Player of the Week
Tyler Kolek (Marquette)
Tyler Kolek has been heating up as of late as Marquette battles through its tumultuous early-season schedule. Over his last four games, Kolek has averaged 19.3 points, including a 28-point performance in the win over No. 12 Texas on Wednesday. The senior has been doing it all for the Golden Eagles, averaging 5.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists on the year. Kolek performed above his season averages in the victory over Texas — bringing down eight rebounds and six assists along with three steals. The crafty guard can be a name to lookout for in the Big East this year, bringing a good frame for his position at 6-foot-3. The Cumberland, Rhode Island, native will look to keep his hot hand rolling against Notre Dame on Saturday.
Who’s Hot
Baylor Scheierman (Creighton)
Baylor Scheierman has been putting up impressive numbers for Creighton lately and the league has been put on notice after he was named the Big East Player of the Week. The senior guard impressed on the road for the Bluejays, pouring in 21 points and adding eight rebounds against Oklahoma State on Thursday. Most recently, Scheierman dropped a double-double in the blowout win over Nebraska on Sunday, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Averaging 19.3 points and 7.5 rebounds, Scheierman has played a key role for Creighton in its 7-1 start to the season.
Marquette Golden Eagles
Marquette has had one of the toughest schedules in all of college basketball to begin the year, and although it has two losses, it has some of the best resume-building wins in the nation. On Wednesday, the Golden Eagles dominated the No. 12 Texas Longhorns in the Big East-Big 12 Battle, winning 86-65 behind Kolek’s 28 points. Marquette has already picked up three wins against ranked opponents in just nine games, including upsetting then-No. 1 Kansas. As one of the favorites in the Big East, having the difficult schedule they have could help them come conference play time, as coach Shaka Smart looks for this team to make a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament and claim back-to-back Big East championships.
Who’s Not
Villanova Wildcats
Despite winning the Battle 4 Atlantis, Villanova is still trying to find out what kind of team it will be this year. The Wildcats currently sit on a three-game losing streak, including losses to Big Five rivals Saint Joes and Drexel. On Tuesday, Villanova fell to Kansas State in overtime to drop to 6-4 on the year. The Wildcats inability to gain consistency could be something that hurts them when it comes time for the selection show in March. While it’s unclear where Villanova will stack up in the conference this year, it should be able to stay competitive with the top-teams despite the lack of consistency.
Depaul Blue Demons
While the expectations weren’t necessarily high for Depaul going into the year, the start of this season was not what it had hoped for. Sitting at 1-7, the Blue Demons quickly put themselves in catch-up mode if they have any hopes of wanting to turn this season around before Big East play begins. On Friday, Depaul suffered a 19-point loss to Iowa State at home in the Big East-Big 12 battle. The Blue Demons were handed an even bigger defeat on the road against Texas A&M — falling by 25 points, 89-64. Projected to be near the bottom of the Big East standings, Depaul will need a lot to go right when it enters conference play in a tough conference.
Top Five scoring offenses in Big East
1. Connecticut Huskies
The defending National Champion Huskies lead the conference in scoring thus far, averaging 85.9 points per game. This mark sits them at 18th in the country based off of their average. The high-scoring Uconn offense has led it to a record of 8-1 and the No. 5 ranking in the nation.
2. Creighton Blue Jays
Not far behind Uconn, Creighton averages an even 84 points per game, coming in at No. 31 in the country in that category. Creightons guard-heavy roster allows it to space the floor and gain open looks, allowing it to outscore opponents on the way to its 7-1 record.
3. Butler Bulldogs
Butler has been turning heads among the Big East early on with its 7-2 record. The Bulldogs sit tied for 53rd in the country with 82.1 points per game. Butler has shown it can score the ball consistently, scoring over 80 points six times this year, including a 103-point game against Texas Tech that went to overtime.
4. St. John’s Red Storm
Sitting at 6-2, St. John’s is another sleeper team to watch out for in the conference this year. The Red Storm average 80.4 points per game, good enough to rank inside the top 80 at No. 77.
5. Marquette Golden Eagles
Despite being one of the top teams in the conference, Marquette comes in at number five in the Big East scoring averages. The Golden Eagles have had to face off against some of the best teams in the country early on in the year, but they were still able to boast an average of 80 points per game, ranking 83rd in the country.