2019-20 Big East Conference Basketball Power Rankings 2.0
By Dan Stokes
This is the second edition of our 2019-20 Big East Conference Basketball Power Rankings. We have a new team at the top.
Same conference. Same players. Same unpredictability. The Big East Conference once again showed its dominance in college hoops, with the AP Top 25 Poll nationally ranking four of the 10 conference programs in their Week 11 poll.
All four made leaps. Butler moved up one spot to fifth in the nation. Villanova jumped from No. 16 to No. 14 while Seton Hall returned to the rankings for the first time since Week 6 landing at 18th in the nation. Creighton made its first AP Poll of the season landing at No. 25.
Locally, I’d say Seton Hall is a lock for the tournament. With a fully healthy Myles Powell back in action for Kevin Willard, the program will need to see more from Romaro Gill and Tyrese Samuel down the stretch.
However, Willard’s counterpart in Queens, Mike Anderson, is willing his guys into a postseason bid. With quality wins over West Virginia and Arizona, the Red Storm needs to go at least .500 in conference play, knock-off a ranked team or two and win at least one game in the Big East Tournament in Madison Square Garden to make the Big Dance. Important to note! St. John’s is a projected 11-seed facing Arkansas… Mike Anderson’s old employer.
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10. DePaul Blue Demons: (0-3 Big East, 12-4 overall)
Jumping out to a 12-1 mark in non-conference play elevated the Blue Demons’ brand on a national level. In the Big East spotlight, DePaul has faltered. It won’t get any better for Dave Leitao‘s squad with back-to-back-to-back games against ranked opponents. Expect DePaul to hang out as the bottom feeder it was predicted to be in the preseason.
9. Xavier Musketeers: (1-3, 12-5)
Travis Steele may just be Chris Mack 2.0 but his team needs to win more games. The X-Men (not the Marvel superheroes) have continued to get solid play from Naji Marshall and Paul Scruggs, yet fell apart at home to Seton Hall, which snapped their 13-game home win streak. Steele should have his guys working on their three-point shots since they knocked down an abysmal five on 5-of-26 shooting from beyond the arc to Creighton.