Big East Basketball: 2023 conference tournament preview and predictions
By Joey Loose
Semifinals
#1 Marquette vs. #4 Connecticut (March 10, 6:30pm)
Winners of eight of their last nine games, Connecticut is playing like the team that started the year 14-0 and was considered among the elite. The Golden Eagles are tough to beat, but they’ve done it before and pull off the upset in the semifinals, with the Huskies further improving their potential bid in the Big Dance.
Connecticut wins
#2 Xavier vs. #6 Villanova (March 10, 9:00pm)
Oddly enough, the road team won each matchup between these two teams this season. The Musketeers have been playing elite offense and great defense in recent weeks, including some great performances since that home loss to Villanova. While the Wildcats might have more to play for, their spirited run comes to an end in the semifinals.
Xavier wins
Finals
#2 Xavier vs. #4 Connecticut (March 11, 8:30pm)
As we’ve said, it’s hard to beat the same team three times in one season. Xavier won the first two matchups in this series, though both those games came during Connecticut’s rough stretch back in January. This time, two hot teams looking at Top 4 seeds in the NCAA Tournament face off with a conference crown on the line and little else mattering.
Next. Latest Bracketology winners. dark
Xavier shot the lights out in their last matchup and could easily repeat that feat, especially with the way Boum and the others have been playing. However, it’s not just Sanogo causing mayhem at Connecticut. The size of this lineup, getting big contributions from freshmen Donovan Clinghan and Alex Karaban, proves to be too much and the Huskies snatch another Big East Tournament title; their first since rejoining the league a few seasons ago.