CBB Review prepares you for every conference tournament leading up to Selection Sunday on Mar. 17. Up next: The Big East Tournament.
There are 31 great conference tournaments and then there is the Big East Tournament. For decades, it’s stood on its own pedestal and even though the conference may not look the same as it did in its heyday, it still remains the greatest show during championship week.
Still, the Big East remains one of the top conferences in college basketball. UConn are the defending champs and are on the shortlist of teams that can realistically win the whole thing in 2024. Creighton and Marquette are Final Four contenders, and then there’s a long list of bubble teams looking to solidify their spots in March during the week.
Get ready, Madison Square Garden is sure to make some more moments.
2024 Big East Conference Awards
Player of the Year: Devin Carter, Providence
Freshman of the Year: Stephon Castle, UConn
Transfer of the Year: Josh Oduro, Providence
Coach of the Year: Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall
First Team:
- G: Devin Carter, Providence (19.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 38.5 3P%, 56.2 2P%)
- G: Tristen Newton, UConn (15.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.0 SPG)
- G: Tyler Kolek, Marquette (15.0 PPG, 7.6 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 40.0 3P%, 53.2 2P%)
- G: Baylor Scheierman, Creighton (18.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, 37.9 3P%, 57.0 2P%)
- C: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton (17.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.3 APG, 3.0 BPG, 71.5 2P%)
Second Team:
- G: Quincy Olivari, Xavier (19.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 43.2 3P%)
- G: Kadary Richmond, Seton Hall (16.2 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.8 APG, 2.1 SPG)
- F: Trey Alexander, Creighton (17.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.2 SPG, 52.9 2P%)
- F: Eric Dixon, Villanova (16.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 36.2 3P%, 53.5 2P%)
- F: Oso Ighodaro, Marquette (14.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.1 SPG, 61.2 2P%)
Big East Tournament Simulation
First Round – Wed., Mar. 13
8. Butler (18-13, 9-11) vs. 9. Xavier (15-16, 9-11) – 4 p.m. on FS1
At one point in time, both of these teams looked like they had the potential to finish in the top five of the conference. Of course, they faded out, and now they’re playing each other for the chance to play UConn. It’ll truly be about which team has the most fight, and considering Butler has a lot more to play for, I’m taking the Bulldogs. The NCAA Tournament is a long way away, but it isn’t entirely out of reach for Thad Matta’s squad.
Mat’s pick: 8. Butler
7. Providence (19-12, 10-10) vs. 10. Georgetown (9-22, 2-18) – 6:30 p.m. on FS1
Grab your popcorn for this one. It couldn’t have worked out any better than the 6:30 p.m. tip-off at the Big East Tournament featuring Ed Cooley’s Georgetown Hoyas against his former Providence Friars. It’s two original Big East teams battling it out and something tells me Cooley will have his boys ready to go. However, the Friars need this win to keep their bubble from popping. It’s the story of the Big East Tournament this year and Georgetown isn’t about to mess that up.
Mat’s pick: 7. Providence
6. Villanova (17-14, 10-10) vs. 11. DePaul (3-28, 0-20) – 9 p.m. on FS1
Imagine the disappointment of Villanova fans and shock if DePaul were to win this game. Of course, that won’t happen and I don’t feel the need to explain why.
Mat’s pick: 6. Villanova
Quarterfinals – Thur., Mar. 14
1. UConn (28-3, 18-2) vs. 8. Butler – Noon on FS1
1-seed UConn at Madison Square Garden against a Midwest Big East expansion team doesn’t ring “upset alert.” Of course, Posh Alexander, Pierre Brooks, and the rest of the Bulldogs are capable of not getting blown out, but as far as winning this game, the Huskies are not going to fold.
Mat’s pick: 1. UConn
4. Seton Hall (20-11, 13-7) vs. 5. St. John’s (19-12, 11-9) – 2:30 p.m. on FS1
This game could be rocking as it pits two New York City area teams against each other in a must-win for St. John’s and a really want-to-have-win for Seton Hall. Simply put, both teams could really use this win to strengthen their respective resumes ahead of Selection Sunday. The Pirates took both regular-season meetings, but Rick Pitino turned the Red Storm’s season around after that second loss to SHU and I think that continues.
Mat’s pick: 5. St. John’s
2. Creighton (23-8, 14-6) vs. 7. Providence – 7 p.m. on FS1
There are so many talking points here as Creighton looks to potentially move up to the 2-seed line, Providence looks to really make a mark on their resume, and for the 7 p.m. tip, MSG will be on a different level. Creighton has a lot of players that can turn the tide in their favor, but I like Josh Oduro to give Ryan Kalkbrenner some trouble and for Carter to become the story of this year’s Big East Tournament.
Mat’s pick: 7. Providence
3. Marquette (23-8, 14-6) vs. 6. Villanova – 9:30 p.m. on FS1
We already saw one upset – why not another? There’s a chance Tyler Kolek isn’t at 100% for this game and I’m sure Villanova will once again have the crowd edge. Given that, I like another upset, because it ain’t the Big East Tournament without some madness.
Mat’s pick: 6. Villanova
Semifinals – Fri., Mar. 15
1. UConn vs. 5. St. John’s – 5:30 p.m. on FOX
It’s the perfect game to have on “Big” FOX – UConn and St. John’s. Dan Hurley versus Rick Pitino. And quite frankly, it might feel like more of a show than a game because of those two coaches. If this matchup does happen, there are two things to keep an eye on: 1) UConn’s ability to go on crushing runs. 2) How St. John’s responds to such runs. If the Johnnies can limit that, they have the offensive players to keep it close. But I want to be realistic here.
Mat’s pick: 1. UConn
6. Villanova vs. 7. Providence – 8 p.m. on FS1
Take the seeds out of this and Villanova and Providence would make for an intriguing semifinals game. Of course, the winner would ultimately lock themselves into the field, but the loser could still be sweating a bit come Selection Sunday. For me, it’s about coaching here, and Kyle Neptune hasn’t proven enough in that department. The Devin Carter legacy tournament lives another day.
Mat’s pick: 7. Providence
Championship – Sat., Mar. 16
1. UConn vs. 7. Providence – 6:30 p.m. on FOX
An All-New England final? Sign me up and bring me some Dunkin’. UConn took both regular season meetings, but the Friars played them very tough the first time around, playing extra pesky down the stretch. As long as this game doesn’t get taken over by the referees, it could be an all-time great. And in 2024, Dan Hurley wins all-time greats.
Mat’s pick: 1. UConn