Big East standings, schedule, predictions, and games to watch (Week of Nov. 14, 2022)

Each week, we’ll take a look at the different Big East college basketball games and highlight a few standout games.

As the season unwinds, we’ll include a weekly section for standings and records.

I’ll offer some predictions for all games, feel free to chime in with some of your own in the comments section.

Last week, I went 19-1 in predictions, with the lone loss being an unfortunate result from Friday. However, things will be much trickier this week, after a week that was mostly filled with buy-games and tune-ups for what will be a more challenging stretch in the Big East.

Game of the Week: No. 16 Villanova at Michigan State

When: Friday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
KenPom says: Michigan State, 70-67 (61% chance to win)

Analysis: While it would’ve been great to see the ‘Cats close or at full strength for this marquee matchup, it’ll be more intriguing to see how they handle an even bigger road test after falling short at Temple. A lot of Wildcats are going to have to grow up fast and their veterans will have to lead the charge. There’s a familiar face at Michigan State in Joey Hauser, who somehow still remains since making his collegiate debut during the 2017-18 season. Outside of Hauser, keep an eye on scrappy slasher and facilitator A.J. Hoggard, and the Mady Sissoko vs. Eric Dixon will be an intriguing matchup to watch in the frontcourt. Michigan State suffered a recent one-point loss to Gonzaga, which proved the Spartans are good enough to hang with the big boys. It might not be the dominant Gonzaga of recent years, but the Spartans were good enough that they were in control for a majority of the game, until foul trouble, cold-shooting and inexperience doomed them late. Their strength lies in their backcourt, but there’s plenty of question marks after their starting five, as the rest of their rotation mostly consists of underclassmen and freshmen. At this point, Michigan State seems further along than the ‘Cats in their current state, but after a disappointing loss to Temple, it’ll be interesting to see how Villanova does in an even harder environment and who will be able to step up. Prediction: Michigan State over Villanova

...and here’s two more to watch for:

Iowa at Seton Hall

When: Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
KenPom says: Seton Hall, 76-75 (53%)

Analysis: It’ll be the first big test for Shaheen Holloway and the Pirates, and you can say the same for the new-look Hawks, who are 2-0 in the post-Keegan Murray era. Both teams have beaten up on tin cans to start the season, with the Hawkeyes taking down Bethune Cookman and North Carolina A&T, while the Pirates have beaten up in-state schools and Holloway’s buddies from the MAAC, Monmouth and Saint Peter’s. This should be an interesting clash of styles. Iowa has been very clean offensively, albeit against inferior competition, boasting a low turnover-rate of 9.7% and an effective field goal percentage of 58.9% through its first two games. Meanwhile, the Pirates have been great on the defensive end. They’ve only allowed opponents to shoot 36.6% inside the arc and a meager 15.9% outside of it. They’ve also forced turnovers in 29.9% of opponents’ possessions. KC Ndefo, a three-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, has continued to make an impact on that side of the court at Seton Hall, and newcomers Al-Amir Dawes and Tae and Dre Davis are off to a great start. Prediction: Seton Hall over Iowa

Miami vs. Providence (Hall of Fame Tip-Off Semifinals)

When: Saturday, Nov. 19, at 4 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN News
KenPom says: Miami, 70-68 (57%)

Analysis: The first big test for either team. Both teams have been shaky at times, but Miami, overall, seems more consistent. The Hurricanes do have a knack for starting slow, but then also turning things up in the second half after a few adjustments, enough that they’ve trailed in their first two games at the break, only to win by double digits at the end of it. Isaiah Wong, Nijel Pack and Jordan Miller lead a Miami team that goes eight-deep and has reliable bench production. Providence may be a threat by the end of the season, but right now, it’s still figuring itself out. The Friars played their best basketball in the second half against Northeastern and will try to channel a similar effort against the Hurricanes. They’ll have one last tune-up against Stonehill to start the week, but they’ll need to figure out how to get more offensive consistency and fix their perimeter defense, which has allowed opponents to shoot 47.4% from long range so far. Prediction: Miami over Providence

Here are the rest of the games this week, all times ET:

Monday, Nov. 14
Delaware State at Villanova, 6:30 p.m. on FS2
DePaul at Minnesota, 7 p.m. on Big 10 Network
Butler at Penn State, 8:30 p.m. on FS1
Holy Cross at No. 9 Creighton, 9 p.m. on CBS Sports Network

Tuesday, Nov. 15
Stonehill at Providence, 5 p.m. on FS2
Northwestern at Georgetown, 6:30 p.m. on FS1
Central Connecticut at St. John’s, 7 p.m. on FS2
Buffalo at UConn, 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
Marquette at Purdue, 8:30 p.m. on FS1
Fairfield at Xavier, 9 p.m. on FS2

Thursday, Nov. 17
St. Francis (Pa.) at Butler, 6:30 p.m. on FS2
Nebraska at St. John’s, 6:30 p.m. on FS1
LIU at Marquette, 8:30 p.m. on FS2
UC Riverside at No. 9 Creighton, 8:30 p.m. on FS1

Friday, Nov. 18
Georgetown vs. Loyola Marymount, 4:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network (Jamaica Classic)
No. 13 Indiana at Xavier, 6 p.m. on FS1
UNC-Wilmington at UConn, 8:30 p.m. on FS2
DePaul at Santa Clara, 9:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network

Saturday, Nov. 19
The Citadel at Butler, 7 p.m. on FS2

Sunday, Nov. 20
Providence vs. Maryland/St. Louis winner, TBA on ESPN Networks (Hall of Fame Tip-Off)
Wagner at Seton Hall, 3 p.m. on FS2
Delaware State at UConn, 5 p.m. on FS1
DePaul vs. UCF/Oklahoma State winner, TBA on CBS Sports Network (Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship)
Georgetown vs. La Salle/Wake Forest winner (Jamaica Classic)

Quick picks for the rest of the games (in order as above):

Monday

• Villanova
• DePaul
• Penn State
• Creighton

Tuesday

• Providence
• Northwestern
• St. John’s
• UConn
• Purdue
• Xavier

Thursday

• Butler
• St. John’s
• Marquette
• Creighton

Friday

• Georgetown
• Indiana
• UConn
• DePaul

Saturday

• Butler

Sunday

• Maryland/St. Louids winner
• Seton Hall
• UConn
• UCF/Oklahoma State winner
• Georgetown