2017–18 Big East Conference men's basketball season


The 2017–18 Big East Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2017, followed by the start of the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. This season marked the 39th year in the conference's history, but the fifth as a non-football conference, which officially formed on July 1, 2013. Conference play began in December 2017. For the first time since the reconfigured Big East formed, Villanova failed to win the regular-season title, with Xavier claiming the crown.
The 2018 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament was held at Madison Square Garden in New York from March 7 through March 10, 2018. Villanova defeated Providence to win the tournament championship and receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Six Big East schools received bids to the NCAA Tournament. Only Villanova won more than one game in the Tournament, but the Wildcats defeated Michigan to win the NCAA Championship for the second time in three years.
Marquette received a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, where they advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual NIT champions Penn State.
Villanova guard Jalen Brunson was named the Big East Player of the Year and was consensus National Player of the Year. Villanova freshman forward Omari Spellman was named Big East Freshman of the Year. Xavier head coach Chris Mack was named Big East coach of the year.

Head coaches

Coaching changes

On March 23, 2017, Georgetown officials announced that John Thompson III had been fired. On April 2, it was reported that Patrick Ewing would replace Thompson as head coach.
On June 9, 2017, Butler head coach Chris Holtmann left to become the head coach at Ohio State. On June 12, the school hired Milwaukee head coach and Bulter alum LaVall Jordan as head coach.

Coaches

Notes:

Preseason poll

Prior to the season, the Big East conducted a poll of Big East coaches, coaches do not place their own team on their ballots.

Preseason All-Big East teams

Source
HonorRecipient
Preseason Player of the YearJalen Brunson, Villanova
Preseason All-Big East First TeamKelan Martin, Butler
Preseason All-Big East First TeamMarcus Foster, Creighton
Preseason All-Big East First TeamKhadeen Carrington, Seton Hall
Preseason All-Big East First TeamÁngel Delgado, Seton Hall
Preseason All-Big East First TeamTrevon Bluiett, Xavier
Preseason All-Big East Second TeamMarkus Howard, Marquette
Preseason All-Big East Second TeamRodney Bullock, Providence
Preseason All-Big East Second TeamKyron Cartwright, Providence
Preseason All-Big East Second TeamMarcus LoVett Jr., St. John's
Preseason All-Big East Second TeamShamorie Ponds, St. John's
Preseason All-Big East Honorable MentionKhyri Thomas, Creighton
Preseason All-Big East Honorable MentionDesi Rodriguez, Seton Hall
Preseason All-Big East Honorable MentionJ. P. Macura, Xavier
Preseason Rookie of the YearOmari Spellman, Villanova

Regular season

Rankings

Conference Matrix

This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play.

Player of the week

Throughout the season, the Big East Conference named a player of the week and a freshman of the week each Monday.
WeekPlayer of the weekFreshman of the week
November 13, 2017Kelan Martin, ButlerOmari Spellman, Villanova
November 20, 2017Trevon Bluiett, XavierTy-Shon Alexander, Creighton
November 27, 2017Jalen Brunson, VillanovaMitch Ballock, Creighton
December 4, 2017Desi Rodriguez, Seton HallOmari Spellman, Villanova
December 11, 2017Markus Howard, MarquetteMitch Ballock, Creighton
December 18, 2017Jalen Brunson, VillanovaOmari Spellman, Villanova
December 26, 2017Marcus Foster, CreightonMitch Ballock, Creighton
January 2, 2018Kelan Martin, ButlerJamal Cain, Marquette
January 8, 2018Markus Howard, MarquetteJahvon Blair, Georgetown
January 15, 2018Kelan Martin, ButlerNaji Marshall, Xavier
January 22, 2018J. P. Macura, XavierOmari Spellman, Villanova
January 29, 2018Marcus Foster, CreightonNaji Marshall, Xavier
February 5, 2018Shamorie Ponds, St. John'sOmari Spellamn, Villanova
February 12, 2018Shamorie Ponds, St. John'sJamorko Pickett, Georgetown
February 19, 2018Mikal Bridges, VillanovaNaji Marshall, Xavier
February 26, 2018Khadeen Carrington, Seton HallNaji Marshall, Xavier

Honors and awards

All-Big East Awards and Teams

Postseason

2018 Big East Tournament

NCAA Tournament

The winner of the Big East Tournament, Villanova, received the conference's automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
SeedRegionSchoolFirst FourFirst RoundSecond RoundSweet SixteenElite EightFinal FourChampionship
1EastVillanovaN/Adefeated Radford 87–61defeated Alabama 81–58defeated West Virginia 90–78defeated Texas Tech 71–59defeated Kansas 95–79defeated Michigan 79–62
1WestXavierN/Adefeated Texas Southern 103–82eliminated by Florida State 70–75
8SouthCreightonN/Aeliminated by Kansas State 59–69
8MidwestSeton HallN/Adefeated NC State 94–83eliminated by Kansas 79–83
10EastButlerN/Adefeated Arkansas 79–62eliminated by Purdue 73–76
10WestProvidenceN/Aeliminated by Texas A&M 69–73
W–L : Total:

National Invitation Tournament

Marquette received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament.
SeedBracketSchoolFirst roundSecond roundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
2Notre DameMarquettedefeated Harvard 67–60defeated Oregon 101–92eliminated by Penn State
W–L : Total: