BIG EAST Notes - 4.26.18
A Game-By-Game Breakdown For What’s On The Line This Weekend
Butler at No. 6/9 Florida – Saturday, Noon: The Gators have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the BIG EAST Championship and at least a share of the regular-season title. A win on Saturday would lock up the outright title and bump Florida’s four-year BIG EAST regular-season record to an astounding 31-1. A win by Butler would give the Bulldogs their first ever BIG EAST win and leave the door open for Georgetown to claim a share of the regular-season crown.
UConn at Marquette – Saturday, 1 p.m.: Win and you’re in, lose and you’re out. It’s as simple as that for the Huskies and Golden Eagles. MU is on the cusp of its first ever BIG EAST Championship berth and looked full steam ahead when it started league play 5-0, but has dropped three straight to now find itself in a win-or-go-home game. UConn has had the opposite trajectory, starting off 1-3 in league play but has clawed itself back into the mix by winning three of its last four, with its only setback during that stretch being a one-goal loss at Georgetown last Wednesday. UConn can only be the No. 4 seed should they qualify, meaning a match with Florida would be on the horizon. Marquette could be either the No. 3 or No. 4, depending on what Denver does against Vanderbilt.
24/RV Georgetown at Temple – Saturday, 1 p.m.: The Hoyas have already locked up the No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Championship but could claim a share of the regular-season title with a win accompanied by a Florida loss to Butler. Temple needs to win to have a shot at heading to the BIG EAST Championship, but will also need Marquette to win and Denver to lose for that to happen. The Owls are eliminated from contention with a loss. The Hoyas will face either Denver or Marquette in Thursday’s BIG EAST Championship Semifinals, both being teams Georgetown defeated by a single goal.
-/RV Denver at Vanderbilt – Saturday, 2 p.m.: The Pioneers have most tiebreaking scenarios in their favor even if they lose, but can still find themselves on the outside looking in with a loss accompanied by Marquette and Temple wins (both must occur). A win locks up the No. 3 seed in the BIG EAST Championship and a date with Georgetown, which dealt Denver a narrow 8-7 setback earlier this month. The No. 3 seed can still be theirs even if the Pioneers lose should UConn beat Marquette. Vanderbilt can no longer qualify, but could play spoiler.
Villanova at Cincinnati – Sunday, Noon: Though neither team is postseason eligible, both would like to end the year on a good note. The Wildcats have already exceeded their BIG EAST win total from last season and a win would match their highest amount of league wins since 2015, the last time Villanova made the BIG EAST Championship. The Bearcats are one win shy of matching their program standard for BIG EAST wins in a season, which they set last season.