Of all the teams they could be playing from Wisconsin, Villanova is lucky to be playing Milwaukee (21-13, 7-9 Horizon League) rather than the University of Wisconsin and Green Bay (24-7, 14-2), which won the Horizon League but lost to Milwaukee in the semifinal of the conference tournament and failed to qualify for the tournament.
Some might call the Wildcats the safest first round choice, for they've lost to just one unranked opponent all season. Of course, that logic doesn't always follow in the NCAA Tournament, where small programs suddenly become mighty under the bright lights. Besides Wisconsin, the Wildcats are probably the least respected two seed. At the same time -- in the pools I'm in at least -- Villanova is a more popular choice to win the tournament than fellow two's Michigan and Kansas (mostly because of the Embiid injury).
One pool happens to be run by Villanova alum, of which my brother is a part. Surprisingly, only 4 of 42 entries selected the Wildcats. Sometimes, we mostly cold appraise the teams we know and love best.
Not necessarily for me. A huge 'Nova fan, I have them in the Final Four and winning the title in my two pools. After watching 95 percent of their games this season, I feel like I have a pretty good handle on their product. I know I've overrated them with my picks, but I don't think it would be a stretch for them to make it to the Final Four or even win the whole thing.
Villanova's best aspects, as related to the tournament, are their ability to win close games, their ability to shoot three pointers, their barrage of capable scorers, and their x-factor, sophomore big man Daniel Ochefu.
Hurting them is their streakiness from three, their overrated defense, and, typically their greatest strength, their hustle. Villanova is used to outworking teams. That edge might not be a factor in the tournament, where everyone plays cutthroat basketball.
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