Three’s the magic number

DePaul’s 71-56 victory against Villanova Tuesday night mathematically eliminated the Wildcats from finishing first in the conference, leaving St. John’s, Creighton and DePaul as the only three teams left with a shot at the regular season title. DePaul moved a half-game up from St. John’s with the victory against the Wildcats, and made it a full game when the Red Storm fell to the Golden Eagles Wednesday night. With a 70-50 win Wednesday night, Creighton moved into a tie with St. John’s. With just one game separating the top three teams, the final week of the season will create some primetime drama.

Basement party

Just like the top three teams are locked into a battle for the No. 1 seed, the last three teams are also set in stone. Georgetown, Xavier and Providence will all play in the opening round of the tournament. Georgetown and Xavier are tied at 3-13 and will most likely play each other in the opening round, while Providence is in last at 2-14 and still doesn’t know who it will play. Marquette, Butler and Seton Hall all have a chance to drop down into the opening round, but just one loss will guarantee the game for the Pirates.

Player of the Week: Tabitha Richardson-Smith ­– Sophomore – Forward – Seton Hall

Tabitha Richardson-Smith made history for Seton Hall this weekend when the Pirates took on Marquette. Richardson-Smith made 15 baskets in the game and finished with 38 points, a career-high and a new school record. With her 38 points, Seton Hall was able to erase a 17-point deficit in the second half and forced the game into overtime. The Golden Eagles failed to score in the final three minutes of the extra period, and the Pirates won 90-86.

Game of the Week: DePaul at St. John’s – Sat. March 1 – 12 p.m. CST

Saturday’s matchup between DePaul and St. John’s could decide who gets the No. 1 seed in the Big East Tournament. The Blue Demons enter the weekend with a 13-3 record, while the Red Storm heads in with a 12-4 conference mark. Both teams look to bounce back after recent losses and a victory could give the winner momentum heading into the tournament. While DePaul comes into the game with a very high-powered offense, St. John’s boasts the best defense in the league. This game could be a preview of the Big East Tournament final.