Big East Basketball: 5 key questions and storylines heading into 2021-22

5. How many teams in the Big East have the potential to make the Sweet 16 and beyond?

Giustino

I’d say Villanova (obviously), Xavier, UConn, and St. John’s are locks to make the NCAA tournament with Seton Hall, Butler, and Georgetown as bubble teams. I think any of the four locks have the potential to make the sweet 16 and beyond, but if I were a betting man, I’d only pick Villanova to get past the second weekend.

McCormack

The safe answer is two in Villanova and Xavier for me based on their rosters and key players as a whole, but if you told me the Big East had more than two in the sweet 16 I would not be shocked either.

Could a team like Seton Hall, UConn, or even St John’s potentially join them come March? Absolutely, because you never know who is going to get hot and be playing good basketball in March.

Sinodhinos

Considering only Creighton and Villanova managed to get two wins in the last tournament and the much more vaunted Big Ten Conference only had one team make it to the Sweet Sixteen, getting those two wins in the NCAA tournament is not easy. In addition, the Big East was better last season.

Aside from Villanova making the Sweet Sixteen, St.John’s top players have not played together and Xavier has no depth. When it comes to meeting potential, Villanova will be the only team to make it to the  Sweet Sixteen or beyond.