BIG EAST Notes - 12.20.16
St. John’s Is Surging
St. John’s has won five in a row and six of its last seven thanks to the top defense in the BIG EAST. The Red Storm have held each of their last five foes under 50 points and three of their last five opponents under 40. St. John’s is one of just six teams in Division I to boast a defensive scoring average of under 50 points and has the hardest strength of schedule among those six teams at No. 94, with three of those squads over 300 in the SOS. The Red Storm, who are coming off a 62-34 win over Wagner on Saturday, conclude regular-season non-conference play at home against James Madison on Wednesday at 11 a.m. (ET). St. John’s has its highest RPI of the season entering Wednesday’s tilt at No. 82, a 17-spot jump from a week ago.
Non-Conference Conclusion
By the end of Wednesday night, nine of 10 BIG EAST teams will be finished with the non-conference portion of their schedules, with only Villanova’s Jan. 18 game at Penn remaining on the calendar. The Wildcats have one more non-conference game this calendar year when they travel to No. 17/18 Duke on Wednesday. Notable non-league finales include Butler at RV/RV Green Bay on Tuesday, Providence at Monmouth on Wednesday and Creighton at Marist on Wednesday. Through Monday night, BIG EAST teams are a combined 63-36 (.636). The league combined for a 70-41 (.631) mark in 2015-16, its finest since realignment, and will need to win at least six of the final 10 non-conference tilts to better that percentage.
On The National Scene
Six BIG EAST teams listed in the top 100 of the NCAA RPI on Tuesday, with Creighton earning a notable 33-spot leap to No. 98, its highest ranking of the season. The Bluejays knocked off rival Nebraska on Sunday with Marissa Janning scoring 22 points. Coming off a victory over Milwaukee on Sunday, Marquette climbed to its highest position of the season at No. 43. The Golden Eagles are 8-2 and wrap up non-league play against New Mexico on Wednesday. Xavier (No. 91) remained in the top 100 for a third consecutive week, while Georgetown (No. 5) and DePaul (No. 18) continued to lead the BIG EAST. The Hoyas, who have won seven straight, are off until opening league play on Dec. 28, while the Blue Demons, who are ranked No. 22 in the
USA Today Coaches’ Poll and receiving votes in the AP Top 25, host Tennessee Martin on Tuesday evening. The Musketeers are in the midst of a three-game stretch in Las Vegas, Nev., and will face Southern Mississippi Tuesday afternoon.
This Week In The BIG EAST
Monday
No. 20/22 Oklahoma 81, Xavier 69^
Tuesday
Xavier vs. Southern Mississippi, 3 p.m.^
Butler at RV/RV Green Bay, 7 p.m.
DePaul vs. Tennessee Martin, 8 p.m.
Wednesday
St. John’s vs. James Madison, 11 a.m.
Marquette vs. New Mexico, 12:30 p.m.
Providence at Monmouth, 7 p.m.
Creighton at Marist, 7 p.m.
Villanova at 17/18 Duke, 7 p.m.
Xavier vs. Kennesaw State, 7:45 p.m.^
^Las Vegas, Nev.
All times Eastern