Forty years after capturing a national championship, the 1985 Villanova men’s basketball national championship team will be inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. 

It was announced in a press release on Monday, April 14 that the team will be a part of the 2025 inductee class. 

The team will be officially honored and inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday, Nov. 6, at Live! Casino & Hotel in South Philadelphia.

“The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame proudly announces its 22nd Inductee Class, celebrating another outstanding group of athletes, coaches, contributors, and teams whose legacies have shaped the rich history of Philadelphia sports,” the release said.

The 1985 team will join other legendary Villanova alumni in the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame including Paul Arizin (basketball), Jumbo Elliot (track and field), Don Bragg (track and field),  Al Severance (basketball), Wali Jones (basketball), Bill Melchionni (basketball), Charlie Jenkins (track and field), Brian Westbrook (football), Rollie Massimino (basketball) and Jay Wright (basketball).

Former Villanova football head coach Andy Talley was inducted last year as part of the 2024 class.

Villanova’s eight-seeded 1985 NCAA national championship victory is commonly regarded as one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history. The team defeated Georgetown, 66-64, in the championship game on April 1, 1985, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY.

To this day, the Wildcats are the lowest seed to win a NCAA National Championship in men’s basketball. 

The Hoyas, who were the defending national champion at the time, entered the tournament as the one-seed out of the East, having beaten Villanova twice earlier in the season.

Forward Ed Pinckney (‘85) collected 16 points and team-highs in assists (five) and rebounds (six) to help win the national title. Pinckney went on to get drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the 10th overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft.

Alongside Pinckney, guard Dwayne McClain (‘85) had a team-high 17 points in the championship game.

“I shared this news with the guys on a Zoom call on April 1st—exactly 40 years after our championship win,” Chuck Everson (‘86) said in the release. “We’re thrilled about this great honor and had a celebratory toast to mark the occasion.”

For more information on the reception, one can access it on the hall of fame’s website.