Big East Trends and Angles

No. 5 Providence
Overall: 21-12 SU, 13-18 ATS
Totals: 15-16-1 O/U

No. 2 Villanova
Overall: 29-4 SU, 22-11 ATS
Totals: 19-14 O/U

No. 5 Providence vs. No. 2 Villanova (FOX, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Cinderella's slipper has fit Providence nicely, and their run to the Big East final might have punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. However, the Friars would breathe easier earning the automatic bid with a win over 'Nova. While the Wildcats have just four losses overall, one of them was against the Friars. Providence lost in Philly 89-69 in the first meeting on Jan. 23, but they exacted revenge in the Valentine's Day rematch, 76-71. The Friars are in their first final since 2014, when they rubbed out Creighton 65-58. They also won in their second and only other final appearance, topping Georgetown 74-64 in 1994.

The Wildcats are in the Big East final for the fourth consecutive season. They topped Xavier 69-52 in the 2015 game, and they knocked out Creighton 74-60 last season behind Josh Hart, sandwiching a disappointing loss to Seton Hall in 2016. The Wildcats are 2-5 in seven Big East finals all-time. The Wildcats streak into this game with four wins in a row, and they're 8-0 SU/7-1 ATS in eight neutral-site games so far this season. All of that past and recent history doesn't matter, however. The Wildcats will roll the Friars on Saturday.

No. 5 Providence
Overall: 20-12 SU, 12-18 ATS
Totals: 15-16 O/U

No. 1 Xavier
Overall: 28-4 SU, 21-11 ATS
Totals: 18-14 O/U

No. 5 Providence vs. No. 1 Xavier (FS1, 6:30 p.m. ET)
The Musketeers proved worthy of the Big East top seed by blowing out St. John's in Thursday's quarterfinals, 88-60 as 6.5-point favorites. Xavier lost three conference games this season with two of those defeats coming to Villanova and the other to Providence. The Friars tripped up the Musketeers, 81-72 as 5.5-point home underdogs in January, but Xavier rebounded in late February with an 84-74 home triumph over Providence.

The Friars outlasted Creighton in overtime on Thursday, 72-68 to cash as 3.5-point underdogs. PC improved to 5-1 ATS the last six games as an underdog, while covering in three straight meetings with Xavier. Providence last won the Big East tournament in 2014, while Xavier is looking to reach its first tournament championship since 2015, when the Musketeers fell to Villanova.

No. 6 Butler
Overall: 20-12 SU, 15-16 ATS
Totals: 18-13 O/U

No. 2 Villanova
Overall: 28-4 SU, 21-11 ATS
Totals: 22-10 O/U

No. 6 Butler vs. No. 2 Villanova (FS1, 9:00 p.m. ET)
The first loss suffered by Villanova this season following a 13-0 start came at the hands of Butler on December 30 in a 101-93 setback as 5.5-point favorites. Butler became the only team to top the 100-point mark against Villanova this season, but the Wildcats picked up revenge at home in February with an 86-75 triumph as 9.5-point favorites.

The Wildcats cruised past Marquette in the quarterfinals, 94-70 to easily cash as 11.5-point favorites. Meanwhile, Butler beat Seton Hall for the first time in three matchups this season by rallying for a 75-74 victory in Thursday's late game at Madison Square Garden. The Bulldogs picked up their first ever win at the Big East tournament while facing Villanova in this tourney for the first time.

No. 9 St. John's
Overall: 16-16 SU, 15-14-1 ATS
Totals: 14-16

No. 1 Xavier
Overall: 27-4 SU, 20-11 ATS
Totals: 18-13 O/U

#9 St. John's vs. No. 1 Xavier (FS1, 12:00 p.m. ET)
The Musketeers have never owned the top seed in the Big East tournament in their previous four seasons in the conference. Xavier edged incumbent Villanova for the number one position in the league, in spite of getting swept by the Wildcats in the regular season. The Musketeers won 12 of their final 13 games, including six road victories in this stretch. Xavier failed to cover in four opportunities as a double-digit conference favorite, but it has won each of its four Big East tournament opening games since joining the conference.

The Red Storm stayed alive by beating Georgetown for the first time in three tries in Wednesday's 88-78 come-from-behind victory. St. John's has covered three consecutive games, while bringing in a 4-1 ATS mark to Thursday's action in its last five opportunities as an underdog. The Red Storm hung with Xavier in two meetings this season, losing by six points on the road and five points at home.

No. 5 Providence
Overall: 19-12 SU, 11-18 ATS
Totals: 15-15 O/U

No. 4 Creighton
Overall: 21-10 SU, 14-15 ATS
Totals: 16-13 O/U

No. 5 Providence vs. No. 4 Creighton (FS1, 2:30 p.m. ET)
Both the Friars and Bluejays ended Big East play at 10-8 as the two squads split their season series. Creighton blew out Providence on New Year's Eve, 83-64, while the Friars returned the favor at home in January with an 85-71 rout as short favorites. Last March, the Bluejays eliminated the Friars from the Big East tournament, 70-58, while Providence won the 2014 tourney at Madison Square Garden by beating Creighton in the championship.

The Friars split their last six games of the season, as Providence posted a 4-1 ATS mark down the stretch as an underdog. The Bluejays also put together an uneven finish to the campaign by going 5-5 SU and 3-7 ATS in the last 10 games of conference action. The biggest victory by far came in overtime against Villanova on February 24, but their other four wins since late January came against DePaul (twice), Georgetown, and St. John's.

No. 7 Marquette
Overall: 18-12 SU, 15-14 ATS
Totals: 18-11 O/U

No. 2 Villanova
Overall: 27-4 SU, 20-11 ATS
Totals: 21-10 O/U

#7 Marquette vs. No. 2 Villanova (FS1, 7:00 p.m. ET)
The Wildcats had never lost more than three conference games in a season in their first four years of the restructured Big East. However, Villanova finished second in the league at 14-4 behind Xavier, which included close road losses at Creighton and Providence in the final month. As a single-digit favorite in Big East play, the Wildcats went 2-5 ATS, but 'Nova compiled a 9-3 ATS mark when laying at least 10 points inside the conference.

Marquette held off a feisty DePaul squad in Wednesday's opening round, but fell to 1-8 ATS in the last nine Big East tournament games dating back to 2012. The Golden Eagles remain alive as they improved to 6-2 in the last eight games, while avenging a late-season loss at DePaul. Now, Marquette faces a Villanova team it has lost to twice this season, but the Golden Eagles covered as an underdog each time.

No. 6 Butler
Overall: 19-12 SU, 15-15 ATS
Totals: 17-13 O/U

No. 3 Seton Hall
Overall: 21-10 SU, 15-16 ATS
Totals: 18-12 O/U

No. 6 Butler vs. No. 3 Seton Hall (FS1, 9:30 p.m. ET)
The Pirates swept the season series from the Bulldogs, including a 77-70 home victory last Saturday. Seton Hall overcame a four-game skid to start February by winning four of its final five contests to finish in third place of the Big East. The Pirates have been a tough out in the Big East tournament the last two years by compiling a 4-1 SU and 5-0 ATS record, including capturing the title in 2016.

The Bulldogs struggled down the stretch by losing four of their final six games, including road defeats at Villanova, St. John's, and Seton Hall. Butler also lost as a favorite to Xavier and Georgetown in February, but the Bulldogs also pulled out blowout wins over Creighton, Providence, and Marquette. The Bulldogs have been tough to figure out through Big East play, while seeking their first conference tournament win since joining the league in 2013 (0-4).

No. 9 St. John's
Overall: 15-16 SU, 14-14-1 ATS
Totals: 13-16 O/U

No. 8 Georgetown
Overall: 15-14 SU, 13-13 ATS
Totals: 14-12 O/U

No. 9 St. John's vs. No. 8 Georgetown (FS1, 7:00 p.m. ET)
The Red Storm began Big East play at 0-11 before a non-conference win against Duke in early February started to the tide. The first conference victory for the Johnnie's came against top-ranked Villanova as a 16.5-point underdogs, followed by wins over Marquette and DePaul. St. John's dropped three of its final four games to close out the season, while trying to avenge a pair of regular season losses to Georgetown. The Hoyas knocked off the Red Storm by a combined seven points in two wins, including a 93-89 double-overtime triumph at Capital One Arena.

Georgetown suffered through growing pains in Patrick Ewing's first season as head coach, finishing 5-13 in Big East play following a 10-1 non-conference record. The Hoyas stumbled to an 0-4 SU/ATS close to the season, including narrow home defeats to Providence and Marquette. Georgetown profited as a single-digit underdog in Big East action by going 6-3 ATS, including outright wins over Seton Hall and St. John's.

No. 10 DePaul
Overall: 11-19 SU, 15-14-1 ATS
Totals: 15-15 O/U

No. 7 Marquette
Overall: 18-12 SU, 15-14 ATS
Totals: 18-11 O/U

No. 10 DePaul vs. No. 7 Marquette (FS1, 9:30 p.m. ET)
For the second straight season, DePaul finished as the 10th seed in the Big East tournament. The Blue Demons won only four conference games this season with three of those victories coming on the road. The only home win came against Marquette in late December, 70-62 as two-point underdogs, avenging an 18-point loss to the Golden Eagles from January. DePaul has lost its opening round Big East tournament each of the past three seasons, all by double-digits.

The Golden Eagles are playing their best basketball of the season by winning five of their last seven since a three-game home losing streak in late January. During this stretch, Marquette has knocked off Creighton and Seton Hall as road underdogs, while posting a 3-1 SU/ATS record as a favorite with the lone loss coming to DePaul. The Golden Eagles own a dreadful 1-7 ATS record in their last eight Big East tournament games since 2012, while facing the Blue Demons in this tournament for the first time ever.