Big East Conference Results/ NCAA/NIT/CBI

[jesmu84]

https://twitter.com/BarstoolReags/status/1084525536045600769?s=19

[IrwinFletcher]

Butler losing was a tough one for the conference.  They had the inside track to win a bid but this one hurts them a bit.  No easy games in this league.

[Cheeks]

Woof, my Butler as 4th best team in the Big East prediction is not looking good.

I (and many others) said it preseason. This is Villanova's conference until someone proves otherwise.

Yup yup

[Herman Cain]

Big East NET Rankings update after yesterdays game January 12. DePaul moved up significantly with their win. This league is very solid.
New  Old
20   21   Marquette   
30   29   Villanova   
37   26   St. John's
39   45   Seton Hall   
46   49   Butler   
52   52   Creighton   
78   80   Xavier   
91   123   DePaul   
98   93   Providence   
101   105   Georgetown   

[Herman Cain]

Big East NET Rankings as of Sunday January 13 games. Not much change from previous.
New Old
19   20   Marquette      
29   30   Villanova      
37   37   St. John's
39   39   Seton Hall   
48   46   Butler   
55   52   Creighton   
77   78   Xavier   
91   91   DePaul   
97   98   Providence   
101   101   Georgetown   

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Big East NET Rankings as of Sunday January 13 games. Not much change from previous.
New Old
19   20   Marquette      
29   30   Villanova      
37   37   St. John's
39   39   Seton Hall   
48   46   Butler   
55   52   Creighton   
77   78   Xavier   
91   91   DePaul   
97   98   Providence   
101   101   Georgetown

That is pretty. 

[Goose]

J5

I am excited about the team's record thus far, but have to admit, being 2.5 favorite against number 100 says something. I have said all season that college ball is way down this season and I think the spread proves that. There are a lot of average teams beating each other up. Again, I'm hoping for a run of games that they separate themselves from the pack. Counting on Howard to score a 100 a game is a hope, imo, not a strategy.

[MU82]

Big East NET Rankings as of Sunday January 13 games. Not much change from previous.
New Old
19   20   Marquette      
29   30   Villanova      
37   37   St. John's
39   39   Seton Hall   
48   46   Butler   
55   52   Creighton   
77   78   Xavier   
91   91   DePaul   
97   98   Providence   
101   101   Georgetown

Interesting to see Villanova drop a spot after 2 wins.

I am excited about the team's record thus far, but have to admit, being 2.5 favorite against number 100 says something. I have said all season that college ball is way down this season and I think the spread proves that. There are a lot of average teams beating each other up. Again, I'm hoping for a run of games that they separate themselves from the pack. Counting on Howard to score a 100 a game is a hope, imo, not a strategy.

Tough to win on the road, Goose. (Heck, last night for Duke it was tough to win at home against an unranked, 5-loss team that had fallen to Old Dominion and Georgia Tech.)

Perhaps college ball is "way down," though I don't know how a point spread from a January BEast game "proves" it.

Perhaps there are no great teams, but there have been a ton of highly entertaining games, including most of ours. It's the kind of parity that would make Rozelle proud.

Marquette can only play in the environment that exists. If we win the BEast, or get to the FF or E8 or S16, there will be no need to put an asterisk next to any of our accomplishments. I have read many times that 1976-77 was a "down" season for college basketball -- UCLA was no longer dominant, Indiana couldn't even make the NCAAs after going unbeaten the year before, a relatively mediocre Marquette team and UNC-Charlotte were able to make it to the Final Four, etc, etc.

I don't think we'll give the title back, though.

As for counting on Markus to score 100 ... why exaggerate? Most games we don't even need him to score 50 - ha!

[Goose]

MU82

Agree with 90% of your post. You can only win the games you play. It is not MU's responsibility to upgrade the entire landscape of college ball. Regardless of season outcome, it will not have an asterisk from this fan. Winning on the road has always been tough, and maybe this season a tad tougher due to more teams lumped together in terms of talent. That said, I do find the point spreads, and outcomes, to be discussion worthy. Equally ad discussion worthy, they are proving they can win the tight games, something not seen before in Wojo era.

As for '76-'77 season, come on. MU was far from mediocre and you know that full well. Any team that has two AA's on it, J Whitehead at center and former top three recruit on the bench is far from mediocre. That team, like many of Al's teams, played up or down to the competition. That team was preseason #1 or #2, depending on polls, and was top 3-4 team in the Al era. Do not mislead folks, that were not born at that time, that MU was not a top, top level team that season. To even note the '76-'77 season in any discussion with this year is actually laughable.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

J5

I am excited about the team's record thus far, but have to admit, being 2.5 favorite against number 100 says something. I have said all season that college ball is way down this season and I think the spread proves that. There are a lot of average teams beating each other up. Again, I'm hoping for a run of games that they separate themselves from the pack. Counting on Howard to score a 100 a game is a hope, imo, not a strategy.

Yah, I don't think Georgetown is the 100th best team in college basketball, though.  If I had to do tiers, I would go as follows:

10-30 range: Marquette, Villanova, Seton Hall and St. Johns

30-45 range: Creighton, Butler

45-60 range: Xavier, Georgetown and Providence

75ish: Depaul

IMO, the big east is mainly top 60 teams.  Sure, there is quite a bit of parity, but its not like these teams are bad.  Definitely not super top heavy like the B10 or ACC, but a bunch of really solid teams that are going to beat up on each other.  Georgetown for example didn't exactly play a murder's row non-con, but they won @ Illinois, and lost by 1 @Syracuse.  Have won @ Butler and vs. PC so far this BE season.  They are a pretty good team. 

And, as others have said, winning on the road is tough. 

[MU82]

MU82

As for '76-'77 season, come on. MU was far from mediocre and you know that full well. Any team that has two AA's on it, J Whitehead at center and former top three recruit on the bench is far from mediocre. That team, like many of Al's teams, played up or down to the competition. That team was preseason #1 or #2, depending on polls, and was top 3-4 team in the Al era. Do not mislead folks, that were not born at that time, that MU was not a top, top level team that season. To even note the '76-'77 season in any discussion with this year is actually laughable.

Totally fair, Goose. "Mediocre" was a very poor word choice.

What they were much of the season was "disappointing." Several terrible losses, the kind that would have had Scoopers' hair on fire (or, in my case, my scalp boilin'). We had an extremely talented team that often did not play to its talent level. Critics now would would call that a sign of poor coaching, though we know that was not the case. Pretty lucky to even get into the tournament.

But no, those Warriors were not mediocre, and they really showed up at nut-cuttin' time -- both late in the season to make sure they got an NCAA invite, and then, of course, when it really counted!

[Herman Cain]

Big East Net Rankings as of Monday January 14 games.  Every team in top 100. It appears as if Indiana home loss may have impacted MU and Butler. Although hard to say because we don't know exact workings of the formula they use yet. 
New Old
22   19   Marquette   '
27   29   Villanova   
37   37   St. John's
39   39   Seton Hall
50   48   Butler   
56   55   Creighton   
79   77   Xavier   
90   91   DePaul      
99   101   Georgetown   

[MU82]

Big East Net Rankings as of Monday January 14 games.  Every team in top 100. It appears as if Indiana home loss may have impacted MU and Butler. Although hard to say because we don't know exact workings of the formula they use yet. 
New Old
22   19   Marquette   '
27   29   Villanova   
37   37   St. John's
39   39   Seton Hall
50   48   Butler   
56   55   Creighton   
79   77   Xavier   
90   91   DePaul      
99   101   Georgetown

I spoke too soon earlier about Nova dropping despite 2 wins. In this latest list, WE drop 3 spots despite 2 wins!

Overall, conference looks relatively strong -- or at least not relatively weak top-to-bottom.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I spoke too soon earlier about Nova dropping despite 2 wins. In this latest list, WE drop 3 spots despite 2 wins!

Overall, conference looks relatively strong -- or at least not relatively weak top-to-bottom.

Wisconsin moved up from 20 to 19 after their loss.  So there's that.

[LloydsLegs]

I am glad that Providence broke through tonight against SH.  While it shouldn't matter, I wouldn't want MU to face them in desperation mode on Sunday.

[wadesworld]

There are no "should win" games in the BE. Just "can win" games.

[Herman Cain]

I am glad that Providence broke through tonight against SH.  While it shouldn't matter, I wouldn't want MU to face them in desperation mode on Sunday.

There are no "should win" games in the BE. Just "can win" games.

I agree with this analysis.

[brewcity77]

DePaul just landed midseason transfer Carte'are Gordon from St Louis. Former top-75 recruit.

[JakeBarnes]

DePaul just landed midseason transfer Carte'are Gordon from St Louis. Former top-75 recruit.

Big get for them.

[Lennys Tap]

There are no "should win" games in the BE. Just "can win" games.

We should win all of our home games and a couple of our road games. We could win the others.

[tower912]

Didn't win by enough.   Ranking to drop.

[Its DJOver]

StJ is back on the bubble after the DePaul loss, they're at home against a desperate Creighton team tonight.  Any word on Ponds back?

[jsglow]

DePaul just landed midseason transfer Carte'are Gordon from St Louis. Former top-75 recruit.

Wow.  Great pickup. I remember watching that kid years ago in some international competition and recall MU going after him.

[shoothoops]

Wow.  Great pickup. I remember watching that kid years ago in some international competition and recall MU going after him.

Lots and lots of potential, lots of baggage. He played for multiple high schools, multiple AAU teams, etc...he was apparently showing up late or not at all for some practices and team functions, drawing the ire of several teammates, especially some team leaders.  SLU took a chance on him based on his talent and knowing him well as a local player. Very emotional player and kid.  High risk high reward. If he can stay the course, a big if, he is an elite talent.

[LloydsLegs]

J5

I am excited about the team's record thus far, but have to admit, being 2.5 favorite against number 100 says something. I have said all season that college ball is way down this season and I think the spread proves that. There are a lot of average teams beating each other up. Again, I'm hoping for a run of games that they separate themselves from the pack. Counting on Howard to score a 100 a game is a hope, imo, not a strategy.

Thankfully, it was not Wojo's strategy last night (or ever, frankly)