Setting sites on Villanova's NCAA Tournnament possibilities

MY TOP FOUR NCAA Tournament seeds if the selections were today.

East – North Carolina

South – Oklahoma

Midwest – Kansas

West – Villanova

The Wildcats have been helped by so many top teams losing so many games recently. Much will change between now and Selection Sunday. Sites are assigned by the rankings of the Selection Committee, with the higher-rated teams getting the closer sites. In my mind, Oklahoma would be ranked first today, followed by Kansas, UNC and 'Nova.

Thus, UNC would be set up for a potential East Regional at Wells Fargo Center and the Wildcats would have to travel west, if they win two NCAA games, likely at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. If you hope to see the Wildcats in South Philly the second weekend, root against all the better eastern teams and/or hope Villanova ends up as the top No. 2 seed, in which case it would be slotted in the East Region.

Over the last 2 1/2 seasons of its amazing run (78-10), Villanova has been able to win games where it takes 50 points, 80 points or just about anywhere in between.

Saturday at Georgetown, points were at a premium in a 60-possession game so the Wildcats (16-2, 6-0 Big East) won it with their defense, 55-50. The Hoyas (11-7, 4-2) shot just 17-for-52 (32.7 percent).

It was once again the "Hart and Arch Show" for 'Nova, which has vaulted to No. 1 in the kenpom.com ratings because it has the best combination of defensive (fourth) and offensive efficiency (16th).

Josh Hart had 15 points and 12 rebounds, including the game's biggest in the final seconds when he grabbed the board and called timeout in one motion. Ryan Arcidiacono also had 15 points. With points so precious, free throw shooting was everything. The pair was 12-for-14.

On a day when they shot just 3-for-18 from the arc, the Wildcats played from in front and simply refused to let the Hoyas catch up. They led 42-31 with 8 minutes left, the kind of cushion winning teams don't give up even when their shooting is way off.

Saint Joseph's is a joy to watch this season and, if the NCAA selections were today, would be just in or just out. The Hawks (14-3, 4-1 Atlantic 10) led wire to wire against Fordham at Hagan Arena, winning 80-55.

St. Joe's had five players in double figures and eight with at least an assist on a day when it had 17 assists on 29 field goals. DeAndré Bembry, one of the sport's top stat-sheet stuffers, had 26 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 11-for-17.

The Rams (10-6, 1-4) only got to the free-throw line five times and got crushed on the glass, 41-27.

SJU is a solid 65th in offensive efficiency, 64th in defense. The Hawks have a star in Bembry, a versatile scorer/rebounder in Zeke Miles and go deep enough. Very importantly, all roles are understood.

Temple and Cincinnati took 146 shots and grabbed 103 rebounds over 50 minutes at the Liacouras Center. In a game where each team's best offense was the missed shot (they combined for 34 offensive rebounds off 94 misses), it was appropriate that Jaylen Bond took an Owl miss late in the second OT and put it back in for the game-winner in Temple's 67-65 win.

Bond shot just 4-for-17, but had nine offensive rebounds, none more important than the last. Temple's Quenton DeCosey, having a nice senior season, had 22 points. Devon Coleman came off the bench to get 15. His 5-for-10 three-point shooting was an accuracy oasis in a desert of bricks.

There were 78 possessions and neither team got close to .90 points per possession. No matter to the Owls (9-7, 4-2 American) after sweeping the Bearcats (13-6, 3-3). Style points matter in some wider world, but not in this world where any win is precious.

Three La Salle players went 40 minutes at Rhode Island. The Explorers committed just six turnovers. Jordan Price missed only five shots and had 20 points. Johnnie Shuler had 16. There were only 59 possessions.

That is a pretty good formula for this undermanned team, but not when the other team shoots 25-for-44 (56.8 percent) and overwhelms you on the glass, 37-16. It was URI 73-62.

La Salle (5-10, 1-4 A-10) has lost nine of 10. Rhode Island, playing without star E.C. Matthews who was injured in the season's first game and is gone for the season, is 11-7, 3-2.

On a good day, Drexel is not a good offensive team. On a bad day, the Dragons trail Towson, 33-12, at the half, shoot 16-for-60 (26.7 percent) and gets blasted, 69-50.

Towson (13-6, 4-2 Colonial) won easily because it shot 24-for-47 (51.1 percent). The Dragons (3-14, 1-5) did force 18 turnovers, but that's kind of irrelevant when you can't shoot.

Drexel is now 300th in offensive efficiency at .955 points per possession. It was a sad .74 ppp against Towson.

jerardd@phillynews.com

On Twitter: @DickJerardi