Villanova edged the Virginia basketball team 61-59 on a buzzer-beating tip-in Sunday in Philadelphia. Losses like that sting a little in January. They sting a lot in March.

Ultimately, that’s what both teams hoped to get out of the top 15 showdown (and both teams are now top 10 in the new rankings): NCAA Tournament prep. UVA learned that turnovers at key times down the stretch and leaky second half defense – Villanova made 13 of 18 shots in the second half – can be costly in elite matchups. The Wildcats learned that sustained effort over 40 minutes and supplementing their 3-point shooting with dribble drive attacks can carry you against tough competition.

Last December’s meeting helped test both teams as well and it seemed to pay dividends in the NCAA Tournament. Nova went on to win the title, while the Cavaliers made their return to the Elite Eight. It remains to be seen if this year’s rematch will help spark similar success in the Big Dance because matchups are always so important in the season-ending tourney. Still, playing in front of an energized crowd in a high profile game does provide experience in an NCAA Tournament style setting.

Count me among those, Villanova coach Jay Wright included per the TV broadcast, that would like to see this home-and-home series continue in future seasons.

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