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Big East vs Big 12 Match-Ups Begin

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Providence topped Texas Tech in the first game of this season’s BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle on a night when all four league teams in action posted a victory. Overall, BIG EAST teams have won their last 16 games and have a composite record of 64-15 (.810).

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The Friars (7-1) won despite the Red Raiders being able to limit Nate Watson to five points. Al Durham helped pick up the scoring slack with 23 points that included 12-of-13 from the foul line. A.J. Reeves added 14 points and eight rebounds.

No. 6 Villanova (5-2) played its second straight game in the Palestra and defeated Penn 71-56. Collin Gillespie and Brandon Slater combined for 42 points on 16-of-23 shooting from the field and 6-of-11 from 3-point range. Gillespie finished with a game-high 26 points.

No. 25 Seton Hall (6-1) pulled away in the second half in an 85-63 win over Wagner. Jared Rhoden and Tyrese Samuel each had 15 points. Rhoden added 11 rebounds. Kadary Richmond made all-around contributions with 10 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals.

Xavier faced the least resistance, handling Central Michigan 78-45. The Musketeers (6-1) enjoyed a 12-0 start and then pushed their advantage to 25-4. Nate Johnson made 8-of-11 from the floor and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc en route to a game-high 24 points.

Thursday is dark on the BIG EAST schedule and Friday has only one contest. St. John’s hosts No. 8 Kansas in the second game of the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle, which will be the first basketball game played at the new UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.

Julian Champagnie leads the Johnnies with a 21.3 scoring average, which ranks second in the BIG EAST. His rebound average is 6.8. Posh Alexander is averaging 14.6 points and leads the league in assists (6.6) and steals (2.4).

Big East Back in Action

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – With several shake-ups throughout the latest Associated Press college basketball Top 25 rankings, Villanova and UConn both climbed the ladder, while Seton Hall closed out the poll at No. 25. In its lone game of the week, No. 6 Villanova dominated La Salle (72-46) in a Philadelphia Big Five contest, to move up a spot in the rankings.

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A busy week in Paradise Island, Bahamas, concluded on Friday with Connecticut going 2-1 in the Battle 4 Atlantis and finishing third. With overtime wins over No. 21 Auburn (115-109) and VCU (70-63), accompanied by a close loss against No. 22 Michigan State (64-60), the Huskies jumped five spots in the poll and now sit at No. 17.

At No. 25, Seton Hall remained in the polls after a 2-1 week. The Pirates came up short against Ohio State (79-76) in the first of two games of the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off, before closing out the week with victories over California and Bethune-Cookman.

With Thanksgiving holiday tournament action in the rearview mirror, five BIG EAST teams return to their respective home arenas tonight.

Butler jumpstarts the evening at 5 p.m. on FS1 against Saginaw Valley State. Georgetown later hosts Longwood at 7 p.m. on FS2, while UConn tips off against Maryland Eastern Shore at 7 p.m.on CBS Sports Network.

At 9 p.m., Marquette hosts Jackson State on CBSSN, while Creighton takes on North Dakota State on FS2.

Individually, DePaul’s Javon Freeman-Liberty ranks fourth in the nation with 23.5 ppg, while St. John’s Posh Alexander ranks ninth nationally in assists, with 6.6 per game.

DePaul (5th, 88.5) and UConn (10th, 87.6) both rank among the nation’s top-10 scoring offenses, while UConn (T3rd, 7.6) and St. John’s (T10th, 6.3) are getting it done on the defensive end of the court with blocked shots.

It’s Official: Welcome the FSG Penguins

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BOSTON/PITTSBURGH – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Pittsburgh Penguins and Fenway Sports Group entered into an agreement for FSG to acquire controlling interest in the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team. The deal, which is subject to approval by the National Hockey League Board of Governors, is expected to close before the end of the year.

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As part of the transaction, Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle will remain part of the ownership group and will be closely aligned with FSG. Lemieux, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, will continue his role guiding hockey operations for the organization. In addition, continuity of leadership will be maintained among the club’s senior management team of CEO David Morehouse, COO Kevin Acklin, President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke, General Manager Ron Hextall, and Head Coach Mike Sullivan.

FSG Chairman Tom Werner said in a statement, “The Pittsburgh Penguins are a premier National Hockey League franchise with a very strong organization, a terrific history and a vibrant, passionate fan base. We will work diligently to continue building on the remarkable Penguins’ tradition of championships and exciting play.”

Lemieux and Burkle, who purchased the team in 1999, enjoyed a 22-year partnership that delivered three Stanley Cups and the construction of PPG Paints Arena, a multi-purpose venue which opened in August 2010 and is considered one of the top facilities in North America. Under their leadership, the Penguins have consistently led the NHL in local TV ratings, social media, sponsorships, and community and youth hockey investments, while selling out more than 600 straight games.

“As the Penguins enter a new chapter, I will continue to be as active and engaged with the team as I always have been and look forward to continuing to build on our success with our incoming partners at FSG,” Lemieux said. “They have an organizational philosophy that mirrors the approach that worked so well for Ron and me over the past 22 years.”

“Fenway Sports Group brings everything we could ask for in an ownership partner to help continue the historic success of the Pittsburgh Penguins,” said Morehouse. “They understand what the Penguins mean to Pittsburgh, and they bring to us the latest in cutting-edge sports research, data analytics, player training and performance, real estate development, and organizational excellence..”

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes – Nov. 28

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While We’re Young (Ideas) Gives Thanks

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – It’s Thanksgiving Weekend and time to STOP, THINK and THANK just a few people and REMEMBER a few things. The column comes complete with minimal BS, complaining, snark or sentimental goop while trying to avoid the negatives and all-to-often critical sniping. It does begin with a memorial dedication for 2020-21.

First things first:

It’s 2021, and there’s a global pandemic screaming bloody murder, so we must first pay thanks to our health, if we are so fortunate to do so. Before we can give thanks, it’s time to pay respects to those who lost their lives to COVID or other crisis this year. Special note to the late Madison Dubiski of Houston who lost her life in the crush of the Travis Scott concert at Astroworld along with at least nine others. Madison’s father, Brian, is a good friend of the column and was just hanging at Fenway Park when the Astros dispatched the Red Sox in late October. Madison was 23 years old at the time of her passing away in the crowd at NRG Park/Stadium in Houston on November 5. Dozens and dozens of others were injured. May God Bless.

Let’s Go.

From the Cranberry-Apple-Orange sauce to left-over Turkey Breast sandwiches, Thanksgiving is a favorite of holidays for many of us. Thanks to the Seventy-seven days until pitchers & Catchers report, then Opening Day, then Patriots’ Day and the Boston Marathon, and the 11am start at Fenway. … Thanks for the E-Z Pass and Smart TVs. … Frank Zamboni and to the guy who cut out the bottom of the peach basket, the greatest rule change in basketball history. … Thanks to Bill Russell and Satch and thanks to the memory of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, who we lost this past March 21, as we remember Press and Pistol Pete Maravich.

Thanks for The NFL Red Zone and avoiding 100 car insurance commercials as we watch the NFL. To the Witching Hour, when wins become losses and losses become wins on the Octo-Box. … Thanks for Justin and Jalen and Josh, for Lamar, Cam (before him), Aaron, Kirk and Dak. … Thanks for Jonathan Taylor and Austin Ekeler … and to Cooper, Davanti, Tyreek, Deebo, and Ja’Marr.

Thanks for the Iron Bowl and El Clásico with a sentimental kiss to The Mayor’s Trophy Game.

Thanks to Joe DiLorenzo, Duane Johnson, Stephen Riley, Tod Rosensweig, Jan Volk, Steve “Globie” Lipofsky, and Jeff Twiss, and to Brian and especially Heather – all Boston Celtics colleagues.

Thanks for the New England snow-mobiles, aka Suburu OutBack and Forester, that keep us safe in rain, sleet or snow. In Boston, the Mail Person drives a Suburu. … Thanks to Wood-Boy who brings us a Cord+ of hard wood each Fall and thanks for the fireplace that burns that wood and makes us feel cozy, warm and fortunate each cold, winter night.

Thanks to St. John’s men’s basketball for driving me crazy every season, dating back to 1968 or so, and certainly since 1978 when a full season ticket was about $43. … Thanks to Lou Carnesecca just for being Louie. Thanks to his one-time assistant coach John Kresse. Thanks to coach Mike Andersonfor giving it his all in a rock solid conference where winning a road game is like winning Game 7 every year. … Thanks to the BIG EAST and Val and Stu and John P. … Let’s hope all goes well and The Garden is packed for the tournament this coming March. … Thanks to FS-1 for televising every game, but, I’ll ask again, can you lose the John Tesh Roundball Rock music?

Thanks to Derek & Susan and to Mike Mattison and the whole TT Band. … Oh, how we miss Kofi. … Thanks to Bruce (H). and Bruce (S). for the Spirit Trail and my Spirit in the Night. … What a Ride.

Thanks to Jeff Kazee for playing his Living Room Lounge series of solo piano concerts, played every week until March 24th, a year after all hell broke loose. … Just for Jeff, root for the Cincinnati Reds. … Thank to Rich (P) and Will Lee and the Fab Faux. Missed seeing a 2021 show, first time in a along time.

Speaking of the Fab, thanks to and for Penny (Lane). She’s keeping me company, snoozin’ as this is typed. She’s just a little more than a year old and joined our family last Thanksgiving.

Thanks to Abe and Terry, not The Real TL, and all the crew at The Sports Business Daily and Journal and to Scott, Dick and Corey and the new crew at Sportico. They keep us informed, as does CBS News, Norah and Dana, Jeff, Glor and Anthony Mason, who just ROCKS when he does a piece on music – any genre.

Here’s to Nate Burleson, a regular on the sports scene as and NFL wide-out for the Minnesota Vikings but a budding superstar on the Morning News. Burleson is a natural. His sense of team with the CBS Morning anchors (Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil) is only surpassed by his sense of camaraderie with the productions staff.

HERE’s TO: John Caron, Dave Glucksman, Dana Roy, and Higor Trindade – the anchors of West End Johnnies (and Fenway, too). To Arty,Evan, Frank & Henry and everyone – Thank you. It was a tough, tough year to be in the restaurant business, but both joints made it through.

Thanks to Ken Adelson, Len Deluca, Stacia Fritchie – my cohorts and colleagues. To Dinn Mann – cohort to be. Bob Delaney, Dave Scheiber and Philip Turner, cohorts past, present and future. To NBA friends and colleagues far and wide, Brian, Matt, Spy, Chris, Rick, Russ, AG and RL + far too many more to list. To Ed Desser and John Kosner, thanks for guidance as we gear-up for 2022.

Here’s to, too: Kevin Doyle, Abby and everyone at Fenway. Gonna miss official scorer Mike Shalin so, so much – gone far too soon. Also gonna miss seeing Dan Lyons who retired from the Sox and Tom Keegan, former columnist for the Boston Herald, caught in the grind of the pandemic and back to the Midwest. See you in springtime, Fenway Fam.

Thanks to Berj and the Patriots. To Harold and the Mets. Jimmy J and Pat LaFontaine and Companions in Courage. Special thanks to Craig Miller,currently working his final international basketball tournament as the head of communications for USA Basketball. From 1992 to 2022 is a nice, little run – working every level of basketball, men’s and women’s, gold and glory, defeat and misery.

Best in the Biz Greetings to Scott Rosner and LJ Holmgren at Columbia University’s Sports Management program with special thanks to CUSP-man and PR Joe Fav who teams up with Tom Richardson on said CUSP Show(podcast). It’s always a pleasure to speak at Columbia for Joe Fav, but this year, we were forced to Zoom video, as we did a year ago. … Joe Fav took a different dive come Thanksgiving and provided us with thoughtful reminder of life in 2021.

Finally, to family – immediate and extended – and to friends all over the world – many made through sports and music – (add food, water, air and SHAKE, NOT STIR for life – Thanks for being you.

Do I hear there’s an AFC/NFC Championship gathering ahead?

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Riddle me this? Which sport’s overtime is more ridiculous and unworthy of deciding the outcome of a regular season game?

  • The NHL: After three periods and a deadlocked regular season game, the normal five-on-five (plus a goalkeeper) becomes three-on-three for a single five-minute stanza. After that, it goes to a shoot-out for three rounds, most goals wins. If tied, sudden death shoot-out determines the outcome. In the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s five-on-five for 20-minute intervals (periods) until a team scores. It’s the best, most exciting playoff in sports, especially in a Game 7.
  • MLB: Extra innings now call for a runner (last man at bat in the previous inning) to be placed on second base. Commissioner Rob Manfred stated that the “man on second” rule and 7-inning double-headers are probably a thing of the past.
  • College Football: Where do we start?
    • At the end of regulation, the referee will toss a coin to determine which team will possess the ball first in overtime. The visiting team captain will call the toss. The winner gets to choose to either play offense or defense first or chooses which side of the field to play on. The decision cannot be deferred.
    • The teams that loses the coin toss must exercise the remaining option. They will then have the chance to choose first from the four categories in the second overtime and subsequent even-numbered OT periods. The team that wins the toss will have the same options in odd-numbered OT periods.
    • In each of the first two overtime periods, teams are granted one possession beginning at the opponent’s 25-yard line, unless a penalty occurs to move them back. The offense can place the ball anywhere on or between the hash marks.
    • Each team is granted one timeout per overtime period. Timeouts do not carry over from regulation nor do they carry over between overtime periods.
    • Each team retains the ball until it fails to score, fails to make a first down or turns the ball over.
    • Beginning with the second overtime period, teams must attempt a two-point conversion after scoring a touchdown.

You might as well have the teams all gather in a circle and play “Spin the Bottle” to decide a winner.

Red Sox Sign Wacha for 1-Year

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox today signed right-handed pitcher Michael Wacha to a one-year contract for the 2022 season. The club’s 40-man roster is now at 38 after Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the deal.

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Wacha, 30, made 29 appearances (23 starts) for the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2021 regular season, posting a 2.88 ERA (11 ER/34.1 IP) in his final seven outings. After throwing 5.0 scoreless and hitless innings on September 28 against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, he allowed only one hit in 5.0 scoreless innings on October 3 against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The right-hander led the majors with four outings in which he threw at least 5.0 innings, allowed zero runs, and surrendered one or zero hits.

After spending his first eight major league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (2013-19) and New York Mets (2020), Wacha made his American League debut in 2021 with the Rays and went 3-5 with a 5.05 ERA (70 ER/124.2 IP), 121 strikeouts, and 31 walks. In three starts against the Yankees last season, he allowed zero earned runs in 16.0 innings while holding hitters to a .100 batting average (5-for-50). In a 1-0 win over the Red Sox at Tropicana Field on June 24, Wacha surrendered only one hit in 5.0 innings.

Selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2012 June Draft (19th overall) out of Texas A&M University, Wacha is 63-48 with a 4.14 ERA (472 ER/1,026.1 IP) in 202 career major league outings (181 starts). A 2015 National League All-Star, he has made six Postseason starts and two relief appearances, going 4-3 with a 5.21 ERA (22 ER/38.0 IP). His lone Postseason outing of 2021 came as a reliever in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field.

Born in Iowa City, IA, Wacha currently resides in Jupiter, FL.

Big East Hoops Holiday

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Connecticut won its second overtime game in three days. Xavier grabbed a one-point win and DePaul remained the BIG EAST’s only unbeaten team. Georgetown almost made it a 4-0 sweep, but the Hoyas lost a tight one on the West Coast.

UConn beat VCU 70-63 in overtime in the third-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis. R.J. Cole scored a game-high 26 points. Isaiah Whaley, who was held out of Thursday’s game after fainting after Wednesday’s opening-round contest, sent the game into overtime with a late 3-pointer. His 3-point basket opened the scoring in the extra period and the gave the Huskies (6-1) the lead for good. Whaley finished with 16 points.

Xavier (5-0), playing without starters Colby Jones, Jerome Hunter and Dieonte Miles due to illness, used a career scoring night by Nate Johnson to edge Virginia Tech 59-58 in the third-place game of the NIT Tip-Off. Johnson poured in 30 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 25 seconds left. He played all 40 minutes, made 7-of-11 from beyond the arc, and did not commit a turnover.

DePaul improved to 5-0 under new coach Tony Stubblefield with a 77-68 win against Northern Kentucky at Wintrust Arena in the Blue Demons’ second game of the Blue Demon Classic. Javon Freeman-Liberty, who had a double-double by halftime, finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Nick Ongenda added 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting. The 5-0 start under a new coach is the first at DePaul since Joey Meyer began 6-0 in 1984-85.

Georgetown (2-3) scored 48 points in the second half, but could not complete the recovery from a 13-point deficit in a 77-74 loss to Saint Joseph’s in the third-place game of the Wooden Legacy. Kaiden Rice scored 19 of his team-high 25 points after intermission. Timothy Ighoefe grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds and blocked three shots.

The holiday weekend continues on Saturday with four games – all home contests for league teams and all on FS2. At noon ET, Providence hosts Saint Peter’s. St. John’s meets NJIT at Carnesecca Arena at 4 p.m. followed by SIU-Edwardsville at Creighton at 6 p.m. and Northern Illinois at Marquette at 8 p.m.

Big East: Four on the Floor

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PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Connecticut, Xavier and Georgetown complete tournament play away from home on Friday, while undefeated DePaul hosts Northern Kentucky.

UConn (5-1) meets VCU in the third-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The Huskies suffered their first loss of the season, a 64-60 decision to Michigan State on Thursday, after a late lead slipped away. The Huskies got double-double performances from Adama Sanogo (18 pts., 10 rebs.) and Tyrese Martin (16 and 12).

Xavier (4-1) also tries to bounce back from its first loss of the season when it plays Virginia Tech in the NIT Tip-Off at Barclays Center at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. Jack Nunge had 24 points off the bench in an 82-70 loss to Iowa State on Wednesday. Xavier hopes to get Adam Kunkel back after he missed the Iowa State game with an illness.

Georgetown (2-2) meets Saint Joseph’s in the third-place game of the Wooden Legacy at 9 p.m. on ESPNU. The Hoyas lost to San Diego State 73-56 late Thursday. Aminu Mohammed finished with 20 points and Dante Harris added 19. With a 15.5 scoring average, Mohammed is one of only two true freshmen in the league to lead his team in scoring. Creighton’s Ryan Nembhard (14.2) is the other.

DePaul (4-0) hosts Northern Kentucky at Wintrust Arena in the second of three games in the Blue Demon Classic. FS2 will televise at 5 p.m. DePaul has won 30 of its last 36 games against non-league competition. Western Illinois was the previous opponent for both teams.

Big East: Giving Thanks Early-On

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NEW YORK – (Staff report from Official News Release) – Thanksgiving Day dinner may be a little more satisfying for the coaches, players and athletic staffs from Connecticut, Seton Hall and Butler after each of those teams tasted victory on Wednesday.

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No. 22 UConn (5-0) is off to its best start in eight years after a 115-109 double overtime win over No. 19 Auburn in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis. Adama Sanogo scored a career-high 30 points and R.J. Cole added 24 points. The Huskies used a 9-0 run in the second overtime to gain the victory.

Seton Hall (4-1) rallied late to beat California 62-59 in the third-place game of the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Pirates trailed 56-51 with less than four minutes to play before coming back to win. Jared Rhoden had 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Kadary Richmond added 12 points.

Butler got back in the victory column with an 84-51 triumph over Chaminade in the Bulldogs’ final game of the Maui Invitational. Freshman Jayden Taylor finished with 21 points. The Bulldogs (4-3) started the game with an 18-2 run.

No. 25 Xavier lost for the first time this season, dropping an 82-70 decision to Iowa State in the NIT Tip-Off at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Jack Nunge was the scoring leader for the Musketeers (4-1) with 24 points.

Red Sox Exercise Cora Option

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox exercised club manager Alex Cora’s contract option for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, said Boston’s Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom in a statement issued by the club.

“I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to manage the Red Sox,” said Cora. “We experienced so many special moments as a team and as a city in 2021, but we still have unfinished business to take care of. I am excited about the current state of our organization and eager to continue my work with our front office, coaches, players, and everyone who makes this such a special place.”

“Alex’s leadership of our staff and our players was critical to all that we accomplished in 2021,” said Bloom. “Along with the entire Red Sox front office, I am excited for many years of continued partnership as we work together to bring another World Series trophy to Fenway Park.”

Cora, 46, is 284-202 (.584) in three seasons as Red Sox manager, having led the club to a winning record in 2018 (108-54), 2019 (84-78), and 2021 (92-70). Among the 19 individuals to manage at least 400 games with the Red Sox, Cora’s .584 winning percentage is the highest. One of 48 managers in the franchise’s history, he has won two World Series titles with Boston, one as a player in 2007 and another as a manager in 2018.

In 2021, Cora led the Red Sox to a 92-70 record in the regular season, including a Major League-best 47 come-from-behind wins. Boston advanced to the American League Championship Series, after defeating the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card Game and the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Division Series. Boston owned the AL’s largest increase in winning percentage from 2020 to 2021 (.168), second-largest in the majors behind only the San Francisco Giants (.177). Cora became only the sixth manager to lead the Red Sox to multiple Postseason appearances, joining Bill Carrigan (1915-16), Joe Morgan (1988, ’90), Jimy Williams (1998-99), Terry Francona (2004-05, ’07-09), and John Farrell (2013, ’16-17).

Named the 47th manager in Red Sox history on October 22, 2017, Cora led Boston to a franchise-record 108 regular-season wins and an American League East title in 2018. After the 2019 season, the club and Cora mutually parted ways on January 14, 2020. On November 6, 2020, the Red Sox and Cora agreed to a two-year contract through the 2022 season, with a two-year club option for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He became the fifth person to manage the Red Sox in two separate stints, joining Bill Carrigan (1913-16, ’27-29), Mike Higgins (1955-59, ’60-62), Johnny Pesky (1963-64, ’80), and Eddie Popowski (1969, ’73).

During his playing career with the Red Sox (2005-08), Cora batted .252 (176-for-698) in 301 games, splitting time primarily between second base and shortstop. He was part of Boston’s Division Series roster in 2005 and appeared in four games during the club’s 2007 World Series title run, including two games in the Championship Series and two in the Fall Classic. He also served as the Red Sox’ starting shortstop in three games during the 2008 Postseason.

Cora resides in Caguas and has four children: Jeriel, Camila, Xander, and Isander. His older brother, Joey, played parts of 11 major league seasons with the San Diego Padres (1987, 1989-90), Chicago White Sox (1991-94), Seattle Mariners (1995-98), and Cleveland (1998).

Big East: Four Teams in Top 25

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – In the latest Associated Press rankings, Villanova and UConn were joined by Seton Hall and Xavier in the top-25 following another stellar week by the conference, highlighted by a quartet of ranked wins.

Fresh off a top-five road win over then-No. 4 Michigan, Seton Hall collected 356 more points in Monday’s release and rose to No. 21 in the AP poll and No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

Also cracking the top-25 for the first time in 2021-22, Xavier sits at No. 25 in the rankings following a week highlighted by a 71-65 victory over then-No. 19 Ohio State.

Improving to 4-0 on the year, UConn jumped a spot in the rankings and sits at No. 22 in the AP and No. 21 in the USA Today, while Villanova dropped to No. 7 in both polls after a win over No. 15 Tennessee, followed by a slight setback against No. 3 Purdue.

Overall, the league owns a 39-7 non-conference record on the year.