Bracketology: How many Big East teams will make the NCAA Tournament?

Bracketology update for the Big East conference. How many teams will the conference send to the NCAA Tournament in March?

There may not be as much strength in numbers as there is in the Big Ten but the Big East may be the toughest conference in college basketball this season. From top-to-bottom, there is no easy game in the Big East, which plays a brand of basketball that is both rugged and crowd-pleasing.

There is a clear stratification in the Big East between the league’s top three teams and the rest of the pack but the conference could still send the most teams to the Big Dance outside of the Big Ten. This bracketology update looks at the state of the Big East and how many would make the NCAA Tournament right now and which teams on the bubble still have work to do.

Seton Hall (18-5 Overall, 10-1 in Big East Play)

Key Figures: NET (12), Strength of Schedule (16), Non-Conference Strength of Schedule (13)

The Pirates have been the class of the Big East this season, building a three-game lead in the standings after topping Villanova on the road last Saturday. The metrics all love the Pirates, who are inside the top-15 in both NET rating and non-conference strength of schedule, which the committee values immensely. There is a much better shot the Pirates are going to be a 1-seed than fall to the bubble.

Creighton (18-6, 7-4)

Key Figures: NET (24), SOS (28), Non-Conf. SOS (63)

One of three teams in a tie for second place behind Villanova, Creighton can put the ball in the basket, averaging 77.3 points per game. A strong performance in the non-conference schedule, including wins over fellow bubble teams like Oklahoma and Arizona State, has put the Bluejays in position to snag an at-large. A road win at Villanova is a good cherry topper, so Creighton will be looking to bolster its seeding in the coming weeks.

Villanova (17-6, 7-4)

Key Figures: NET (21), SOS (23), Non-Conf. SOS (40)

After lording over the Big East for years, Villanova is firmly behind Seton Hall in the Big East hierarchy. The Wildcats’ current three-game losing skid is ill-timed, but strong metrics and quality performance over the course of the season mean Villanova will be just fine come March. The highlight of the Wildcats’ resume is a win over Kansas.

Marquette (17-6, 7-4)

Key Figures: NET (19), SOS (21), Non-Conf. SOS (28)

The Markus Howard experience should be ready to go to the NCAA Tournament once again. The Golden Eagles have only one questionable loss on their resume, a one-point defeat at home to Providence, so they appear to be in very good shape. Having Howard, the NCAA’s leading scorer, on their side will certainly help the cause.

Butler (18-6, 6-5)

Key Figures: NET (13), SOS (24), Non-Conf. SOS (56)

One of the biggest surprises in the Big East this season, Butler raced off to a 15-1 start, with the one defeat being a one-point loss at Baylor. That hot start gave the Bulldogs a lot of wiggle room, which they needed after going just 3-5 over their next eight games. Barring a continued collapse, the Bulldogs should safely land in the 4-6 seed range in March.

Providence (13-11, 6-5)

Key Figures: NET (57), SOS (38), Non-Conf. SOS (215)

The Friars have had some big-time wins this season, including a win at Butler last week, but there are simply too many losses here. Defeats at the hands of Northwestern, Long Beach State, the College of Charleston, and Penn are not flattering either. Combine the poor defeats with a horrific non-conference strength of schedule, and the only way Providence makes the NCAA Tournament is by winning the Big East’s automatic bid.

On the outside looking in … for now

Xavier (16-8, 5-6)

Key Figures: NET (42), SOS (39), Non-Conf. SOS (146)

The Musketeers are the true definition of a bubble team, beating pretty much everyone they were supposed to while losing to teams better than them. The one thing that the Musketeers have going for them is a 12-point win at Seton Hall, the only loss the Pirates have suffered in Big East play this season. Xavier will need to pick up a few more marquee wins to ensure their position in the field.

Georgetown (14-10, 4-7)

Key Figures: NET (52), SOS (27), Non-Conf. SOS (43)

The numbers love Georgetown, which played a tough non-conference schedule but didn’t do a ton against it. A loss to UNC Greensboro is also hanging like an anvil over the Hoyas’ neck, and the only win of note for them is a three-point victory at Creighton. Georgetown will have opportunities to change that over the rest of the season, but simply treading water won’t get the job done.

St. John’s (13-11, 2-9)

Key Figures: NET (77), SOS (47), Non-Conf. SOS (245)

Year one of the Mike Anderson era got off to a roaring start with a strong record in the non-conference season, but the roof collapsed with a 2-9 mark in Big East play. Wins over West Virginia and Arizona have been outweighed by an awful run in conference play, and like Providence, the Johnnies will need to win the automatic bid to go dancing.

DePaul (13-11, 1-10)

Key Figures: NET (65), SOS (46), Non-Conf. SOS (193)

The Blue Demons put together a weak non-conference schedule and went 12-1 against it, with highlights being wins against Texas Tech and at Minnesota. Those teams have turned out to be bubble entries, and DePaul was exposed in Big East play, dropping 10 of their first 11 matchups to fall completely out of the NCAA Tournament picture.

How many Big East teams will get in?

Six. Based on their work to date Seton Hall, Villanova, Creighton, Butler and Marquette will all be dancing. Xavier should make it six bids for the Big East but Georgetown may have too big a hill to climb to make it seven. The logic dictates that there will only be six Big East squads who hear their names called on Selection Sunday.

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