This is the week conference play begins so it’s so long to mismatches and guarantee games. Now it’s a neighborhood thing, and that means plenty of games that can affect the Top 25.
Five games this week pit two ranked teams from the same conference, and No. 6 Xavier and No. 9 Butler get Big East play off to a grueling start.
On Thursday, Xavier is at No. 16 Villanova and Butler hosts No. 12 Providence. Two days later the Musketeers host the Bulldogs in a matchup that will settle who is the early leader in the conference.