Villanova University

Sean Marshall lay on the court with both arms outstretched in agony. It seemed like so long ago that the Boston College forward had scored the game's first seven points for the fourth-seeded Eagles, who looked like they would stomp undersized Villanova after jumping out to a 16-point lead in the first half. Even when the top-seeded Wildcats clawed back to force overtime Friday night in the Minneapolis Regional semifinal at the Metrodome, Boston College still was primed for the upset.

Randy Foye was in no mood to celebrate when he returned to Villanova's hotel about midnight Friday. He didn't want to eat, didn't want to hang out with teammates, didn't even want to flip on the TV to check out highlights of the victory that had just propelled his team into the Elite Eight.

Scottie Reynolds of Villanova joined Tyus Edney of UCLA in the annals of NCAA tournament last-second dribble-drives toward camera flashes and forever. Reynolds' floater with 0.5 seconds left Saturday lifted Villanova to a 78-76 victory over Pittsburgh in the East Regional final at TD Banknorth Garden. "Oh man," the junior hero said afterward, "there's so many emotions going through my head. It's something you think about as kid."

What a shock: The school everyone said was No. 1 at the beginning of the season has earned the chance to prove that it's No. 1 at the end. Getting from November to now wasn't as easy as it sounds, but North Carolina Coach Roy Williams' team is one game from almost living up to its incredible hype. North Carolina used its considerable height, power and point guard Ty Lawson advantage to defeat Villanova on Saturday, 83-69, to advance to Monday night's national title game against Michigan State.

Villanova delivered the inspired performance it needed Friday night to challenge formidable North Carolina in a Syracuse Regional semifinal. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, however, the Tar Heels were still better, barely. North Carolina withstood Villanova's furious rally down the stretch, and benefited from an official's controversial call in the final 10 seconds, holding on for a 67-66 victory in front of 30,916 at the Carrier Dome.

The stage was set. With 14 points against No. 3 Connecticut in a nationally televised game on Sunday, Kerry Kittles would have become Villanova's all-time scorer in his final college game in Philadelphia. But because of some improper telephone calls, the senior swingman won't get that curtain call. Kittles, leading scorer for the fourth-ranked Wildcats and 1995 Big East player of the year, has been suspended by the NCAA for three games for unauthorized use of a university telephone credit card.

Kerry Kittles, the top scorer for fourth-ranked Villanova, has been suspended for the team's final three regular-season games because of unauthorized use of a university telephone credit card. Kittles has averaged 20.3 and 7.3 rebounds for the Wildcats.

It begins and ends with the scowl. Throughout the day and night, always the scowl. You might fall asleep trying to catch Jason Lawson smiling. And don't expect to see any signs while the intense, powerful, talented Villanova center is playing, talking or thinking about basketball. His expression is imposing and unwavering by design. Life under Big East Conference baskets can break you, so Lawson's tough disposition seems just right.

Maybe something got lost in the translation over the years, but John Wooden never said his Pyramid of Success was built with bricks. Purdue University, proud to hail itself as Alma Mater Of The Wizard, opened Saturday's second Wooden Classic by missing 43 of 65 field-goal attempts, including 19 of 21 three-point attempts, and managing all of seven assists during 40 minutes of heavy breathing on the frozen hardwood at The Pond.