Top Big East Games over Thanksgiving Weekend

It’s Feast Week! We have hit the point of the season where the top teams move from beating up on regional mid-majors to matching up against Power Conference opponents. It’s already been an exciting week for (most) of the Big East. Butler and Xavier opened the week on Sunday with a pair of wins over Virginia and West Virginia. Seton Hall became the first unranked team to upset a ranked opponent with a victory over No. 23 NC State. On the flip side, St. John’s and Creighton lost their opening Players Era tournament games against two Big 12 opponents in Iowa St. and Baylor.

This is a crucial week for the conference. In order to pile up tournament bids in March, teams that might be battling for the bubble need to pickup key Q1 and Q2 victories. Here are the top Big East games (and some potential ones) to watch this week.

Top Big East Games over Thanksgiving Weekend

Seton Hall vs. Washington St. 11/26

The Pirates are having a fairly solid week for themselves. Six guys scored in double-figures against the Wolfpack, with AJ Staton-McCray leading the team with 22 points. Seton Hall then followed up with a competitive two-point loss against a good USC team. The Pirates have a good opportunity to pick up their seventh win, which would tie their season total from last year. Even though this game isn’t over the weekend, plenty of people will have the day off and should certainly tune in.

No. 14 St. John’s vs. No. 21 Auburn 11/26

Being a good team simply isn’t enough for St. John’s. This team was fifth in the AP Preseason Poll and chosen to win the Big East. So far the Red Storm have lost both of their ranked matchups. Auburn may be dropping from the rankings after getting smoked by Michigan, but if St. John’s really wants to be seen with the country’s elite, it starts today.

No. 5 UConn vs. No. 13 Illinois – 11/28

Not only is this the top Big East game, but potentially the best college basketball game of the weekend. It may be premature to say the Huskies are back, but they did beat BYU without top recruit Braylon Mullins and lost by four to Arizona without him and starting center Tarris Reed. Reed is a game-time decision for Friday, but his presence would be a huge boost for a team the struggles with rebounding. Meanwhile, Illinois beat Texas Tech and also lost by four to Alabama. This should be a rare occasion for all Big East fans to root for the Huskies. This game is on FOX and taking place at Madison Square Garden. This would be a major blow for the conference to see one of its contenders lose what is basically a home game.

Providence vs. Wisconsin – 11/27

It was four years ago that the Friars defeated a Wisconsin team that eventually finished 14th in the final AP Poll. That was also the last Providence team to make it to the Sweet 16. The Friars finally played defense and got a convincing win over Penn State. This is the first of three Big East matchups for the Badgers. Stefan Vaaks is looking like an early Big East Freshman of the Year Candidate.

Georgetown vs. Dayton – 11/27

We got not one, but two good matchups for Thanksgiving. The Flyers already beat Marquette earlier this season and are five spots above the Hoyas on the KenPom rankings. A win here might send the Hoyas into the rankings for the first time since since 2015.  KJ Lewis leads Georgetown with 17.2 points per game.

Marquette vs. Oklahoma 11/28

It’s not time to fully hit the panic button, but Marquette is coming very close to derailing their season. The Golden Eagle are 0-3 against Power Conference teams. Fortunately, the Sooners are in the same boat, thanks to losses to Gonzaga and Nebraska. Marquette have five off days since its win over Central Michigan. There is no reason for Shaka Smart’s team not to be prepared.