WBB Notes - 1.15.19
In The Polls
Following a pair of road wins last week to stretch its current winning streak to five games, Marquette moved up in both national polls this week to once again set a program standard. The Golden Eagles improved one spot in each poll to No. 14 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 13 in the
USA Today Coaches Poll. The No. 14/13 ranking is the highest by any BIG EAST team since conference realignment and the best in Marquette program history. Following a 2-0 weekend, DePaul returned to the top 25 after a one-week absence, landing at No. 24 in both polls. The Blue Demons have been ranked in 10 of 11 weeks this season. After improving to 15-1 on the season with a road win last week, Butler received votes for the second consecutive week. Of note, the Bulldogs went from one person voting for them last week in the AP Poll to five this week, and improved their point total in the coaches poll from one to seven.
Why We’re Watching …
RV/RV Butler at Providence (Friday, 11:30 a.m., BEDN): The Friars have won two of their last three and will look to be the first BIG EAST team and just the second squad overall to take down the 15-1 Bulldogs. Butler’s defense has been the story as only two teams have managed to shoot over 40 percent against them all year, but the Friars’ offense has been clicking lately, averaging 69 points per game over the last three outings and shooting .465 during that stretch. Also of note, Butler’s Tori Schickel is just four rebounds shy of 1,000 for her career, while PC’s Jovana Nogic is two three-pointers shy of passing Maya Moore for 10
th all-time in triples made in BIG EAST play.
Seton Hall at 14/13 Marquette (Friday, 12:30 p.m., BEDN): The Pirates thrived in their early start game last week, scoring 82 points to defeat Creighton for the first time in the last six tries. The Hall will need to be firing on all cylinders at The Al McGuire Center where the host Golden Eagles average nearly 89 points per game this season. Shadeen Samuels and Natisha Hiedeman are two of the hottest players at the moment – they’re the two most recent BIG EAST Players of the Week and are the top two scorers in conference play this season.
Xavier at Creighton (Friday, 8 p.m., BEDN): A’riana Gray has posted back-to-back 20-rebound games and has scored in double figures in three straight games to lead the Musketeers. She’s the first BIG EAST player with multiple 20-rebound showings in the same season since Butler’s Tori Schickel did so in 2016-17. The Bluejays got a big lift from Temi Carda last week – she entered the weekend averaging 8.5 points per game and posted scores of 17 and 22 in a pair of road games. Carda has started all six BIG EAST contests and has upped her average to 12.3 points per game in league action. While most teams focus on Audrey Faber and Jaylyn Agnew, and for good reason, Carda can be just as lethal.
St. John’s at 24/24 DePaul (Friday, 8 p.m., BEDN): The Red Storm lost two games last week by a combined three points despite shooting over 40 percent in both contests and limiting turnovers. St. John’s will look to get back on track in Chicago on Friday – a place where the Red Storm have knocked off the Blue Demons three times and won the 2016 BIG EAST Tournament. Reigning BIG EAST Tourney champion DePaul went 2-0 last weekend thanks to big performances by Mart’e Grays, who, over five BIG EAST games, is averaging 17.0 points and 8.2 rebounds. Qadashah Hoppie and the stingy Red Storm defense will look to slow down Grays and the high-powered DePaul Ball offense.
Villanova at Georgetown (Saturday, 2 p.m., BEDN): Both teams will look to halt three-game skids which dropped them to sixth place in the BIG EAST standings at 2-4. The Wildcats will play non-conference foe Penn on Wednesday before Saturday’s tilt. The Hoyas took preseason co-favorites DePaul and Marquette down to the wire last weekend in D.C., while Villanova fell in overtime to the Blue Demons on Sunday. Dorothy Adomako had an impressive weekend for GU, posting game highs in both matchups, while Mary Gedaka had the hot hand for the Wildcats by shooting nearly 70 percent. Over their last four meetings, each team has won twice – including the 2018 BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinals when the Hoyas won 63-58 to advance to their first BIG EAST Semifinal since 1999.
Upcoming Schedule
Wednesday - Jan. 16
Villanova at Penn, 7 p.m.
Friday - Jan. 18
RV/RV Butler at Providence, 11:30 a.m.*#
Seton Hall at 14/13 Marquette, 12:30 p.m.*#
Xavier at Creighton, 8 p.m.*#
St. John’s at 24/24 DePaul, 8 p.m.*#
Saturday - Jan. 19
Villanova at Georgetown, 2 p.m.*#
Sunday - Jan. 20
Xavier at Providence, 1 p.m.*#
RV/RV Butler at Creighton, 3 p.m.*^
Seton Hall at 24/24 DePaul, 3 p.m.*#
St. John’s at 14/13 Marquette, 3 p.m.*#
^FS1 #BEDN *BIG EAST contest
All times Eastern