V for Valid

A pretty fair and spot on analysis of Villanova's recent tourney flameouts. Notwithstanding their regular season success and the first #1 ranking in school history, the dread about underperforming - again - in March hangs over this team and only grows with every win between now and the tournament.

2015: No. 8 seed NC State 71, No. 1 seed Villanova 68 (round of 32)
2014: No. 7 seed UConn 77, No. 2 seed Villanova 65 (round of 32)
2013: No. 8 seed North Carolina 78, No. 9 seed Villanova 71 (round of 64)
2011: No. 8 seed George Mason 61, No. 9 seed Villanova 57 (round of 64)
2010: No. 10 seed Saint Mary's 75, No. 2 seed Villanova 68 (round of 32)

And this dismal list doesn't even include the near loss to 15th seeded Robert Morris (!) in the 2010 opener nor a game 20009 AU team that played Nova a lot closer than the 80-67 final might suggest.

The irony is that Wright has had high seeds and flamed out early while Rollie Massimino usually squeaked into the tournament each year with a low seed but managed to upset a higher seed at least and regularly made it through to the round of 16.