Big East Wednesday

The matchup up between Villanova and Xavier today is the highest matchup of two ranked teams in the new Big East. Xavier is looking for revenge for their Big East opening loss at the Pavilion, where they lost by 31 after watching their starting PG Edmond Sumner get taken off the court on a stretcher roughly 2 mins into the game. Ever since their loss to Creighton Xavier has been playing some great basketball winning their last 3 by an average of 15 points. 

Chris Mack will have his team prepared to play this game and they also get to play home, but how will they respond to the hype surrounding the Top 5 matchup up? Nova has proven they can play big games as they have been ranked number 1 for te past 3 weeks and haven't seemed to feel the pressure of being th top ranked team in the country, and that's a credit to the leadership of Arcidiacono, Ochefu, and Hart. 

The Cintas center will be live tonight and expect the X-Men to come ready to play especially Sumner, but in the end I think the Cats will prove just too much to hadle and win a close close game and loc up the Bug East regular season title by doing so. 

The other game tonight is an extremely important game for at least one team involved. Creighton is looking to sneak in the tournament. Currently sitting at 17-10 and 8-6 in the Big East, ahead of two tournament teams Providence, and Butler.  With a current RPI of 83 they will have chances to improve that with games left against Providence and Xavier. Getting in may require them going 3-1 down the stretch and winning at least a game or 2 in the Conference tourney if not winning out. But if they are able to beat Providence and say Butler in a 4/5 Big East Tourney matchup? It certainly makes for an interesting discussion. As for tonight they keep the conversation alive with a win over Marquette. 

Come back tomorrow for some more Big games in the Big East that could decide who's still playing in 3 weeks. 

Wednesday night in the Big East

Two game on tap tonight in the Big East. Seton Hall hosts Butler, and Providence travels to Milwaukee to take on Marquette.

It feels like everyteam in the Big East is a bubble team. You have Seton Hall, Butler, Cerighton, and Georgetown competing for the same one or two bids which makes every game that much more important. Even Providence is no longer a lock unless they can get out of the tailspin they're currently in. 

Butler @ Seton Hall

The Pirates come in with a 4 game conference winning steak looking to make it 5 I a row for the longest streak since 2009. Butler after seeing themselves ranked as high as 9 in the polls to start the season are now at 5-6 in conference and need every win possible with 7 games left to secure a bid on Selection Sunday. These two teams currently sit in opposite sides of the bubble making this game all the more important. I'm taking the Pirates at home tonight where they are 12-3. Much was made post game after the Georgetwon win Saturday night about some fatigue well they have a week off after tonight's game so I'm expecting maximum effort and for their defense to control the game as it has done all year. Seton Hall continues to build a stron resume and Butler is left with more work to do in the last few weeks. 

Providence @ Marquette

In the second game of the night the reeling Friars take on Marquette, who came very close to pulling the upset of Xavier last week. Providence has been struggling losing 3 of their last 4 and Ben Bentil is still dealing with the ankle injury he suffered against DePaul, although you wouldn't know it by his play against Nova on the weekend. Marquette on the other hand has lost 2 straight but the Xavier game showed they can play with anyone and they play well at home. I think the post play for Marquette is the difference with Fischer and Ellenson controlling the paint. Marquette get the upset this time and Providence finds themselves outside the Top 25 on Monday. 

Tuesday Night Upset??

After loosing to Georgetown, Xavier has reeled off 5 Straight in the win column. But they have been less than convincing and  needed some late game poise to defeat 2 inferior opponents in the past 2 games (St. John's, and Marquette), and both of those games were at home!

Tonight they find themselves on the road in Omaha to take on a Creighton team fresh off a 22 point win over lowely DePaul after a 3 game losing streak that included a late blown lead against Georgetown, getting outplayed by Seton Hall at home, and an absolute whooping on the road at Nova. 

Creighton is Second in the Big East in scoring, T-1 in FG%, and 3rd in 3P%. I believe a combination of Creighton playing at home and coming off such a good performance getting back a little bit of momentum coupled with Xavier having not played their best recently I believe they're due for a loss to help them refocus. 

Creighton pulls the upset at home over #5 Xavier 85-78 in a fast paced up and down game. 

Big East Monday

It's the rare Big East Monday game. 

After a weekend that went as planned with Villanova getting revenge on Providence, Xavier pulling out the win or a game Marquette team, and Seton Hall picking up a huge win for their tournament resume against Georgetown, a team they may be competing against for an invite on Selection Sunday. We have the rare Conference game on a Momday night. 

Only two teams have to make the quick turnaround from Saturday when St.  John's visits Georgetown. In a game that the Hoyas will look to get back into the win coloum after 3 straight losses. They get a bit of a break with the winless Johnnies coming into town. While St. John's has been playing better as of late and I don't believe they will go winless in conference they won't get that first one tonight. Georgetown is too deep and too talented. Hoyas win 78-60

Just a few quick points from this weekends action. 

While I do have Xavier ahead of Villanova in my personal rankings. The Wildcats remain the team to beat in the conference. 

Seton Hall is making a very strong case for the NCAA tournament. If they can continue their good play they may even be a single did got seed. 

Xavier has been winning, but winning ugly. They had certainly not played great in some recent performances, but they have still been able to find ways to win. If they keep playing they way they have been though I think they could lose a game, say in the road at Creighton on Tursday?

Butler once a Top 10 teams finds itself squarely on the bubble and have a game against Seton Hall that carriers a lot of weight for both teams. 

Football seaso is officially over so fasten your seat belts for a wild finish and gear up for March baby. It's the best time of the year. 

Big East Saturday

Every team in the Big East in action to with a 5 game marathon starting with Marquette and #6 Xavier at noon and closing with another game with major tournament implications for two bubble teams Seton Hall and Georgetown at 9pm

12 PM Marquette @ #6 Xavier

While the Musketeers were the first team in college hoops to reach 20 win they're coming off if a lackluster performance against a St John's team that has yet to win a conference game. They will have to play much better today against a Marquette team that is looking to earn a signature win for their resume. While Marquette has the size to match up with Xavier in Fischer, and Ellenson I believe it's the guards that will be the difference in this game. Myles Davis experience and leadership wil help Xavier win a close one 78-70. 

2PM DePaul @ Creighton 

DePaul is riding high after an upset of #11 Providence while Creighton looked to snap a 3 game losing streak where they were absolutely crushed by Villanova by 25 last time out. The Blue Jays won by 11 in the first meeting. I look for coachjstags McDermott to have his guys really focused and ready to play today. Creighton get back in the win coloum 80-68. 

2:30PM #3Villanova @ #11 Providence

'Game of the Day'

Providence is the only Big East team to beat Villanova in the past calander year after an overtime win in Philly 2 weeks ago.  They have them at home this time around, can they complete the season sweep?? The main question is will Ben Bentil play and if he does how effective will he be? After going down in the first half against DePaul Providence struggled and ultimately lost. Losing the leading scorer in the conference will certainly be hard to over come if he is unable to go as Nova will be able to give more attention to Dunn. Wildcats get revenge in a big way against a Providence team that struggles at home and could be without their leading scorer. Nova 85-70

4:30 PM Butler @ St John's

The way Chris Mullen has be able to get his guys to compete night in and night out has been fun to watch. They lack a true point guard and size and depth at this point in his first year but they always play with great effort. While I believe they are due for a win after a few close losses against some good teams I don't think they get it today Dunham, Jones, and Martin will be too much to handle. Butler 85-68. 

9PM Georgetown @ Seton Hall

Both teams are 6-4 in Big East play and play each other 2 times in their next 3 games. Seton Hall has arguably been playing its best basketball of the season, in the midst of a 3 game winning streak, behind its star sophomore Isaiah Whitehead. While Georgetown has lost 3 of their last 4.  Whitehead has really developed this year as a PG and played maybe his best game on Wednesday (21pts, 8asts). This game is important for both teams as they may be battling for an at large bid come selection Sunday. Seton Hall is at home wearing the throwback jerseys tonight in what should be a wild crowd. SHU wins 78-70

 

Tuesday Review, Wednesday Preview

In what has been a season of upsets for teams in the Top 25, the trend continued last night in arguably the biggest upset in Big East play this season when DePaul who had won only 1 league game knocked off #11 Providence at home 77-70. The absence of Ben Bentil in the second half certainly played a role in the final outcome, but take nothing away from the Blue Demons who started fast and played well, and were leading prior to Bentil's injury. DePaul certainly deserved this one, and maybe gives them a kick start for the rest of the season. 

Butler and Georgetown as expected what a dogfight to the finish between the species of  Bulldogs. What was unexpected was Kelan Martin scoring 19 first half points on his way to a season high 35. Dunham, and Jones added 18, and 19 each to give the Big 3 72 of Butlers 87 points. Georgetown mad a run at the end but the Bulldogs held them off in a game that ended up a bit closer than the final margin of 11 would indicate. 

Tonight 3 game slate include the top 2 team in the conference, Villanova and Xavier, taking on unranked opponents at home in games they should be able to handle. Although don't be surprised if Creighton gives Villanova all the can handle. 

The game of the night in the Big East takes place in Newark, NJ between 2 potential bubble teams come Selection Sunday. 

Seton Hall hosts Marquette in the second matchup between the two teams this year. Seton Hall hammered the Golden Eagles by 20 back in December in what was the Big East opener for both teams. 

Expect a closer contest this time around as Marquette has won 3 in a row, and freshman sensation Henry Ellenson is playing his best basketball of the year coming off a 32 point performance against Butler over the weekend. If the Pirates can neutralize Ellenson and Fischer as they did in the first matchup they should be able to walk out of the Rock with another win. ThePirates can be a bit of a streaky team in terms of their offense but one thing that has consistently come to play every night is the defense. I'm expecting a good game and the trio of Whitehead, Carrington, and Rodriguez to be the difference for The Hall. 

Predictions

Xavier 85 - St John's 68

Villanova 78 - Creighton 70

Seton Hall 75 - Marquette 68

Big East Tuesday Night Preview

The weekly skate of Big East game starts tonight with a game that could have major implications in who is still playing in March. It the first game of the evening we have. 

Georgetown @ Butler

Ahh good old Hinkle Fieldhouse, the place where Jimmy Chitdwood came around the picket fence screen and hit the jumper to win the 1952 Indiana High School State Basketball Championship  for The Hickory High Hoosiers. 

Tonight's game Indiana's Basketball Cathedral between Georgetown and Butler, two teams looking to build their tournament resume, shouldn't disappoint despite the fact that neither team finds themselves inside the Top 25 Rankings. 

Butler is one of the more efficient offensive teams in the Big East as well as in the country, ranking 17th nationally in offensive efficiency at 115.5 points per 100 possessions. But while the excel on offense the lack in defense allowing 102 point per 100 possession, good 151st in the country. 

Georgetown on the other bench plays a much more even keel game. Ranking 63td and 75th in offensive and defensive efficiency respectfully. 

Both teams really like to slow down the tempo of the game both playing at nearly exactly the same pace statistically in term of possessions per 40 minutes. So this should become a game of who can be more effective with the ball I their hand on the offensive end.  

Look for Roosevelt Jones, and Kellen Dunham to try and control the ball and create shots for themselves as well as their teammates. While D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera will have to do a little bit of everything for the Hoyas for them to have a cognac to win this game. 

The game should be close and come down to the last few minutes, but playing at home at being one of the top offensive teams in the country will go along way down the stretch for Butler. 

Prediction 

Butler 75- Georgetown 67

The Second game of the night is #11 Providence @ DePaul. 

DePaul has only won 1 game in conference play so far this year and don't look for the to get their second against one of the top teams in the country. Dunn, and Bentil are able to control the game and Providence cruises to a win 82-65 over the Blue Demons.