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