Where does Villanova-UNC rank among all-time college games?

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The ending was so good, even Jim Nantz couldn’t screw it up.

So good it rendered Marcus Paige’s wizardry a mere footnote.

So good that Villanova-North Carolina was surely among the greatest games in NCAA Tournament history.

But does it top the list?

Uh, no.

It’s still Duke-Kentucky, 1992, in the Spectrum.

The Blue Devils (hated not nearly as much then as now) trying to defend a title. The Wildcats in the unaccustomed role of plucky underdog. Sean Woods heaving a grenade off the glass to give Kentucky the lead in overtime.

And 2.1 seconds left.

“We’re gonna win the damn game,” Mike Krzyzewski told his players in the huddle.

“We’re not gonna guard the inbounds passer,” Rick Pitino told his players in the huddle.

Grant Hill. Christian Laettner. Ballgame.

Thrilling as Villanova-North Carolina was, it doesn’t quite rise to that level. Which doesn’t mean it wasn’t oh-my-god-did-you-see-that great. Not in the least.

The ultimate team made the ultimate play in the clutch: Ryan Arcidiacono to Kris Jenkins. Jenkins to the all-time highlight reel. And Nantz, the TBS talking head, providing no-nonsense narration for a change. None of those contrived, cheesy utterances — e.g., “It began in March, ended in April and belongs to (Sean) May,” after UNC won the '05 title. Just play-by-play. What a concept.

It is a result to be celebrated, and will be, with Friday’s parade. A team that melded young with old — making it unique in this era of college hoops — found a way. Even as it appeared to be spitting the bit down the stretch. Even after Paige, the Tar Heels’ splendid guard, made a Barnum & Bailey three-pointer to tie it.

So it was special. Wonderful. Just not the best.

Here are my top five tournament games:

1. Duke 104, Kentucky 103 (OT), 1992 East Regional Final
I was seated maybe 30 feet away from Hill when he made his 75-foot pass to Laettner. It still amazes me that Laettner had the presence of mind to make the equivalent of a post move after the catch at the opposite foul line, as John Pelphrey and Deron Feldhaus backed away, afraid to foul. And is it too much of a reach to say Duke hatred took root earlier in the game, when Laettner stomped on the chest of a fallen Aminu Timberlake? I don’t think so.

2. Villanova 66, Georgetown 64, 1985 Final
Thought about putting this year’s 'Nova game here, but then considered how dominant the Big East was in that era, and how much of a force John Thompson’s Hoyas were in particular. They were making their third appearance in the championship game in four years in '85, and seeking their second straight title. They had also beaten the Wildcats three times earlier in the season. But 'Nova shot 78.6 percent, headed by the 5-for-5 night of backup guard Harold Jensen. And it was his 18-footer with 2:37 left that put the 'Cats ahead to stay.

3. North Carolina State 54, Houston 52, 1983 Final
Almost as big an upset as 'Nova-Georgetown two years later. The Cougars — a.k.a. Phi Slama Jama — had flown up and down the court in a semifinal dunkfest against Louisville, but Jim Valvano’s Wolfpack slowed the pace. (Easier to do then, since there was no shot clock.) By one count there were 17 passes on the 'Pack’s final possession, which began with 44 seconds left. The last of those, from Thurl Bailey in the left corner to Dereck Whittenburg on the wing, was nearly stolen by the Cougars' Benny Anders, causing all of his teammates to take a step downcourt in anticipation of a breakaway. That left Lorenzo Charles with rebounding position on Akeem (later Hakeem) Olajuwon when Whittenburg launched an airball from deep, and Charles dunked it home at the buzzer.

4. Villanova 77, North Carolina 74, 2016 Final
This seems about right for this one. Phil Booth played the role of Harold Jensen, coming off the bench to provide 20 vital points, a career high. And Arcidiacono and Jenkins were nothing more than themselves in the closing seconds — Arcidiacono by making the perfect read, Jenkins by nailing a cold-blooded three. (And a hat-tip to Daniel Ochefu for making sure Arcidiacono’s path was mopped dry beforehand.)

5. North Carolina State 80, UCLA 77 (2OT), 1974 Semifinal
Gather round, kids, while we talk about a forgotten great named David Thompson. Stood 6-4, but had a vertical of 44 inches. He scored 28 points in this one, which saw the Wolfpack rally from seven down in the second extra period to beat the seven-time defending champs, en route to a title of their own. Almost as notable was the fact that he blocked a shot by Bill Walton, who stood some seven inches taller and was the finest college player of his day. (Feel free to Youtube it.)

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