The Kris Jenkins buzzer-beating shot that won Villanova a national championship in 2016 is among the greatest shots in men’s NCAA tournament history, right up there with Christian Laettner’s game-winner.
And it’s a perfectly-drawn up play, as long as the shooter nails the shot off the handoff.
That happened on Thursday night. Gonzaga’s Julian Strawther hit a three from the logo to take down UCLA and send the Bulldogs to the Elite Eight in the 2023 men’s tournament. And how did he do it? Well, it should look familiar: A dribble up the floor with Strawther trailing, and the pass back gives him room to shoot from way deep.
Don’t believe me? Just ask Gonzaga coach Mark Few what they call the play:
Mark Few confirms it: He literally calls the end-of-game play to Julian Strawther the "Jay Wright play."
"That's what we call it in practice."
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) March 24, 2023
That would be Jay Wright, the championship-winning Villanova coach. Also, here are some side-by-sides:
Recognize that play on the Gonzaga game-winner?
They ran the "Villanova pitch-back" to get to the Elite Eight.
🎥 @CBSSportspic.twitter.com/ctcPQUMS0spic.twitter.com/euDnlDeeWR
— The Athletic CBB (@TheAthleticCBB) March 24, 2023
Gonzaga won it last night by running Villanova's title-winning play. 👀🔥
(🎥: @MarchMadnessMBB)pic.twitter.com/CkHVn08KDw
— theScore (@theScore) March 24, 2023
Gonzaga ran Villanova’s famous play to get Julian Strawther a clean look. What a finish. pic.twitter.com/kmz9a5Url1
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) March 24, 2023
Brilliant call, brilliant use of a play we know works.
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