They come together regularly, in smaller groups or as a unit, but this Sunday, the 1985 NCAA national champion Wildcats will do so in a manner adjusted for social distancing. Many of these legendary 'Cats will join in from around the country via Twitter as CBS rebroadcasts their epic upset over Georgetown on Sunday at 1 p.m eastern.
 
            The Wildcats, of course, pulled out the 66-64 victory at Rupp Arena, connecting on a sizzling .786 of their field goal attempts in what has been dubbed "the perfect game".
 
            Those on Twitter can use the hashtag #NovaChamps85 to follow the conversation.
 
            Last Sunday, many of the members of Villanova's 2016 NCAA national championship team offered their thoughts via Twitter as CBS re-aired the Wildcats' 77-74 victory over North Carolina.
 
            Chuck Everson (@ChuckCats41) – dubbed the '85 team's "social director" by legendary coach Rollie Massimino – used a group text this week to alert his former teammates to the opportunity.
 
            "We're a little older than the '16 guys and probably not as tech savvy," says Everson, "but I think a lot of the guys are excited to connect with everyone."
 
            Dwayne McClain, a senior captain on that team alongside Final Four Most Valuable Player Ed Pinckney and Gary McLain, is on Twitter (@DwayneMcClain33) and plans to participate. In the 35 years since it was played, he recalls watching the game just twice, once alongside '85 teammate Harold Jensen at an event in Allentown.
 
            This time, he'll do it from his home in South Florida, alongside three of his children.
 
            "I know my oldest son in Australia has watched it," McClain says, "but I don't think my children here have. This will be pretty neat."
 
            Like most of the rest of the country, McClain and Everson have been observing the appropriate protocol as the nation confronts the coronavirus pandemic. In McClain's case that has meant hunkering down at home. "We're just trying to do our part," he says.
 
            Both former 'Cats are reminded often of Massimino, the architect of the monumental upset who remained close not just to the '85 group, but former players from throughout his tenure at the helm (1973-92).
 
            "I'm down here in Florida because of Coach Mass," says McClain. "When I was at Merrill Lynch, I came here to become his assistant coach at Northwood University. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think of him."
 
            One such instance came not long ago. One of his daughters urged him to take the family to a local mall. McClain declined, citing the need for social distancing. A compromise was struck and they ended up at Walmart. McClain turned to his daughter and said: "I give you my fingers, and you take my arm."
 
            He lets out a hearty laugh before proceeding.
 
            "Coach Mass used to say that to us all the time."
 
            Another prominent figure in 1985 was athletic trainer Jake Nevin, then confined to a wheelchair as he grappled with the Lou Gehrig's disease that would take his life a year later.
 
            "Jake uplifted everyone he met," says McClain of the man for whom the Fieldhouse is now named. "All the athletes, not just the basketball team, were around him every day. He was a true leprechaun."
 
            Everson, meanwhile, has helped spearhead the effort to stay connected to, not only his former teammates, but all eras of Villanova Basketball. In recent years, his personal contact list of former players has grown to near 70 and includes men who played in the 1970s, 90s and 2000s. He serves as an important conduit to basketball alumni for head coach Jay Wright and the staff.
 
            "All the alums know that Jay's been awesome to us," Everson says. "I think we all try to give back the best way we can. Some guys are able to do it monetarily and have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars. For some of us, who earn regular wages, we try to do it in other ways. My way is to try to be an ambassador for Villanova.
 
            "I'm a big fan of Villanova. If I can connect with people, share some behind the scenes stuff on social media, I'm happy to do it. I think this experience will be a lot of fun, not just for the fans but for our guys as well."
 
            The 1984-85 Wildcats on Twitter:
            Ed Pinckney (@EZed54)
            Dwayne McClain (@DwayneMcClain33)
            Harold Pressley (@harold_pressley)
            Dwight Wilbur (@DwightWilbur2)
            Chuck Everson (@ChuckCats41)
            Mark Plansky (@MarkPlansky)
            Wyatt Maker (@wyattmakernova)
            Connelly Brown (@Browncballer87)
            Steve Pinone (@stevepinoneVU)
            Harold Jensen (@HJ1985)
            Brian Harrington (@each_one_counts)
            Marty Marbach (@Marbach11)
            Steve Lappas (@stlappas)