9. Marquette (17-3)
While we’re nearly halfway through conference play, we’re still trying to figure out what to make of the Big East standings, though Marquette continues to prove that they’re the best team in this league. They already boast wins over Purdue and Wisconsin and took care of Creighton a few weeks ago early in league play. Last week’s home loss against Xavier was a bitter pill, but the Golden Eagles managed to shake that off this week.
Shaka Smart’s crew kicked off the week on a high note, getting a 76-59 road win at Seton Hall on Tuesday night. Kam Jones had 19 points on a night where this defense really limited the Pirates’ chances from outside. Things went just as smoothly for Marquette on Friday, delivering an 87-74 win at home over Villanova. Stevie Mitchell had 21 points, Chase Ross added 18, and the Golden Eagles did more than enough in another solid performance.
Although this team has had some battles here in Big East play, they’re now 8-1 in the league, with six of those wins coming by 8 points or more. This lineup is deep, experienced, talented, and knows how to win together, with great play on both sides of the ball. That lineup will be tested against UConn next weekend, with the Golden Eagles hoping to punctuate that this league just might belong to them in 2025.