Villanova Bracketology: Wildcats Back on the Bubble

A three game winning streak that included a top ten home win propelled the Villanova Wildcats to their best spot in the NET rankings in more than a month, their chances of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament starting to creep back up after a 1-5 skid left them almost dead in the water.

In light of those changing fortunes, on February 14 Philadelphia Sports Now compared Villanova to the teams currently on the outskirts of the tournament bubble in order to get a look at what more the Wildcats might need to do in order to qualify for the Big Dance for the first time since 2022.

Sure enough, Villanova appeared in ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s assessment of the tournament bubble posted on Saturday, Feb. 15 ahead of their road date with the Providence Friars. This marks the Wildcats’ first appearance in Lunardi’s rankings since Jan. 15 when they fell off the bubble following a crushing comeback loss to Xavier.

The Wildcats currently occupy the third spot in Lunardi’s “Next” category (i.e., the final four teams following his “Next Four Out” tier), the equivalent of the No. 79 spot in the 68 team field. They have a good deal of climbing — and winning — to do in order to make it firmly into the tournament picture… and even then, Lunardi is just one man.

With just six games remaining in the regular season (along with however many games they manage to win during the Big East Tournament) the Wildcats don’t have much time to plead their case.

Nevertheless, the door is open, even if only a crack, and that’s a glimmer of hope that seemed unthinkable for Villanova just two weeks ago.