WVU stuns Villanova - PittsburghLIVE.com

NEW YORK -- Call him Magical Mike, the late-game magician who performed wonders Friday night on the world's greatest stage.
Mike Gansey seemingly appeared out of nowhere to rebound an airball by teammate Patrick Beilein, draw a foul, and, ultimately, enter into West Virginia basketball lore.
-Joe Bendel, Tribune Review

"I looked around and the whole Madison Square Garden was standing up -- and probably the whole country was watching me," Gansey said, describing those dramatic moments at the foul line. "I told coach, and he looked at me and he said, 'I love you.' That's all I needed to make it. It was an unbelievable feeling."

And the Mountaineers (21-9) are the unbelievable story of this tournament, a team of destiny that not only secured an NCAA Tournament berth, but also earned the distinction of being the first No. 8 seed to play in the championship game. They face No. 2 seed Syracuse at 8 tonight.

What a ride the West Virginia University basketball team is on right now! The No. 8-seeded Mountaineers beat Providence for a third time this year in the first round of the Big East tournament in Madison Square Garden, then knocked off top-seeded Boston College in the semifinals.
-MSNsports.net

No team has ever won four games to capture the Big East championship and it’s just the third time in tournament history a team without a bye has made the finals.

Mike Gansey had been in the right place at the right time all game. So when Patrick Beilein lined up a 25-foot 3-point attempt with the clock ticking toward zero, Gansey figured he would follow the ball to the basket.
-Ray Fittapaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Gansey made both free throws for a 78-76 victory and sent West Virginia to its first Big East title game in school history. The Mountaineers, the eighth-place team in the Big East during the regular season, became the lowest seeded team to reach a Big East championship game and the third team to reach the title game by winning three games in three days

You don't have to be a West Virginia fan to appreciate what the West Virginia team did here last night.

But if you are a West Virginia fan?

Let's just say a lot of basketball people around America are pretty envious of you and your team this morning.

The snapshots from West Virginia's stunning 78-76 win against a quicker, more talented Villanova team under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden at the Big East Conference tournament will last a lifetime.

-Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

There was Kevin Pittsnogle, tattooed, freaky looking and, at 7-foot, a mismatch nightmare for opponents, stepping way out, scooping up a loose ball and calmly making a 3-point shot over Villanova's Sheridan, who had just about been in his jersey on defense and now was looking toward the Garden roof, rolling his eyes in helpless frustration.

There was Herber, in the final 20 seconds with West Virginia down, 74-73, for the first time since midway through the first half, squaring up and never hesitating to take and make a 3-point shot for a 76-74 lead.

It's beyond dispute West Virginia lives and dies with the 3s. It seems like everyone on the team can make them, including the physically unique Pittsnogle, who made 3 of 4 last night and has made a silly 11 of 16 in the Big East tournament.

But this much is certain:

No one is going to want to play West Virginia in the NCAA tournament.

It's hard to imagine a tougher out.


Joe Lunardi's Bracketology
He currently places WVU as a No.8 seed with a showdown against Iowa State and then a possible second round encounter with the nations best team, Illinois

Mike Gansey had the moment of his life and West Virginia has a chance at Big East history.
The junior forward made two free throws with .2 seconds to play to give the Mountaineers a 78-76 victory over No.19 Villanova on Friday night, sending them into their first Big East tournament championship game.

-ESPN.com

More to come throughout the day, in the official blog of the Big East Championship

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