Villanova Routs Iowa to Reach Sweet 16

The Wildcats lost in the Round of 32 the last two seasons. This year, they left no doubt they’d advance by halftime.
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Iowa's Mike Gesell watches as Villanova's Jalen Brunson runs a fast break during the first half of a second-round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 20, 2016, in New York.

Iowa’s Mike Gesell watches as Villanova’s Jalen Brunson runs a fast break during the first half of a second-round men’s college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 20, 2016, in New York. Photo | Frank Franklin II

Consider Villanova‘s second-round demons exorcised.

The Wildcats scored 54 points in the first half en route to an absolute destruction of Iowa in the second round of the NCAA tournament, 87-68. Villanova led by as many as 34 in the second half.

It is the first trip to the Sweet 16 for Villanova since 2009, the year the Wildcats went to the Final Four as a 3 seed. The Wildcats had been eliminated in the Round of 32 the last two years despite being a 2 seed (2015) and a 1 seed (2014).

They will play 3rd-seeded Miami on Thursday night in Louisville.

(That’s John Ermilio, Villanova’s “Dancing Daddy.”)

Four starters for Villanova were in double figures. Josh Hart scored 19,Ryan Arcidiacono had 16, Kris Jenkins 15,  and Jalen Brunson 12.

Iowa, once the third-ranked team in the nation this season, was tied with the Wildcats at 13. Then Villanova went on a quick 8-0 run and the game was never really in doubt. The Wildcats led 54-29 at the break.

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