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Playoff Bound Wildcats to Host USF on Thursday at 1 p.m.
Oct. 28, 2007
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - On the final day of the regular season Villanova (10-3-6, 4-3-4 Big East) clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Championship for the seventh consecutive season with a 1-0 victory over Cincinnati. The Wildcats are the #4 seed in the league's National Division and will host University of South Florida in a first round game this coming Thursday at 1 p.m. The Bulls are the #5 seed in the American Division.
The BIG EAST Conference announced the seeds and pairings for the conference tournament early Sunday evening following the conclusion of regular season competition. Villanova entered its game today against Cincinnati knowing that it could clinch a playoff spot with a win or a tie. The win enabled the Wildcats to finish in sole possession of fourth place - one spot ahead of Rutgers - and ensured a home game for the opening round.
Villanova enters the postseason with a 10-3-6 overall record and finished 4-3-4 in regular season league play. The Wildcats have guaranteed themselves a ninth consecutive season with at least 10 victories and a winning record. Villanova now has also posted a winning record in BIG EAST play for six straight years.
This Thursday's first round tournament game will be the second meeting of the season between the Wildcats and USF. Earlier this month the squads played to a scoreless tie in a televised game down in Tampa. That contest is the only previous meeting between the two teams. The Bulls finished conference play with a 3-6-2 league mark and a 4-9-3 overall record.
In the National Division, perennial league contender Notre Dame picked up the #1 seed and Louisville earned the #2 seed. Both teams will have a first-round bye before hosting a quarterfinal game on November 4. Georgetown is the #3 seed ahead of the Wildcats at #4.
The American Division featured West Virginia as the #1 seed and Connecticut as the #2 seed. Marquette finishes as the division's #3 seed and St. John's is #4 in front of USF.
In the other first round game on Thursday, Rutgers will visit St. John's for a 7 p.m. contest. All of next Sunday's quarterfinal games will be played at 1 p.m., and Villanova would travel to West Virginia for its next game should it advance past University of South Florida on Thursday.
Live statistics for Thursday's game against USF will be available via Gametracker. Visit www.villanova.com to follow the game live as the Wildcats look to begin their postseason run.
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