Ryan Arcidiacono Wins Final Four MOP, Jim Nantz's Tie
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Ryan Arcidiacono ended his college career as a National Champion and the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.
But Arch -- Villanova's only player in program history to record at least 1,500 points and 500 assists -- also received an under-the-radar honor on Monday night: the tie of legendary CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz.
"Jim Nantz came up to me and stopped me," Arcidiacono explained after his team's 77-74 championship win. "I just thanked him for a great tournament and everything he did.
"But he said, 'At the end of the tournament I always go to the winning team and I pick a senior,' who has inspired him throughout the tournament and he gives them the tie at the end. And he said it was me. I was just in awe. I didn't know what to say. It was just a great honor from a really nice person."
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The Langhorne, PA native scored 16-points in Monday's championship win over North Carolina, but more importantly, set up Kris Jenkins for the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
"I wanted to be aggressive," Arch said after the game. "If I could get a shot, I was going to shoot it. But I heard someone screaming in the back of my head. It was Kris. I just gave it to him, and he let it go with confidence."
