Despite efforts made by Villanova Athletics and the two seniors in charge of the “Banana Operation,” Aidan Murphy and Owen Holmgren, there will be no Bananas at Madison Square Garden for the Big East Tournament.
Villanova Athletics was fully behind the Bananas as if it was not clear enough by the hype videos distributed on social media and t-shirts handed out at the Marquette game on Feb. 21, that read “LET’S GO BANANAS.”
The issue for the Bananas is that the only tickets available to them were spread among multiple sections of MSG, meaning they would not all be together. With each ticket offered costing $30 a piece and the Bananas needing to provide their own means of transportation, it was not feasible for the Banana Operation to commence for the Big East.
“The school was very kind and made an effort to get us there for tomorrow’s game,” Murphy said. “We were very grateful of and appreciated the school for buying in further [to the Bananas], but given it’d be such a massive effort to get us [to the game] we were bummed we wouldn’t be [seated] together.”
Even though the seniors won’t be present, that does not mean Villanova’s fan section will be absent of Bananas altogether.
In the final game at the Finneran Pavilion this season, Villanova beat Butler, 80-70. While the student body and the seniors were on spring break, the Bananas still were represented amongst Nova Nation. Little kids wore small banana costumes and the famous Nova Hat Guy, John Ermilio (‘67 and ‘72) wore one as well.
“I thought it was awesome,” Murphy said.”I guess I didn’t really think it could get this big, but it was awesome to see a small and stupid idea sort of spread like that. I guess my hope is that maybe it does spread more into the next year. I hope [it inspires] other students to do it themselves. It doesn’t have to be bananas. They can do whatever they want, just sort of make the most of their time as a student.”
The Wildcats are a perfect 2-0 when the Bananas have been in attendance for games. Even though the Bananas are not going to New York, they will be there in spirit. Villanova will attempt to capture the Big East Tournament championship which comes with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
