BIG EAST Basketball Preview: Week 10

Hello Big East Nation! I expected some bumps in the big opening of the new Big East, just as there should be with any new junction. However, Villanova and Creighton started 2-0 in conference play and DePaul is 0-2 so we're gonna be alright! Let's preview the upcoming 7 days.

Villanova Wildcats

Wednesday 7:00pm @ Seton Hall Pirates

CBS Sports Network

With the lack of height on Saturday in the Creighton-Seton Hall meeting, the BlueJays dominated the glass and won the offensive rebound battle 11-1. While either or may return Wednesday, there is still a weakness in the paint, and while the Wildcats love to Shoot 'Em Up, Sleep in the Streets, maybe they should take a little emphasis off of that and go down low.

Saturday 1:00pm @ St. John's Red Storm

Fox Sports 1

In the New Year's Eve game vs. Xavier, St. John's started the game with 9 straight points. Not until 11:55 did Xavier make a field goal. However, they only led by 2 at the half. If Villanova holds on (do not make stupid mistakes) until the Red Storm shoots themselves in the foot, there will be a 4-0 start before students return to campus!

Creighton Bluejays

Tuesday 9:00pm @ DePaul Blue Demons

Fox Sports 1

Just do you. Let 'em down easy. Doug McDermott breaks Jack Taylor's NCAA points record for a game. Check out my poll and gauge how well McDermott will shine.

Sunday 3:00pm vs. Xavier Musketeers

CBS Sports Network

In both Xavier contests last week, a comeback was needed in order to obtain their 2 W's in the week. This being said, putting them away will not be easy, but in games where Matt Stainbrook under-performs, so does the team. I would throw a couple of 2x4's at him on the court. Instinct will kick in and he'll get busy building a bookshelf.

Xavier Musketeers

Remember: they are STILL undefeated outside the Bahamas

Thursday 9:00pm vs. Marquette Golden Eagles

Fox Sports 1

Marquette shoots a lowly 30.5% from behind the arc, and a subpar 66.3% from the charity stripe. Take out the 3 pointers and the Golden Eagles are great from 2; a whopping 50.2%. Pack the paint and make them shoot the 3.

Sunday 3:00pm @ Creighton Bluejays

CBS Sports Network

At that same Creighton-SHU game (I'm talking about it a lot because I was there) Pirate's Patrik Auda guarded McDermott from the start, and Doug scored 11 of the Bluejays' first 13 points. Willard kept Auda's assignment and Doug went on to score 18 points in the first 12 minutes. Xavier needs to know who can effective guard McDermott, but identify QUICKLY if it is not working!

Georgetown Hoyas

Wednesday 7:00pm @ Providence Friars

Fox Sports 1

Hmmmmm.... so Georgetown starts starts conference play by playing AT HOME against DePaul and St. John's? And their next game is at Providence? Pretty lucky. Providence has a great FT% standing at 81.0%, however their FG% and 3-point percentage are an unimpressive 41.4% and 32.7%. Against Seton Hall, Providence only shot 77.8% from the free throw line (very sarcastic underline for ONLY) and those big misses equated to the double OT loss. If the Hoyas make the Friars fall apart at the free throw line, Hoyas take it big. I'm not even sure if making a team fall apart at the line is possible. Have some Hoyas fans wave their arms. Bryce Cotton will not make a difference.

Saturday 5:00pm @ Butler Bulldogs

Fox Sports 1

Butler's Elijah Brown did not come close against Xavier to repeating his stellar performance he had vs. Villanova, and neither did Kellen Dunham. Stopping Brown's spark off the bench makes the Hoyas' job a lot easier, so I'd focus mostly on him. Also, D`Vauntes Smith-Rivera is heating up a lot. Watch out for him!

Seton Hall Pirates

Does anyone agree now they can be a top 4 team in this conference?

Wednesday 7:00pm vs. Villanova Wildcats

CBS Sports Network

I always tell teams playing Villanova to force them to shoot a lot of 3's. However, if they make 14 of them like against Providence, or Dylan Ennis provides 17 bench points, ALL THIS with James Bell only 5 minutes, I'm not sure how you can stop them. Plus, being on Winter Break, there is literally no student section at the Prudential Center. Just let Fuquan try his magic is all. Many current Villanova students are from North NJ; should be a lot of Wildcat support!

Saturday 2:00pm @ Marquette Golden Eagles

Fox Sports Network

Like I said in the Xavier preview, compel Marquette to fire an absurd amount of 3's by playing a zone defense. By that time, at least one of Gene Teague or Aaron Geramipoor should return, so their presence in the paint will be key against a Golden Eagles squad that is in the top 60 in the country in rebounding.

Marquette Golden Eagles

Thursday 9:00pm @ Xavier Musketeers

Fox Sports 1

I've questioned since the beginning of the season why Chris Otule is not the most dominant player in the history of time. The 6th-year-6-11-275-pound senior should use these qualities to box out Matt Stainbrook and give him a hard time. Not sure if it will be needed, as he may be too involved drawing up blueprints for the bookshelf he will be crafting against Creighton on Saturday.

Saturday 2:00pm vs. Seton Hall Pirates

Fox Sports Network

This is the Big East. We are a big conference, with big men. Big man Chris Otule needs to use his stature to cover up Teague, and if he is still inactive, just stand there and grab those offensive rebounds that the Pirates will be lacking. It's that simple for him.

Butler Bulldogs

Thursday 7:00pm vs. DePaul Blue Demons

Fox Sports 1

If the Bulldogs can force OT at home against the Wildcats, I'm sure they will be okay vs. DePaul at home. The question, though, is how? I like Elijah Brown coming off the bench- he is basically their Dylan Ennis. So, when he is on his game, so is the whole team. He should create a nice flow for Dunham and Khyle Marshall to find their rhythm.

Saturday 5:00pm vs. Georgetown Hoyas

Fox Sports 1

Similar to my Villanova and Marquette methods, force the Hoyas to take 3's. The Hoyas shoot 56.3% from inside the arc, so their 34.6% 3-point efficiency looks that much worse.

Providence Friars

Remember we all thought they would be scary?

Wednesday 7:00pm vs. Georgetown Hoyas

Fox Sports 1

Brandon Austin and Randy Bullock would come in handy for the Friars in one of the toughest competitions this season, but unfortunately both freshmen are suspended for the season. I'd say force the Hoyas to stay out of the paint, but this is where the Friar's loss of Kris Dunn will be highlighted. Slowly but surely, the Friars are falling apart.

St. John's Red Storm

Not surprisingly, the bottom three teams in the standing do not rank in the top 100 in any of the following: PPG, RPG, APG, FG%. The Red Storm team line up nicely with this fact.

Saturday 1:00pm vs. Villanova Wildcats

Fox Sports 1

A major reason for Butler keeping so close to the Wildcats was Elijah Brown's big first half. D`Angelo Harrison needs to mold himself into that, carrying this team like he tried to do against Xavier on December 31st. This team does a nice job holding onto the ball- only 10 turnovers/game- and gets a big 9 blocks/game. Forcing the Wildcats to turn the ball over, a historical issue, and turning those blocks into transition points is the way to have the Wildcats trip over themselves. This was how the first half of the Iowa game started.

Only 1 game for the Red Storm this week, but next week will be 3 games in 6 days, so rest up!

DePaul Blue Demons

Tuesday 9:00pm vs. Creighton Bluejays

Fox Sports 1

If you do not take gore very well, it is best to turn away from this one. I'll make my prediction with this picture.

Thursday 7:00pm @ Butler Bulldogs

Fox Sports 1

With how much disrespect I show the Blue Demons, I have to say that I like the say Cleveland Melvin leads this team. However, he did not show up against Georgetown. When he put up 22 points against Marquette, however, guard Brandon Young went 0-9 with 0 points in 34 points. Only guard Billy Garrett Jr. was consistent. If all 3 of these players can get their act together, DePaul will get a conference W, totaling their conference wins from the last 4 years combined!

MY PICKS:

Creighton over DePaul

Villanova over Seton Hall

Georgetown over Providence

Butler over DePaul

Xavier over Marquette

Villanova over St. John's

Seton Hall over Marquette

Georgetown over Butler

Creighton over Xavier

Enjoy Week 2 of The New Big East! A great opportunity to see each team in action if you did not get a chance on New Year's Eve!