How many Big East teams are left in the NCAA Tournament?
By David Smith
The Big East has been one of the strongest conferences in the NCAA Tournament. This begs the question: how many sweet sixteen teams are from the Big East?
The Big East, one of the premier conferences in college basketball, entered the NCAA Tournament with five teams. Through two rounds, the conference boasts the best record of any major conference at 7-2, with three teams remaining in the Sweet 16. This is tied for most of any conference with the SEC.
Providence lost their opening round game to Kentucky, making the Friars the only Big East school to lose in the opening round.
Marquette, the highest-seeded Big East team as a No. 2 seed, lost in the second round at the hands of Tom Izzo and Michigan State.
So, who’s left?
March Madness: How many Big East teams are left in the NCAA Tournament?
The three teams left are Xavier, UConn, and Creighton.
No. 3-seeded Xavier sits as the highest-seeded team remaining in the conference, and also have the toughest Sweet 16 matchup. The Musketeers will take on Texas on Friday evening, in a classic three-seed versus two-seed face-off. Xavier defeated No.14 seed Kennesaw State and No. 11 seed Pittsburgh on their way to the Sweet Sixteen.
No. 4 seeded UConn is set up to play No. 8 seeded Arkansas after the Razorbacks knocked off defending champion and No. 1 seeded Kansas in a thriller. The Huskies dominated No. 13 seed Iona and No. 5 seed Saint Mary’s to reach the Sweet Sixteen. Arkansas is playing some of their best basketball of the season, but so are the Huskies, shaping this up to be an outstanding matchup.
No.6 seeded Creighton is the lowest remaining seed of the Big East teams left, but they are playing outstanding basketball. The Blue Jays defeated No.11 seed NC State and No.3 seed Baylor, having the toughest path of any Big East team to reach the final sixteen. Creighton will be taking on this year’s Cinderella team, No. 15 seed Princeton. Only one 15 seed has ever made the Elite Eight, of course, Saint Peter’s in 2022.
The Big East teams are favored in two of the three contests, with Xavier being the lone underdog. It is not unreasonable to believe the conference could have three teams making the Elite Eight.
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