Villanova welcomes back 1985 champions

It's been 25 years, but midnight still hasn't struck for Rollie Massimino's Cinderella 1985 Villanova basketball team.

The NCAA championship squad was honored during halftime of the Wildcats' 68-66 overtime loss to visiting West Virginia yesterday, and the Wachovia Center crowd gave the champions a hero's welcome.

The Wildcats, an eighth seed in that memorable '85 tournament, upset No. 1 seed Michigan and No. 2 seed North Carolina en route to their meeting with defending-champion Georgetown in the final.

In a game that's become part of Philadelphia and college basketball lore, Villanova shot 78.6 percent to dethrone Patrick Ewing and the Hoyas, 66-64. Those Wildcats remain the lowest-seeded team to capture a national title.

Yesterday's crowd of 20,225 was warmed up with a video on the Jumbotron featuring highlights of Villanova's unlikely tournament run. From the first tournament game against Dayton to the final minutes of the title game against Georgetown, there were Ed Pinckney's dunks, Harold Jensen's set shots, and images of Gary McLain's celebration.

When the video ended, the team was introduced one by one. Each player walked through Villanova's cheerleaders, high-fived the mascot, and gathered at center court for a photo.

Cheers began to peak when Pinckney, the last player to be introduced, stepped onto the court. But it was the final entrance, by Massimino, that resulted in the loudest eruption. And no one cheered louder than Pinckney and his teammates.

The team attended a reception before the game and watched the current Wildcats lose a tight one from a luxury box. For some of the '85 champions, the reunion had begun the night before.

"Just hanging out with the guys, being in the locker room with the guys and doing things together were great," forward Chuck Everson said. "In the downtime we had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs, and we still do 25 years later."

For the former players, it was like no time had passed at all. The alumni mingled with each other's families and ate breakfast together.

"I see these guys and talk to these guys a lot," guard Brian Harrington said. "It was 25 years ago, but it feels like it was yesterday. We were with each other last night, and it was like we were back on the bus. We were giving each other a hard time, but in a fun way."

At the end of the pregame reception, Massimino addressed his former team and their families. Now a coach at Northwood University in West Palm Beach, Fla., Massimino still referred to Villanova as if it were his family.

"This isn't a reunion where I haven't seen these guys since 1985," he said. "I talk to six or seven of them a week. I get involved with them all the time."

"This could not have been done without great players, great kids - Villanovans," he said.