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Big East Basketball: 2023 conference tournament preview and predictions

By Joey Loose

Feb 15, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles guard Tyler Kolek (11) shoots against Xavier Musketeers guard Adam Kunkel (5) and forward Jack Nunge (24) during the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Marquette Golden Eagles guard Tyler Kolek (11) shoots against Xavier Musketeers guard Adam Kunkel (5) and forward Jack Nunge (24) during the second half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big East Basketball Creighton Bluejays guard Ryan Nembhard (2) reacts after a three point basket from guard Trey Alexander Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Big East Basketball Creighton Bluejays guard Ryan Nembhard (2) reacts after a three point basket from guard Trey Alexander Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

Bracketology

As previously mentioned, the Big East should get 5 teams into the NCAA Tournament this season, and we’ll certainly dive into where those teams can expect to fall on Selection Sunday less than one week from now. Obviously, you can expect a slight boost to whoever conquers this conference tournament, though perhaps it’s someone outside that top tier of teams.

Sitting on top of the league standings, Marquette’s impressive season has them sitting pretty for a good seed. Their NET is 13, with 6 Quad 1 wins but an unfortunate Quad 3 loss to Wisconsin weighing them down. A 3-seed is the most likely outcome, though that could improve with success at Madison Square Garden against their conference rivals.

Connecticut and Creighton join the Golden Eagles near the top of the nation in the NET rankings, but those rough stretches both teams have are pulling down their potential seed. Connecticut’s NET is still 6, but they also have a Quad 3 loss and should be somewhere around the 4-seed right now. Likewise, the Bluejays survived a rough December and would likely fall around a 5 or 6 seed barring a run in the conference tournament.

Xavier is another team with the potential for a great spot in the NCAA Tournament, with their NET at 22 and some impressive performances in conference play on their resume. A 4-seed is the current projection and that’s likely where they’ll finish in their first trip to the Big Dance in five years. Despite a NET of just 51, Providence is also safely in the field, but finished the season poorly and will likely settle somewhere around the 8 or 9 seed.

There aren’t any Big East teams on either side of the bubble, meaning the other six likely need to win the whole thing to get into the Big Dance. Villanova has played better in recent weeks and have been in the last 9 NCAA Tournaments, but their NET is just 80 and they have multiple Quad 3 losses; it’s not happening without going all the way to a championship in the Big East.

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