[MoonlightGraham]

March 27, 2027
NCAA East Region Final...the Elite Eight
(3) #6 Villanova 69, (4) #10 Kansas 64
The three winningest coaches in our universe are all assigned to the NCAA tournament's East Region this year.

Mervin Heron's North Carolina team are seeded first, but they go out at the hands of Syracuse--once again, a very dangerous tournament team carrying a high seed. The Orange then meet Douglas Gillum's Kansas Jayhawks, who beat them, 80-66, in the Sweet Sixteen.

Coach Gillum enters the game with a career record of 457-100. Coach Sims' record at tipoff is 458-100. And, remember...both coaches are Villanova alums.

We lead by 11 at the half, and by 15 with five minutes left...but a 16-4 run by the Jayhawks makes it a three-point game with eight seconds left. Devin Guzman's free throws make the score 69-64, and Brian Rex's last shot is no good.

Jose Blanco, who returns to the starting five in Bruno Le Fleurquin's absence, is the star, scoring 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Tommie Johnson (11p/10r) notches a double-double too, Guzman scores 10 points, and Jacob Allen hands out 6 assists.

The Villanova board challenged Coach Sims to take the Wildcats to the Final Four this season. That's exactly what he's done!
Record: 31-5.