Villanova Men's Basketball

Villanova Lands on Bubble in Preliminary KenPom Ratings

Published

1 month ago

October 12, 2025

OMAHA, NE - JANUARY 17: Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard reacting to the play on the court during the first half of a college basketball game against Creighton on January 17, 2018 the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Creighton defeated Seton Hall 80 to 63. (Photo by John Peterson/Icon Sportswire)

John Peterson/Icon Sportswire

College basketball statistician and analyst Kenneth Pomeroy released his preliminary rankings for the 2025-26 season on Sunday, Oct. 12. He placed Villanova Men’s Basketball in the No. 50 spot, the sixth-best team in the Big East behind UConn (No. 5), St. John’s (No. 16), Creighton (No. 41), Marquette (No. 47) and Providence (No. 48).

Because 32 of the 68 spots in the NCAA Tournament go to automatic bids for conference winners, teams normally need a KenPom ranking in the top 40 in order to feel confident about their chances of making the Big Dance. Last season, the Wildcats landed at No. 53 heading into their final game of the season, a Big East Tournament matchup with UConn that sank their hopes.

Based on their KenPom rating, the Wildcats will begin the season on the edge of the tournament bubble as they attempt to make it back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022 under new head coach Kevin Willard. Villanova’s season will begin on Monday, Nov. 3 when they face BYU in Las Vegas.