When looking back at last night’s game, empty possessions will haunt Panthers

Scottie Reynolds late second bucket pushed Villanova past Pittsburgh and into the Final Four. Pitt’s dreams of making the final four ended from what is being described as “a play for the ages.” While last night’s game will go down as an instant classic that will be talked about for years, Villanova executed down the stretch and Pitt didn’t.

With less than two minutes and thirty seconds remaining in the game, the Panthers held a four point lead and they had too many empty possessions in the final three minutes of the game. They got away from working the ball inside to DeJuan Blair late in the game. I felt Levance Fields was going for the big shot and Pitt needed to slow the game down, pound the ball inside with Blair or Young for the high percentage play. Blair finished the game with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Jay Wright and Villanova executed very well under pressure in the final few minutes but Pitt was given new life when Villanova made a cross court inbound pass which led to Levance Fields tying the game at 76-76 with 5.5 seconds remaining in the game.

Too much pressure on the inbound pass with 5.5 seconds