BIG EAST Notes - 1.10.17
All Eyes On Queens
One of the two hottest winning streaks in the BIG EAST will come to a close tonight as No. 21/20 DePaul, winners of its last seven games, travels to St. John’s, which has won its last three outings. Regardless of the outcome, the Blue Demons will remain atop the BIG EAST standings as only -/RV Creighton could catch them tonight. DePaul has won their last seven games by an average margin of 28 points, with Providence coming the closest in a 61-56 decision in favor of the host Blue Demons on Jan. 2. The Red Storm’s story is defense, as two of its last three foes have been held under 50 points. Marquette got the closest to knocking off St. John’s this past Sunday before being edged 70-64 at Carnesecca Arena, with the Golden Eagles being just the third Red Storm opponent in seven weeks to score over 60 points. St. John’s is currently in third place in the league standings with a 3-1 record, behind 4-1 Creighton and 5-0 DePaul.
Tuesday’s contest, which tips at 7 p.m. (ET) and streams on the BIG EAST Digital Network, will also honor former DePaul assistant and Army head coach Maggie Dixon, who died of heart arrhythmia in 2006. For more on the Maggie Dixon Classic, see today’s AP story
here.
Tune In
A pair of BIG EAST women’s basketball tilts will air to national audiences this week, starting Friday when St. John’s travels to Georgetown. The two longtime foes will tip off at 7 p.m. (ET) on FS1, with LaChina Robinson and Lisa Byington calling the action. FS1 coverage returns on Sunday when Butler visits Marquette at 1 p.m. (ET). Byington will be joined by Sarah Kustok on the call. The week’s remaining 11 matchups will stream live on the BIG EAST Digital Network, as BEDN covers all league games not slated for national television.
In The Polls
DePaul improved two places in the Associated Press Top 25 to No. 21 this week, while rising one in the
USA Today Coaches’ Poll to No. 20. Additionally, for the first time since the preseason, Creighton received votes in the coaches’ poll. The Bluejays have won six of their last seven with their lone setback in that stretch being at the nationally ranked Blue Demons last Wednesday.
RPI Recap
Four BIG EAST teams earned their highest NCAA RPI of the season on Monday, including No. 43 Creighton which enjoyed a 33-spot leap from a week ago. St. John’s also saw a noticeable improvement, climbing 22 spots to No. 60, while No. 95 Villanova cracked the top 100 for the first time this season. Butler, winners of two of its last three, had the highest jump in the BIG EAST this week, up 39 to 196. DePaul also improved, up three to No. 12 for the highest ranked conference team. The entire BIG EAST lineup ranked within the top 200, something only the BIG EAST, ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC can boast.
Weekly Schedule
Tuesday
Marquette at Seton Hall, 7 p.m.*#
21/20 DePaul at St. John’s, 7 p.m.*#
Georgetown at Providence, 7 p.m.*#
Villanova at -/RV Creighton, 8 p.m.*#
Friday
Seton Hall at Villanova, 11:30 a.m.*#
St. John’s at Georgetown, 7 p.m.*^
Butler at 21/20 DePaul, 8 p.m.*#
Xavier at Marquette, 8 p.m.*#
Saturday
-/RV Creighton at Providence, Noon*#
Sunday
Butler at Marquette, 1 p.m.*^
Seton Hall at Georgetown, 2 p.m.*#
St. John’s at Villanova, 2 p.m.*#
Xavier at 21/20 DePaul, 3 p.m.*#
All times Eastern
*BIG EAST contest
#BEDN
^FS1