Mat Mlodzinski gives his Big East basketball power rankings heading into week 12 of the 2023-24 season.
1. UConn Huskies
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 17-2 (7-1)
Last week: W vs. #18 Creighton (62-48), W at Villanova (66-65)
Next week: vs. Xavier (Jan. 28 – Noon)
Quality wins: North Carolina, at Villanova, Creighton, St. John’s, Gonzaga, Texas, Indiana
Bad losses: N/A
There’s no debate. UConn is the best team in the country and that certainly makes them the best team in Big East basketball. The Huskies held Creighton – yes, the high-powered Bluejays – to 48 points. Then they went into Philadelphia to steal a win AT Villanova. Not many teams in college basketball can do that. It’s a well-deserved one-game week for a Huskies team primed to repeat as National Champions, or at least, on the shortlist of teams with the best chance at winning it all in 2024.
2. Seton Hall Pirates
Last week’s ranking: 3 (+1)
Record: 13-6 (6-2)
Last week: W vs. St. John’s (80-65), L vs. #18 Creighton (97-94 in 3OT)
Next week: vs. Providence (Jan. 24 – 6:30 p.m.), at #14 Marquette (Jan. 27 – 1 p.m.)
Quality wins: UConn, Marquette, at Providence, St. John’s
Bad losses: N/A
The number 2 spot in the Big East Basketball Power Rankings IS up for debate, and I’m going with Seton Hall this week. Not only did the Pirates wipe St. John’s off the floor, but they played an epic game of the year candidate against Creighton, ultimately losing in THREE overtimes. Kadary Richmond didn’t have his best shooting night, but he’s been a First-Team All-Big East player and Shaheen Holloway has totally made this team buy-in. It’s a challenging week, but being at home against Providence should allow for at least one win before heading to finish the season series at Marquette.
3. Creighton Bluejays
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-1)
Record: 14-5 (5-3)
Last week: L at #1 UConn (62-48), W at Seton Hall (97-94 in 3 OT)
Next week: vs. Xavier (Jan. 23 – 8:30 p.m.), vs. DePaul (Jan. 27 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Alabama, at Seton Hall, at Nebraska, St. John’s, Providence, Iowa
Bad losses: UNLV
Creighton split the week, which is impressive, considering what it took to outlast Seton Hall and both games being away from Omaha. However, it’s hard for me to ignore the 48-point game against UConn. That’s not like Creighton, and it is concerning. Against the Pirates, Ryan Kalkbrenner and co. made everyone forget about that performance. Could the Jays have stayed at No. 2 in the power rankings? For sure, but I think SHU’s big win over St. John’s says more than a very bad offensive game against the Huskies.
4. Marquette Golden Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 5 (+1)
Record: 13-5 (4-3)
Last two weeks: W vs. Villanova (87-74), W at St. John’s (73-72)
Next week: at DePaul (Jan. 24 – 9 p.m.), vs. Seton Hall (Jan. 27 – 1 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Illinois, Kansas, Creighton, at St. John’s, Villanova, Texas
Bad losses: N/A
Marquette added to their top-tier resume with wins over Villanova and St. John’s, getting back to above .500 in the Big East. Tyler Kolek re-found his groove against the Wildcats, going for 21 points and 11 assists. Kolek had 15 and 11 against the Red Storm, with Oso Ighodaro shooting 80% from the floor in the one-point win with a wild ending. Rick Pitino may have fallen to the floor with the loss, but Marquette refused to fall with a 2-0 week.
5. St. John’s Red Storm
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-1)
Record: 12-7 (4-4)
Last week: L at Seton Hall (80-65), L vs. #17 Marquette (73-72)
Next week: vs. Villanova (Jan. 24 – 8:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Villanova, Utah, Providence
Bad losses: N/A
Still no bad losses for St. John’s, but three straight losses has me very worried about how good this team really is. It doesn’t get much easier with a mid-week date against Villanova, a game both teams need equally. Now, St. John’s NEARLY topped Marquette, and we’d be talking much differently about the Johnnies. Unfortunately, a loss is still a loss and right now the Red Storm are piling them on top of each other.
6. Xavier Musketeers
Last week’s ranking: 8 (+2)
Record: 10-8 (4-3)
Last week: W vs. Butler (85-71), W vs. Georgetown (92-91)
Next week: at #17 Creighton (Jan. 23 – 8:30 p.m.), at #1 UConn (Jan. 28 – Noon)
Quality wins: Seton Hall, Saint Mary’s, Cincinnati, at Providence
Bad losses: Oakland, Delaware
Talk about going from zero to 100. Xavier had home games last week against Butler and Georgetown, resulting in a pair of wins. The Hoyas didn’t go away without a fight, but Xavier made sure to close it out, getting to 4-3 in Big East basketball play. This week? Road trips to Creighton and UConn. That’s just Big East basketball for you! Some bracketologists have Xavier on the bubble, but I’d say they need to win at least one of these to truly be in consideration. A 10-10 record is hard to take as seriously as teams that are 12-8 or 13-7. Either way, the Musketeers are playing well and deserving of a rise in the rankings.
7. Villanova Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 7 (-)
Record: 11-7 (4-3)
Last two weeks: L at #17 Marquette (87-74), L vs. #1 UConn (66-65)
Next week: at St. John’s (Jan. 24 – 8:30 p.m.), at Butler (Jan. 27 – 3 p.m.)
Quality wins: North Carolina, at Creighton, Memphis, Texas Tech
Bad losses: Drexel, Penn
Neither loss was bad for Villanova last week, especially with a difficult road environment at Marquette and coming close down the wire against #1 UConn. Still, the Cats have lost three of their last four and sliding down in NCAA Tournament projections. How can they climb back up? Two chances at Quad 1 wins on the road at St. John’s and Butler. Nova only has one quality Big East win and needs to start adding to that.
8. Butler Bulldogs
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-2)
Record: 12-7 (3-5)
Last two weeks: L at Xavier (85-71), W vs. DePaul (74-60)
Next week: at Georgetown (Jan. 23 – 6:30 p.m.), vs. Villanova (Jan. 27 – 3 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Marquette, Texas Tech, Boise State
Bad losses: N/A
It was a mediocre week for Butler, losing at Xavier in a critical bubble game and winning against DePaul by the same margin of 14 points. The Bulldogs are slowly falling out of NCAA Tournament contention, but aren’t completely done. Wins at Georgetown and against Villanova would definitely put them right back in the picture. Thad Matta really needs to figure out the defense, because in their five losses, the Bulldogs have allowed at least 78 points. That won’t keep you on the winning side of many games.
9. Georgetown Hoyas
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-)
Record: 8-10 (1-6)
Last week: L at Xavier (92-91)
Next week: vs. Butler (Jan. 23 – 6:30 p.m.), at Providence (Jan. 27 – 12:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Holy Cross
I’m keeping Georgetown in 9th despite the loss because they’re coming close. And, quite honestly, a 1-point loss on the road at Xavier is still more impressive than however many points you beat DePaul by. The Hoyas have lost two of their last three losses by four points or less. That tells me that Ed Cooley has laid the foundation. It won’t be an easy process, but the pieces are starting to be put into place. Plus, Jayden Epps went for 32 points and 11 assists, which needs a shoutout in itself.
10. Providence Friars
Last week’s ranking: 10 (-)
Record: 12-6 (3-4)
Last two weeks: W at DePaul (100-62)
Next week: at Seton Hall (Jan. 24 – 6:30 p.m.), vs. Georgetown (Jan. 27 – 12:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Marquette, Wisconsin, Georgia, Butler
Bad losses: N/A
Since losing Bryce Hopkins, counting the Seton Hall game, the Friars are 1-4. The only win came last week, against DePaul, who fired their head coach midseason because they are that bad. If you still want to take away something from the win, Jayden Pierre had 14 points, 5 assists, and only 1 turnover. The sophomore is already playing well and on pace to really take over the conference next season. Providence has a tough game at Seton Hall this week and can try and settle why they should be ahead of Georgetown in the Big East Basketball Power Rankings over the weekend.
11. DePaul Blue Demons
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-)
Record: 3-15 (0-7)
Last week: L vs. Providence (100-62), L at Butler (74-60)
Next week: vs. #14 Marquette (Jan. 24 – 9 p.m.), at #17 Creighton (Jan. 27 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Purdue Fort Wayne, Long Beach State, Northern Illinois, at Georgetown
DePaul officially fired head coach Tony Stubblefield on Monday, after a 3-15 start. Apparently, 3-13 wasn’t enough, but 3-15 was the breaking point. Matt Brady will take over and have the joy of playing two top-20 teams in Marquette and Creighton. The Blue Demons were in need of a new head coach for a while, but this mess won’t be easy to fix.