April 1, 1985 – This was supposed to be a coronation, a celebration of one of college basketball's greatest teams, John Thompson's Georgetown Hoyas. Instead, the crowning was spoiled by a new and unlikely champion, the Villanova Wildcats. In what is remembered as one of the most improbable outcomes in the history of the NCAA tournament, the Wildcats, who failed to finish in the nation's Top 40 in any poll during the 1984-85 season, completed their emotion-filled postseason by playing a near-perfect game at the perfect time.
They upset the favored Hoyas, 66-64, to win the school's first basketball championship. In Georgetown, Villanova was facing a team that had harassed opponents into shooting 39 percent from the field during the season, the lowest in the country. But the Wildcats were not intimidated, having played Georgetown twice during the regular season, knowing what to expect. They shot a tournament record 79 percent from the field. Only taking 28 shots for the entire game, they made 22 of them, including an incredible 9 of 10 in the second half. In addition, they made 22 of 27 free throws.
Villanova remains the lowest seed to ever win the title. This was the last college basketball game played without a shot clock.
