On Saturday night, Villanova (-7.5 favorites) won the Men’s Big East title, beating Creighton 54-48. It’s the Wildcats’ fifth conference title in the last seven seasons as Jay Wright’s crew continues to establish itself as a vaunted blue-blood. But listen to legendary play-by-play commentator Gus Johnson, you’d almost have thought they didn’t deserve it.
You see, for most of the contest, Villanova (and Creighton) were abysmal from behind the arc. That’s not a significant development, but it’s also unsurprising. It’s the college game, after all. Not everyone’s going to be a lights-out three-point shooter the way seemingly every NBA team rosters at least two trey magicians. Factor in the big finale of a conference tourney, and the pressure only tightens such a flaw.
At one point, the two teams were a combined 4-of-38 from three (Villanova finished 8-of-32, Creighton finished 3-of-29). It is here where Johnson had enough and decided to voice his fervent displeasure on air.
