WBB Notes - 2.21.18
Regular-Season Champions
Three teams remain in the hunt for a regular-season title, including two who shared the crown last season. -/RV DePaul has won at least a share of the title in each of the first four years since conference realignment, sharing it with Creighton for the first time in 2016-17. The Blue Demons are tied atop the BIG EAST standings with -/RV Marquette, both at 13-3 with two games remaining, while the Bluejays are two games back at 11-5. DePaul and Marquette head to St. John’s and Seton Hall this weekend, while Creighton visits Georgetown and Villanova. Creighton can win a share of its second consecutive regular-season title by winning out and DePaul/Marquette losing out, but the Bluejays are locked out of the top-two seeds based on its combined results against the Blue Demons and Golden Eagles. Marquette, which finished third last season before winning its first BIG EAST Tournament title, is on pace to match or exceed its best BIG EAST finish. The Golden Eagles highest finish since joining the BIG EAST in 2005-06 happened in 2006-07 when MU finished tied for second.
Tourney Seeding
Only two of the 10 seeds for the BIG EAST Tournament presented by Jeep are solidified as we head into the final weekend of regular-season action. Providence locked up the No. 9 seed following its win over Xavier on Sunday, with the Musketeers holding the 10 seed. The top six teams at season’s end earn first-round byes, with the final two spots in the BIG EAST Tournament First Round coming down to Seton Hall, Georgetown and Butler. The Pirates and Hoyas are tied for sixth at 7-9 and Bulldogs are alone in eighth at 6-11.
National Implications
The remaining games not only have an impact on the BIG EAST Tournament, but national postseason events as well. The latest bracketology (Monday) had four BIG EAST teams headed to the Big Dance and one just outside but still in contention. Through Tuesday’s games, five BIG EAST teams are in the top 55 of the NCAA RPI: No. 23 Villanova, No. 29 DePaul, No. 30 Marquette, No. 42 Creighton and No. 55 St. John’s. Three games this weekend pit these highly ranked teams against one another, beginning Friday when the Blue Demons visit the Red Storm (7 p.m. ET, BEDN). Additionally, the Golden Eagles face St. John’s on Sunday (2 p.m., BEDN), while Creighton and Villanova will be featured in the final FS1 game of the regular season on Sunday at 1 p.m. The BIG EAST has sent three teams to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons after sending two per year in the first two seasons following conference realignment. WNIT hopes remain alive for a number of BIG EAST teams as well, with the top team in the conference standings that does not receive an NCAA invite earning an automatic WNIT berth. The BIG EAST has sent three teams to the WNIT in each of the last three seasons, and five in 2013-14.
Weekly Schedule
Friday
Creighton at Georgetown, 11 a.m.*^
-/RV DePaul at St. John’s, 7 p.m.*^
-/RV Marquette at Seton Hall, 7 p.m.*^
Providence at Villanova, 7 p.m.*^
Sunday
-/RV DePaul at Seton Hall, 1 p.m.*^
Creighton at Villanova, 2 p.m.*#
Butler at Xavier, 2 p.m.*^
Providence at Georgetown, 2 p.m.*^
-/RV Marquette at St. John’s, 2 p.m.*^
*BIG EAST Contest
^BEDN
#FS1
All Times Eastern