Well, as if you needed confirmation that the 2017-18 season is going to be a bear in the Big East, you got it on Wednesday when the Associated Press released their preseason top 25 for men’s basketball.
Three Big East teams are ranked in the top 25, and two more are in the “also receiving votes” category. Villanova starts the season at #6, Xavier shows up at #17, and Seton Hall wrap up the ranked Marquette foes at #23. Providence (34 points) and Butler (13 points) earned votes, but will have to work their way into the top 25.