The Sun’s Arizin: NET Rankings Place Villanova Top 5

Happy Game Day Nova Nation! The Wildcats travel to their favorite home away from home this evening to take on old Big East Rival Syracuse in Maddison Square Garden. The game will be the night cap of the Jimmy V Classic, and features a matchup with familiar foes in Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim and former Wildcat Cole Swider. We’ve got tons of preview articles in the links below, so today we’ll focus a little more on the unveiling of the NCAA’s NET rankings.

For those of you not aware, the NET is the primary tool used by the NCAA selection committee to evaluate teams for the Tournament. It’s by no means a perfect system, and the reason it hasn’t been released until a month into the season is that early returns are not always as accurate as the formula will be when we get to March. Hence you’ll see things like Wyoming up at #12 and UCLA all the way down at #33. Don’t worry, that’ll get worked out.

As for Villanova, they find themselves ranked #5 overall in the country despite two early losses. The NET doesn’t really penalize teams for “good” or Quad 1 losses as long as they can pair them with quality wins, and Villanova already has one of those in their neutral court victory over Tennessee. Additionally, the Wildcats are in line for eight more shots at Q1 wins (six of those being top tier Q1 opportunities) as the rankings stand today per bracketologists.com.

Syracuse unfortunately doesn’t offer much in terms of improving Nova’s ranking. In fact, a loss tonight would do far more damage than winning would help Villanova’s record. However, Sunday’s road game at Baylor looks like it has the potential to be the best win of Villanova’s season, with little downside if it ends up being a loss. So in summary, my expert analysis is wins are good and losses are bad. Yes, I will go ahead and hold onto my day job.

One more thing before we get to the links, our Game Day Poll! Yesterday we mentioned that Brandon Slater is averaging 14 ppg for the Wildcats. Meanwhile, former Wildcat Cole Swider is now averaging just over 13 ppg for Syracuse. So today’s poll is simple, which player will score more points?

In other news,

Villanova vs Syracuse

Axe: Is Syracuse basketball finding itself as biggest game of the season awaits? | syracuse.com
Brent Axe says Syracuse basketball has learned a lot about itself in two wins over Indiana and Florida State as the biggest game of the season against No. 6 Villanova awaits on Tuesday.

Syracuse vs. Villanova: Live Stream, TV Channel, Start Time | 12/7/2021 - How to Watch and Stream Major League & College Sports | Sports Illustrated.
Find out how to watch, live stream or TV channel and game time information for the December 7, 2021 college basketball matchup between Syracuse and Villanova.

Syracuse Basketball: This coming week, Orange is back in the old Big East | Inside the Loud House
When word broke years ago that Syracuse basketball and other Orange sports would move from the Big East Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference, I had ...

Syracuse and Villanova to Renew Rivalry at Jimmy V Classic | Villanova University
The Wildcats and Orange meet at the Jimmy V Classic Tuesday night in New York City

Syracuse and Villanova Go Head-to-Head for the First Time since 2014 | WAER
An old Big East rivalry makes its return when Syracuse and Villanova clash at Madison Square Garden this week. However, there is more to this matchup. WAER’s Ben Spector explains.

Old friend Swider, Boeheim’s boys pose challenge for Villanova | Delco Times
Villanova will see a familiar face when it takes on Syracuse in the second game of the Jimmy V Classic Tuesday night (9:30) at Madison Square Garden. It’s not Jim Boeheim, who is in his 46th year as head coach of the Orange and had many battles with the Wildcats before the Big East split up in 2013.

Beat writers all predict close Syracuse loss vs. No. 6 Villanova | The Daily Orange
Our beat writers all think Syracuse will lose to No. 6 Villanova in the Jimmy V Classic.

Opponent Preview: Everything to know about Villanova ahead of Jimmy V Classic | The Daily Orange
Here's everything you need to know about No. 6 Villanova ahead of the Orange's Jimmy V Classic game at Madison Square Garden.

Villanova Men’s Basketball

St. Joseph’s takes lessons away from Villanova loss | Inquirer
The bright spot for the Hawks continues to be transfer center Ejike Obinna.

College basketball games this week: Top 10 games to watch | Fansided
A Top-10 showdown in Waco and an outstanding lineup in the Jimmy V Classic are among the highlights of this week's college basketball schedule.

Seton Hall Tickets Update - Dec. 6, 2021 | Seton Hall University Athletics
They're opening up the upper levels for the New Year's Day matchup with Villanova. Let's pack the Rock!

Villanova Recruiting

Here are 16 high school basketball players to watch in the D.C. area this season | The Washington Post
As usual, the area is loaded with talent. We've identified eight girls and eight boys who may play outsize roles in determining which teams capture titles.

National High School Hoops Festival Sunday: Big time game, DMV talent on display, Cam Whitmore | 247 Sports
HYATTSVILLE, Md. – The second and final day of the National High School Hoops Festival on the campus of DeMatha Catholic ended with a bang as Baltimore (Md.) St.

NBA Wildcats

Bucks news: Giannis will be pleased with latest update on key role player | Clutch Points
Milwaukee Bucks guard Donte DiVincenzo is nearing a return to the team after undergoing ankle surgery in June.....

Villanova Football

South Dakota's upset win lands second playoff home game for Villanova football team | Delco Times
The South Dakota State victory means the fifth-seeded Villanova Wildcats will take on the Jackrabbits at Villanova Stadium in the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs Saturday. Kickoff is 2 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Mark Ferrante Named AFCA FCS Region I Coach of the Year | Villanova University
WACO, TEXAS – Villanova University head football coach Mark Ferrante has been named the AFCA FCS Region I Coach of the Year. Ferrante and the other award winners

Villanova Women’s Basketball

Big East Games Of The Week: Villanova Hosts Oregon State | FloHoops
Butler looks for first win as Siegrist-less Villanova hosts Top-25 foe, and La Salle takes on St. John's.

Philly Women’s College Basketball Weekly Awards and Review | Philly College Sports
Villanova Women's Basketball will try to break their current losing streak as they take on James Madison this week.

Villanova Athletics

Villanova Names Samar Azem Women's Soccer Head Coach | Villanova University
Azem comes to Villanova after serving as head coach at Campbell University for the past five seasons where she guided the Camels to a 50-30-8 record. This past year, Azem led Campbell to a 12-4-2 overall record, a 9-1-0 Big South mark and a trip to the conference championship game.

College Basketball

Amid 3-Game Losing Streak, Memphis Coach Penny Hardaway Rips His Veterans: ‘They Want It To Be About Them’ | Forbes
When Memphis coach Penny Hardaway got both Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren to reclassify and enroll at the school this summer, expectations for the Tigers went sky high.