2019-2020 Big East Conference Basketball Power Rankings 9.0
By Dan Stokes
4. No. 14 Villanova Wildcats (11-5, 22-7)
After rattling off five straight W’s, Jay Wright‘s team ran into a scorching hot Providence team. The end result, a 58-54 home loss. With a potential preview of the Big East Championship game on Wednesday, the No. 14 Wildcats travel to Newark to face the eighth-ranked Pirates which will have a playoff atmosphere.
Sophomore Siddiq Bey, who’s looking like an NBA Lottery Pick as each box score comes in, has really come into his own over his last 10 games. He’s overtaken Collin Gillespie for the team lead in points per game. With 15.9 ppg, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists, the Largo, MD native has become an offensive force.
The Wildcats will most likely be a four-seed in the NCAA Tournament, but ultimately they control their own destiny.
So many @NovaMBB NBA prospects have been underrated recently that teams will not make the same mistake with Saddiq Bey. Wildcats are the masters of the “two or three & dones.” 😉👍🏻🏀
— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) February 22, 2020
3. No. 11 Creighton Bluejays (11-5, 22-7)
I smacked talked Creighton early on this season. I didn’t think they were anything too special. I thought maybe they were an NCAA Tournament team but nothing more than an early exit. Greg McDermott‘s squad is now looking like a potential three-seed despite their blowout loss to St. John’s.
The Bluejays should get back on track with a victory when they play Georgetown but more will be at stake in their conference finale against the Pirates. If ‘The Hall’ loses to Villanova, Creighton can sneak into win the Big East (regular season) Championship, but many things need to occur when factoring in tie-breakers.
Creighton has four players in double figures but they are paced by Ty-Shon Alexander with 16.9 ppg, followed by Marcus Zegarowski with 15.8 ppg.