2016–17 Big East Conference men's basketball season


The 2016–17 Big East Conference men's basketball season began with practices in October 2016, followed by the start of the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November. This season marked the 38th year in the conference's history, but the fourth as a non-football conference, which officially formed on July 1, 2013. Conference play began on December 31, 2016.
Villanova clinched the regular season championship, their fourth straight Big East regular season championship, with a win over No. 23-ranked Creighton on February 25. Butler finished second, three games behind Villanova.
Villanova shooting guard Josh Hart was named the conference's Player of the Year. Butler head coach Chris Holtmann was named Big East Coach of the Year.
The Big East Conference Tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York from March 8 through March 11, 2017. Villanova also won the Big East Conference Tournament beating Creighton in the Tournament championship game. As a result, Villanova received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Seven Big East Schools received bids to the NCAA Tournament. The conference finished with a 5–7 record in the Tournament, highlighted by Butler reaching the Sweet Sixteen and Xavier advancing to the Elite Eight.

Head coaches

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 YearJosh Hart, Villanova
Preseason All-Big East First TeamKelan Martin, Butler
Preseason All-Big East First TeamMaurice Watson, Creighton
Preseason All-Big East First TeamKris Jenkins, Villanova
Preseason All-Big East First TeamTrevon Bluiett, Xavier
Preseason All-Big East First TeamEdmond Sumner, Xavier
Preseason All-Big East Second TeamBilly Garrett, DePaul
Preseason All-Big East Second TeamIsaac Copeland, Georgetown
Preseason All-Big East Second TeamLuke Fischer, Marquette
Preseason All-Big East Second TeamKhadeen Carrington, Seton Hall
Preseason All-Big East Second TeamÁngel Delgado, Seton Hall
Preseason All-Big East Honorable Mention-
Preseason All-Big East Honorable MentionMarcus Foster, Creighton
Preseason All-Big East Honorable MentionL. J. Peak, Georgetown
Preseason All-Big East Honorable MentionJalen Brunson, Villanova
Preseason Rookie of the YearShamorie Ponds, St. John's

Rankings

Player of the week

Source
WeekPlayer of the weekFreshman of the week
November 14, 2016Rodney Pryor, GeorgetownSam Hauser, Marquette
November 21, 2016Josh Hart, VillanovaMyles Powell, Seton Hall
November 28, 2016Marcus Foster, CreightonJustin Patton, Creighton
December 5, 2016Rodney Bullock, ProvidenceJustin Patton, Creighton
December 12, 2016Josh Hart, VillanovaShamorie Ponds, St. John's
December 19, 2016Kelan Martin, ButlerKamar Baldwin, Butler
December 26, 2016Marcus Foster, CreightonShamorie Ponds, St. John's
January 2, 2017Jalen Brunson, VillanovaShamorie Ponds, St. John's
January 9, 2017Desi Rodriguez, Seton HallJustin Patton, Creighton
January 16, 2017L. J. Peak, GeorgetownMarkus Howard, Marquette
January 23, 2017Josh Hart, VillanovaKamar Baldwin, Butler
January 30, 2017Trevon Bluiett, XavierShamorie Ponds, St. John's
February 6, 2017Trevon Bluiett, XavierMarcus Lovett, St. John's
February 13, 2017Josh Hart, VillanovaMarcus Lovett, St. John's
February 20, 2017Khadeen Carrington,Seton HallMarkus Howard, Marquette
February 27, 2017Kelan Martin, ButlerShamorie Ponds, St. John's

Regular season

Conference Matrix

This table summarizes the head-to-head results between teams in conference play through February 14, 2017.

Honors and awards

All-Big East Awards and Teams

Postseason

2017 Big East Tournament

NCAA Tournament

The winner of the Big East Tournament received an automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
SeedRegionSchoolFirst FourRound of 64Round of 32Sweet 16Elite EightFinal FourChampionship
1EastVillanova Mount St. Mary's - W, 76–56 Wisconsin - L, 62–65
4SouthButler Winthrop - W, 76–64 Middle Tennessee - W, 74–65 North Carolina - L, 80–92
6MidwestCreighton Rhode Island - L, 84–72
9SouthSeton Hall Arkansas - L, 71–77
10EastMarquette South Carolina - L, 73–93
11WestXavier Maryland - W, 76–65 Florida State - W, 91–66 Arizona - W, 73–71 Gonzaga - L, 59–83
11EastProvidence USC - L, 71–75
W–L :0–1 3–3 2–1 1–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 Total: 6–7