Buddy Hield, the best scorer in the NCAA tournament, couldn’t push the Oklahoma Sooners past the big-time Villanova Wildcats in the national semifinal. Hield would have needed a superhuman effort — something he’s proven capable of in the past — but Villanova never let Buddy be Buddy. Buddy Hield’s cruddy yield left the Sooners without the necessary punch and they fell 95-51. Hield made a few moves, including one exhilarating reverse layup, that showed why he’s going to be in the NBA next year — and why he may well be a transformational Paul George-type of player when he gets there.
But Hield will be thinking about this game for a long time. Hield scored just nine points on 4-of-12 shooting that included 1-of-8 on three-point attempts. The Sooners senior didn’t attempt a free throw. By contrast Villanova has six players score in double figures, led by Josh Hart who connected on ten of his twelve shots for 23 points.
