BIG EAST Notes - 12.26
League Play Liftoff
BIG EAST play gets under way on Thursday for eight out of 10 teams, including a nationally televised tilt between RV Marquette and St. John’s. The two most recent BIG EAST Tournament champions meet at the Al McGuire Center where the Golden Eagles won their first league crown nine months ago. Tipoff on FS2 is set for 8:30 p.m. ET. Xavier visits Butler the following day at 7 p.m. in another FS2 contest, while the remaining seven games of opening weekend will stream live on the BIG EAST Digital Network. Notable BEDN league openers include undefeated No. 18 Villanova visiting Creighton (Thursday, 8 p.m.), RV DePaul hosting Seton Hall (Thursday, 8 p.m.) and head coach James Howard making his BIG EAST debut Thursday when Georgetown travels to Providence (7 p.m.). All four of Saturday’s conference contests will stream on BEDN, including the Red Storm versus the Blue Demons at 8 p.m.
Status Check
For the first time since 2011-12, all BIG EAST teams are guaranteed to finish regular season non-conference play with a .500 or better record. Nationally ranked and undefeated Villanova still has one non-league game remaining when the Wildcats host Big Five foe Penn on Jan. 17, but at 10-0, are safely above the .500 mark. At 72-38 (.655), BIG EAST teams have combined for the finest regular season non-conference winning percentage since 2012-13, with its 72 victories also the most since conference realignment.
Why We’re Watching
St. John’s at Marquette: The unanimous preseason favorite Golden Eagles went 6-5 in non-conference play with all five setbacks against teams in the top 50 of the RPI, including four in the top 20, and all by single digits. With an RPI of 25, the Red Storm would be Marquette’s highest win to date. St. John’s is out to prove it was overlooked in the coaches’ preseason poll where it was tabbed seventh, and a win in the reigning champions’ home arena would be a good start. Maya Singleton has been on a tear as of late, including a 24-rebound showing in the Red Storm’s win over Kansas. While both squads are known for their guard play, don’t overlook the battle down low as Singleton versus reigning BIG EAST Player of the Week Erika Davenport, who went for 19 points, 16 boards at No. 2 Notre Dame, will be one to watch.
Villanova at Creighton: The nationally ranked Wildcats are one of just seven undefeated teams in Division I and are off to their best start since 1979-80 when they won their first 16. Villanova’s staple has been defense and tempo, limiting its opponents to just 52.8 points per game, 10
th fewest in the nation. The Bluejays are averaging nearly 75 points per contest, including 82 points against No. 13 Florida State last week. VU’s Adrianna Hahn is due for a monster game – she’s leading the Wildcats in scoring at 13.9 points per game but has eclipsed the 20-point mark just once this season. Audrey Faber is having a career-highlighting season thus far, scoring 30+ in two of the last four outings and leading the Bluejays with the BIG EAST’s second-highest scoring average at 18.9 points per game.
Seton Hall at DePaul: The Pirates are a whole new team from last year with three of their top-five scorers in their first season in a Seton Hall uniform. The Hall is the only team in the BIG EAST to rank in the top three in the league in both scoring offense and scoring defense, averaging nearly 76 points per game while holding foes to 60. It’ll be a high-scoring battle in Chicago as DePaul ranks sixth nationally by averaging nearly 89 points per game. The Blue Demons have a bit of a new look this year as well, with six different players recording game-high points through the first 12 games. Only two DePaul players have led them in scoring in back-to-back games, giving the Blue Demons scoring diversity like no one else in the BIG EAST.
Georgetown at Providence: The two newest coaches to the BIG EAST square off in Thursday’s opener. In Jim Crowley’s first two seasons in Providence, the Friars have posted winning non-conference records in back-to-back years for the first time since 2010-12. At 19.3 points per game, Jovana Nogic is the BIG EAST’s top scorer and has led PC in 10 of 12 games this season. James Howard took over at Georgetown this spring and has gotten an instant boost from Cynthia Petke who is having a breakout season. After averaging 2.3 points and 2.8 rebounds last year, Petke is currently averaging a double-double of 12.5 points and 10.8 rebounds. Add in the league’s steals leader in Dionna White, and the Hoyas will be a tough matchup for the Friars.
Xavier at Butler: The young Musketeers have won three of their last four and for the first time earned a BIG EAST Freshman of the Week certificate as Deja Ross had a pair of standout games. The 6-foot rookie will have one of her hardest tests in her BIG EAST debut with Butler’s Tori Schickel. Schickel is averaging 16.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs, one of three league players to be averaging a double-double. Butler also got an instant boost from Iowa transfer Whitney Jennings, who currently ranks third in the league in scoring at 18.7 points per game.
Weekly Schedule
Thursday
Georgetown at Providence, 7 p.m.*^
18/18 Villanova at Creighton, 8 p.m.*^
Seton Hall at RV/RV DePaul, 8 p.m.*^
St. John’s at RV/RV Marquette, 8:30 p.m.*#
Friday
Xavier at Butler, 7 p.m.*#
Saturday
18/18 Villanova at Providence, 1 p.m.*^
Georgetown at Creighton, 2 p.m.*^
Seton Hall at RV/RV Marquette, 7:30 p.m.*^
St. John’s at RV/RV DePaul, 8 p.m.*^
*BIG EAST Contest
#FS2
^BEDN
All times Eastern