April 05--HOUSTON -- Not long after Villanova coach Jay Wright had left the court to sit at a table with a giant crystal trophy, he was still struggling to conceptualize what had just happened.
The reality was the second NCAA championship in program history, following up the 1985 upset of Georgetown three decades later with a 77-74 buzzer-beater win against North Carolina.
"It is still surreal," Wright said Monday night. "I don't think I've really digested this year. I'm still in my coaching mind. I don't think this has hit me yet.
"It's amazing. It's amazing to be out there watching 'One Shining Moment,' standing up on the stage, seeing those kids cut down the net. I don't really think I have the words to explain it."
But eventually the confetti is swept up, the trophy put in a case and the memory of arguably the greatest championship game in NCAA tournament history stored safely forever with college basketball fans.
Then we think about next season.
Villanova will return as a likely top-three team despite losing senior guard -- and tournament Most Outstanding Player -- Ryan Arcidiacono and senior forward Daniel Ochefu.
The Wildcats expect to bring back the wing duo of Josh Hart and Monday's hero, Kris Jenkins, as well as point guard Jalen Brunson from Stevenson.
The Tar Heels are also likely to remain a top-10 team, although they lose guard Marcus Paige and forward Brice Johnson.
"In terms of legacy, it's hard to think about that," said Paige, who scored a game-high 21 points Monday, including a circus-shot 3-pointer that tied the score with 4.7 seconds left. "The fireworks go off. You want that to be your moment. As bad as you want anything in your life, you don't know how much our team wanted this game. We just came up a little bit short."
North Carolina will move on with a strong core that includes guards Joel Berry and Nate Britt, swingmen Theo Pinson and Justin Jackson and big man Kennedy Meeks.
The Tar Heels also will be anxiously awaiting word from the NCAA about an ongoing investigation into academic fraud involving former athletes.
The rest of the top contenders will include many of the usual suspects.
Expect to see Duke or Kentucky -- with a combined seven of the nation's top 14 recruits -- atop the preseason rankings. In the Big Ten, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan State should all be strong again.
This season ended with near perfection in the title game. It set a high standard for next season.
sryan@tribpub.com
Too-early top 10 for 2016-17
With a new rule allowing players more time to consider the NBA draft and withdraw, more players' futures are in question. Based on some assumptions about who will and won't be back, here's an early look at what the preseason top 10 might look like:
1. Duke. Brandon Ingram is NBA-bound, but if Grayson Allen returns for his junior season and Amile Jefferson is granted a medical hardship waiver, the Blue Devils would have four of their top five scorers back, plus elite recruits Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum and Frank Jackson.
2. Villanova. The defending champs lose guard Ryan Arcidiacono and forward Daniel Ochefu but bring back a strong core on the perimeter for their repeat bid.
3. Kansas. A backcourt of Frank Mason and Devonte Graham is nothing to underestimate. Losing Perry Ellis will be tough.
4. North Carolina. The runners-up lose forward Brice Johnson and guard Marcus Paige but bring back a load of talented underclassmen who could work their way back to the Final Four.
5. Louisville. The Cardinals will try to bounce back from their self-imposed postseason ban. Penn transfer Tony Hicks is expected to play a key role.
6. Kentucky. Yes, the Wildcats have another top-flight recruiting class coming in. But we've seen that doesn't always guarantee a championship.
7. Wisconsin. The Badgers won't fly under the radar this season. Nigel Hayes should come back along with sharpshooter Bronson Koenig and Big Ten freshman of the year Ethan Happ.
8. Oregon. Expect the Ducks to rule the Pac-12 as long as Dillon Brooks, Chris Boucher and Tyler Dorsey return.
9. Indiana. Losing point guard Yogi Ferrell hurts, and forward Troy Williams could jump to the NBA. But Thomas Bryant (if he returns), James Blackmon and Robert Johnson make up a strong core.
10. Virginia. The graduation of All-American Malcolm Brogdon is a blow. Tony Bennett has a top-10 recruiting class and Memphis transfer Austin Nichols coming in.
