Obama honors Villanova team in White House ceremony

    President Barack Obama receives a gift from NCAA Champion Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team members Ryan Arcidiacono

    President Barack Obama receives a gift from NCAA Champion Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team members Ryan Arcidiacono

    President Barack Obama congratulated the men’s basketball team at Villanova University for winning this year’s NCAA tournament with a last-second shot that toppled powerhouse North Carolina.

    Obama, a basketball enthusiast, said Villanova won “maybe the best title game of all time.” Forward Kris Jenkins provided the winning margin with a 3-point field goal as time expired.

    Villanova was a No. 2 seed entering the tournament but had underachieved in recent tournaments, leaving many doubting its prospects. ESPN said Villanova was picked to win it all in only 2.56 percent of its brackets.

    During a Tuesday afternoon ceremony, Obama said the team possessed “attitude.” He said that’s how the team bounced back from the recent tournament troubles and rolled to the title game.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    Obama also noted that Vice President Joe Biden predicted Villanova’s championship.

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal