No repeat for Villanova, Team back home after loss to Wisconsn while carrying crown

VILLANOVA, Pa. (WTXF/AP) - The crown may have been too heavy for Villanova. One title will have to do.

The Wildcats seemed somber as they returned to campus, late Saturday. Players walked off the bus to some fans congratulating them on a good season, even if it didn't end the way they'd hoped.

Coach Jay Wright spoke for the team, saying his players are dealing with it, they're feeling down and will probably will be for a few days. But he mentioned they got to play a really good team in Wisconsin.

He also thanked everybody in Nova Nation for sticking with the team. They had a great crowd in Buffalo and it was almost a perfect weekend with great basketball and St. Patty's Day up there. He said the players were all having a great time.

It isn't easy being the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Villanova was the latest to find out, losing 65-62 to eighth-seeded Wisconsin in the second round.

For the 11th time in the past 14 years, the No. 1 overall seed won't win the NCAA title and yet another reigning national champion fails to get past the Sweet 16. Florida was the last to do so when it repeated in 2007.

Besides this year, the No. 1 seeds to lose in the round of 32 are Kansas in 2010, Pittsburgh in 2011, Gonzaga in 2013, Wichita State in 2014 and Villanova in 2015.

"There should be nothing negative about this tournament. This is the greatest, I think, sporting event in our country," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "Just being in it ... we can't take it for granted. It's so special to be a part of it. Every time you win and you get a chance to advance, cherish it. You're playing the best teams in the country. You're going to come down to games like this. We had a game like this against Kansas last year and we came out of the good side of it. We had a game like this against N.C. State two years ago, and we had a shot to win it and we missed it."