2019-2020 Big East Conference Basketball Power Rankings 5.0

This is the fifth edition of our 2019-2020 Big East Conference Basketball Power Rankings. Another week of competitive play, another new team at the top spot.

For the second week in a row, the Big East Conference played nine games. Aside from one blowout, they were all entertaining as Seton Hall, Villanova and Butler suffered defeats while all ranked by the AP Poll. After getting chirped on social media a bit about why I rank each team at their designated spot. It’s a week-by-week basis, I’m not looking at the overall body of work.

This week there are four conference teams represented in the AP Top 25 Poll. Villanova dropped two spots back to No. 10. Seton Hall fell to No. 12, while Butler fell from No. 16 to 19. Creighton earned its ranking for the first time since Week 11.

10. DePaul Blue Demons (1-8 Big East, 13-9 overall)

The season can’t end soon enough for the Blue Demons. Dave Leitao‘s squad battled against conference foes Seton Hall and Marquette (two NCAA Tournament teams) this week, but it wasn’t enough.

With nine conference games left, DePaul has a very realistic chance of going 0-9 the rest of the way. While I don’t want to hammer the nail in DePaul’s coffin just yet, Charlie Moore, Paul Reed, Jalen Coleman-Lands and Jaylen Butz are averaging double figures. Which makes the Blue Demons a tough team to defend.

9. St. John’s Red Storm (2-8, 13-10)

After embarking on an 11-2 mark in non-conference action under Mike Anderson, the Red Storm played like they were disrespected in the Big East preseason poll, which saw them tabbed to finish ninth. Conference play started and they’ve been a mess, playing down to expectations.

Freshman Julian Champagne has been a revelation. After losing his spot in the starting rotation he fought hard to gain it back and has excelled since. LJ Figueroa has been solid as a featured scorer. The Johnnies are lucky Rasheem Dunn was granted eligibility to play this season because he’s been unbelievable as their starting point guard. I would like to see him attack the basket more since he’s able to shed defenders at the top of the key and split big men when he drives to the hoop. Mustapha Heron has been a big let down. How does a senior play so poorly that he’s been relegated to a sixth or seventh man role?

With eight games remaining, the Red Storm face four ranked opponents (three on the road). Anderson’s squad needs to win five or six games, mustering up at least two “upsets” before the Big East Tournament if they plan on making the Big Dance. Otherwise, it may be an NIT berth.

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