The 1984-85 college basketball season was a banner year for the Big East Conference. With highly ranked Georgetown and St. John's University receiving No. 1 seeds in the '85 NCAA Basketball Tournament, it was not unexpected that the two powers would find their way to Lexington, Ky., for a Final Four showdown. But it was a surprise when lightly regarded Villanova advanced to the Final Four with a string of remarkable upsets, including a victory over North Carolina.
Powered by the intimidating presence of All-American center Patrick Ewing, the Hoyas were on a mission to win their second consecutive NCAA title.
The Wildcats of Villanova received an NCAA bid with a pedestrian record and were seeded eighth. Many figured one or two wins would be the most to expect from a team that featured a cast of role players and Rollie Massimino, an enthusiastic coach who wore his emotions on his sleeve. The best known player from that team who would go on to an NBA career was Ed Pinckney. Yet during 1985 "March Madness," Villanova fashioned six consecutive victories and played one of the most error-free title games in college basketball history.
