The end is where we begin.
There's 4.7 seconds remaining and the national championship game is tied at 74 between Villanova and North Carolina.
Most of the Villanova team is on the bench, anxiously waiting to see how the play they know intimately from endless repetition in practice will unfold on the biggest stage, in the biggest moment of their careers.
Five of them take the floor to try and win the game with a play they simply call "Nova."
But one of them isn't on the bench nor on the floor. He's up in the stands, watching the game as a spectator.
Eric Paschall, a 6'6'' transfer from Fordham, where he won the A-10 Rookie of the Year last season, isn't permitted to sit with his teammates thanks to NCAA rules. Even though he's practiced with the team every day, the NCAA relegates him to just another ticket holder. All that hard work, and he's watching with the rest of the fans.
At the end of the Villanova bench is Donte Divincenzo, who might have it even worse than Paschall. He was in the rotation to start the year, getting minutes off the bench in the Villanova back court. Then he fractured his foot in December and took a medical red shirt for the season. Though he's wearing a suit, he's all healed up. Healthy enough to emulate Buddy Hield on the scout team as Villanova prepared for Oklahoma in the Final Four. It's worth noting Hield was held to 9 points in that 44 point routing. Just sayin'.
Next to him, the tall kid in the blue warm-up suit is Tim Delaney, a 6'8'' freshman. He was slated to help out on the front line until surgery on both hips before the season landed him a medical red shirt. Despite the hips, he got up onto that raised court quick as anyone when all hell broke loose.
The three members of the "Bench Mob" are there as well. All three rocking the white "Always Reppin'" long sleeve. All three are seniors. All three are walk-ons.
Henry Lowe. Patrick Farrell. Kevin Rafferty.
The unheralded guys. Put in all the work, see none of the minutes. They know what they signed up for though, so don't feel sorry for them. They're cool with their coaches and teammates being the only ones privy to their dedication. Even before the greatest finish in the history of college basketball, it was all worth it for the crowd roaring when they'd get a bucket in the final minute of a blowout.
Darryl Reynolds is sandwiched between two assistant coaches. He was lightly recruited before getting a late offer from Villanova. Hardly played his first two seasons, and wasn't expected to play much this season. He was to rebound and play defense for a brief stint a game, until an injury mid-season pressed him into the starting line up. Went for 19 points and 10 rebounds in that game. After playing nearly 20 minutes a game, he's on the bench for the biggest moment of the season.
Mikal Bridges is also seated. The hero of the Kansas game in the Elite 8 with 5 steals, the freshman's been on and off the floor, the defense in the "offense for defense" substitution. He's had a quiet game, but his back door cut resulted in a dunk that tied the game at 44 early in the second half. Villanova never fell behind after that.
Jalen Brunson's at the beginning of the bench. He's a starter, MVP of the FIBA Under 19 Championship this past summer, and a five-star freshman recruit. With Villanova down 7 early in the second half, he hit a corner three to cut that deficit to four. Despite being a starter, he's not complaining about not being on the floor for the final shot.
That's because Phil Booth has 20 points, a career high. He's out there, albeit the second option. Every time Villanova needed a bucket in this game, it seemed Booth hit one. Timely threes. A fade away in the lane late in the second half with the shot clock expiring. A beautiful hanging-in-the-air jumper from the free throw line as the first half buzzer sounded to cut it to a five point UNC lead. All that and he's OK with not being the primary option with the game on the line. He's just happy to be on the floor. Last year, despite having maybe the hottest hand for Villanova in their round of 32 game, he was on the bench during the final run. His coach chose to keep the starter in for crunch time then, but Booth's out there now.
Josh Hart's the team's best player, arguably. All season, he was the one guy everyone projected to play in the NBA. He led the team in scoring, including 23 against Oklahoma in that Final Four blowout. Got to the rack at will, soared for rebounds, and played defense. All those contributions and his role on the final play? Set a screen for Phil Booth, in case the primary option isn't there. The best player has a supporting role in the backup plan.
Daniel Ochefu's not particularly involved in the play. He remembered when his point guard slipped in the Big East title game taking the last shot, so he grabbed a mop and sopped up as much of his sweat he could from the floor. The big man's got a pick to set to free the primary option, right where he fell the previous play, so he's paying attention to all the details. After the impressive mop work, he sets a screen to give his point guard a bit of room as he races down the court.
All the stars seemed to align for Ryan Arcidiacono. Parents went to Villanova. Grew up outside of Villanova a huge fan. Steps onto campus and becomes a captain for all four years, resurrecting the program from a 13 - 19 season the year prior to his arrival. Big East Co-Player of the Year last season. He's the embodiment of everything his coach wants a Villanova player to be. Now, he's getting the ball with instructions to score. Daniel Ochefu even ordered him to take the shot in the huddle. Arch has hit big shots his entire career, and it appears to be his destiny to hit one more, the last shot of his career, to give Villanova the national championship.
Then there's Kris Jenkins. Big Smoove is the last option on the play. If Arch can't get his shot off, and Booth can't get open off the Hart screen, then as a last resort, the look will go to Jenkins. He's the inbounder on the far baseline, and he'll sprint down court, trailing Arcidiacono. Jenkins told Arch he'd be open. As the clock races towards zero, Jenkins is indeed wide open, his man paying all his attention to Arch.
"Arch! Arch! Arch!" he yells at his point guard.
Arcidiacono hears him, and at the three point line, looks back and dumps a perfect hand off to the sweet stroking Jenkins.
The final option, Jenkins, catches, one-two steps, and raises up with perfect form. The ball leaves his hand with .5 seconds remaining on the clock.
On the sideline, coach Jay Wright watches, way too calmly for a coach who is poised to win his first national championship.
"Bang," Wright mouths as the ball leaves Jenkins' hand.
In Villanova, PA, the crowd in the packed Pavilion raises their hands in silent unison in anticipation of the potential three point game winner.
The clock strikes zeroes, the backboard lights up, and the game is either over or headed to overtime.
The ball's still in the air as Jenkins leans forward, willing it to go in.
The game ends.
His aim was true.
The pass from Arcidiacono was perfect, as was the subtle brush screen he gave Jenkins to give him enough room.
Ochefu's screen gave Arch a bit of space, but his mopping prevented any slipping on the play.
Oh, and Booth was open. That Hart screen worked.
The bench clears and streamers fall. Fireworks explode like thunder above the confetti rainfall.
All the guys rush the court to join their teammates in celebration. Even Paschall comes down from the stands. Thankfully, there's no NCAA rule against him celebrating with his brothers.
Those raised hands in the Pavilion are now flailing and hugging, everyone jumping in pandemonium.
Jay Wright's wrapped up in hugs from his staff, mugged on his way to offer his condolences to Carolina coach Roy Williams. Nary a hint of joy on his face, just a few coy glances at his players celebrating around Jenkins before raising his hands in a shrug towards Williams as if to say "what are you gonna do?"
His wife, Patty, will soon find her way into those arms. So will Rollie Massimino, the coach who got Villanova there 31 years earlier. Thanks to a generous alum, Daddy Mass took a private jet there, begrudgingly leaving his ailing wife in the care of her sister.
A five-star freshman starter watched from the bench, alongside two other rotation players, three walk-ons, and two redshirts. Oh, and that lone transfer up in the stands. A senior mopped the floor to set a screen, while the best player made sure Plan B was ready for the sixth man.
Everyone had a role, vital to the end result.
The players are mobbing each other in a pile of celebration. It's hard to tell where one player ends and another begins, which is fitting. On a team with no superstars, the senior who wanted that final shot, deserved that shot, and earned it with his late game heroics over his career, passed all the glory to his teammate.
Bang.
