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Villanova Basketball can clinch a Big East Title tonight

For one night only, Nova Nation becomes Seton Hall fans.

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Villanova Mug Arizin Links

Happy Wednesday Nova Nation! It’s rare that the Arizin features other teams, let alone conference foes. But that’s exactly what we’re doing today as we prepare for tonight’s game between the Marquette Golden Eagles and the Seton Hall Pirates. Don’t worry, we haven’t lost our minds. This is all for very selfish reasons because if Marquette loses, then Villanova clinches a share of the Big East Regular Season Championship.

The Wildcats will still have a shot at clinching a share of the title and possibly winning it outright this weekend even if Marquette wins. But if Seton Hall comes out on top tonight, then this Saturday the Wildcats will be playing for their fifth outright Big East Championship in six years and the #1 overall seed in the Big East Tournament.

Beyond the implications for Villanova fans, this should actually be a pretty entertaining game. Both teams are coming into this one off multiple losses and are desperate for a win. Marquette is trying to hold onto a shot at the Big East Title, as well as a Top 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Seton Hall is still trying to lock up a spot in the tournament as many Bracketologists have them on the outside looking in at the moment.

Marquette comes into the game as a 57% favorite to win per KenPom.com despite being on the road. But if you think the better Big East team is sure to win, think again:

While both teams really need this win, all is not lost for whoever comes out on the losing end. Marquette will still have one game remaining in the regular season, a home game with Georgetown, and the Big East Tournament to solidify their NCAA Tournament seed. And even if they split their last two regular season games, they can still earn a share of the Big East Title and possibly the #1 seed in the BET if Villanova loses this weekend.

Seton Hall is of course the Wildcats opponent for each team’s regular season finale. Even if the Pirates come up short against Marquette, they’ll still have a shot at propelling themselves back into the bracket if they can beat Villanova at home. And even if they miss out on both of those opportunities, there’s still always the outside chance at running the table and winning the automatic bid in the Big East Tournament.

So I leave it to you Nova Nation: will Villanova move one step closer to reclaiming the Big East throne, or will Marquette make it a battle to the end with everything on the line this Saturday?

Poll

Who will win tonight?

This poll is closed

  • 47%
    Marquette
    (370 votes)
  • 52%
    Seton Hall
    (407 votes)
777 votes total Vote Now

In other “news”, the Kansas Big 12 streak is over, Jalen Brunson is crushing it with the Mavs, and Aysha Cosby loves her birthday boy (Happy 21st Birthday Dada!). Enjoy!

Marquette vs Seton Hall

#16 Marquette Basketball Preview: at Seton Hall Pirates | Anonymous Eagle
The Golden Eagles are looking to bounce back from their first back-to-back losses of the season.

Seton Hall basketball: Could Marquette win punch NCAA Tournament ticket? | APP
A top bracketologist makes the case for the Pirates' March Madness resume.

Marquette vs. Seton Hall: College basketball game preview, TV schedule | Busting Brackets
The Marquette Golden Eagles travel east this week to take on the Seton Hall Pirates as both squads look to get back into the win column.

Villanova Basketball

An all-city team, and an insane decision by the Ivy League | The Inquirer
Villanova's Phil Booth and Eric Paschall and Temple's Shizz Alston hit the home stretch of a race for best player in the city.

Villanova Is Living and Dying by the 3-Pointer | WSJ
Villanova still lives by the three, attempting more 3-point shots per game than nearly every other program in college basketball. But in some games, they are also dying by it.

Past and Future Wildcats

Jalen Brunson is proving this Mavs rookie class consists of two first-round talents, not just one | Mavs.com
June 21, 2018 will always be a date that will go down in franchise history. Coming off two seasons with a combined 57 wins, the Mavericks were due for their second top-10 pick in back-to-back years. Except this time, it was the fifth overall pick in the draft. They desperately needed another young piece to accelerate the rebuild.

Future Stars Selected for National All-Star Game | 247 Sports
Eric Dixon is among the high school standouts selected for the event.

Big East

7 conference races still up in the air in season’s final week | NCAA.com
The major conferences still have a week’s worth of games left before tournament time and there’s still plenty to be decided. The AAC, ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Big East, Mountain West and SEC are all still up for grabs, so it’s going to be a big week in AP Top 25.

College basketball’s 2019 Championship Week guide | SBNation.com
A complete guide to college basketball’s 2019 Championship Week.

Big East Tournament bracket 2019: TV schedule, seeding, how to live stream games | Sporting News
The 2019 Big East Tournament will be held March 13-16 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Big East Tournament 2019: TV Schedule and Early Bracket Predictions | Bleacher Report
For the majority of the Big East regular season, Villanova and Marquette have been the class of the conference...

College Basketball Bracketology 2019: The Big East is starting to dominate the bubble | SBNation.com
With half of the conference’s membership hovering around the cut line, Madison Square Garden could very well be Bubble Central next week. Oh, Indiana is back too.

College Basketball

Kansas Big 12 title streak is officially over | USA Today
For the first time since 2004, Kansas will not claim a share of the Big 12 regulars-season championship.

A love letter to March Madness, the greatest postseason in American sports | SBNation.com
The college basketball postseason has arrived. Let the madness take you away.

Sentences handed out for defendants in first college hoops corruption trial | NBC Sports
A judge granted leniency for three defendants that were found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges, sentencing them to less than a year in prison.

CBB's Biggest Star 'Sidekicks' Who Will Make or Break March Madness Runs | Bleacher Report
It's hard to win the NCAA tournament simply by leaning on the contributions of your star player. Point guard Jalen Brunson was the consensus National Player of the Year for Villanova ...

Bubbles and Brackets

These 5 bubble teams need to play well down the stretch to make the NCAA tournament | NCAA.com
The NCAA tournament is rapidly approaching. Here are five bubble teams who need key wins.

The complete March Madness field of 68, predicted in the first days of March | NCAA.com
Andy Katz is back with his latest prediction for the entire NCAA tournament field. We break down the biggest changes.

College Basketball Bracketology Seed List For Tuesday, March 5, 2019 | Blogging the Bracket
Virginia solidified its hold on the No. 1 overall seed by pulling away from the second half on Monday night.

Bracketology: Texas falls out of bracket after losing to Texas Tech allowing Furman to join the field of 68 | CBSSports.com
The 24-6 Paladins are in the latest bracket after the Longhorns' loss to the Red Raiders

Bracketology: NCAA tournament projection as of March 5, 2019 | Inside the Hall
Conference Tournament action officially got underway on Monday with the Atlantic Sun starting things off.

Bracketology: Let the madness begin! | isportsweb
Conference tournaments begin, while major conference teams make their last arguments for inclusion.