Busting Brackets
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Big East Basketball Rankings: Villanova rising, Creighton struggling

By Lukas Harkins

VILLANOVA, PA - NOVEMBER 06: Jermaine Samuels #23, Phil Booth #5, Eric Paschall #4, Collin Gillespie #2, and Dylan Painter #42 of the Villanova Wildcats huddle prior to the game against the Morgan State Bears at Finneran Pavilion on November 6, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Wildcats defeated the Bears 100-77. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
VILLANOVA, PA - NOVEMBER 06: Jermaine Samuels #23, Phil Booth #5, Eric Paschall #4, Collin Gillespie #2, and Dylan Painter #42 of the Villanova Wildcats huddle prior to the game against the Morgan State Bears at Finneran Pavilion on November 6, 2018 in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The Wildcats defeated the Bears 100-77. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 16: Head coach Cooley of Providence Friars. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 16: Head coach Cooley of Providence Friars. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

After dropping its first three games of conference play (two at home), Providence finally got back on track during this past week with a strong home win over Seton Hall. This was clearly the second-best performance by the team so far this year (behind a road win over Texas) and they definitely needed to gain some confidence heading into a murderous stretch. Already a rather unexpected 1-3 in conference play, six out of Providence’s next eight games all come on the road and we will find out very quickly if this team has what it takes to make a big run back into NCAA Tournament conversation.

For the time being, though, it seems as though the Friars will miss the Big Dance for the first time in the “New” Big East era (last miss was in 2012-13). Partially due to the injury suffered by star freshman A.J. Reeves, this season has been disappointing for Providence. This team was picked by many to finish in the top-4 of the conference and that does not seem likely at this point in time. On the opposite side of the spectrum, though, I still believe that this team can make a big-time run in conference play when Reeves returns.

Statistically, the Friars have been led by Alpha Diallo in just about every facet of the game. In fact, the lanky junior is tops on the team in points (17.2), rebounds (8.7), assists (3.4), and steals (1.7) per game. He is also doing so on relatively efficient shooting splits (.441/.382/.687). The issue is, though, that he is not getting a ton of help on the offensive end, especially when you consider that A.J. Reeves has missed the last seven games.

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