Big East What To Watch: Week Eight

Because Villanova is still going to be on their COVID pause this week, we’re getting just eight games of Big East action. At least for now? We’re probably not gettin more than that.

Let’s dive into the highlights...

Monday, January 11: #25 Connecticut Huskies at DePaul Blue Demons (5pm Central, FS1) — Okay, so this is where I point out that this is publishing on Monday morning before the AP poll updates. UConn had 4 points in last week’s poll and then beat Marquette and Butler. Is that enough to launch the 6-1 Huskies into the top 25? I don’t know, and I’d lean towards no. (UPDATE: I was wrong.) They might get there, though, and I just wanted to point out that if they are ranked for this game, it will be 1) their first ranking since the preseason poll in the 2016-17 season and 2) funny that they have to play perennial Big East basement dweller and otherwise conference anchor DePaul. Heck, if I were a Huskies fan, I’d almost rather not be ranked in the new poll just to avoid what would have to be the predestined ruination of losing to DePaul.

Saturday, January 16: RV Xavier Musketeers at Seton Hall Pirates (2:30pm Central, CBS Sports Network) — I think Seton Hall should be able to keep their votes from last week (UPDATE AGAIN: I was wrong again) making this the only game in the league this week between two teams earning top 25 votes in the available poll when I’m writing this. Yeah, the Pirates got blasted by Creighton on Wednesday, but the Jays are gonna score 1.31 points per possession every now and then, and that has no impact on what Seton Hall did or did not do. Then again, they only have 11 points last week, so maybe they don’t stay in the RV area. Xavier is coming in off a very dramatic win over Providence on Sunday afternoon which moved them to 10-2 on the year and 3-2 in league play. It’s the only game of the week for both squads, so they will probably be raring and ready to go at tip off.

Here’s the full schedule for Big East men’s basketball for the week, or at least what the schedule looks like as of Sunday afternoon. If there’s changes, then shout at us in the comments to let us know to make the change.