4. Creighton Bluejays (16-6, 9-2 Big East)
It feels like a lot of people might have forgotten about Creighton after it lost Pop Isaacs for the season and started conference with a dud, losing by 24 points against Georgetown, but this team is clicking.
Greg McDermott has pushed all the right buttons, and the basketball gods were smiling on the Bluejays with its victory over Villanova on Saturday afternoon.
There is a lot of conversation about St. John’s, Marquette, and UConn – and deservedly so – but Creighton is also one game back of the Red Storm for first place in the regular season standings and currently has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Johnnies.
The schedule is challenging over the next four games, but it passed the first test with the win against the Wildcats, now it has to try and continue its momentum to keep pace with the rest of the league’s contenders.
THIS WEEK: at Providence (Wednesday) and vs. Marquette (Saturday)
5. Xavier Musketeers (13-9, 5-6 Big East)
Xavier was the team that fans needed to buy stock in last week because Sean Miller’s team is ready to catch fire during the stretch run of the season. Ever since the Musketeers lost by 10 points at home to St. John’s they have been a different team.
It was most noticeable in its road win over Marquette and carried over a week later in a victory against UConn.
The finish to the season is soft for Xavier, but it has to survive until mid-February first and that starts with defending home court. There is a path for this team to finish with only one more conference loss and if that happens there should be a great chance the Musketeers return to the NCAA Tournament.
THIS WEEK: vs. Georgetown (Tuesday) and at Villanova (Sunday)
6. Georgetown Hoyas (14-8, 5-6 Big East)
Georgetown feels like it will be a pesky out for teams during the final month and a half of the season. The Hoyas have talent and showed they can put it all together at any given point.
They’ve also shown the ability to not show up for games like it did last week when falling behind St. John’s by 30 points in the first half on its home floor.
The most impressive thing Ed Cooley has done with his team this season is rallying on the road to defeat Villanova, which showed the talent on his roster. Thomas Sorber will dominate the paint on most nights he steps on the court and if the Hoya guards can make enough shots they can compete with anyone in the league.
THIS WEEK: at Xavier (Tuesday) and vs. Seton Hall (Saturday)