Villanova WBB Approaching Top 25 Amidst Tournament Run

Villanova Women’s Basketball secured a spot in the Big East Championship Game on Sunday, March 8, defeating the Seton Hall Pirates 62-48 in the conference semifinals.

Winners of ten of their last 11 games — their lone loss came against No. 1 UConn, who they’ll face in the title game — the Wildcats (25-6) are starting to gain respect that’s been difficult to come by in a perceived down year for the Big East. They set a season-high for votes gained in the AP Poll published on Monday, March 9, landing as the third team out of the top 25; Villanova received 42 total points (issued in reverse order: a No. 25 vote awards one point, while a No. 1 vote gives 25), while 25th-ranked Texas Tech picked up 63 points.

UConn hasn’t lost in the Big East title game since rejoining the conference during the 2020-21 season. A Wildcats’ win, however unlucky, would almost certainly propel them into the Top 25.

Villanova Men’s Basketball, meanwhile, finished the regular season on a two-game winning streak after losing starting forward Matt Hodge to a season-ending ACL tear. They’re no longer knocking on the door of the Top 25 after suffering a blowout loss to St. John’s on Feb. 28, but still managed to pick up ten points in the most recent poll, tying them for the sixth team out of the rankings.

The men’s team will begin their conference tournament run at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 12 against either DePaul or Georgetown.