AP - Top-seeded Villanova had everything going its way, building a 12-point lead while the hometown crowd cheered and former coach Rollie Massimino looked on proudly.

AP - Villanova had the No. 1 seed, the home-court advantage, and a resume that has them unquestionably among the nation's elite. None of that seemed to faze unheralded Monmouth.

AP - Even playing at home as a No. 1 seed didn't provide Villanova a breather. Pushed by a pesky Monmouth team aiming to pull off an unprecedented upset, the top-seeded Wildcats prevailed and beat the Hawks 58-45 Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

AP - Three No. 1 seeds are featured on the second day of first-round action in the NCAA basketball tournament. Villanova and Memphis are preparing for afternoon tipoffs in Philadelphia and Dallas. The Wildcats take on play-in game winner Monmouth, while the Tigers go up against Oral Roberts.

AP - Here's a sight for a sore eye — Allan Ray swishing 3-pointers and shooting free throws without any pain in his right eye for top-seeded Villanova three days before its first NCAA tournament game.

AP - Hampton and Monmouth of New Jersey hook up tonight in Dayton, Ohio as March Madness officially tips off. The winner gets a 16th seeding in the NCAA men's basketball tournament and advances to a meeting with top seed Villanova in Philadelphia on Friday.

AP - • VILLANOVA (1) vs. Monmouth-Hampton winner — If Monmouth and Hampton merged instead of just meeting in the play-in game, it would still be the Wildcats, even if guard Allan Ray didn't play because of an eye injury from the Big East tournament.

AP - Duke was selected as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament for a record-tying 10th time Sunday, while Connecticut and Villanova led the Big East's unprecedented eight teams in the field with top seeds of their own.

AP - Villanova guard Allan Ray was cleared to participate in non-contact basketball drills Sunday, two days after he was hit in the right eye at the Big East tournament.

AP - Pittsburgh reached the Big East tournament game for the fifth time in six years and continued the conference's run of postseason upsets.

AP - Allan Ray scored 19 of his 26 points in the second half as No. 2 Villanova went on a decisive run and pulled away from Rutgers for an 87-55 victory Thursday night to advance to the semifinals of the Big East tournament.

AP - Rutgers is confident it can accomplish a lot more in the Big East tournament. The Scarlet Knights made the postseason even with two key players sidelined and a coach on his way out. With No. 2 Villanova up next, they might need more than just a little luck to continue their mission.

AP - The Big East couldn't have asked for more from its first season with 16 teams. Co-champions Connecticut and Villanova are 1-2 in the Top 25 heading into the conference tournament, and half of the league's teams are expected to receive a bid for the NCAA tournament.

AP - Connecticut and Villanova, the regular-season co-champions of the Big East, were also the top two teams in The Associated Press' college basketball poll Monday.

AP - Villanova guards Randy Foye and Allan Ray, Connecticut forward Rudy Gay and Marquette forward Steve Novak were unanimous choices Monday to the all-Big East first team.

AP - Villanova will head to \@New York\@ City for the Big East tournament with a share of the conference title.

AP - Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer popped a few Motrin before her team took on Villanova in the Big East conference tournament Sunday. She knew what was coming — an excruciatingly slow pace and a headache.

AP - Fans came in record numbers to celebrate the career of Gerry McNamara. Then the Villanova Wildcats put a damper on their day. Allan Ray scored 28 points, Randy Foye had 21 and No. 4 Villanova beat Syracuse 92-82 in McNamara's final regular-season home game.

AP - For Jason Fraser, a one-and-one was more likely to mean operations on both of his knees on the same day than a trip to the free-throw line.

AP - Villanova forward Curtis Sumpter decided Tuesday to take a medical redshirt and sit out the rest of the season.