Mat Mlodzinski gives his Big East basketball power rankings heading into week 16 of the 2023-24 season.
Matchup of the week: UConn at Creighton (Feb. 20 – 8:30 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Providence at Xavier (Feb. 21 – 8 p.m.)
All games listed are EST
1. UConn Huskies
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 24-2 (14-1)
Last week: W at DePaul (101-65), W vs. #4 Marquette (81-53)
Next week: at #15 Creighton (Feb. 20 – 8:30 p.m.), vs. Villanova (Feb. 24 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Marquette, North Carolina, Creighton, Texas, Gonzaga, Butler, Providence, at Villanova, St. John’s (x2)
Bad losses: N/A
Instead of slowing down, UConn is doing the exact opposite, pummeling Marquette almost as much as they did to DePaul. After Purdue’s loss to Ohio State, it’s clear UConn isn’t just in their own stratosphere in the Big East – the Huskies are in control of the college basketball universe.
2. Creighton Bluejays
Last week’s ranking: 4 (+2)
Record: 19-7 (10-5)
Last week: W vs. Georgetown (94-72), W at Butler (79-57)
Next week: vs. #1 UConn (Feb. 20 – 8:30 p.m.), at St. John’s (Feb. 25 – Noon)
Quality wins: Alabama, at Nebraska, at Seton Hall, at Butler, at Xavier, Providence, St. John’s
Bad losses: UNLV
After a two-game skid, Creighton has won three in a row, taking both games last week by 22 points. That’s the type of basketball you want to be playing heading into what should be a sellout game against Connecticut. Even better? The defensive effort has been noticeable these last few games. Can it continue in the most important game of the season on Tuesday night?
3. Marquette Golden Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-1)
Record: 19-6 (10-4)
Last two weeks: W at Butler (78-72), L at #1 UConn (81-53)
Next week: vs. DePaul (Feb. 21 – 9 p.m.), vs. Xavier (Feb. 25 – 5 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Illinois, Kansas, Creighton, Texas, at Butler, Seton Hall, at Villanova, St. John’s (x2)
Bad losses: N/A
All I can think about is how non-Final Four-worthy Marquette looked against UConn it’s easy to forget they won at Butler just a few days prior. I don’t think we should hold that loss against the Huskies, but it’s important for Marquette to respond this week and prepare for a future stretch that includes Creighton on the road and UConn at home. Bad performances in February can be forgotten for memorable wins in March.
4. Providence Friars
Last week’s ranking: 7 (+3)
Record: 17-9 (8-7)
Last two weeks: W vs. St. John’s (75-72), W vs. DePaul (81-70)
Next week: at Xavier (Feb. 21 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Marquette, Wisconsin, Creighton, at Seton Hall, Butler, St. John’s
Bad losses: N/A
Talk about a gutsy win for Providence. Trailing St. John’s by five at the half, allowing the Red Storm to come back and tie things up, and blocking a game-winning shot attempt. That’s Big East basketball and it’s also what you need to do to make the Big Dance. The Friars still have work to do, but can pick up another resume win this week at Xavier.
5. Seton Hall Pirates
Last week’s ranking: 8 (+3)
Record: 17-9 (10-5)
Last week: W vs. Xavier (88-70), W at St. John’s (68-62)
Next week: vs. Butler (Feb. 24 – 8:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: UConn, Marquette, at Providence, Xavier, St. John’s (x2)
Bad losses: USC, Rutgers
I’ve been pretty adamant about my Seton Hall Pirates, who even with five Quad 1 wins, aren’t respected by whatever formula the NET Rankings go by. Of course, the non-conference was a struggle for SHU but Big East play has been anything but. That included being down by 19 in the first half against St. John’s and winning by six. It’s not always pretty, but Shaheen Holloway’s teams find ways to win.
6. Butler Bulldogs
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-3)
Record: 16-10 (7-8)
Last two weeks: L vs. #4 Marquette (78-72), L vs. #17 Creighton (79-57)
Next week: at Villanova (Feb. 20 – 6:30 p.m.), at Seton Hall (Feb. 24 – 8:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Marquette, at Creighton, Texas Tech, Boise State, Providence
Bad losses: N/A
It seems sort of unfair to drop Butler three spots for losing to two of the top three teams in the conference, especially since the Bulldogs beat them both on the road. But power rankings are also about how you’re playing in the moment, and two losses – one by 22 – result in a slip in the rankings. The good news for Butler is two more chances at solid road wins this week to help their case.
7. Villanova Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-1)
Record: 14-11 (7-7)
Last two weeks: W at Georgetown (70-54)
Next week: vs. Butler (Feb. 20 – 6:30 p.m.), at #1 UConn (Feb. 24 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: North Carolina, at Creighton, Texas Tech, Providence, Seton Hall
Bad losses: at Penn, St. Joe’s, Drexel
Can Villanova still make the NCAA Tournament? Their best chance would be by stacking up more quality wins to offset the bad losses. This week that involves a home game against Butler and on the road at UConn. One would help more than the other, but for a program like Nova to be playing under the radar in late Feb. just seems like a scary thought to me.
8. Xavier Musketeers
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-3)
Record: 13-12 (7-7)
Last week: L at Seton Hall (88-70)
Next week: vs. Providence (Feb. 21 – 8 p.m.), at #7 Marquette (Feb. 25 – 5 p.m.)
Quality wins: Saint Mary’s, at Providence, Seton Hall, Cincinnati, Villanova, St. John’s
Bad losses: Oakland, Delaware
For only having one game last week, Xavier crashed hard, losing by about 20 points inside the Prudential Center. Luckily, their NCAA Tournament insurance hasn’t run out and can be pointed back in the right direction this week. Providence at home is step number one but a win at Marquette can save Xavier’s season in an instance.
9. St. John’s Red Storm
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-)
Record: 14-12 (6-9)
Last week: L at Providence (75-72), L vs. Seton Hall (68-62)
Next week: at Georgetown (Feb. 21 – 7 p.m.), vs. #15 Creighton (Feb. 25 – Noon)
Quality wins: Utah, Butler, Providence, Villanova (x2)
Bad losses: N/A
Who has had a worse week, Rick Pitino, or Pitino’s players for having to hear so much negativity about themselves and the program? I’m sure he’s just trying to fire his guys up, but you have to wonder how much that’s hurting the culture in Queens. Eight losses in ten games is absolutely brutal.
10. Georgetown Hoyas
Last week’s ranking: 10 (-)
Record: 8-17 (1-13)
Last week: L at #17 Creighton (94-72), L vs. Villanova (70-54)
Next week: vs. St. John’s (Feb. 21 – 7 p.m.), at DePaul (Feb. 24 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Holy Cross
Am I silly for thinking Georgetown can go 2-0 this week? It’s the perfect time to have St. John’s at home, and DePaul remains the Hoyas’s only conference win this season. For Ed Cooley’s sake, I hope they can show some fight. After all, Cooley or Pitino need to see something out of their players before they go bonkers.
11. DePaul Blue Demons
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-)
Record: 3-22 (0-14)
Last week: L vs. #1 UConn (101-65), L at Providence (81-70)
Next week: at #7 Marquette (Feb. 21 – 9 p.m.), vs. Georgetown (Feb. 24 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Purdue Fort Wayne, Long Beach State, Northern Illinois, at Georgetown
I nearly had a typo and put DePaul’s record at 3-222. I almost nearly left it, just because it would probably paint a more accurate picture of their season. And that’s all I’ve got for you. Again, until DePaul wins a game, I’m also not putting the effort into my paragraphs about them.