Philadelphia

Villanova Returns Home After Winning Championship

The Wildcats defeated Michigan 79-62 Monday night to claim the NCAA men's basketball championship.

The Villanova Wildcats made their victorious return and received a champion's welcome from the student body.

We now know where you can get victory gear and where the victory parade will be.

The Wildcats defeated Michigan 79-62 Monday night behind an impressive off-the-bench performance by sixth man Donte DiVincenzo.

Nova Nation! Villanova Dominates Michigan to Win 2nd Title in 3 Years

After the win, students and alumni flooded onto streets at the Main Line campus. There were some fires lit and a couple arrests but most people celebrating expressed joy without doing damage.

School's Out for Victory

Villanova University and the law school canceled classes Tuesday to allow students time to recover and get fired back up for the team’s return to campus. Classes are also canceled for Thursday's parade.

Welcome Back Celebration

The Wildcats men’s basketball team landed at Philadelphia International Airport shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday. They headed over to campus with a police escort for a pep rally-style celebration at the Jake Nevin Field House.

Doors to the field house opened at 5:30 and the team arrived with the championship trophy around 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Championship Gear

Students and fans who want to be properly suited up (no, not head coach Jay Wright suited up because that's impossible to replicate) for the welcome-back celebration can already grab championship gear. The campus bookstore opened at 8 a.m. and the Dick’s Sporting Goods in nearby Plymouth Meeting opened early at 6 a.m. to give fans the chance to grab Villanova championship gear.

The Dicks Sporting Goods in Plymouth Meeting opened early Monday to get a head start on their sale of Villanova basketball championship merchandise. 

Expect to start seeing shirts, hats and hoodies featuring the Nova V popping up at other stores in the region in the coming days.

When's (& Where's) the Parade?

"A celebration in honor of Villanova’s NCAA Championship win is being planned," city spokeswoman Ajeenah Amir said Tuesday morning.

By Tuesday afternoon, we learned the parade would start Thursday at 11 a.m. and go along Market Street in Center City, ending at City Hall.

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