Technically, Big East play has already begun, with everyone playing at least two league games before this week. But with nonconference play now wrapped, it’s time to see where each of these 11 programs stands against one another on the court, with potentially not many at-large bids available out of this conference.
Here’s an updated power ranking of the Big East, featuring an attempt to separate a large batch of teams in the middle.
1. UConn Huskies
Record: 13-1 (3-0)
While road games can be difficult, UConn had little trouble in the past two weeks, beating Butler and DePaul each by 18-plus points at their places. The Huskies are now as healthy as ever, with 6-foot-6 freshman guard Braylon Mullins joining after missing the first few weeks with a preseason ankle injury. He’s now averaging over 10 points per game in the rotation, giving the already potent Huskies more scoring firepower. At this rate, there’s a sizable gap between UConn and the rest of the Big East.
2. St. John’s Red Storm
Record: 9-4 (2-0)
Are there still questions about the long-term viability of the Red Storm concerning the point guard situation? Yes. But they’ve passed their first two tests, including a 95-83 road win at Georgetown led by 25 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists from 6-foot-9 senior big man Zuby Ejiofor. With the matchups versus UConn not until February, St. John’s has the chance to rack up a lot of wins in the coming weeks.
3. Villanova Wildcats
Record: 11-2 (2-0)
A case can be made that the real rankings start at No. 3, with first-year head coach Kevin Willard making the Wildcats even more competitive than initially expected. They’ve won four straight games, including an impressive 64-56 road win over Seton Hall, led by 16 points from 6-foot-2 freshman guard Acaden Lewis. With three of the next four on the road, this is an important stretch for Villanova to establish itself as a postseason contender.
4. Creighton Bluejays
Record: 9-5 (3-0)
A few weeks ago, the Bluejays would’ve been much lower on this list. Yet they’ve won four straight games, including an 89-85 win over Butler, led by 23 points from 6-foot-8 junior forward Jasen Green. Creighton’s depth on the wings is their one strength, and so far in league play, that’s helped them get off to a strong start in the Big East.
5. Seton Hall Pirates
Record: 12-2 (2-1)
The Pirates have already matched their Big East win total from a year ago (two), including a 79-73 comeback victory over Marquette. The star was 6-foot-9 senior forward Stephon Payne, who produced 14 points and 22 rebounds. The program certainly has done a 180 compared to last season, but can Seton Hall be good enough to make the NCAA Tournament? A home battle with a surging Creighton squad will be a key test.
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6. Butler Bulldogs
Record: 10-4 (1-2)
Road losses to Creighton and UConn are understandable for the Bulldogs, even in an 89-85 defeat to the Bluejays that came despite 20 points off the bench from 6-foot-10 senior forward Yohan Traore. The next week will be key for Butler, as they face both Villanova and St. John’s at home, with the matchup against the Red Storm carrying resume implications.
7. Georgetown Hoyas
Record: 9-5 (1-2)
After a good start to the season, things have fallen off for the Hoyas and coach Ed Cooley, including a viral water-bottle incident. Home losses to Xavier and St. John’s put them in a situation where they need to find wins on the road, starting with a battle at DePaul. The good news is that 7-foot-1 senior center Vincent Iwuchukwu (11.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game), who has been out for nearly two months after a reported medical procedure, could be back soon after being listed as “questionable” in the last game.
8. Xavier Musketeers
Record: 9-5 (1-2)
The recent stretch of results for the Musketeers includes home defeats to UConn and Creighton, along with a road win over Georgetown. 6-foot-7 senior forward Tre Carroll has emerged as the go-to guy for the Musketeers, scoring 22 points in the win over the Hoyas. Xavier looks to stay in the mix in the mid-tier of the Big East, with must-win road games over DePaul and Marquette coming up.
9. Providence Friars
Record: 7-6 (0-2)
Eight points separate the Friars from potentially being 2-0 in league play after close losses to Butler and Seton Hall. With two weeks off since the last game, we’ll see if they’ve made any defensive adjustments, an area of clear weakness for Providence. But the next two games are the toughest: taking on St. John’s on the road, followed by a home battle with UConn. A 0-4 start to league play will only make coach Kim English’s seat even hotter.
10. DePaul Blue Demons
Record: 8-6 (0-3)
The Blue Demons were close to winning their first league game on Wednesday, leading Villanova on the road in the second half before allowing a late run to lose again. They do have two winnable home games coming up and a chance to play spoiler, taking on Xavier and Georgetown.
11. Marquette Golden Eagles
Record: 5-9 (0-3)
Marquette has a case of being the most disappointing team in the entire country, losing all three league games by a combined 36 points. In their defense, it was against the top three teams in this power ranking, so the schedule will automatically get better. They have home games with Xavier and Georgetown coming up, but with the roster dealing with some turmoil behind the scenes, could this already be a lost season for the Eagles?
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