Villanova opens Big East Tourney play as No. 2 seed

Rutgers (18-12) at No. 2 Villanova (24-3) 7:00 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- With its highest seed since 1997, No. 2 Villanova begins play in the Big East Tournament by taking on Rutgers in the quarterfinals Thursday.

The second-seeded Wildcats have their best draw in the tourney since they were the No. 1 seed in 1997, when they lost in the finals to Boston College.

With a 14-2 Big East mark, Villanova shared the league's regular season title with top-ranked Connecticut, ending the season with a pair of victories following a loss to the Huskies on February 26.

The Wildcats' vaunted four-guard attack carried the club through the impressive campaign and was in fine form in the regular season finale, combining to score 78 points in Sunday's 92-82 victory at Syracuse.

Allan Ray led the way with 28 points. Randy Foye chipped in 21, Kyle Lowry 17 and Mike Nardi 12 for Villanova, which made 13 3-pointers in its best offensive output in league play.

The Wildcats' guards will contend with Big East leading scorer Quincy Douby, who scored 18 points to lead the Scarlet Knights (18-12) to a 61-48 victory over Seton Hall in the first round Wednesday.

Douby had 12 of his points in the second half as Rutgers won its second straight game since coach Gary Waters announced he would resign at the end of the season.

Lowry and Foye combined for 52 points to help offset 28 by Douby in Villanova's 84-78 overtime victory in the first meeting between the teams January 11. The teams have yet to meet in the tournament.

The winner will face either No. 16 Pittsburgh or 21st-ranked West Virginia in Friday's semifinals.