Villanova Wins Third Consecutive Big East Title

Kris Jenkins Scores A Career-High 31 Points, Villanova Wins Third Straight Big East Regular Season Title

VILLANOVA, PA. 3/1/2016 – The Villanova Wildcats won their third straight Big East regular season title by virtue of the 83 – 62 win over the DePaul Blue Demons at The Pavilion.  The Wildcats were led by junior forward Kris Jenkins who scored a career-high 31 points in the victory.  Jenkins made 11 of 18 field goal attempts and made 8 of 14 from beyond the arc, also a career-mark.  Jenkins has been on a scoring streak over the past five games.

“It’s just staying aggressive,” said Jenkins.  “My teammates do an unbelievable job of making the right play for me to catch and shoot. ”

“We have free reign to make the right basketball play for our team, not just on offense but on defense.

“Kris always winds up being the guy the ball comes back to,” said Villanova Coach Jay Wright how Jenkins can get on a scoring streak.  “It’s not his job to pass, his job is to make shots and he is great at it.  And he is improved upon making decisions,  when to shoot it, when to drive it, when to put it in the post.  When you make those perfect decisions, you shoot a high percentage.  That’s what he’s doing.”

Of the 11 players who took to the floor eight Villanova scored.  Junior guard Josh Hart was the only other Wildcat to score in double figures posting 18 points.  Ryan Arcidiacono handed out a game-best 7 assists.

The Wildcats broke the game open early.  Leading 11 – 10 just under 6 minutes into the game, Wright called a timeout.  The team responded by going on a 14 – 0 run over the next four and a half minutes to grab a 25 – 10 lead and control of the game.  A layup by Blue Demon Eli Cain, 2 of his team-high 14 points, stopped the run, but the Wildcats took a 51 – 33 lead into the locker room.  DePaul would get no closer than 17 points in the second half.

The Demons Myke Henry scored 13 points and had a game-leading 9 rebounds.  Aaron Simpson added 11 points.

Villanova (26 – 4, 15 – 2) claims another Big East title and with it the number one seed going into Madison Square Garden.

“I’m proud of our guys coming to play and being ready to play,” Wright said.  “It’s a good win for us and am proud to win the Big East Championship.”

A great accomplishment, but this team only looks to improve.

“Were just trying to focus on getting better every day,” said Hart.  “If we focus on that at the end of the season we’ll be the best team we can be.  We have to focus on getting better.”

Boxscore

Written By: Glenn Papazian

Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com

Kris Jenkins Who Scored A Career-High 31 Points
Kris Jenkins Who Scored A Career-High 31 Points

 

 

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