If Villanova can close the regular season playing as well as it has over the past month, there's a good chance it'll wind up with two byes at the start of the Big East tournament.

If Georgetown keeps playing the way it has lately, there's a chance the conference tournament could be the last time it takes the floor this season.

The 10th-ranked Wildcats will try to win for the 10th time in 11 games Saturday afternoon when they host the sputtering Hoyas, who have lost nine of 11 to leave even their NIT hopes in jeopardy.

Connecticut, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Marquette have been the four heavyweights of the Big East this season, and the top four seeds in the conference tournament will have the first two rounds off, requiring just three wins to claim the title.

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Villanova (23-5, 11-4) has won nine of its last 10 to pull within a game of Pitt and Marquette for a spot in the top four. Those schools each play two fellow contenders in their final three games, leaving the Wildcats - whose final three opponents are a combined 21-25 in the league - a chance to grab one of the double-bye slots in New York City.

"I didn't know how a good team was going to measure up in this league," coach Jay Wright said. "I didn't think we were going to be a great team, but maybe at the end we have a chance to be."

Dante Cunningham is Villanova's leading scorer (16.4) and rebounder (7.2), but it's been Scottie Reynolds' play that's keyed the team recently.

The junior guard is averaging 18.4 points over his last seven games, and he had eight of his 18 over the final 2:05 on Wednesday at DePaul, helping the Wildcats avoid a major upset and win 74-72.

"At the end of the game, I just wanted to make plays for us," Reynolds said. "I wanted to be the guy with the ball in his hands. My teammates have confidence in me."

The Wildcats are 9-0 when Reynolds scores 18 or more, which he's done six times in league play.

Reynolds has scored at least 18 twice in his last four meetings with Georgetown (14-12, 5-10), but it hasn't made a difference - Villanova has lost each time.

Those games, though, were all against Hoyas teams ranked in the top 15, but this version is nowhere near the AP poll. Georgetown rose as high as No. 9 in early January but is 4-11 since Jan. 3.

The Hoyas' only two victories in their past 11 games came against conference bottom-feeders Rutgers and South Florida. Georgetown has won the last two Big East regular-season titles, but if it loses two of three to close its schedule and falls in the first round of the conference tournament, it may not be invited to the NIT.

The Hoyas shot 39.2 percent Monday in a 76-58 home loss to Louisville that was their most lopsided of the season. Still, coach John Thompson III tried to remain optimistic.

"If there's one good thing about being in this conference it's that you get to go to New York and you get a chance to fight and you get a chance to win it," Thompson said. "We have to continue to improve and we have to be better when we get to New York, it's as simple as that."

If the Hoyas plan on hanging with Villanova, they'll need more from DaJuan Summers. Georgetown's leading scorer (13.6), Summers has averaged 8.8 points on 34.5 percent shooting in six February games.