WBB Notes - 2.19.19
On The Line
The second-to-last weekend of the regular-season tips off on Friday, with plenty on the line for all parties involved. No. 11/11 Marquette will clinch at least a share of the regular-season title along with the No. 1 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament presented by Jeep with one more win, and will earn the regular-season championship outright with two wins. Winners of four straight, RV/RV DePaul can lock up a top-two finish with a pair of wins, while Butler can guarantee a first-round bye with just one win. The difference in losses between the current fourth-place team (Providence) and the currently ninth-place team (Georgetown) is just two as a lot can shift after the weekend, potentially setting up a dramatic final round of play next week. The top six teams in the standings at season’s end earn a bye directly into the BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinals, with the bottom four battling it out in the First Round. There is currently a three-way tie at 6-9 for sixth place between Seton Hall, St. John’s and Creighton. The BIG EAST Tournament is set for March 9-12 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill.
Shooting For Records
Three BIG EAST sharpshooters are in close range of the conference career three-point shooting record currently held by Georgetown’s Sugar Rodgers. Rodgers made 168 triples between 2009-13, leading the Hoyas to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Providence’s Jovana Nogic had an impressive showing last weekend, making 12 over the 2-0 stretch for the Friars to move into a tie for second place on the three-point ledger with former DePaul standout Brittany Hrynko (2011-15, 165 3FGM). Two other active players could also pass Rodgers, however, as Villanova senior Adrianna Hahn has 154 to her credit to rank eighth all-time, while Marquette senior Natisha Hiedeman has 151 for the ninth-most made in BIG EAST history. Hahn and Hiedeman have four regular-season games remaining, while Nogic has three, starting this Saturday against Creighton.
Tune-In Television
Plenty of key matchups await the weekend ahead with the BIG EAST Digital Network covering eight of the nine contests. Notable BEDN matchups to tip off the weekend include Butler at No. 11/11 Marquette, and Xavier at RV/RV DePaul, both on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. The Blue Demon-Musketeer matchup, as well as DePaul-Butler (Sunday, 3 p.m.) will both be played at Wintrust Arena, the home of the BIG EAST Tournament. Winners of four of its last five, St. John’s hits the road for the lone national television game of the weekend as the Red Storm visit Georgetown Sunday at 2 p.m. on FS2. St. John’s has won 10 straight over the Hoyas, with the last two meetings decided by single digits. Also of note on BEDN, Providence will look to get one step closer to a BIG EAST Tournament First Round bye when it faces Creighton on Saturday at 4 p.m., while Seton Hall will look to even the season series with Villanova (Sunday, 1 p.m.), which has knocked off the Pirates in five consecutive meetings.
Upcoming Schedule
Friday - Feb. 22
Seton Hall at Georgetown, 11 a.m.*#
St. John’s at Villanova, 7 p.m.*#
Butler at 11/11 Marquette, 8 p.m.*#
Xavier at RV/RV DePaul (Wintrust Arena), 8 p.m.*#
Saturday - Feb. 23
Creighton at Providence, 4 p.m.*#
Sunday - Feb. 24
Seton Hall at Villanova, 1 p.m.*#
St. John’s at Georgetown, 2 p.m.*+
Xavier at 11/11 Marquette, 3 p.m.*#
Butler at RV/RV DePaul (Wintrust Arena), 3 p.m.*#
+FS2 #BEDN *BIG EAST contest
All times Eastern