BIG EAST Notes - 1.18.17
City Series Finale
Villanova travels to Penn on Wednesday night to conclude Big Five play and also wrap up all non-league games for BIG EAST teams. The Wildcats are 8-9 overall, 4-3 in BIG EAST, and 2-1 in the City Series, including wins over La Salle and Saint Joseph’s. At 69-39, BIG EAST teams have combined for their highest regular-season non-conference winning percentage since 2012-13 when the league went 141-56 (.716). A win by the Wildcats on Wednesday would bump this season’s mark to .642 while a setback would drop it to .633. BIG EAST teams posted a .631 record in 2015-16, went .544 in 2014-15, and .623 in 2013-14, in what was the first season following reconfiguration.
In The Polls
Riding a 10-game winning streak, No. 19/18 DePaul rose in both polls for a third consecutive week, posting their highest rankings since Dec. 13 when the Blue Demons came in at No. 17/16. -/RV Creighton received votes in the
USA Today Coaches Poll for a second consecutive week as the Bluejays have won eight of their last nine, with the lone setback being at then-No. 23/21 DePaul (Jan. 4). The latest NCAA RPI shows Creighton’s highest ranking of the season at No. 38, up five from last week, while DePaul leads the BIG EAST for a second straight week, coming in at No. 15. Villanova had a notable rise, jumping nine slots to No. 86 for its highest ranking of the season, while Georgetown (45), Marquette (37) and St. John’s (68) all came in within the top 100.
This Week On TV
BIG EAST women’s basketball will featured on Friday night as FS2 kicks things off at 7 p.m. (ET) when Seton Hall hosts Providence. LaChina Robinson and Lisa Byington will be on the call live from Walsh Gym. Action continues on FS1 at 8 p.m., when Georgetown travels to the Cintas Center to face Xavier. Jenn Hildreth and Vera Jones have the call. The BIG EAST Digital Network, available on FOX Sports Go, covers the seven additional league tilts this weekend, including a notable showdown between No. 19/18 DePaul and Marquette Saturday night at McGrath-Phillips Arena (8 p.m.), and a rematch of the 2016 BIG EAST Tournament title game on Friday when -/RV Creighton travels to St. John’s (7 p.m.).
Weekend Schedule
Wednesday
Villanova at Penn, 7 p.m.
Friday
Providence at Seton Hall, 7 p.m.*+
-/RV Creighton at St. John’s, 7 p.m.*#
Villanova at Butler, 7 p.m.*#
Georgetown at Xavier, 8 p.m.*^
Saturday
Marquette at 19/18 DePaul, 8 p.m.*#
Sunday
-/RV Creighton at Seton Hall, 11 a.m.*#
Georgetown at Butler, 1 p.m.*#
Providence at St. John’s, 2 p.m.*#
Villanova at Xavier, 5 p.m.*#
All times Eastern
*BIG EAST contest
#BEDN
^FS1
+FS2