The Wildcats On a Roll

ESPN's Andy Katz has a terrific prediction for Villanova fans...

5. Which team will come out of nowhere to make the Elite Eight?

This was Xavier's category a year ago. The Musketeers were left for dead in January (10-9 on Jan. 31). They were a question for the NIT, let alone the NCAA, but Thad Matta and Sean Miller got this group believing in itself, the seniors led like they hadn't before in the season and the Musketeers earned a bid by going 9-1 in their last 10, beating Saint Joseph's in the A-10 tournament and winning the A-10 title.

Who fits that profile this season? Villanova. The Wildcats were 9-4 (2-3 Big East) after losing to Boston College on the road on Jan. 19. Villanova is now 15-6 overall (5-5) after a non-conference win over Bucknell Tuesday night.

Villanova crushed Kansas during this stretch and won at home against Notre Dame. The only stinker was a home loss by 15 to Syracuse. The Wildcats have the guard play -- Mike Nardi, Allan Ray, Randy Foye -- and the inside duo of Curtis Sumpter and Jason Fraser to make a deep run.

As Johnny Goblin noted, we have a great chance to make a run this year without much pressure on the team. However, some bad news for us Wildcat fans in this prediction, which has Old Dominion in the tournament. Try not to have flashbacks, people.