As we get closer to March, the Big East’s bids for the NCAA Tournament are getting clearer. UConn, Marquette and Creighton are all locks, while Seton Hall, Butler and Providence look to improve their resumes.
St. John’s is in the top 50 in the NET rankings and in the top 40 in the KenPom ratings. However, the Red Storm have disappointed, considering the haul that head coach Rick Pitino brought in.
On this edition of Big East Baller Update, we will look at the biggest games from the past week and name our Big East Player and Freshman of the Week.
Player of the Week: Baylor Scheierman, G, Creighton (21 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 7 APG, 57.1 FG%, 35.7 3P%, 83.3 FT% in two games)
The Big East’s weekly release went with Providence guard Devin Carter, but there is an argument that it should have been Baylor Scheirman as the Big East Player of the Week. The former South Dakota State Jackrabbit posted a triple-double in the blowout win over Georgetown with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. In the Bluejays’ dominant victory over Butler, the Aurora, Neb. native had 27 points and ten boards.
Freshman of the Week: Stephon Castle, G, UConn (9 PPG, 4.5 APG, 3.5 RPG, 47 FG%)
Castle is getting closer to a Big East record. Syracuse legend Carmelo Anthony holds the record for most Big East Freshman of the Week honors in a season, with ten during the 2002-03 season. Castle sits at eight, with three more weekly releases remaining. In a blowout win at DePaul, the Covington, Ga. native had 15 points and six assists. The Huskies did not need his five-star talent in Saturday’s statement win over No. 4 Marquette, with Castle getting into foul trouble.
Top Games
No. 4 Marquette fends off Butler, 78-72
On Jan. 10, Butler shocked the Golden Eagles in Milwaukee with a 69-62 victory. Tyler Kolek did not shine in that game, only scoring one basket. Last week, the reigning Big East Player of the Year got his redemption. Kolek scored 27 points, including a game-changing 3-pointer with 90 seconds remaining. Oso Ighodaro finished with a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing ten boards. Marquette extended its win streak to eight games heading into Hartford last Saturday.
Providence holds to beat St. John’s, 75-72
Josh Oduro has been huge for the Friars this season. The George Mason transfer put up 28 points, including 26 in the second half. Former UConn Husky Corey Floyd Jr. made a layup, followed by a one-handed jumper from Oduro, giving Providence a four-point lead with 41 seconds remaining. Daniss Jenkins missed a shot from 3-point range with ten seconds left. Jordan Dingle’s prayer from long range was blocked by Oduro, putting a cherry on top of the Gainesville, Va. native. RJ Luis had an excellent game at the Amica Mutual Pavilion for the Red Storm, finishing with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Seton Hall makes St. John’s reach breaking point, 68-62
Up until now, St. John’s was considered a bubble team. Head coach Rick Pitino has seen enough, going off on his team’s effort following the press conference on Sunday. He called the season “the most unenjoyable experience of my lifetime.” He called out the players that he recruited and the facilities that St. John’s has to offer. The Johnnies could not contain the backcourt of Al-Amir Dawes and Kadary Richmond. Dawes put up 19 points, while Richmond continued his All-Big East-caliber season with an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double. Jenkins and Joel Soriano were bright spots for Pitino’s squad. Jenkins put up 17 points, six assists and three steals, while Soriano recorded 13 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. Even though Soriano recorded his 12th double-double of the season, Pitino called him out for being “slow laterally” and “not fast on the court.”
Upcoming Games (outside of two big UConn games this week. Check out the previews from our beat writers!)
Butler at Villanova (6:30 p.m., FS1)
According to Bracket Matrix, a site that compiles 174 bracketologies, Butler is considered a 10-seed on average. In the “other at-larges” category, Villanova has been considered one of the last teams in the field of 68 by some sites. It will be a battle of two Big East bubble teams tonight at the Finneran Pavilion. Villanova is 8-4 in home games and looks to gain momentum heading to Storrs on Saturday night.
Butler at Seton Hall (Saturday, 8:30 p.m., FS2)
Both teams have been inconsistent, but they look to be tournament teams in the eyes of many bracketologists. Seton Hall is one of few teams with at least five quad-1 wins and at least five road wins this season. Butler is looking to make one final push towards the Big Dance as head coach Thad Matta looks to improve his case for Big East Coach of the Year.
No. 15 Creighton at St. John’s (Sunday, noon, CBS/Paramount+)
Creighton is on a three-game win streak, while St. John’s is on a cold three-game losing streak. Following the Bluejays’ biggest game of the season against No. 1 UConn tonight, they will look to prepare for the Red Storm, searching for any momentum.