Bracketology 2024: Analyzing bubble resumes of 6 Big East at-large contenders

As February winds down and the final regular season games play out, competition in the Big East is heating up. The top-three have all but punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, but for those still in the mix, these next few weeks are pivotal. There's only one question: Who's going dancing in March?

By Kyle Craib | Feb 20, 2024

Seton Hall v Villanova / Mitchell Leff/GettyImages

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Butler Bulldogs - 16-10 (7-8)

After finishing up last year ninth in the conference and out of tournament contention, Head Coach Thad Matta has helped revitalise the Butler Bulldogs' men’s basketball program in his second year.

Transfers Pierre Brooks, Jahmyl Telfort and Posh Alexander have helped breathe new life into the Hinkle Fieldhouse. Led by the team’s new-look core, the Bulldogs average 79.3 points per game, a top-60 figure across the NCAA. At the free throw line, Butler ranks fifth-best in the nation with .791 percent on the season.

While a 7-8 conference record may not inspire the most confidence, the team’s impressive Quad 1 resume with wins over Boise State (70-56), Texas Tech (103-95), and on the road against Marquette (69-62) and Creighton (99-98) have kept this team in the conversation.

The team currently ranks NET 57 and sits on the cusp of cracking the final tournament bracket. Butler has dropped their last two contests against Creighton and Marquette putting their March Madness chances under further scrutiny.

Finishing strong will be key, but the upcoming schedule foreshadows a quintet of close games. Challenges on the road against Villanova and Seton Hall, along with a pair of near must-win games at home versus St. John’s and Xavier, tee up an exciting schedule down the stretch.

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