Ryan Arcidiacono Named 2016 NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player

Ryan Arcidiacono is leaving Villanova as a champion and the Most Outstanding Player of this improbable tournament run.

The Wildcats senior—who assisted on Kris Jenkins' game-winning three as time expired to defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 77-74 on Monday—has been named the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player, per ESPN College BBall:

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Ryan Arcidiacono has been named this year's Most Outstanding Player. pic.twitter.com/AzMXzDTN4j

— ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) April 5, 2016"

Arcidiacono scored 16 points and made two threes in his final collegiate game. He also had two assists, one of which set up the biggest shot of the game.

When he found out he was the MOP, Arcidiacono was shocked, per Ralph Russo of the Associated Press:

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports compared Arcidiacono's clutch play to that of a former Big East star who had his share of clutch moments for the Syracuse Orange:

There was also no doubt that Arcidiacono was deserving of the award for the clutch shooting he displayed throughout the NCAA tournament, per Synergy Sports Tech:

Although it wouldn't have been shocking to see Jenkins win the award because of his game-winning shot alone, Arcidiacono was the most worthy recipient on Villanova's team. He averaged 15.8 points per game throughout the NCAA tournament and shot 61.5 percent from three-point range.

He also had a 21-point performance in the Sweet 16 against the Miami Hurricanes.

Until Monday night, fans hadn't seen a buzzer-beating championship-winning shot since Lorenzo Charles' game-winning dunk for North Carolina State in 1983. Jenkins will get the glory for his shot, but if not for Arcidiacono's willingness to trust his teammate, the result could've been different.

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