was Akeem Olajuwon. He writes for both SheridanHoops and ClutchFans, an independent Rockets blog. You can follow him on Twitter and listen to his Houston sports podcast.