6. Xavier Musketeers (8-5, 0-2 Big East)
Xavier just cannot put it all together this season and it’s officially a problem.
The Musketeers have held second half leads in four of its five losses, including its last four defeats against TCU, Cincinnati, UConn, and Marquette. Just splitting those losses would make for a completely different outlook on the season.
Even with the injury to Zach Freemantle, Xavier has proven it can play with the best teams in the conference but is missing that final piece to try and put the team over the edge. Now, it enters a stretch of games where it is desperate for a victory but sees winnable games ahead.
THIS WEEK: vs. Seton Hall (Tuesday) and at. Georgetown (Friday)
7. Georgetown Hoyas (11-2, 2-0 Big East)
Is it time to start believing in Georgetown?
The Hoyas are winners of four straight games after its disappointing setback on the road against West Virginia, including a pair of Big East wins against Creighton and Seton Hall.
Ed Cooley’s disastrous inaugural season in Washington D.C. was not going to last much longer and it looks like he has Georgetown on the right path. Still, there will be growing pains, but this could be a team you do not want to play late in the season.
THIS WEEK: vs. Xavier (Friday)
8. Providence Friars (7-6, 1-1 Big East)
It felt like Providence needed to get back in its home gym and start seeing the ball go in the basket and that’s precisely what happened against St. John’s until the second half when the Red Storm erased a 13-point halftime deficit to win at the buzzer.
The Friars were again without Bryce Hopkins and it feels pretty simple in saying that this team will not consistently win without its superstar on the floor. Kim English has said that Hopkins will play again for his team this season, but until that happens it could be a long winter in Friartown.
THIS WEEK: vs. Marquette (Tuesday) and at. UConn (Sunday)