Sam Scarfogliero, Villanova
BIG EAST Notes - March 23
Commence The Conference Season
Four BIG EAST squads will lift the lid on league play this weekend as reigning conference champion Florida, ranked No. 2 in both national polls this week, welcomes Vanderbilt, while last season’s runner-up Connecticut hosts Villanova, with both matches set for Saturday. In their first season as affiliate members of the BIG EAST in 2015, Florida shared the regular-season title with Georgetown following a 6-1 record, while Vanderbilt narrowly missed out on a BIG EAST Championship berth after tying for fourth place with Villanova at 4-3. The Wildcats earned a spot in the league postseason for the first time by winning the head-to-head match with the Commodores. Georgetown, Marquette, Temple and Cincinnati all open BIG EAST play on April 2.
Notable Non-Conference
Cincinnati (4-6), Florida (9-1), Vanderbilt (4-5) and Georgetown (2-7) have all concluded the non-conference portion of their schedules, while Villanova (1-8) wraps up Wednesday versus Saint Joseph’s. RV/RV UConn (6-1) still has a pair of nationally ranked non-league foes on their slate in current No. 5/6 Syracuse on March 29 and current No. 17/20 Towson on May 1. Temple (7-2) hosts California on Saturday while Marquette (3-5) concludes with Denver (Saturday) and No. 4/4 Notre Dame (Monday). BIG EAST teams have combined for a 36-35 (.507) record thus far, with .500 or better marks against seven of the 13 other Division I leagues. Eight wins have also come against nationally ranked opponents, including two over the previously No. 2-ranked teams in the nation.
Weekly Schedule/Results
Tuesday
#6/5 Louisville 11, Cincinnati 7
Boston University 14, Vanderbilt 13
RV/RV Loyola-Maryland 12, Georgetown 9
Wednesday
Villanova vs. Saint Joseph’s, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Vanderbilt at #2/2 Florida, Noon*
Temple vs. California, Noon
Villanova at RV/RV Connecticut, 1 p.m.*
Marquette at Denver, 1:30 p.m.
All times Eastern
*BIG EAST contest