We’re just over six weeks away from Selection Sunday, and consensus bracketology projects that 3 to 4 teams from the Big East will make the NCAA Tournament. However, with the teams at the bottom showing life recently, the battle to avoid the league’s proverbial landmines will be a key storyline in the coming weeks. Here’s an updated look at the Big East power rankings, including a shakeup at the bottom half of the league.
*This article is part of an ongoing conference power ranking series. Read our recent editions using the buttons below.
1. UConn Huskies
Record: 20-1 (10-0)
Yes, the Huskies continue to win, with a 16-game active win streak. But it’s been far from convincing, needing overtime to beat Villanova and five of the last six games having a margin of six points or fewer in the win. 6-foot-3 junior guard Solomon Ball had 24 points in the win over Villanova, but league play hasn’t been overly kind to him, shooting just 28 percent from deep on over six attempts a game since the start of the new year. Creighton and Xavier are up next for the Huskies, followed by an anticipated road game at St. John’s.
2. St. John’s Red Storm
Record: 16-5 (9-1)
St. John’s has now won seven games in a row, including a 22-point home win over Butler. 6-foot-8 senior forward Dillon Mitchell had 14 points and 13 rebounds in the win and has had a strong couple of weeks, averaging 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in the last four outings. The Red Storm is playing its best basketball of the year and, assuming they don’t overlook DePaul on the road, will have all the momentum ahead of a home game versus UConn on February 6th.
3. Villanova Wildcats
Record: 15-5 (6-3)
The Wildcats faced both St. John’s and UConn in the last two weeks, and while they failed to win either, they clearly looked like the third-best team in the Big East. They were close to knocking off the Huskies on the road earlier in the week, falling 75-67 in overtime. That said, missed opportunities for signature wins leave Villanova with little margin for error against the rest of the league, making upcoming home games against Providence and Seton Hall must-wins to avoid blemishing their resume.
4. Seton Hall Pirates
Record: 15-6 (5-5)
After a 4-1 start to Big East play, the Pirates then lost four straight games, including a rough 67-60 road loss at DePaul. They did recently bounce back with an 86-68 win over Xavier, led by 27 points off the bench from 6-foot-4 junior guard TJ Simpkins. This is a team still with postseason hopes, but they have to go on a win streak of their own. After a home battle with an improved Marquette squad, the Pirates face Villanova and Creighton on the road.
5. Butler Bulldogs
Record: 13-8 (4-6)
After a four-game skid, Butler recently won three straight games, including over DePaul and Marquette at home. While a 22-point road defeat at St. John’s isn’t fun, at least the Bulldogs don’t play them again and have just one game versus UConn left later down the road. Before the Huskies, Butler has a home game against Georgetown, followed by key road games against Providence and Marquette.
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6. Creighton Bluejays
Record: 12-9 (6-4)
Since the start of the new year, Creighton has alternated wins and losses. But a 24-point road defeat at Marquette is brutal for their slim at-large hopes. The good news for them is that the Bluejays have UConn at home next, with that game effectively determining whether Coach Greg McDermott’s squad has any chance at the NCAA Tournament, barring a surprise road win later at one of the top teams.
7. DePaul Blue Demons
Record: 12-9 (4-6)
Coach Chris Holtmann has already matched the Big East win total from last year, thanks to a 67-60 home win over Seton Hall. CJ Gunn, a 6-foot-6 senior guard who has emerged as the lead option in league play, scored 19 points in the victory. The Blue Demons have become a clear spoiler to watch going forward, making a looming home battle with St. John’s suddenly more intriguing.
8. Marquette Golden Eagles
Record: 8-14 (3-8)
At some point, the Golden Eagles were going to get back toward being competitive in Big East play, getting recent wins over Providence in overtime and Creighton at home. One player who has emerged as of late is 6-foot-8 sophomore guard Royce Parham, averaging 16.3 points per game in the last four outings. Marquette looks to continue to play spoiler against a couple of bubble teams on the road, facing Seton Hall and Villanova in the next two weeks.
9. Xavier Musketeers
Record: 11-10 (3-7)
Head coach Richard Pitino was close to denying his father, Rick Pitino, from getting his 900th career D-I win last weekend, but Xavier ultimately blew its big early lead in an 88-83 defeat. An 18-point road loss at Seton Hall makes it three straight defeats for the Musketeers. The good news is that they face Seton Hall next in a winnable home game. But after that, there are back-to-back road games against St. John’s and UConn.
10. Georgetown Hoyas
Record: 11-10 (3-7)
After losing six straight, Georgetown has found its footing, winning two straight. One of them was an 81-78 comeback win over Providence on the road in a game that could’ve changed the fate of the head coaches involved. In the recent 70-61 win over DePaul, 6-foot-1 junior guard Malik Mack produced 16 points and seven assists. The Hoyas next face a trio of teams with postseason hopes (Butler, Creighton, and Villanova), looking to put a dent in their resumes.
11. Providence Friars
Record: 9-12 (2-8)
The Friars have lost six of the last seven games, putting them last in both the standings and power ranking. However, they’ve been close to getting wins in most of those games, including a 105-104 loss to Marquette in overtime, along with a six-point defeat to UConn. But the 81-78 home defeat to former Friar HC Ed Cooley and Georgetown, all while blowing a 21-point lead, could be what seals Coach Kim English’s fate if the program decides to make a change this offseason. The team hopes to turn things around, but will have to do it on the road at Villanova up next.
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