Villanova Basketball holds at #5 in Week 3 AP Poll

The Villanova Wildcats improved to 3-0 last week and held their ground as the #5 team in the AP Poll on Monday. Despite picking up a few more votes from the last poll, it wasn’t enough to move Nova above the Michigan State Spartans who fell from #2 to #4 after losing to #1 Duke. Villanova has now spent multiple weeks in the poll’s Top 5 in each of the last five seasons.

The Big East now features three teams in the Top 20. Xavier got an impressive win at Wisconsin to hold at #15, while Seton Hall improved two spots and is ranked #20. Providence and Creighton also received votes this week and would be “ranked” 31st and 35th respectively.

This will be a big week for the Wildcats as they have the potential to take on their first two ranked opponents of the season in the Battle 4 Atlantis. #2 Arizona, who is the only team other than Duke receiving first place votes, could be the Championship opponent on Friday. But first the Cats would likely have to get past #18 Purdue on Thanksgiving in what would likely be an early 12:30PM EST game.

The Wildcats next game will be in the Bahamas on Wednesday at 2:30PM EST against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the opening round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.