Villanova senior Josh Hart showed why he was named the Big East Player of the Year as he came up with a game-winning putback in a 55-53 thriller over Seton Hall on Friday night in the conference semifinals.
Of course, Hart’s clutch play wasn’t the final one of the game.
Seton Hall had one last chance when Angel Delgado, who had a point-blank look at a game-tying bucket, however, the nation’s top rebounder was inches off the mark. Hart corralled the rebound and hurled the ball down the floor, securing the Wildcats place in the Big East Tournament championship game.
Following the draining victory, Hart went over to Delgado, a first-team all-Big East selection, to give him some inspiring words.
This is what it's all about. Josh Hart & @NovaMBB give respect to @SetonHallMBB's Angel Delgado after an epic game. https://t.co/plZFgIXjwv
— FS1 (@FS1) March 11, 2017
“I just told him to keep working,” Hart told FS1 following the win. “Carry this feeling. Carry this feeling into that tournament. They’re a tough team. They are very well coached, and they’re gonna bring it in the NCAA Tournament.
“I just told him, ‘You know this feeling. Don’t feel it again.”
Those words are words of encouragement from one Big East Player of the Year to maybe a future Big East Player of the Year.