#BIGEASTwbb Minute: Dramatic Final Weekend Of Play Tips Off Friday
WBB Notes - 2.26.20
Final Weekend Of The Regular Season
After the completion of 81 conference games, only one seed is locked for the 2020 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament presented by Jeep. The conference postseason is set for March 6-9 at Wintrust Arena in downtown Chicago. Outside of No. 1 seed and regular-season champion DePaul, the remaining nine seeds will be determined this weekend as the final nine league tilts will play out Friday and Sunday. Four games tip off the crucial weekend on Friday, including Villanova at Creighton at 7 p.m. ET on FS1. Just half a game separates the fourth-place Wildcats and fifth-place Bluejays, who have still not guaranteed a bye out of the tournament’s first round. Three teams have secured a spot in the first round in Providence, Georgetown and Xavier. The Hoyas and Friars meet in Rhode Island at 7 p.m. on Friday, in one of three games streaming on the BIG EAST Digital Network presented by SoFi. The battle for first-round teams now becomes who is the 10-seed and is forced to face a very strong No. 7 seed. Other pivotal games on Friday on BEDN include Butler at St. John’s and Xavier at Seton Hall, both tipping at 7 p.m. Villanova-Creighton is one of two nationally televised games for the BIG EAST this weekend, followed by a rematch of the last three BIG EAST Tournament title games – No. 16/15 DePaul at Marquette on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on FS2.
Why We’re Watching …
Villanova at Creighton, 7 p.m. – FS1: The Wildcats can finish anywhere between second and seventh in the conference standings, while the Bluejays can float between the No. 4 and 7 seeds. A win on Friday would keep Villanova out of the first round and put the Bluejays in line towards the seven seed unless St. John’s and Seton Hall stumble in their weekend series against Butler and Xavier. Being the No. 7 seed means one more game added to your road to the title as the seven plays the No. 10 at 2:30 p.m. ET in the First Round on March 6. Creighton has the edge if they finish tied with Seton Hall but would lose the tiebreaker with St. John’s.
Last Meeting: Creighton 58, Villanova 42 (12/31/19)
Butler at St. John’s, 7 p.m. (YouTube | Caffeine): Though third-place Butler could find itself in a five-way tie for third place which would result in an 11-7 team playing on the first day of the tourney, it does not appear that the Bulldogs would be in danger of being that first-round squad. Butler has season sweeps of possible 11-7 mates Creighton and Villanova – two teams which could finish no better than 3-5 in that five-team group. With sweeps over Seton Hall and Creighton, St. John’s is also looking good to avoid the first round, but will need to at least match the results of the Pirates and Bluejays this weekend, who the Red Storm are currently tied with at 9-7.
Last Meeting: St. John’s 67, Butler 42 (12/31/19)
Georgetown at Providence, 7 p.m. (YouTube | Caffeine): Though both teams are locked into the first round, this game is pivotal for seeding. A Hoyas’ win would be decisive with tiebreakers with the Friars and Xavier as all three currently sit in a tie at 2-14 and have otherwise split their meetings together. Georgetown would claim the lone sweep between the trio of squads, giving them the advantage and possibly avoiding the No. 7 seed on Day 1, in the event they finish tied. The Friars will look to avoid the sweep and the No. 7 seed and climb high as No. 8. Entering the weekend, Providence has the highest win in the group with Xavier and Georgetown as the Friars defeated St. John’s less than two weeks ago.
Last Meeting: Georgetown 62, Providence 53 (12/31/19)
Xavier at Seton Hall, 7 p.m. (YouTube | Caffeine): After splitting with Georgetown and Providence, the Musketeers will now look for wins to set them apart from the Hoyas and Friars, and one against the Pirates would do just that. The Hall, however, still has the possibility of playing in the BIG EAST Tournament First Round, particularly in the event they finish tied with St. John’s or Creighton, which own tiebreakers over the Pirates.
Last Meeting: Seton Hall 83, Xavier 61 (12/31/19)
Up Next
Friday, Feb. 28
Villanova at Creighton, 7 p.m.*%
Butler at St. John’s, 7 p.m.*^
Georgetown at Providence, 7 p.m.*^
Xavier at Seton Hall, 7 p.m.*^
Sunday, Mar. 1
Villanova at Providence, 1 p.m.*^
Butler at Seton Hall, 1 p.m.*^
Georgetown at Creighton, 2 p.m.*^
DePaul at Marquette, 3 p.m.*#
Xavier at St. John’s, 4 p.m.*^
*BIG EAST contest
^BEDN
All times Eastern
%FS1
#FS2