MBB Minute: Only Two Weeks Left In Regular Season
Only two weeks remain in the BIG EAST regular season, and although Villanova and Xavier have owned the top two spots in the standings for the most of the year, virtually nothing has been decided as the teams prepare for the BIG EAST Tournament Presented by the Jeep brand on March 9-12.
After Seton Hall’s 62-61 win over St. John’s on Sunday at Madison Square Garden, 18 games remain in the 90-game conference slate.
BIG EAST play resumes on Wednesday when Villanova, ranked No. 1 in both major polls, visits No. 5/5 Xavier on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET. It will be the first league game between a pair of top-five ranked teams in the current 10-team configuration and the first in league history since 2011.
The Wildcats won the first meeting 95-64 on Dec. 31 at The Pavilion. Ryan Arcidiacono scored 27 points in the victory. The game certainly was impacted by an injury to Xavier guard Edmond Sumner who was hurt in the first three minutes and did not return.
Villanova has won all six meetings between the two teams in BIG EAST play, including a 69-52 victory in last year’s BIG EAST Tournament title game at Madison Square Garden.
Also on Wednesday, Marquette visits Creighton at CenturyLink Center. CBS Sports Network has the game at 8 p.m. Both teams will carry 17-10 records into the contest. Creighton is 8-6 and in fourth place in the league standings. Marquette is 6-8. The Bluejays edged the Golden Eagles 65-62 on Feb. 13. CU guard Maurice Watson Jr. scored a team-high 18 points.