When you're filling out college basketball brackets this week, remember that Warren Buffet is giving away a billion dollars for a perfect tournament.

Also remember that Liberty graduate Darrun Hilliard will be leading Villanova when the tournament kicks off on Thursday.

Hilliard and the second-seeded Wildcats will be ready as well, as they open the tournament in Buffalo against 15th-seeded Milwaukee at 9:25 p.m., Thursday night at the First Niagara Center.

It's the second-straight dance that Hilliard has been apart of, but he hopes that this year's tournament can last a little longer.

"We made it last year, but lost to a good North Carolina team in the first round," said Hilliard of the 78-71 defeat in Kansas City. "I was like a kid in the candy store last year, just happy to get to the tournament. Now, it's not about just getting here. It's about winning and we have to take one game at a time."

Hilliard has averaged 29 minutes of action a game this season, along with 14.3 points a contest.

He'll be looked upon to shoulder the responsibility of getting his teammates ready for their opener against a Milwaukee (21-13, 7-9) team, who won the Horizon League tournament by defeating Wright State 69-63 in last week's final to gain an automatic berth.

Villanova (28-4, 16-2) had their opportunity for a top-seed in this week's NCAA tournament pulled out of its hands last Thursday, when Seton Hall stunned the Wildcats in their opener of the Big East tournament 64-63.

Sterling Gibbs hit a jumper from the top of the key at the buzzer to give the Pirates the win and upset the Wildcats.

Hilliard was front and center in the drama, as he hit the go-ahead bucket for Villanova with 7.8 seconds left to give the Wildcats a 63-62 lead.

Then he was guarding Gibbs when he hit the step-back jumper at the buzzer for the win.

"It didn't really affect us that much," he said about the loss last week. "He [Gibbs] made a tough shot at the end. That's how it goes sometimes, but it really showed us that you can't take anything for granted."

With that in mind, Hilliard knows that focusing on Milwaukee is the sole objective this week.

"They're probably one of the best teams in their school history, so we're not overlooking anyone," he said. "That's one thing that I've learned over the years. You just have to take one game at a time and not get too up or down on yourself."

Should Villanova win, it would meet either UCONN or St. Joe's on Saturday. With last week's loss to Seton Hall taking place at Madison Square Garden, Hilliard would relish the opportunity to advance to the East final, which is back at the Garden.

"I'd love for us to get back there, but we got a long way to go before that happens," he said. "One game at a time."