Time for Villanova to plant tournament seeds

VILLANOVA SET goals before the season started. The Wildcats' weren't much different than any other Top 10-ranked team - win the conference; win the conference tournament; get a high seed in the NCAA Tournament; make the Sweet 16; make the Final Four; win the national championship.

Everything a team does for the first two-thirds of a season is about positioning itself to make those things happen.

The beginning of February is the start of crunch time for a team like Villanova, which is ranked seventh in the country. It is the stretch drive to the end of the regular season. Everything is in front of you, but you still have to go out and grab it.

Last night at the Wells Fargo Center, Villanova started a run of five Big East games in 13 days with a 70-52 win over Marquette.

As far as 18-point wins go, this was one the Wildcats (20-2, 7-2) took a lesson from. Nearly 8 1/2 minutes into the game, 'Nova had scored just seven points but still managed to hold a one-point lead.

Then the 'Cats outscored Marquette, 29-13, to end the half and take control of the game.

"This right now, maybe the next couple of weeks is the toughest time," Villanova coach Jay Wright said. "These are college kids and at this time they don't really see the end of the tunnel yet.

"They don't see the end of the regular season. They don't see the Big East Tournament. They are kind of in a grind right now.

"This is the time when we've got to find different ways to get their attention. I like where we are right now as far as our record and our standing, but I'm a little bit concerned that we've had a little complacency."

There are nine games remaining in the regular season. Considering the stakes that Villanova is playing for, each one will be crucial.

All of the Top 10 teams have three or fewer losses. Depending on how they finish, the difference between one or two losses could become the difference between going as high as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament or slipping to a No. 3.

That's how tight things are.

A lot of things will shift as far as seeding over the next 5 weeks before Selection Sunday.

The teams that stay the most focused and take care of business with the fewest slips will be the ones rewarded with the higher seeding.

"It's hard to get kids night in and night out to play at their highest level," Wright said. "I think the next couple of weeks are real important for us to find a way to do that."

What Villanova has going for it is that the Wildcats have been here before.

Almost a year ago to the day, last year's team beat Xavier, 81-59, to improve to 20-2. That team finished the regular season 28-3 before losing to Seton Hall in the first round of the Big East Tournament.

That earned the 'Cats a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

It's likely going to take a similar finish to get that kind of seed this season.

"It's kind of a similar season," said 'Nova junior guard Ryan Arcidiacono. "We had a lot of close games and scrapped out wins and this year it's kind of the same.

"You're going to hit a wall this time of the season. I think since we've been through this before, we know that when it comes, you just keep pushing through. Now we know how to get past it."

In the era of "one-and-done'' for top college players, a solid, well-rounded team with veteran experience is the great equalizer.

What you like about Villanova's chances going forward is that the Wildcats fit the profile of most of the NCAA champions since the turn of the century.

The Wildcats may not have NBA lottery picks throughout their roster, but they are a talented group with experience that has been tested in the NCAA Tournament.

Most of the top players in minutes played all have been in at least one NCAA Tournament and some have played in two.

"I like our leadership," Wright said when asked about what's going to propel his team forward through the stretch run. "When we get in different situations I like how guys like [Arcidiacono and senior Darrun Hilliard] handle the team, like tonight when we don't get off to a good start at all.

"They don't lose their confidence. They don't lose their focus. We've been good enough to win, but I still think we are a work in progress. We can get a lot better."

Looking at where Villanova sits right now, that's a pretty comforting thought for Wright to have.

Columns: ph.ly/Smallwood

Blog: ph.ly/DNL