NEW ORLEANS - Bill Self was wading through old video of Villanova this week, trying to scout a specific action that the Wildcats use on the offensive end of the floor, when the Hall of Fame Kansas coach did something he's avoided the past four years.Self watched film of the 2018 Final Four.The one where the Wildcats embarrassed Kansas on their march toward a third national championship."I didn't really watch it to try to, you know, have memories," Self said with a grim smile Friday. "I say I watched it — I got through about 12 minutes of it.
After that it was very obvious I wasn't going to enjoy it. There are other tapes to watch."Plenty involving the Jayhawks and Wildcats.The college basketball powers have become regular NCAA Tournament dates over the years, and their latest their high-stakes showdown comes Saturday night, when they square off again in the national semifinals at the Superdome.It will be the fourth time since Self and Villanova counterpart Jay Wright took over in the early 2000s that they've matched wits in the Sweet 16 or beyond, and each time, the winner has gone on to claim the national championship.That includes Self's lone national championship in 2008, the first for Wright in 2016, and that memorable 2018 matchup in San Antonio that folks in Kansas have tried to forget — and that fans in Philadelphia continue to cherish.NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 01: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats points as he talks with Jordan Longino #15, Kevin Voigt #12, Brandon Slater #3, Angelo Brizzi #10 and Trey Patterson #13 during a practice session ahead of the 2022 NC "It was just one of those games," recalled Wright, whose team roared to a 22-4 lead, dropped an astounding 18 3-pointers and was never.