Butler's Kelan Martin Had 22 Points In Wednesday Win at Villanova
MBB Minute -- Weekend Slate Important To All
All 10 BIG EAST teams have only two or three games remaining in regular-season play, so this weekend’s contests hold plenty of importance with the BIG EAST Tournament less than two weeks away.
First-place Villanova hosts third-place Creighton at The Pavilion with the FOX broadcast network on hand for a 3 p.m. ET tipoff. The Wildcats, 13-3 in the league standings, can clinch their fourth straight outright title with a win. Creighton is 9-6 in the BIG EAST and 10-2 overall away from home.
Marquette and Providence, two teams in a crowded middle of the standings, play at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center at 4 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. Marquette is tied with Xavier for fourth place at 8-7 and has won its last two games. Providence is 7-8 and on a three-game winning streak. The two teams have played close games of late. PC won 79-78 at Marquette on Jan. 28. Last year, Marquette beat the Friars 65-64 and 96-91 in double overtime.
Seton Hall, tied with Providence at 7-8, visits DePaul. The Pirates and Blue Demons are coming off Wednesday wins. Seton Hall took the first meeting between the two teams 87-56 on Jan. 7. The Pirates and Blue Demons have split eight BIG EAST meetings at Allstate Arena.
The BIG EAST day starts at noon with St. John’s hosting Georgetown at Madison Square Garden on FSN. Both teams want to end two-game losing streaks. The Hoyas won the first meeting 83-55 on Jan. 9. After winning only one league game last year, St. John’s is 6-9. Georgetown, at 5-10, can tie St. John’s in the standings with a victory.
On Sunday, Butler takes a bus ride over to Xavier for a 3:30 p.m. tip on FS1. The Bulldogs are in second place with an 11-5 mark after knocking off Villanova 74-66 on Wednesday. The Musketeers, 8-7 in league play, are anxious to end a four-game losing streak. They are 12-2 overall at Cintas Center.
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