Josh Hart again dominates the Garden to send Villanova to 2nd Big East championship in 3 years

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NEW YORK -- Josh Hart took over. Just like he always does at the Garden.
 
Hart, Villanova's brilliant senior forward, scored 15 of his 29 points in an eight-minute stretch late in the first half Saturday night when Villanova pulled away from Creighton for good on the way to a 74-60 win in the Big East Conference Championship Game (see Instant Replay).
 
Hart is one of the greatest players in Villanova history and a national Player of the Year candidate.
 
But at Madison Square Garden? In the Big East Tournament? That's where he's at his best.
 
Hart joined Patrick Ewing of Georgetown and Peyton Silva of Louisville Saturday as only the third two-time MVP in the Big East Tournament's 38-year history.
 
And he finished his Big East tourney career with 188 points, 55 rebounds and 62 percent shooting in 10 games.
 
"I averaged 18.8 in the Big East Tournament? That's not too bad!" Hart barked at his locker with a broad smile. "MSG, baby. The most famous arena in the world!"
 
Hart scored 18 points against Seton Hall as a freshman in his first Big East tourney game, earned MVP honors off the bench as a sophomore with 17.7 points and 72 percent shooting as Villanova won its first tourney in 20 years, averaged 18 points in last year's tournament and followed that by averaging 21 points and 7.3 rebounds this year.
 
The Big East doesn't keep career scoring or shooting records for the conference tournament, but it's hard to imagine very many players who've come through the Garden over the years have been better than Hart.
 
"But I don't think it's the building," coach Jay Wright said. "I think he recognizes the importance of each game and he finds his way. He's just such a complete player. You look at the things he's done to win games. He's done everything. Foul shots, blocked shots, rebounds, threes, drove the lane, passed.
 
"He's so complete man, and he just gets it. One of only three guys to win two MVPs? Pretty good company, too. Ewing and Silva both won national championships and he did too.
 
"He has been special up here. I just think he knows how special this is. During the regular season, he'll do what we need him to do. In these games, he's doing a little bit more. Making sure we win."
 
Hart is certainly going out in style.
 
He increased his career scoring total to 1,891, moving ahead of Ed Pinckney -- who played on the 1985 NCAA Championship team -- and into 10th place in Villanova history.
 
He goes into the NCAA Tournament averaging 19.5 points in his last 11 games.
 
Villanova with Hart on the floor?
 
How about 31-3 this year and 127-16 in his career.
 
"Nothing he does surprises me," Mikal Bridges said. "I'm used to it, a lot of people are surprised -- 'Wow, look at that!' But by now I'm used to it. He's the best player in the country. He's that guy. We've got more games to have him do his thing, and we're going to be right there with him."
 
Saturday's title game was tied at 11 when Hart scored 11 points in less than three minutes on three threes and a mid-range jumper to spark a 19-9 run that gave Villanova a 10-point lead.
 
Creighton never really challenged after that. Villanova led by as many as 20 points in the second half, forcing the 11th-best three-point shooting team in the country to 25 percent from the field (6 for 24) and a season-high 17 turnovers.
 
Of course, Hart was in the middle of all of it with the third-highest scoring total of his career.
 
Why has Hart always been so dominant in the Big East Tournament ?

"I know I sound like a broken record, but it's my teammates," he said. "Freshman and sophomore year you had James Bell, Darrun Hilliard, JayVaughn (Pinkston), Ryan Arcidiacono. You had to deal with them, and I was just the guy by himself in the wing able to knock down open jump shots
 
"Now, just being the decision maker and to have all the trust and confidence from my teammates, that's huge. When you have that you can just go out and play."
 
Jalen Brunson made five of seven shots and three of four from three for 17 points and added five assists, and Kris Jenkins made a couple early threes and finished with 14 points.
 
Next for Villanova is Selection Sunday. The Wildcats will be a No. 1 seed and most likely head to Buffalo to open defense of their NCAA title Thursday evening.
 
But on Saturday night, there was a trophy to accept, engraved watches to receive and a net to cut down as Villanova won the Big East Tournament for the second time in three years.
 
"You feel it," Hart said. "When you're here at the Garden, and you have that momentum and the crowd is into it, you feel it. But we never play for that. We just play for each other. We don't play for the crowd but Nova Nation always travels. They always show up for the Big East Tournament."
 
The win was sweet revenge for the Wildcats, who lost to Seton Hall in last year's title game.
 
Jenkins, who's played alongside Hart for four years, sat at his locker marveling at his numbers in four March appearances at the Garden.
 
"I think he loves New York," Jenkins said.
 
Then he yelled over to Hart in the adjacent locker, surrounded by TV cameras: "Hey, Josh, you love New York?"
 
"Hey man," Hart yelled back. "I love it right now."
 
Jenkins cracked up.
 
"He's a great player," Jenkins said. "That's my brother, man. He's phenomenal."

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