Player of the week:
Jordan Hawkins (UConn)
The Big East effect is clearly taking a large toll on UConn, but it hasn’t halted Hawkins’ production. He’s averaging 23 points a game in the last four scoring 28 in the last game versus Xavier where he shot 50% from three. The Huskies will need another player to step up aside from Hawkins, having dropped four of their last five games, all being close contests. With the way Hawkins is playing, he is making the argument for the best NBA prospect in the Big East not named Cam Whitmore.
Who’s Hot:
Providence
After losing two games in a row, Providence has won the last three games in contests that they should have won. They recently are coming off a road win inside the Wells Fargo center against Villanova. This was the first time all season that Justin Moore played for the Wildcats and let’s just say Providence was lucky to play them in his return. Jared Bynum was back in the lineup for the second time after dealing with an injury. He scored 19 points and is just five away from 1000.
Tyler Kolek (Marquette)
MVP of the best team in the Big East? This is an argument that can be made for Kolek because he has this offense rolling on another level. The man sits 3rd in the nation averaging 8.0 assists a game and just earned his first ever double-double with the win over DePaul. He recorded 24 points and 10 assists. He was also just one rebound shy of a triple double with career high 9 rebounds. There will continue to be games like this where Kolek scores with ease, but he will consistently drop dimes having at least 6 assists in 20 of their 22 games this season.
Who’s Not:
Souley Boum (Xavier)
Previously leading the Big East in scoring, Boum has dropped all the way to 7th in points per game after his poor recent performances. In the last game against Creighton, he scored just two points shooting 20% from the field meaning he only took five shots. The Bluejays had him locked up defensively forcing him to take tough shots. This was just the 3rd time all season Boum has scored single digits with one of those times being in Xavier’s recent game against DePaul where he shot 1 for 12 from the field.
DePaul
It would seem as if DePaul could string together some wins after defeating Xavier, but the opposite happened. They lost their last three games, one of which was to Georgetown. They gave the Hoyas their first Big East win of the season. With their previous home game against No. 8 Xavier resulting in an upset, they should have given Marquette a battle with it being their blue out game. Instead, they were unable to be competitive losing by 20 at home.
Top Five Offenses:
#5 Providence
The Friars have two 100 point games this season, the first time since the 2009-2010 season. Bryce Hopkins has been a hidden gem in the transfer portal now averaging 16.4 points a game good for 3rd in the Big East. The most impressive offensive performance for Providence this season was when they scored 103 points against Marquette. They had five players scored double figures and Hopkins put up 29 points and 23 rebounds, both career highs.
#4 UConn
Three-point shooting and interior scoring, UConn has it all offensively which makes them hard to defend. Early this year they made 17 three pointers in game against Oregon which set the program record. They have so many talented scorers on their roster, they just need to have them find their consistency. Adama Sanogo is second in the Big East in points per game yet he only plays 26.3 minutes a game. Even when Sanogo goes out, they have the depth to produce offensively.
#3 Creighton
Even though they don’t have a player inside the top ten in scoring inside the Big East, Creighton has been playing great team basketball. Their last two games displays the potential firepower of their offense. They put up 104 points, a season high, against Saint John’s and outscored Xavier 84-67 in their recent win. The Musketeers lead in the Big East in points per game, yet Creighton controlled the entire game. It’s a plus for the Bluejays that their leading scorer changes every game with five players averaging at least 11 points per game.
#2 Xavier
They lead the Big East in total points per game, but their tempo is a big reason for that settling them in at the two spot. The big news for Xavier is that starting forward Zach Freemantle is going to miss the next four weeks with a foot injury, which could very easily set back this team. The biggest strength for the Musketeers was the level of talent in their starting five, but their bench depth is where they lack.
#1 Marquette
The reason Marquette is tied for 1st in the Big East comes from their offense. They are No. 1 in the nation in both offensive efficiency and 2-point field goal percentage. They have five players averaging at least 10 points per game and it considering that they are the youngest team in the Big East is quite impressive. David Joplin just scored career high 28 points in the last game for the Golden Eagles and he doesn’t even start.