Villanova Wildcats vs Seton Hall Pirates Picks and Predictions March 12th 2025

Villanova Enters the Big East Tournament on the NCAA Bubble

Villanova’s season has been a rollercoaster, and their NCAA Tournament hopes are hanging by a thread. The Wildcats, seeded sixth in the Big East Tournament, must make a deep run to secure a spot in March Madness. It all starts with their first-round matchup against 11th-seeded Seton Hall on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Despite boasting the nation’s top scorer in Eric Dixon, Villanova has been inconsistent. The Wildcats (18-13) have strong wins over UConn, Marquette, and St. John’s but also suffered several close losses that have kept them on the NCAA bubble.

Villanova’s NET ranking of 53 places them just behind Indiana and Cincinnati, two other bubble teams. A win over Seton Hall would help their case, but a loss could severely damage their postseason chances. If they do advance, a quarterfinal showdown with top-seeded UConn awaits.

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Eric Dixon: Villanova’s Offensive Anchor

Eric Dixon has been one of the most dominant scorers in college basketball this season, averaging 23.6 points per game. The fifth-year senior is not only the top scorer in the nation but also the most efficient 3-point shooter in the Big East.

Dixon was a nightmare for Seton Hall in the regular season, scoring a combined 57 points in their two meetings. His ability to stretch the floor and score inside makes him a unique challenge for the Pirates’ defense.

“He causes problems for everybody,” Seton Hall coach Shaheen Holloway said. “There’s a reason why he’s the No. 1 scorer in Division I.”

Seton Hall Looks to Snap Losing Streak

The Pirates (7-24) have endured one of the toughest seasons in program history. Their six-game losing streak to end the regular season dropped them to the 11th seed in the Big East Tournament, and they have won just two games since mid-January.

Seton Hall’s offensive struggles have been a major issue. They were held to 60 points or fewer 16 times this season and shot below 40 percent in 17 games. Their regular-season finale was a low point—a lopsided 81-50 loss to UConn in which they shot just 35.3 percent from the field.

Can Seton Hall Contain Dixon?

For Seton Hall to have any chance of pulling off an upset, they must find a way to limit Dixon’s impact. That task becomes even harder given that the Pirates are without Chaunce Jenkins, their second-leading scorer, who has been out since January with a knee injury.

Isaiah Coleman has taken on a bigger offensive role, averaging 15.3 points per game. He will need a big performance to keep Seton Hall competitive. Coleman scored 22 points in the first matchup with Villanova back in December and will likely be the focal point of the Pirates’ attack.

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What’s at Stake?

For Villanova, this is a must-win game. The Wildcats cannot afford an early exit if they hope to reach the NCAA Tournament. A loss would likely leave them on the outside looking in.

Seton Hall, meanwhile, is playing for pride. With their season likely coming to an end soon, the Pirates have a chance to finish on a high note and play spoiler in the conference tournament.

Villanova enters as the clear favorite, but as the Wildcats learned in their shocking regular-season finale loss to Georgetown, anything can happen in March.