VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Villanova Wildcats moved into the national rankings on Monday, earning a No. 24 nod from the Associated Press and the No. 25 slot in the ESPN/USA Today poll.

This marks the first appearance for the Wildcats in the AP rankings since the final poll of the 1996-97 season. Villanova, which was ranked as high as No. 4 that season, concluded the year at No. 20. Villanova also returns to the ESPN/USA Today poll for the first time since 1997.

The Wildcats have reeled off three consecutive victories in the past nine days, including wins over previously unbeaten Kansas, Notre Dame and a 33-point win at Rutgers last Saturday. Earlier on Monday junior guard Allan Ray (Bronx, N.Y.) was named Big East Conference player of the week.

"We are happy for Villanova and all its fans," stated head coach Jay Wright, "but we'll always measure our success from within. We have a lot of basketball ahead of us and we are just focused on getting better for our next game at Connecticut."

On Wednesday, the Wildcats travel to Hartford to face the team immediately ahead of them in the AP poll, No. 23 Connecticut (No. 20 in ESPN/USA Today poll). The Huskies (12-5 overall, 4-3 Big East) host the `Cats in a contest to be televised locally by WFMZ (Channel 69) at 7:00 p.m.