8. Seton Hall Pirates (8-5, 1-1 Big East)
Seton Hall gets slotted ahead of Xavier because of two things -- they do not have the bad losses that the Musketeers do and they have the best win.
The Pirates might have caught UConn on the perfect night when Donovan Clingan injured his foot and did not return in the second half but the wins still count, no matter who is on the court.
Seton Hall falls in the same category as Xavier in that it will be very difficult to win on the road considering the offensive struggles, but the Pirates thrive inside the Prudential Center and will be looking to fill out its resume after going to Kansas City and beating Missouri in non-conference play.
Shaheen Holloway's team will be tough, physical, and ready to battle on a nightly basis in the league.
7. St. John's Red Storm (8-4, 1-1 Big East)
Rick Pitino's team looked lost three weeks ago in a loss against Boston College, but since then the Johnnies have looked like a new team.
Always bet on the Hall of Famer to figure things out.
The return of RJ Luis will help a tremendous amount to a team that has been very thin in the frontcourt and if its loss on Saturday against UConn is any indication, the Red Storm will be a force to be reckon with in the middle of Big East play.
It's another debate between the 6th and 7th spots in the power rankings but given the Red Storm's struggles to begin the season, they land at No. 7 in the league entering 2024.