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How Jay Wright’s teams have fared in the NCAA Tournament

A 6 seed hasn't made the Final Four since 1992.

Jay Wright is 27-11 in 13 appearances in the NCAA Tournament as Villanova's head coach.
Jay Wright is 27-11 in 13 appearances in the NCAA Tournament as Villanova's head coach.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer

Villanova’s No. 6 seed in the South Region is the highest the Wildcats have been seeded since 2013. Defending their national championship might be a longshot, but that doesn’t mean there still can’t be some fun over the next couple of weeks.

The Wildcats play Saint Mary’s in the first round on Thursday in Hartford.

“This to me is one of the best year’s Jay has had ... losing all those players he lost [to the NBA]," said Ed Cooley, head coach of Big East rival Providence before Villanova won an unprecedented third consecutive conference tournament championship. “They’ll be a tough out for whoever’s going to face them."

Here’s a look at how Villanova has fared in their 13 NCAA Tournament appearances under Jay Wright, which includes two championships, three Final Four runs and first-weekend elimination seven times.

Villanova in NCAA Tournament under Jay Wright

Year
2019
Seed
6-South
Fared
Playing Saint Mary’s, Thursday
Opponents
11-Saint Mary’s
Top players*
Phil Booth, Eric Paschall, Collin Gillespie
Year
2018
Seed
1-East
Fared
Won championship
Opponents
Beat 16-Radford, 9-Alabama, 5-West Virginia, 3-Texas Tech, 1-Kansas, 3-Michigan
Top players*
Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Omari Spellman, Eric Paschall, Phil Booth, Donte DiVincenzo
Year
2017
Seed
1-East
Fared
Lost in second round
Opponents
Beat 16-Mount St. Mary’s, Lost to 8-Wisconsin
Top players*
Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Kris Jenkins
Year
2016
Seed
2-South
Fared
Won championship
Opponents
Beat 15-UNC Asheville, 7-Iowa, 3-Miami, 1-Kansas, 2-Oklahoma, 1-North Carolina
Top players*
Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins, Ryan Arcidiacono, Daniel Ochefu
Year
2015
Seed
1-East
Fared
Lost in second round
Opponents
Beat 16-Lafayette, Lost to 8-North Carolina State
Top players*
Darrun Hilliard, Ryan Arcidiacono, Josh Hart
Year
2014
Seed
2-East
Fared
Lost in second round
Opponents
Beat 15-Milwaukee, Lost to 7-Connecticut
Top players*
James Bell, Darrun Hilliard, JayVaughn Pinkston
Year
2013
Seed
9-South
Fared
Lost in first round
Opponents
Lost to 8-North Carolina
Top players*
JayVaughn Pinkston, Ryan Arcidiacono, Darrun Hilliard
Year
2011
Seed
9-East
Fared
Lost in first round
Opponents
Lost to 8-George Mason
Top players*
Corey Fisher, Corey Stokes, Maalik Wayns
Year
2010
Seed
2-South
Fared
Lost in second round
Opponents
Beat 15-Radford, Lost to 10-Saint Mary’s
Top players*
Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher, Antonio Pena
Year
2009
Seed
3-East
Fared
Lost in Final Four
Opponents
Beat 14-American, 6-UCLA, 2-Duke, 1-Pittsburgh, Lost to 1-North Carolina
Top players*
Dante Cunningham, Scottie Reynolds, Corey Fisher
Year
2008
Seed
12-Midwest
Fared
Lost in Sweet 16
Opponents
Beat 5-Clemson, 13-Siena, Lost to 1-Kansas
Top players*
Scottie Reynolds, Dante Cunningham
Year
2007
Seed
9-West
Fared
Lost in first round
Opponents
Lost to 8-Kentucky
Top players*
Curtis Sumpter, Scottie Reynolds, Mike Nardi
Year
2008
Seed
1-Minneapolis
Fared
Lost in Elite 8
Opponents
Beat 16-Monmouth, 8-Arizona, 4-Boston College, Lost to 3-Florida
Top players*
Randy Foye, Allan Ray, Kyle Lowry, Mike Nardi
Year
2005
Seed
5-Syracuse
Fared
Lost in Sweet 16
Opponents
Beat 12-New Mexico, 4-Florida, Lost to 1-North Carolina
Top players*
Allan Ray, Randy Foye, Curtis Sumpter
Year
Seed
Fared
Opponents
Top players*
*Players who averaged at least 10.0 points per game.

» Video: Kris Jenkins and a shot for the ages

Did you know? Villanova was 6-5 against teams that made this year’s tournament. They beat Florida State and Temple and lost to Michigan and Kansas. The Wildcats split with Marquette and St. John’s and won two of three against Seton Hall.

Most points NCAA Tournament game under Jay Wright

Player
1. Donte DiVincenzo
Year
2018
Opponent
Michigan
Round*
Championship (W)
Points
31
Player
2. Randy Foye
Year
2006
Opponent
Boston College
Round*
Sweet 16 (W)
Points
29
Player
3. Randy Foye
Year
2005
Opponent
North Carolina
Round*
Sweet 16 (L)
Points
28
Player
t4. Darrun Hilliard
Year
2015
Opponent
North Carolina St.
Round*
Second round (L)
Points
27
Player
t4. Jalen Brunson
Year
2018
Opponent
West Virginia
Round*
Sweet 16 (W)
Points
27
Player
t6. Allan Ray
Year
2006
Opponent
Arizona
Round*
Second round (W)
Points
25
Player
t6. Dante Cunningham
Year
2009
Opponent
American
Round*
First round (W)
Points
25
Player
t6. Randy Foye
Year
2006
Opponent
Florida
Round*
Elite 8 (L)
Points
25
Player
t6. Scottie Reynolds
Year
2008
Opponent
Siena
Round*
Second round (W)
Points
25
Player
t6. Dwayne Anderson
Year
2009
Opponent
American
Round*
First round (W)
Points
25
Player
t11. andy Foye
Year
2006
Opponent
Arizona
Round*
Second round (W)
Points
24
Player
t11. Eric Paschall
Year
2018
Opponent
Kansas
Round*
Final Four (W)
Points
24
Player
*Villanova’s result
Year
Opponent
Round*
Points

Other leaders

Minutes played: 45, Randy Foye, 2006, vs. Boston College (W, Sweet 16)

Rebounds: 15, Jason Fraser, 2005, vs. Florida (W, second round)

Assists: 7, Reggie Redding, 2009, vs. UCLA (W, second round)

Steals: 5, Randy Foye, 2006, vs. Monmouth (W, first round)

Blocked shots: 3, seven times, most recent: Omari Spellman, 2018, vs. Kansas (W, Final Four)

Three-pointers made: 6 for 10, Darrun Hilliard, 2015, vs. North Carolina St. (L, second round)

Did you know? The late Howard Porter set the Villanova record for most points in an NCAA Tournament game when he dropped 35 on Penn in the 1971 East Region final.

Villanova’s seeds

1 – 2006, 2015, 2017, 2018

2 – 2010, 2014, 2016

3 – 2009

5 – 2005

6 – 2005

9 – 2007, 2011, 2013

12 – 2008

Did you know? Two teams have won the National title as a 6-seed: Jimmy Valvano’s N.C. State Cardiac Kids in 1983, and Danny Manning and Kansas in 1988. The last 6-seed to make it to the Final Four was Michigan in 1992.

Villanova’s record by seed

1-seed: 11-3 (2018 title)

2-seed: 8-2 (2016 title)

3-seed: 4-1 (2009 Final Four)

5-seed: 2-1

9-seed: 0-3

12-seed: 2-1

Did you know? Villanova is 6-3 in NCAA Tournament games when they have a higher seed than their opponent. Their biggest upset was in 2008 when they were a 12-seed and upset 5th-seeded Clemson behind 21 points from Scottie Reynolds.

Villanova’s seeds when …

Winning the national championship: 2 (2016), 1 (2018)

Losing in Final Four: 3 (2009)

Losing in Elite 8: 1 (2006)

Losing in Sweet 16: 5 (2005), 12 (2008)

Losing in second round: 2 (2010), 2 (2014), 1 (2015), 1 (2017)

Losing in first round: 9 (2007), 9 (2011), 9 (2013)

Did you know? Villanova has won two titles under Jay Wright and lost to the eventual champs five times. Those teams and when they beat Villanova: 2005 North Carolina (Sweet 16), 2006 Florida (Elite 8), 2008 Kansas (Sweet 16), 2009 North Carolina (Final Four), 2014 Connecticut (second round).