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2017 Big East Tournament: Villanova vs. Creighton preview, prediction, TV schedule

By Taylor Sturm

Mar 4, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Villanova Wildcats huddle against the Georgetown Hoyas during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Villanova Wildcats huddle against the Georgetown Hoyas during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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It all ends with the 2017 Big East Tournament Final on Saturday, as the Villanova Wildcats and Creighton Bluejays battle for the coveted title.

TV schedule: Saturday, March 11, 5:30 p.m. ET, FOX

Already a borderline lock for the 2017 NCAA Tournament, the Creighton Bluejays entered the 2017 Big East Tournament with expectations of a decent showing. Instead, the Bluejays played some of their best basketball of the season and are headed to the final.

Creighton, who ended the regular season with a loss to the Marquette Golden Eagles, upended the Providence Friars in the quarterfinals and outlasted a talented Xavier Musketeers’ squad in the semifinal. The Bluejays will face the Villanova Wildcats on Saturday evening.

Defeating the Bluejays twice already this season, Villanova will head into the Big East Tournament final after narrowly surviving the Seton Hall Pirates – the same team that took the Big East Tournament trophy from them last season. Villanova should be confident that they can beat Creighton easily, and have a legitimate chance at earning the No. 1 overall seed in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

However, there is no way to account for the heart of the Bluejays’ squad. Remember, Creighton has had success this season without one of their best players Maurice Watson Jr., who tore his ACL in January and is now in the midst of a gruesome sexual assault case.

Creighton has been on a mission since January and winning the 2017 Big East Tournament could be the type of moment that leads to a deep 2017 NCAA Tournament run. This is what March is about, is it not?

Next: 5 bold predictions for the Big East Tournament

Unfortunately, their dream run will end in the final – Villanova is too good. The Wildcats are basically a lock for the Elite Eight, and I think they win handily on Saturday evening, giving Jay Wright the trophy he will feel that his team deserved to win last season.

Prediction: Villanova 72, Creighton 58

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