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Bracketology: The fun of college hoops and the Bubble Watch

By Lukas Harkins

Jan 10, 2017; College Park, MD, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Robert Johnson (4) reacts after missing a potential game timing shot as time expires in second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Indiana Hoosiers 75-72. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2017; College Park, MD, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Robert Johnson (4) reacts after missing a potential game timing shot as time expires in second half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. Maryland Terrapins defeated Indiana Hoosiers 75-72. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 7, 2017; Providence, RI, USA; Providence Friars forward Emmitt Holt (15) drives against Creighton Bluejays forward Toby Hegner (32) during the second half at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The Bluejays won 78-64. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Providence, RI, USA; Providence Friars forward Emmitt Holt (15) drives against Creighton Bluejays forward Toby Hegner (32) during the second half at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The Bluejays won 78-64. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /

Big East

Lead-Pipe Lock:

Some Perspiration: Villanova, Creighton, Xavier, Butler

Better Double-Up on the Deodorant: Seton Hall, Marquette

Villanova Wildcats, 16-1 (4-1): Villanova has lost seven Big East regular season games since realignment. That bodes well for them in terms of not only earning another Big East crown, but earning a number one seed in March.

Quality wins: vs. Wake Forest, vs. Temple, @ Purdue, vs. Notre Dame, @ Creighton, vs. Marquette, vs. Xavier

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: @ Butler

Up next: @ St. John’s (1/14), vs. Seton Hall (1/16)

Creighton Bluejays, 15-1 (3-1): Creighton’s lone loss came against Villanova this season, and there is nothing wrong with that. Patton and Watson are playing excellent ball, but they will need to be on their game to knock off Butler at home on Wednesday. This is just another example of a team right on the edge to become a lock once the section opens in our next Bubble Watch.

Quality wins: vs. NC State, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Seton Hall

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: vs. Villanova

Up next: vs. Butler (1/11), vs. Truman State (1/14)

Xavier Musketeers, 13-3 (3-1): Xavier has lost three games on the road to quality opponents. However, they still earned a win against Clemson on a neutral court and are one of the best teams in the Big East.

Quality wins: vs. Wake Forest, vs. Clemson

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: @ Baylor, @ Colorado, @ Villanova

Up next: @ Butler (1/14), vs. Creighton (1/16)

Butler Bulldogs, 14-2 (3-1): St. John’s and Indiana State remain puzzling losses for this team, but both came on the road. Now 14-2, with a plethora of stellar wins, the Butler Bulldogs are playing great basketball. Kelan Martin, although he experienced some struggles against Georgetown, is a potential All-American player this season. Two very difficult games await though.

Quality wins: vs. Arizona, vs. Cincinnati, vs. Northwestern, vs. Indiana, @ Utah, vs. Villanova

Bad losses: @ Indiana State, @ St. John’s

Missed opportunities: none.

Up next: @ Creighton (1/11), vs. Xavier (1/14)

Seton Hall Pirates, 12-3 (2-1): Currently a 10 seed in Busting Brackets’ Bracketology, Seton Hall sits firmly on the bubble, despite having a very respectable start to the season. They have several good wins, but nothing spectacular. They already have one win against Marquette, so knocking them off at home this week would be a big win over a fellow bubble team.

Quality wins: vs. South Carolina, vs. California, vs. Marquette

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: vs. Florida, vs. Stanford, @ Creighton

Up next: @ Marquette (1/11), @ Providence (1/14)

Marquette Golden Eagles, 10-5 (1-2): Speaking of Marquette, they need this win over Seton Hall. The Golden Eagles are starving for a quality win, even if it does come at home. They have several missed opportunities and eventually need to start capitalizing on those or they will miss out on the big-time postseason play.

Quality wins: none.

Bad losses: none.

Missed opportunities: vs. Pittsburgh, vs. Wisconsin, vs. Michigan, @ Villanova, @ Seton Hall

Up next: vs. Seton Hall (1/11), vs. DePaul (1/14)

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