Long way to go, but still in the race
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The 2025-26 Big East Basketball slate is in full swing! The #2 nationally Connecticut Huskies, are leading the pack this season @ 18-1/8-0 currently. Number 25 (Coaches Poll) St Johns is in 2nd position @ 14-5/7-1, followed by Villanova 15-4/6-2 & lil’ Creighton 12-8/6-3. Recently ranked Seton Hall has dropped to 14-5/4-4 in conference (lost 3 straight) and out of the top 25 polls.
Villanova was also briefly ranked and both (Nova & SH) should return to the polls with continued conference success. Creighton has been consistently inconsistent recently (win 1/lose 1) and will not return to the polls this season unless they win the regular season slate. The Jays can make a big statement in upcoming tilts vs Marquette @FiServe and with Uconn @CHICO. Lose either is survivable, barely – lose both and the Jays title hopes are over.
Butler 12-7/3-5 and DePaul 11-7/3-5 are the bigger surprises thus far in the season, as both were predicted as cellar dwellers. However, most brackets only have 4 BE teams making the NCAA Tourney (SH in/Jays out). 4th or better and Creighton is in, regardless of record.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/standings/_/group/4
NCAA approves uniform patches – new revenue source.
Evidently there are field/court spots for revenue sponsors that have been approved. The uniform spots are now approved and will commence come August 2026. See LSU’s deal (reached last fall-2025). Woodside Energy, an Aussie energy conglomerate, which is investing $17.5 Billion (USD) in Louisiana’s economy. Estimates on these videos guess 8 figure contracts/yr for individual schools. Plus the 2nd video addresses tiering of schools, pushback from eliteist football schools, etc..
It will be interesting to see where the Big East slots in – individual schools with top reputations, the league for tourneys, schools with ‘angel investors’, etc..
Jim Harvey @gtmoblue
Bluenotes 