Villanova Metrics: One-Dimensional Win Keeps Wildcats in Place

Villanova Men’s Basketball’s metrics remained largely unchanged after their defense-centered win over Georgetown on Wednesday, Jan. 21. The Wildcats (15-4, 6-2 Big East) remained at No. 33 in the NET rankings, but KenPom boosted them two spots to No. 24.

The game counted as a Quadrant 3 matchup, which is part of why it did little to boost Villanova’s standing: while their defensive efficiency jumped from No. 44 to No. 38, their own struggles to score sent them sliding from No. 23 to No. 33 in offensive efficiency, both according to KenPom.

The Wildcats’ tournament odds remain close to bulletproof, with teamrankings.com giving them a 98.1 percent chance of qualifying for the Big Dance for the first time since 2022. A 22 win season — which would require them to go .500 the rest of the way even without any wins in the Big East Tournament — would put their odds at 99.7 percent, while a 23 win season would guarantee an at-large bid.

Villanova will have to face No. 2 UConn twice down the stretch, including their next game, a 12:30 p.m. tip-off on Saturday, Jan. 24; they’ll also travel to St. John’s and Creighton, both of whom handed them home losses… but for a young team like these Wildcats, those tough matchup also provide an important learning opportunity