With a month to go until the Big East tournament, Seton Hall is running out of time to get the wins it needs to feel safe on Selection Sunday.
At 16-6, the Pirates have proven themselves a pretty good team. But they have only one Quad 1 win, and the Big East is not the place to find many more of them this year. Outside of the Pirates themselves, only Connecticut, St. John’s and Villanova qualify no matter where the game is played, and Seton Hall has already lost three games to that group.
The good news for Seton Hall is that it gets a chance to fix that and grab the win it needs at Villanova. The bad news is that if they fail here, they won’t get another real shot until facing Connecticut at the end of February.
Here’s a look at this week’s Big East power rankings.
1. Connecticut Huskies (22–1)
Previous: 1
After a middling week against Villanova and Providence, Connecticut finally looked like a national title contender again in blowout wins over Creighton and Xavier. Neither qualifies as a quality win, but an average margin of victory of 29.5 points says something.
Connecticut faces its biggest test in weeks in New York against St. John’s. If the Huskies get out of the Garden with a win, they should cruise to the regular season title.
2. St. John’s Red Storm (17–5)
Previous: 2
The Red Storm smashed Butler at home and avoided the trap at DePaul, giving them eight straight wins heading into a massive showdown with Connecticut. St. John’s might actually have the right profile to bother UConn, pushing tempo and controlling the glass.
Win or lose, the Red Storm are in great shape. They’ve clearly separated themselves as the No. 2 team in the conference.
3. Villanova Wildcats (16–5)
Previous: 3
The loss to Creighton looks more like an outlier every time out. Villanova did what it needed to do with a home win over Providence, and the Wildcats can all but lock up their bid by protecting home court against Seton Hall.
They won the first meeting in New Jersey and have been steady all season. They still need a signature win, but third place is a very solid spot.
4. Seton Hall Pirates (16–6)
Previous: 7
Seton Hall handled Xavier and Marquette, and while the Marquette win was closer than it should have been, a win is a win. Now they get a golden opportunity at Villanova, followed by what should be at least a Quad 2 chance at Creighton.
Despite the record, Seton Hall needs to play this week like a desperate team. If it goes wrong, the Pirates probably don’t have enough runway left to fix it.
5. Georgetown Hoyas (12–10)
Previous: 9
The fact that Georgetown is fifth at 12-10 says everything about the Big East this year. The Hoyas are playing better basketball, but they are nowhere near the tournament picture.
Still, wins over DePaul and Butler show real progress, and a struggling Creighton is next. There’s room for Georgetown to keep building momentum.
6. Creighton Bluejays (12–10)
Previous: 4
A split would have been acceptable. Instead, Creighton got destroyed by Marquette and then blown out by Connecticut. Three of their last six losses have been by at least 17 points.
Losing to UConn is understandable. Losing by 27 is not. With Georgetown surging, the trip to Washington could quietly end any real postseason hopes.
7. Butler Bulldogs (13–9)
Previous: 7
The home loss to Georgetown was brutal. Butler was already walking a tightrope, and that felt like the slip.
This week brings a tough road game at Providence and then Marquette. It’s very possible they lose both and watch their bubble pop.
8. Xavier Musketeers (12–11)
Previous: 8
Beating DePaul helped. Getting crushed by UConn did not. That pretty much sums up Xavier’s season.
The Musketeers have a decent ceiling but a scary low floor. And wins over them aren’t moving anyone’s resume needle anymore.
9. DePaul Blue Demons (12–11)
Previous: 6
DePaul finally got winnable road games and still came up short at Georgetown and Xavier.
They’ve improved, but still have a long way to go. With Creighton, Providence and Marquette still ahead on the road, that elusive road win might come eventually.
10. Marquette Golden Eagles (8–15)
Previous: 11
Marquette showed signs of life. They hammered Creighton and then pushed Seton Hall in a five-point loss.
If this version shows up in February, they could become a nightmare for bubble teams. They’re talented enough and desperate enough to ruin seasons.
11. Providence Friars (9–13)
Previous: 10
Providence isn’t playing like a last-place team, but that’s where they sit. The Friars were never likely to beat UConn or Villanova on the road, but they competed.
With Xavier and DePaul coming up at home, they have a real chance to climb out of the basement.
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