Snow Proves Tough Competition For Villanova On Road To Sweet 16
VILLANOVA, Pa. (CBS) -- The Villanova men's basketball team needed some help on offense on the road to the Sweet 16: the weather put up quite a fight as they tried to make it from the Main Line to the airport Wednesday afternoon.
The Wildcats were on the strugglebus.
Back and forth their ride went -- for a half-hour -- as packed snow and ice on Ithan Avenue through campus made the wheels spin.
it took 30 minutes of struggling in the snow (and some ringers on offense), but villanova's men's basketball team is finally on the road to Boston for the Sweet 16 #Villanova #NovaNation #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Vx2piIQnjv
— Ian Bush (@ianthebush) March 21, 2018
Off the bench came salt and plow trucks, showing the starters what they'll want to do on Friday night in Boston when they meet West Virginia.
"I feel like we can beat anybody," Wright said, "and I feel like if we don't play on top of our game we can get beat."
The team was scheduled to leave Wednesday evening, but because of the nor'easter, their flight got moved up.
And once at the airport, the issues continued as crews worked to de-ice the airplane.
"So far, they're okay," Wright said. "Classes were canceled today so we practiced a little bit earlier so we can get out early."
For Coach Jay Wright and his players, the snow also made for a quieter-than-usual sendoff. With Villanova University closed and the departure celebration canceled, only the Miltenberger family -- including brother and sister Kyle and Allie -- turned out to wish the guys good luck.
"West Virginia has good full-court press," Kyle said, "but our guards will be able to handle them, I think."
"I think they have a pretty good chance," said Allie. "I think they'll go far, hopefully."