HOUSTON — The last man to lead Villanova to an NCAA championship plans to see his old school do it again on Monday night.
Rollie Massimino, who guided the Wildcats to the 1985 championship over Georgetown, expects to be in attendance for the Villanova-North Carolina game.
Massimino, 81, told USA Today he’s dealing with a blood clot and kidney stones, combined with the poor health of his wife Mary Jane, but that is is now able to fly from his home in Jupiter, Fla.
“She’s not feeling that well, but her sister’s coming over and staying with her for every minute, so that’s my change of heart,” he told USA TODAY Sports.
Massimino told USA Today that his five children and 13 grandchildren were in attendance for Villanova’s historic 95-51 beatdown of Buddy Hield and Oklahoma.
“That is a great, great win,” Massimino said.
Before the national semifinals, North Carolina coach Roy Williams referenced Villanova’s historic upset of Georgetown.
“In ’84, before half you guys were born, Villanova played Georgetown twice in the regular season,” Williams said Friday. “Georgetown won both of ’em, all right? Then Villanova upset” Georgetown in the championship game.
Villanova coach Jay Wright, who was 22 when Villanova won it all in ’85, spoke with Massimino earlier Sunday.
“We would love to have him here, we really would,” Wright said. “He’s got some health issues, not major, but that he’s dealing with with his family. …
“If there’s any way he can be here, he’ll be here.”
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