As the new year approaches, so does conference play, and the Big East begins their conference slate today. So, I am introducing my new weekly conference breakdown series, where I will go in depth on each conference once a week. This will essentially be replacing the Fast Break, as I will give breakdowns of games as well as some new things. I will be releasing one conference every day of the week if all goes well, although I may occasionally have to push one back a day or so given my workload at school, which unfortunately has to come first. I'm really excited to bring this to you all, and I hope you enjoy my breakdown of the Big East. The conference will be very competitive once more, and should be exciting to watch every night thanks to the excellent guard play and top quality offenses that exist in the league.
Power Rankings
1. Marquette
Record: 11-2
My Thoughts: Marquette was a team I was really high on coming into the year, and they've lived up to my expectations. They suffered an early blowout loss to Indiana and then losing to Kansas a week later, but since then the Golden Eagles have rattled off eight straight victories, including a neutral court win over Louisville and home wins over Kansas State, Wisconsin, and Buffalo. They can score with any team in the nation, with the ability to absolutely light it up from deep. This isn't a team that gets hot, they go straight supernova when they are making shots. Sam and Joey Hauser are excellent shooters from the wing, both shooting at least 42.5% from three and combining for 25.3 points a game this year (the stats from last night's game have yet to be factored into this number). If they weren't enough, they also feature dynamic point guard Markus Howard, who is one of the most fun players to watch in the country. He's scored 45 points twice, most notably his 40 point second half outburst against Buffalo. They have taken a step forward on defense with the play of Fordham transfer Joseph Chartouny, wing Sacar Anim and big man Theo John, which has made them much more balanced. They are very dangerous and I think they have to be the Big East favorite at this point in time.
2. Villanova
Record: 9-4
My Thoughts: It's been an odd year in Nova Nation. They have had some well publicized issues, notably losing to Furman and Penn at home and the playing time, or lack thereof, of top recruit Jahvon Quinnerly. However, they seem to be on the upswing. They nearly beat Kansas at Phogg Allen, and rode a 19-0 second half run to demolish UConn at Madison Square Garden, and previously won the Advocate Invitational by beating Oklahoma State and Florida State. Phil Booth and Eric Paschall have led the team as the two starters returning from the championship team, and Collin Gillespie has begun to impress with his play recently. When watching them play, you can see the system that won them a national championship. They have good shooters and share the ball well, but they just aren't the group from last year. They will take good shots instead of making the extra pass for a great one. Most notably, the defense isn't at the same level as it was last year, falling outside of the top 50 on KenPom. I still think the roster is talented enough and Jay Wright a good enough coach to win this team a Big East title, but I need to see it a lot more consistently.
3. St. John's
Record: 12-0
My Thoughts: One of the more controversial teams in the nation, the Johnnies are one of the five remaining undefeated teams. However, they have a notoriously easy schedule, as their best game is against VCU, and the only Power 6 opponents they have faced are Rutgers, California, and Georgia Tech. Not exactly a murderer's row of non-conference opponents. However, there is no denying the talent on this roster. Shamorie Ponds is having an excellent start to the season, and Auburn transfer Mustapha Heron joins him for one of the best backcourts in college basketball. Add in ultra versatile pieces in LJ Figueroa, Marvin Clark, and Justin Simon as well as Mikey Dixon, a 43.3% three point shooter, and there is a very good team here. When Sedee Keita returns from injury, they will add a legitimate rim protector as well. However, they haven't played anyone that good, and their defense is still borderline top 100 in KenPom, and a good deal of those wins have been less than convincing. Chris Mullins has still yet to prove himself as a quality coach, so there are plenty of questions surrounding the Red Storm as they enter Big East play. I'm a believer in this team, and I think Keita will help them improve defensively and make them one of the better teams in the conference.
4. Creighton
Record: 9-4
My Thoughts: I was higher than consensus on the Blue Jays entering the year, and they've made me look pretty smart. All of their four losses have come against top 25 KenPom teams and top 26 teams according to the AP (I have all 4 in my top 25), and they were pretty close to beating Gonzaga and Ohio State. They have beaten Clemson as well as top mid-majors Montana and Georgia State, largely on the back of one of the top offenses in the country. They are first in the nation in effective field goal percentage at 60.9%, and fifth in three point percentage, making 43.1% of their shots from deep. Like Marquette, you don't want to let them get hot. Two of their rotation players shoot 50% or better from three. That's pretty good, if you ask me. The star of the show has been TyShon Alexander, who has stepped in and filled the large shoes of Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas. He's scoring 17.2 points a game while making 45% of his threes. Fellow sophomore Mitch Ballock can also really shoot it from deep, making 44% of his shots, which equates to nearly 3 game. Junior forward Martin Krampelj should receive more credit, however. The Slovenian big man is only scoring 9.4 points a game, but he is one of the most talented front court players in the Big East, and always impresses me when he plays. He was averaging 12 and 8 before tearing his ACL last year, and coach Greg McDermott has been a little more cautious with his minutes so far this year. I think he could be a difference maker during conference play, and I think Creighton will be a very good team in the Big East.
5. Butler
Record: 9-3
My Thoughts: The Bulldogs are a team that I really like. They lack a real signature win, but they have beaten Florida on a neutral court, and will travel to Gainesville later today. Kamar Baldwin is a great scorer, dropping 16.2 a game, although he lacks a shot from deep. That's alright though, as the rest of the team shoots the ball plenty well. Paul Jorgensen and Sean McDermott are knockdown shooters from deep, both shooting over 42%. Point guard Aaron Thompson is more of a facilitator and rarely shoots, but he has made 5 of his 8 three point attempts this year, and has a decent looking stroke. They really lack quality in the front court, as neither Nate Fowler or Joey Brunk has been impressive on either end, and they got absolutely torched by Juwan Morgan during their loss to Indiana. They'll need improved play from those two to hit their ceiling. They do get another weapon in Duke transfer Jordan Tucker who recently became available and is a very good shooter at 6'7". He's a stretch four that can offer improved rebounding and defense, and should make the Bulldogs even more potent. The game against Florida should serve as a good predictor for how good this team will be in Big East play.
6. Seton Hall
Record: 9-3
My Thoughts: This is another team that has surpassed expectations early this year. The Pirates have beaten Kentucky on a neutral and Maryland on the road, and don't have any really bad losses, with the worst being to Saint Louis. Myles Powell has been absolutely insane thus far, scoring 23 points a game while shooting 38.1% from three, making 40(!) already this year, good for 3.3 a game. He scored 40 in a win over Grand Canyon, and 28 with 6 made threes against both Kentucky and in-state rivals Rutgers, and had 27 at Maryland. He's one of the best scorers in the conference and the country, and he's been the main reason for Seton Hall being this good so far. Myles Cale has also started to pick up his play, which would give the Pirates another perimeter scoring option, and the front court of Michael Nzei and Sandro Mamukelashvili has been more productive than I expected. They aren't very deep, and there are concerns with primary ball handler Quincy McKnight, but I think the Pirates are a team trending up, with 5 straight wins, and they have the ability to win on any given night thanks to the play of Powell.
7. Providence
Record: 10-3
My Thoughts: I'm pretty down on Providence this year. They have losses to Wichita State and UMass, and their best win comes over a Texas team that I do not like. They just don't look the part of a tournament team to me, despite some quality offensive performers. Freshman AJ Reeves has been very good as a scoring guard, although he has missed the last three games with injury and will miss most of January. I really like his game, and he's a major loss for the Friars. Alpha Diallo has been great, scoring 17.5 points and getting 8.5 rebounds along with 3.4 assists, all team highs. I think part of my trepidation is I don't really like this roster after those two. David Duke, who side note has the worst name in the sport as he shares a name with a former leader of the KKK. I mean that's really tough. But anyways, he's not as far along as I thought he would be, especially compared to Reeves. Nate Watson is solid, but pretty unspectacular, and Isaiah Jackson can shoot well enough. The major problem for the Friars has been their offense, hovering around 250 for 2 point percentage and free throw percentage. Those are really bad numbers, and their above average three point shooting can't cover for their other offensive struggles. They need to sort that out to have a good year in the Big East.
8. Georgetown
Record: 9-3
My Thoughts: This is the only team in the conference I have seen live, and I wasn't that impressed. First the good: Jessie Govan is legit. The big man is performing at an all-conference level, scoring 17.9 points a game along with 7.3 rebounds. He also shoots 47.1% from three, which makes him nearly impossible to guard. The freshman backcourt of James Akinjo and Mac McClung has been very good, with Akinjo scoring 14.5 points a game and dishing out 4.7 assists a game, while McClung has lived up to his social media clips, dropping 12.3 points a game. He needs to get much more consistent, especially shooting the ball, but he's been better than I thought he would be and he should be a nice piece in the future. But Josh LeBlanc, Jamorko Pickett, and Jahvon Blair have all been huge letdowns this season. Pickett and Blair have taken steps back as sophomores, and LeBlanc has been average at best, and they all figured to be key wing contributors, but have been basically zeroes for Patrick Ewing. The core is in place for the Hoyas, but I don't think they make a lot of noise in the Big East this season.
9. Xavier
Record: 8-5
My Thoughts: The Musketeers have been one of the most disappointing teams in the nation so far this year, sitting at 8-5 heading into conference play. They have had two big problems. First, the play of supposed stars Quentin Goodin and Naji Marshall has been subpar. Goodin specifically has been bad, although he does lead the team in scoring, but he is shooting under 40% from the field, and 28.6% from three. Marshall isn't doing much better shooting the ball, going 43% from the field and 21.6% from deep. Those two simply haven't been at the level they've needed to be. I have liked Paul Scruggs' play this year, but overall, they need more from the big guns. The other issue has been the defense. It's outside the top 100 on KenPom, and it's in no small part to having to balance their offense and defense. For instance, Ryan Welage is a plus on offense, spacing the floor and knocking down shots from deep. However, he stinks defensively, and the team is worse on that end with him on the floor. They have also struggled to defend the three point line, as opponents shoot 36.2% from downtown against Xavier. This team really misses Chris Mack and stars Trevon Bluiett and JP Macura, and they have dug themselves into a pretty deep hole after non-conference play.
10. DePaul
Record: 8-3
My Thoughts: The Blue Demons just can't seem to catch a break. After beating Penn State and looking like this year might be different, they lost to Notre Dame by 25, and Northwestern by 7. They also more recently lost to Boston College by 3, in a game that they literally threw away, as they botched an in bounds pass. Max Strus has been very good, as has Eli Cain. Strus is under the radar nationally, but he's scoring 19.7 points a game and getting 8.1 rebounds. He has a real chance to be a first team All Big East, and I really like his game. He's actually been struggling shooting the ball this year, so he could get even better during Big East play. It likely won't be enough for the Blue Demons to get out of the bottom tier of the Big East, but they'll be better than I thought.
What Happened
This is where I'll breakdown the previous week's games in a similar fashion to my Fast Break series. I'll offer my thoughts and observations from that slate and explain my changes, if any, to my power rankings all in this space. There obviously weren't any games this past week, so for now this is all I have here.
What To Watch
- Big East play starts off with Xavier and DePaul. A real powerhouse battle to get things underway. It's really not a game you need to watch if you aren't a die hard Big East fan, but it should be an interesting battle. Both teams need this one, and DePaul may have the best player on the court for the first team in the last few years during Big East play. The game will come down to the play of Max Strus and Naji Marshall for the Blue Demons and Musketeers respectively, and whoever performs better could win the game for their team.
- St. John's gets their Big East campaign started with a baptism by fire. After not playing many teams of note in the non-conference, they travel to Newark to face Myles Powell and the Seton Hall Pirates. It's a tough test for the Johnnies, and a win would go a long way in proving their legitimacy. That game has been talked about a lot. However, their next contest is against Marquette, which is obviously very difficult. The duel of Markus Howard and the Hauser against Shamorie Ponds and Mustapha Heron is going to be very entertaining, and should really show if St. John's can compete at the top of the conference.
- Creighton travels to Rhode Island to take on Providence in a tough test. The Friars didn't have the best non-conference performance, and this is the type of game they need to win to begin to build a legitimate tournament case. Alpha Diallo could have a field day as it doesn't seem as if the Blue Jays have an immediate answer for him, although I think it'll be an uphill battle for Providence without AJ Reeves. They will need to shut down Mitch Ballock, as Creighton struggles when he can't get going. Providence will need to slow it down and execute offensively, which hasn't been a strong point his year. It should be an entertaining one.
Full Big East Scheulde 12/29-1/4
December 29
2 PM: Xavier @ DePaul
8:30 PM: St. John's @ Seton Hall
December 31
4 PM: Creighton @ Providence
January 1
7 PM: Marquette @ St. John's
January 2
6:30 PM: Seton Hall @ Xavier
7 PM: Georgetown @ Butler
8:30 PM: DePaul @ Villanova
3 Questions
1. Is Villanova back?
I went through it earlier, but Villanova has been up and down to say the least. They followed up back to back losses to Michigan and Furman with a win at the Advocate Invitational, and it looked like the Wildcats were back after a few early season struggles. However, they would go on to lose to Penn at home, which caused people to go into full panic mode. However, their last two games have been good, with a close loss at Kansas before beating Connecticut by 23 at MSG. So the question has to be asked, is Villanova rounding into form as conference play approaches, ready to dominate the Big East once again, or is their season going to be made up of ebbs and flows? They will be one of the most intriguing teams to monitor during conference play as they attempt to answer that question.
2. How good is St. John's?
I mentioned this in my power rankings, but this team has yet to be really tested. I think they are good, but admittedly they haven't played anyone particularly good, so their 12-0 record may be a bit inflated. Still, there is something to be said for winning the games you are supposed to win, and they have certainly done that so far. If they can come out and beat Seton Hall in Newark, that will say a lot. They follow that up with a game against Marquette and play Villanova next week, so we'll quickly learn just how good they are.
3. Who can lock up their place in the tournament?
As of now, the Big East has, in my mind, one lock for March. Marquette is a no doubt top 25 team and their non-conference resume had them firmly in the tournament. After them, I think 3 teams are almost certainly going dancing. Villanova has some bad losses, but a neutral court win over Florida State holds a lot of weight, and they seemed to have turned a corner recently. Plus, the numbers love them, with KenPom placing them at 18, and they have one of the best coaches in the country, so I think they're a near shoe-in come Selection Sunday. I think Butler can basically lock up their spot with a win in Gainesville and a solid year in the Big East, but they aren't a certainty. Creighton should also make it, although they lack a headliner win on their resume. After those four, there are some question marks. St. John's hasn't lost, but they have no good wins, and they'll have to win double digit games in the conference in order to get into the tournament, which is far from a guarantee, as Chris Mullins hasn't had a winning season yet. Seton Hall is firmly on the bubble at the moment, although that win over Kentucky will continue to get better, even if the home loss to Saint Louis gets worse. Winning at Maryland was huge, but they still have work to do in order to breathe easily late in the year. I think all of those six teams will make it. In order for Providence, and to a lesser extent the other three teams who are basically eliminated, to earn a bid, they need to have really good years. The problem is, the conference is down and there won't be a chance to get a headlining win like there was in year's past. Because of this, they need quantity, and I don't see the Friars winning enough games to make the tournament. The league will be very competitive, but it feels more like a handful of 4-7 seeds instead of the two one seeds from last year.
Power Rankings
1. Marquette
Record: 11-2
My Thoughts: Marquette was a team I was really high on coming into the year, and they've lived up to my expectations. They suffered an early blowout loss to Indiana and then losing to Kansas a week later, but since then the Golden Eagles have rattled off eight straight victories, including a neutral court win over Louisville and home wins over Kansas State, Wisconsin, and Buffalo. They can score with any team in the nation, with the ability to absolutely light it up from deep. This isn't a team that gets hot, they go straight supernova when they are making shots. Sam and Joey Hauser are excellent shooters from the wing, both shooting at least 42.5% from three and combining for 25.3 points a game this year (the stats from last night's game have yet to be factored into this number). If they weren't enough, they also feature dynamic point guard Markus Howard, who is one of the most fun players to watch in the country. He's scored 45 points twice, most notably his 40 point second half outburst against Buffalo. They have taken a step forward on defense with the play of Fordham transfer Joseph Chartouny, wing Sacar Anim and big man Theo John, which has made them much more balanced. They are very dangerous and I think they have to be the Big East favorite at this point in time.
2. Villanova
Record: 9-4
My Thoughts: It's been an odd year in Nova Nation. They have had some well publicized issues, notably losing to Furman and Penn at home and the playing time, or lack thereof, of top recruit Jahvon Quinnerly. However, they seem to be on the upswing. They nearly beat Kansas at Phogg Allen, and rode a 19-0 second half run to demolish UConn at Madison Square Garden, and previously won the Advocate Invitational by beating Oklahoma State and Florida State. Phil Booth and Eric Paschall have led the team as the two starters returning from the championship team, and Collin Gillespie has begun to impress with his play recently. When watching them play, you can see the system that won them a national championship. They have good shooters and share the ball well, but they just aren't the group from last year. They will take good shots instead of making the extra pass for a great one. Most notably, the defense isn't at the same level as it was last year, falling outside of the top 50 on KenPom. I still think the roster is talented enough and Jay Wright a good enough coach to win this team a Big East title, but I need to see it a lot more consistently.
3. St. John's
Record: 12-0
My Thoughts: One of the more controversial teams in the nation, the Johnnies are one of the five remaining undefeated teams. However, they have a notoriously easy schedule, as their best game is against VCU, and the only Power 6 opponents they have faced are Rutgers, California, and Georgia Tech. Not exactly a murderer's row of non-conference opponents. However, there is no denying the talent on this roster. Shamorie Ponds is having an excellent start to the season, and Auburn transfer Mustapha Heron joins him for one of the best backcourts in college basketball. Add in ultra versatile pieces in LJ Figueroa, Marvin Clark, and Justin Simon as well as Mikey Dixon, a 43.3% three point shooter, and there is a very good team here. When Sedee Keita returns from injury, they will add a legitimate rim protector as well. However, they haven't played anyone that good, and their defense is still borderline top 100 in KenPom, and a good deal of those wins have been less than convincing. Chris Mullins has still yet to prove himself as a quality coach, so there are plenty of questions surrounding the Red Storm as they enter Big East play. I'm a believer in this team, and I think Keita will help them improve defensively and make them one of the better teams in the conference.
4. Creighton
Record: 9-4
My Thoughts: I was higher than consensus on the Blue Jays entering the year, and they've made me look pretty smart. All of their four losses have come against top 25 KenPom teams and top 26 teams according to the AP (I have all 4 in my top 25), and they were pretty close to beating Gonzaga and Ohio State. They have beaten Clemson as well as top mid-majors Montana and Georgia State, largely on the back of one of the top offenses in the country. They are first in the nation in effective field goal percentage at 60.9%, and fifth in three point percentage, making 43.1% of their shots from deep. Like Marquette, you don't want to let them get hot. Two of their rotation players shoot 50% or better from three. That's pretty good, if you ask me. The star of the show has been TyShon Alexander, who has stepped in and filled the large shoes of Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas. He's scoring 17.2 points a game while making 45% of his threes. Fellow sophomore Mitch Ballock can also really shoot it from deep, making 44% of his shots, which equates to nearly 3 game. Junior forward Martin Krampelj should receive more credit, however. The Slovenian big man is only scoring 9.4 points a game, but he is one of the most talented front court players in the Big East, and always impresses me when he plays. He was averaging 12 and 8 before tearing his ACL last year, and coach Greg McDermott has been a little more cautious with his minutes so far this year. I think he could be a difference maker during conference play, and I think Creighton will be a very good team in the Big East.
5. Butler
Record: 9-3
My Thoughts: The Bulldogs are a team that I really like. They lack a real signature win, but they have beaten Florida on a neutral court, and will travel to Gainesville later today. Kamar Baldwin is a great scorer, dropping 16.2 a game, although he lacks a shot from deep. That's alright though, as the rest of the team shoots the ball plenty well. Paul Jorgensen and Sean McDermott are knockdown shooters from deep, both shooting over 42%. Point guard Aaron Thompson is more of a facilitator and rarely shoots, but he has made 5 of his 8 three point attempts this year, and has a decent looking stroke. They really lack quality in the front court, as neither Nate Fowler or Joey Brunk has been impressive on either end, and they got absolutely torched by Juwan Morgan during their loss to Indiana. They'll need improved play from those two to hit their ceiling. They do get another weapon in Duke transfer Jordan Tucker who recently became available and is a very good shooter at 6'7". He's a stretch four that can offer improved rebounding and defense, and should make the Bulldogs even more potent. The game against Florida should serve as a good predictor for how good this team will be in Big East play.
6. Seton Hall
Record: 9-3
My Thoughts: This is another team that has surpassed expectations early this year. The Pirates have beaten Kentucky on a neutral and Maryland on the road, and don't have any really bad losses, with the worst being to Saint Louis. Myles Powell has been absolutely insane thus far, scoring 23 points a game while shooting 38.1% from three, making 40(!) already this year, good for 3.3 a game. He scored 40 in a win over Grand Canyon, and 28 with 6 made threes against both Kentucky and in-state rivals Rutgers, and had 27 at Maryland. He's one of the best scorers in the conference and the country, and he's been the main reason for Seton Hall being this good so far. Myles Cale has also started to pick up his play, which would give the Pirates another perimeter scoring option, and the front court of Michael Nzei and Sandro Mamukelashvili has been more productive than I expected. They aren't very deep, and there are concerns with primary ball handler Quincy McKnight, but I think the Pirates are a team trending up, with 5 straight wins, and they have the ability to win on any given night thanks to the play of Powell.
7. Providence
Record: 10-3
My Thoughts: I'm pretty down on Providence this year. They have losses to Wichita State and UMass, and their best win comes over a Texas team that I do not like. They just don't look the part of a tournament team to me, despite some quality offensive performers. Freshman AJ Reeves has been very good as a scoring guard, although he has missed the last three games with injury and will miss most of January. I really like his game, and he's a major loss for the Friars. Alpha Diallo has been great, scoring 17.5 points and getting 8.5 rebounds along with 3.4 assists, all team highs. I think part of my trepidation is I don't really like this roster after those two. David Duke, who side note has the worst name in the sport as he shares a name with a former leader of the KKK. I mean that's really tough. But anyways, he's not as far along as I thought he would be, especially compared to Reeves. Nate Watson is solid, but pretty unspectacular, and Isaiah Jackson can shoot well enough. The major problem for the Friars has been their offense, hovering around 250 for 2 point percentage and free throw percentage. Those are really bad numbers, and their above average three point shooting can't cover for their other offensive struggles. They need to sort that out to have a good year in the Big East.
8. Georgetown
Record: 9-3
My Thoughts: This is the only team in the conference I have seen live, and I wasn't that impressed. First the good: Jessie Govan is legit. The big man is performing at an all-conference level, scoring 17.9 points a game along with 7.3 rebounds. He also shoots 47.1% from three, which makes him nearly impossible to guard. The freshman backcourt of James Akinjo and Mac McClung has been very good, with Akinjo scoring 14.5 points a game and dishing out 4.7 assists a game, while McClung has lived up to his social media clips, dropping 12.3 points a game. He needs to get much more consistent, especially shooting the ball, but he's been better than I thought he would be and he should be a nice piece in the future. But Josh LeBlanc, Jamorko Pickett, and Jahvon Blair have all been huge letdowns this season. Pickett and Blair have taken steps back as sophomores, and LeBlanc has been average at best, and they all figured to be key wing contributors, but have been basically zeroes for Patrick Ewing. The core is in place for the Hoyas, but I don't think they make a lot of noise in the Big East this season.
9. Xavier
Record: 8-5
My Thoughts: The Musketeers have been one of the most disappointing teams in the nation so far this year, sitting at 8-5 heading into conference play. They have had two big problems. First, the play of supposed stars Quentin Goodin and Naji Marshall has been subpar. Goodin specifically has been bad, although he does lead the team in scoring, but he is shooting under 40% from the field, and 28.6% from three. Marshall isn't doing much better shooting the ball, going 43% from the field and 21.6% from deep. Those two simply haven't been at the level they've needed to be. I have liked Paul Scruggs' play this year, but overall, they need more from the big guns. The other issue has been the defense. It's outside the top 100 on KenPom, and it's in no small part to having to balance their offense and defense. For instance, Ryan Welage is a plus on offense, spacing the floor and knocking down shots from deep. However, he stinks defensively, and the team is worse on that end with him on the floor. They have also struggled to defend the three point line, as opponents shoot 36.2% from downtown against Xavier. This team really misses Chris Mack and stars Trevon Bluiett and JP Macura, and they have dug themselves into a pretty deep hole after non-conference play.
10. DePaul
Record: 8-3
My Thoughts: The Blue Demons just can't seem to catch a break. After beating Penn State and looking like this year might be different, they lost to Notre Dame by 25, and Northwestern by 7. They also more recently lost to Boston College by 3, in a game that they literally threw away, as they botched an in bounds pass. Max Strus has been very good, as has Eli Cain. Strus is under the radar nationally, but he's scoring 19.7 points a game and getting 8.1 rebounds. He has a real chance to be a first team All Big East, and I really like his game. He's actually been struggling shooting the ball this year, so he could get even better during Big East play. It likely won't be enough for the Blue Demons to get out of the bottom tier of the Big East, but they'll be better than I thought.
What Happened
This is where I'll breakdown the previous week's games in a similar fashion to my Fast Break series. I'll offer my thoughts and observations from that slate and explain my changes, if any, to my power rankings all in this space. There obviously weren't any games this past week, so for now this is all I have here.
What To Watch
- Big East play starts off with Xavier and DePaul. A real powerhouse battle to get things underway. It's really not a game you need to watch if you aren't a die hard Big East fan, but it should be an interesting battle. Both teams need this one, and DePaul may have the best player on the court for the first team in the last few years during Big East play. The game will come down to the play of Max Strus and Naji Marshall for the Blue Demons and Musketeers respectively, and whoever performs better could win the game for their team.
- St. John's gets their Big East campaign started with a baptism by fire. After not playing many teams of note in the non-conference, they travel to Newark to face Myles Powell and the Seton Hall Pirates. It's a tough test for the Johnnies, and a win would go a long way in proving their legitimacy. That game has been talked about a lot. However, their next contest is against Marquette, which is obviously very difficult. The duel of Markus Howard and the Hauser against Shamorie Ponds and Mustapha Heron is going to be very entertaining, and should really show if St. John's can compete at the top of the conference.
- Creighton travels to Rhode Island to take on Providence in a tough test. The Friars didn't have the best non-conference performance, and this is the type of game they need to win to begin to build a legitimate tournament case. Alpha Diallo could have a field day as it doesn't seem as if the Blue Jays have an immediate answer for him, although I think it'll be an uphill battle for Providence without AJ Reeves. They will need to shut down Mitch Ballock, as Creighton struggles when he can't get going. Providence will need to slow it down and execute offensively, which hasn't been a strong point his year. It should be an entertaining one.
Full Big East Scheulde 12/29-1/4
December 29
2 PM: Xavier @ DePaul
8:30 PM: St. John's @ Seton Hall
December 31
4 PM: Creighton @ Providence
January 1
7 PM: Marquette @ St. John's
January 2
6:30 PM: Seton Hall @ Xavier
7 PM: Georgetown @ Butler
8:30 PM: DePaul @ Villanova
3 Questions
1. Is Villanova back?
I went through it earlier, but Villanova has been up and down to say the least. They followed up back to back losses to Michigan and Furman with a win at the Advocate Invitational, and it looked like the Wildcats were back after a few early season struggles. However, they would go on to lose to Penn at home, which caused people to go into full panic mode. However, their last two games have been good, with a close loss at Kansas before beating Connecticut by 23 at MSG. So the question has to be asked, is Villanova rounding into form as conference play approaches, ready to dominate the Big East once again, or is their season going to be made up of ebbs and flows? They will be one of the most intriguing teams to monitor during conference play as they attempt to answer that question.
2. How good is St. John's?
I mentioned this in my power rankings, but this team has yet to be really tested. I think they are good, but admittedly they haven't played anyone particularly good, so their 12-0 record may be a bit inflated. Still, there is something to be said for winning the games you are supposed to win, and they have certainly done that so far. If they can come out and beat Seton Hall in Newark, that will say a lot. They follow that up with a game against Marquette and play Villanova next week, so we'll quickly learn just how good they are.
3. Who can lock up their place in the tournament?
As of now, the Big East has, in my mind, one lock for March. Marquette is a no doubt top 25 team and their non-conference resume had them firmly in the tournament. After them, I think 3 teams are almost certainly going dancing. Villanova has some bad losses, but a neutral court win over Florida State holds a lot of weight, and they seemed to have turned a corner recently. Plus, the numbers love them, with KenPom placing them at 18, and they have one of the best coaches in the country, so I think they're a near shoe-in come Selection Sunday. I think Butler can basically lock up their spot with a win in Gainesville and a solid year in the Big East, but they aren't a certainty. Creighton should also make it, although they lack a headliner win on their resume. After those four, there are some question marks. St. John's hasn't lost, but they have no good wins, and they'll have to win double digit games in the conference in order to get into the tournament, which is far from a guarantee, as Chris Mullins hasn't had a winning season yet. Seton Hall is firmly on the bubble at the moment, although that win over Kentucky will continue to get better, even if the home loss to Saint Louis gets worse. Winning at Maryland was huge, but they still have work to do in order to breathe easily late in the year. I think all of those six teams will make it. In order for Providence, and to a lesser extent the other three teams who are basically eliminated, to earn a bid, they need to have really good years. The problem is, the conference is down and there won't be a chance to get a headlining win like there was in year's past. Because of this, they need quantity, and I don't see the Friars winning enough games to make the tournament. The league will be very competitive, but it feels more like a handful of 4-7 seeds instead of the two one seeds from last year.
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