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Big East Breakdown: Conference Takes Over The Bubble In Final Weekend

By Casey Pazzalia

Feb 15, 2017; Newark, NJ, USA; Seton Hall Pirates guard Myles Powell (13) celebrates a three points basket during the second half against the Creighton Bluejays at Prudential Center. Seton Hall won, 87-81. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Newark, NJ, USA; Seton Hall Pirates guard Myles Powell (13) celebrates a three points basket during the second half against the Creighton Bluejays at Prudential Center. Seton Hall won, 87-81. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 22, 2017; Villanova, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Kris Jenkins (2) shoots a foul shot in front of guard Jalen Brunson (1) and Butler Bulldogs guard Tyler Lewis (1) during the second half at The Pavilion. The Butler Bulldogs won 74-66. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2017; Villanova, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Kris Jenkins (2) shoots a foul shot in front of guard Jalen Brunson (1) and Butler Bulldogs guard Tyler Lewis (1) during the second half at The Pavilion. The Butler Bulldogs won 74-66. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Mortal Locks:

The defending national champions are back and better than ever. They closed the year out with nine wins in their last 10 games, with their only loss coming to No. 22 Butler.

In their regular-season finale, they whooped up on the Georgetown Hoyas in D.C, beating them by a score of 81-55.

Overall, the ‘Cats are one of the best two-way teams in the country. According to KenPom, they rank in the Top-20 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, coming in at No. 3 on offense and No. 16 on defense.

Also, the program is only allowing 63.3 points per game, which is No. 21 in the nation.

Villanova boasts a lineup that is as deep as anyone around, but they will go only as far as superstar Josh Hart can take them. On the year, Hart leads the team in scoring with 18.6 points per game on 50.6 percent shooting.

Don’t be surprised if Hart takes home one of the Player of the Year awards when the season concludes.

With their 15-3 conference record, Jay Wright and company won the Big East regular season title and will likely have a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Even though Indianapolis doesn’t exactly scream “East Coast basketball,” they’ve still been a terrific addition to the conference. Not only do they get it done on the court, but their court, the Hinkle Fieldhouse, has been a nice compliment to the list of Big East homecourts.

Chris Holtmann’s team enters the Big East Tournament with an at-large bid locked up. Overall, they’ve won 18 games against KenPom Top-100 teams, including notable wins over No. 2 Villanova (twice), No. 20 Arizona, No. 21 Cincinnati, and No. 28 Marquette (twice).

Like Villanova, the Bulldogs are also very effective on both ends of the floor. They rank in the Top-100 in both scoring offense and defense, putting up 77.4 points per game while only allowing 68.6 points on the defensive end.

Butler offense is spearheaded by Kelan Martin, Andrew Chrabascz, and Kamar Baldwin. All three have double-digit scoring averages, with Martin leading the team with 16 points per game. In addition, they’ve managed to stay healthy all year, playing in all of Butler’s games so far.

According to Joe Lunardi, the Bulldogs are looking at a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bluejays have had to overcome a slew of adversity this year. Their best player and leading scorer, Maurice Watson Jr., went down with an injury midway through conference play and was then arrested in late-February.

You could definitely argue that it effected the team, both as a distraction and on the actual court. Watson was the driving force behind their early success, and in his absence, the ‘Jays had a tough time filling his shoes.

In Creighton’s final eight contests, they limped to the finish line, only winning three games.

Moving forward, I don’t see Creighton making too much noise in the NCAA Tournament. They’re just a different team without Watson in the lineup.

However, with his arrest being such a black-eye for the program, maybe they could rally together and make a run. It would be a terrific story, that’s for certain.

According to Joe Lunardi, the Bluejays are in line for a No. 7 seed.