Villanova withstood a poor shooting night and grinded out a 50-44 win over Houston on Saturday to reach its third Final Four in its past six NCAA tournaments.
Villanova shot just 28.8% (15-for-52) from the field, making it the first team to win an Elite Eight game while shooting under 30% from the floor since UCLA in 1971 (29%), according to ESPN Stats & Information research. The Wildcats’ 50 points were also tied for the fewest ever in an Elite Eight win.
“If you had told me before the game that we’re going to hold them to 28% from the field, they’re going to shoot 23% from the 3-point line, and we’d lose, I wouldn’t have believed you,” said Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, whose Cougars also struggled from the field, shooting 29.8% (17-for-57). “I knew it was going to take a good team to beat us. And a good team did. I thought that was two great cultures out there tonight.”
🚨 #Elite8 Power Rankings from @TheAndyKatz!
1. Houston
2. Kansas
3. Villanova
4. Duke
5. Arkansas
6. Saint Peter’s
7. North Carolina
8. Miami
👉 https://t.co/tyUohpn51q pic.twitter.com/WxukIP6DaA— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 26, 2022
THE WILDCATS ARE DANCING ON TO THE @MFinalFour! 🕺🔥
(2) Villanova takes down (5) Houston 50-44 to punch its ticket to NOLA! 🔵⚪️ #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/0EN2IeST25
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2022