Villanova A Tournament Lock? ESPN Signs Off On ‘Cats

For the first time since 2022, Villanova Men’s Basketball is a lock to make it back to the NCAA Tournament — at least in the eyes of ESPN analyst Neil Paine, who tracks each program’s chances of an at-large bid.

The Wildcats (18-5, 9-3 Big East) have tournament odds of 99.8 percent according to teamrankings.com, which sees them as most likely to occupy a No. 8 seed. Team Rankings sees the 24-win threshold as Villanova’s target for a 100 percent lock and, with five of their remaining eight games (as well as a favorable quarterfinal matchup in the Big East tournament) set to come against teams below .500 in conference play, that’s a very real possibility for these Wildcats even if they just win the games they’re supposed to.

Projected to finish seventh in the Big East in their first season under head coach Kevin Willard, Villanova has a clear hold on the No. 3 seed, two games behind St. John’s and 2.5 games ahead of Creighton as conference tiers begin to stratify.

Wildcats youngsters like Acaden Lewis and Malachi Palmer are hitting their stride at the right time, and they’ll return to action against Marquette at the Finneran Pavilion beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10.