Big East What To Watch: Week 18

Wednesday, March 6: #16 Marquette Golden Eagles at Seton Hall Pirates (5:30pm Central, FS1) - Well, let’s keep it simple. Marquette needs to win both of their remaining games in order to clinch at least a share of the regular season title. This is game #1 of the two that remain. On the other side of the court, Seton Hall needs a win to keep their NCAA tournament at-large bid hopes alive. The Pirates have lost three in a row after Saturday’s double overtime defeat on the road against Georgetown, and a win over the Golden Eagles would do them a world of good.

Saturday, March 9: #24 Villanova Wildcats at Seton Hall Pirates (11am Central, Fox) - Again, simplicity. Villanova can clinch at least a share of the regular season title with a win in this, their only remaining game on the schedule. It’s a nice quirk of the schedule for the Pirates to get the two best teams in the league at home to close out the season, as it gives them two prime swings at the piñata to push their way into the NCAA tournament picture. If Marquette wins their final two games and SHU scores the win here, the Golden Eagles will win the Big East title outright. Also: Seton Hall is playing to avoid the first night doubleheader in the conference tournament, as they’re currently tied with Creighton for sixth place. That also means that they’re tied with the Jays for seventh place and thus the best spot in the four teams that play on opening night.

Saturday, March 9: Georgetown Hoyas at #16 Marquette Golden Eagles (1:30pm Central, Fox) - Again, for Marquette, a win is required to get a share of the league title. Not complicated. Georgetown is also playing for something here, as they’re on the fringe of the NCAA tourney discussion and they’re currently in a tie for third place in the league. It would be a pretty big deal for Patrick Ewing to swing a third place finish in the conference, even at 10-8, in his second season with a freshman dominated roster.

Saturday, March 9: St. John’s Red Storm at Xavier Musketeers (4pm Central, Fox) - The “most talented roster in the Big East” has lost three of their last four games since knocking off Villanova at Carnesecca Arena. This is the only game left on their regular season schedule, and they need to win it to finish at 9-9 in Big East play. They probably also need to win it to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive at this point. Xavier beat St. John’s in New York, 84-73, on February 28th, just days ago. What will change when the game shifts to Cincinnati?

Saturday, March 9 though Tuesday, March 12: Big East Women’s Basketball Conference Tournament (Times & TV vary, Wintrust Arena, Chicago, IL) - Marquette women’s basketball is the outright regular season champs and #1 seed in the tournament. They start play in the first game of the quarterfinal round at Noon Central on Sunday, and if you’re available in the area, make your way down. MU has been in the title game each of the past two years.

Here’s the full men’s basketball schedule for the week! Enjoy!