James Stowell gives his New Year’s Resolution for each team in the Big East basketball power rankings.
Week 8 team of the week: N/A
Week 8 game of the week: N/A
Week 8 player of the week: N/A
Week 8 matchup of the week: Butler at Creighton (Dec. 30 – 9 p.m.)
Week 8 under-the-radar matchup of the week: St. John’s at Georgetown (Dec. 31 – 8 p.m.)
All games are listed as EST.
1. UConn Huskies
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-)
Record: 12-1 (2-0)
Last week: W vs Butler (79-60), at DePaul (72-54)
Next week: at Xavier (Dec. 31 – 5 p.m.), vs. Marquette (Jan. 4 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Kansas, Illinois (Neutral), BYU, at Florida (Neutral)
Bad losses: N/A
New Year’s Resolution: Better three-point shooting from Silas Demery Jr.
UConn had a great holiday week, earning a pair of wins against Butler and DePaul while leading the conference in almost every statistical category. Silas Demery Jr., meanwhile, could see an improvement from beyond the arc, as he averages 22.2% on the year, the worst in the Huskies’ starting five.
2. St. John’s Red Storm
Last week’s ranking: 2 (-)
Record: 8-4 (1-0)
Last week: W vs. DePaul (79-66), L vs. Kentucky (66-78), W vs. Harvard (85-59)
Next week: at Georgetown (Dec. 31 – 8 p.m.), vs. Providence (Jan. 3 – Noon)
Quality wins: Baylor (Neutral), Ole Miss
Bad losses: N/A
New Year’s Resolution: Clean up the turnovers
The Red Storm averages the most turnovers in the conference (12.9 turnovers); they need to improve that in the future.
3. Seton Hall Pirates
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)
Record: 11-2 (1-1)
Last week: W at Providence (72-67), L vs. Villanova (56-64)
Next week: at Marquette (Dec. 30 – 7 p.m.), vs. Creighton (Jan. 4 – Noon)
Quality wins: NC State (Neutral), at Kansas State
Bad losses: N/A
New Year’s Resolution: Score the ball more
The Pirates average the fewest points in the Big East (74.6 points). In the future, they need to score more often to compete with teams like UConn and St. John’s.
4. Villanova Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 4 (-)
Record: 10-2, 1-0
Last week: W vs. Wisconsin (76-66 OT), W at Seton Hall (64-56)
Next week: vs. DePaul (Dec. 31 – 6 p.m.), at Butler (Jan. 3 – Noon)
Quality wins: at Seton Hall, Wisconsin
Bad losses: N/A
New Year’s Resolution: Defend the three-point line better
When teams play against the Wildcats, they average 37.7% from beyond the arc (the most allowed in the Big East), which is a major point to work on going forward.
5. Georgetown Hoyas
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-)
Record: 9-4, 1-1
Last week: W at Marquette (78-69), L vs. Xavier (77-80), W vs. Coppin State (97-67)
Next week: vs. St. John’s (Dec. 31 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: Clemson, at Maryland
Bad losses: N/A
New Year’s Resolution: Better perimeter shooting
Opposite of Villanova, Georgetown averages the worst from downtown in the Big East (30.3%). Going forward, they need to improve fast.
6. Butler Bulldogs
Last week’s ranking: 6 (-)
Record: 10-3, 1-1
Last week: L at #5 UConn (60-79), W vs. Northwestern (61-58), W vs. NJIT (101-52)
Next week: at Creighton (Dec. 30 – 9 p.m.), vs. Villanova (Jan. 3 – Noon)
Quality wins: Virginia (Neutral)
Bad losses: N/A
New Year’s Resolution: Better free-throw shooting
The Bulldogs average 68.2% from the line (second worst in the conference), which has cost them at times both early in the season and seen them lose leads in clutch moments throughout both nonconference and early conference games.
7. Creighton Bluejays
Last week’s ranking: 7 (-)
Record: 8-5, 2-0
Last week: W at Xavier (98-57), W vs. Marquette (84-63), W vs. Utah Tech (92-69)
Next week: vs. Butler (Dec. 30 – 9 p.m.), at Seton Hall (Jan. 4 – Noon)
Quality wins: Oregon (Neutral)
Bad losses: N/A
New Year’s Resolution: Get more steals
Creighton averages 6.3 steals this season (worst in the Big East). Improving this will help them continue their winning streak after a poor start to the season in nonconference play.
8. Xavier Musketeers
Last week’s ranking: 7 (-)
Record: 9-4, 1-1
Last week: L vs. Creighton (57-98), W at Georgetown (80-77)
Next week: vs. #4 UConn (Dec. 31 – 5 p.m.), at DePaul (Jan. 3 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: West Virginia (Neutral), Cincinnati, at Georgetown
Bad losses: N/A
New Year’s Resolution: Defend the floor better
When teams play against Xavier, they average 46.2% overall (most allowed in the Big East). The Musketeers need to improve their overall defense going forward.
9. DePaul Blue Demons
Last week’s ranking: 9 (-)
Record: 8-5, 0-2
Last week: L at #22 St. John’s (66-79), L vs. #5 UConn (54-72)
Next week: at Villanova (Dec. 31 – 6 p.m.), vs. Xavier (Jan. 3 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: Buffalo
New Year’s Resolution: Better rebounding
The Blue Demons average the least amount of rebounds overall (33.4 rebounds) and the least offensive rebounds (9.8 offensive rebounds) in Big East basketball.
10. Providence Friars
Last week’s ranking: 10 (-)
Record: 7-6, 0-2
Last week: L vs. Seton Hall (67-72)
Next week: at St. John’s (Jan. 3 – Noon)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
New Year’s Resolution: Better scoring defense
Teams this year average 83.7 points against the Providence Friars (most in the conference, 343rd in the nation). That has cost them in their conference games against Seton Hall and Butler, as well as several nonconference matchups.
11. Marquette Golden Eagles
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-)
Record: 5-8, 0-2
Last week: L vs. Georgetown (69-78), L at Creighton (63-84)
Next week: vs. Seton Hall (Dec. 30 – 7 p.m.), at #4 UConn (Jan. 4 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
New Year’s Resolution: Better shooting overall
The Golden Eagles this season average 41.2% from the field (worst in the Big East). There are a lot of factors that have to improve for Marquette going forward, but fixing their overall shooting can help them improve in other areas.