NEW YORK – Four BIG EAST squads are participating this week in the inaugural College Basketball Crown. Butler, Georgetown, DePaul and Villanova will represent the conference in a 16-team event in Las Vegas.
 
Founded by FOX Sports and AEG, the College Basketball Crown will be played at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and the T-Mobile Arena from Monday, March 31, through Sunday, April 6. All of the games will be televised on FOX and FS1.
 
Butler and Georgetown are in action on Monday. The Bulldogs (14-19) will play Utah (16-16) in the tournament’s first game at 3 p.m. ET on FS1. In the current KenPom rankings, Butler is 75 and Utah is 76.
 
Georgetown plays the last game of the day, meeting Washington State (19-14) at 11 p.m. on FS1. The Hoyas (17-15) are led by wing Micah Peavy, who was an All-BIG EAST First Team selection. Freshman forward-center Thomas Sorber was an All-BIG EAST Third Team pick. The game will be the first meeting between the two schools.
 
DePaul and Villanova begin play on Tuesday. The Blue Demons (14-19) battle Cincinnati (18-15) at 3 p.m. on FS1. DePaul has won three of its last four games, including a victory in the opening round of the BIG EAST Tournament, before losing to Creighton in double overtime in the BIG EAST Tournament Quarterfinals.
 
Villanova (19-14) will meet Colorado (14-20) at 8:30 p.m. on FS1. The Wildcats boast the nation’s leading scorer, Eric Dixon, who is averaging 23.0 points. He was a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection. Interim head coach Mike Nardi will direct the squad.