2022 Big East Tournament Preview and Predictions
No. 1 Seed Overview: Providence Friars
The Providence Friars secured the 2022 Big Ten regular season title for the first time in school history. 11th-year head coach Ed Cooley led his team to a 14-3 conference record and 24-4 mark overall.
Sleeper to Win: Marquette Golden Eagles
Players to Watch
Collin Gillespie – Villanova
Justin Lewis – Marquette
R.J. Cole – UConn
Ryan Hawkins – Creighton
Nate Watson – Providence
First Round Predictions – Wednesday, March 9
No. 8 Xavier vs. No. 9 Butler – 4:30 p.m. ET, FS1
Travis Steele’s Musketeers have absolutely collapsed in the back half of the regular season. After being ranked in the AP Top 25 for a good portion of the year, Xavier dropped seven of their final nine games and plummeted in the Big East Standings. Butler has put together some gutsy performances but are ultimately a clear basement-dweller in the conference. Xavier is playing for their NCAA Tournament lives, and that motivation should ensure their superior talent gets the victory.
Prediction: Xavier 70, Butler 63
No. 7 St. John’s vs. No. 10 DePaul – 7 p.m. ET, FS1
This is the biggest toss-up game of the first round. St. John’s and DePaul are very even on paper and each have a go-to star in Julian Champagnie (St. John’s) and Javon Freeman-Liberty (DePaul). These two sides split the season series, each team winning by five in their home gym. While very tempted to go with DePaul here, the 2022 Big East Tournament is being played at Madison Square Garden, making this effectively a home game for the Red Storm. Should be a close one.
Prediction: St. John’s 80, DePaul 77
No. 6 Seton Hall vs. No. 11 Georgetown – 9:30 p.m. ET, FS1
Georgetown is an absolute disaster of a team. The Hoyas enter the tournament on a 20-game losing streak and did not win a single conference game this season. Seton Hall is firmly in the NCAA Tournament, are winners of five straight, and have an advantage in everything from talent to coaching to momentum. Pirates should roll.
Prediction: Seton Hall 73, Georgetown 61
Quarterfinal Predictions – Thursday, March 10
No. 1 Providence vs. No. 8 Xavier – Noon ET, FS1
Ultimately, I just can’t buy in on Xavier. Maybe against a team like Butler, but not against a Friars team that just won the Big East regular season title. I’m not totally sold on Providence’s upside, but head coach Ed Cooley has proven time and time again that you can’t count them out even if they don’t look the part. These two teams went to 3OT last time they played. Xavier may put in an upset bid, but I’m taking Providence.
Prediction: Providence 71, Xavier 66
No. 4 Creighton vs. No. 5 Marquette – 2:30 p.m. ET, FS1
Creighton swept the season series against Marquette, but the big difference this time is that the Bluejays will be without their star freshman Ryan Nembhard (broken wrist, out for the year). Freshman forward Ryan Hawkins will do his thing, but ultimately I don’t love Creighton without their primary offensive creator. Marquette is battle-tested, and Shaka Smart is probably eager to prove he’s still in the upper echelon of coaches after failing to win an NCAA Tournament game at Texas.
Prediction: Marquette 74, Creighton 67
No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 7 St. John’s – 7 p.m. ET, FS1
Villanova may not have won the conference this year, but they are still a very dangerous team with the dynamic duo of head coach Jay Wright and point guard Collin Gillespie running it back. St. John’s was largely a disappointment this season, and while I think they can keep this game close, I expect the Wildcats to come out victorious.
Prediction: Villanova 80, St. John’s 76
No. 3 UConn vs. No. 6 Seton Hall – 9:30 p.m. ET, FS1
UConn is a Final Four sleeper for me, and I’m not sure Seton Hall gets past the second round of the NCAA Tournament. R.J. Cole and Adama Sanogo have been playing very well down the stretch. These two sides split the season series in two close games, but I think the Huskies show up for this one.
Prediction: UConn 83, Seton Hall 72
Semifinal Predictions – Friday, March 11
No. 1 Providence vs. No. 5 Marquette – 6:30 p.m. ET, FS1
Providence has played with fire way too much this season. Ed Cooley must have made a deal with some higher power that guarantees the Friars win every close game. At some point this has to come back to bite them, and I think tournament play is exactly where that happens. Give me Justin Lewis and Darryl Morsell pulling off the upset over a very upset-worthy team.
Prediction: Marquette 67, Providence 63
No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 3 UConn – 9 p.m. ET, FS1
2022 Big East Tournament Championship Prediction – Saturday, March 12
No. 5 Marquette vs. No. 3 UConn – 6:30 p.m. ET, FOX
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