It is mid-January and the Big East is officially a meat grinder. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the big east basketball scores today, you know that "easy" games simply don't exist in this conference. Not this year. Not ever, really.
Honestly, the Friday night slate for January 16, 2026, feels like a classic "swing" night. These are the games that look lopsided on paper but end up being absolute dogfights because that’s just the DNA of this league. We’ve got Creighton visiting Providence and Marquette heading to DePaul.
You’ve probably seen the standings. UConn is sitting pretty at the top, basically looking like a juggernaut with a 17-1 overall record and a perfect 7-0 in the conference. But below them? It is total chaos.
The Friday Night Breakdown
Tonight’s schedule is focused on two very different matchups that both carry massive weight for the middle of the pack.
Creighton at Providence (6:30 p.m. ET, FS1)
This is the headliner. The Bluejays come in at 11-7 (5-2 Big East), while the Friars are struggling at 8-9 and a rough 1-5 in conference play. But don't let that record fool you. Providence is actually the highest-scoring team in the Big East, averaging nearly 89 points per game. Their problem isn't putting the ball in the hoop; it's stopping literally anyone else from doing the same.
The Friars have been heartbreakers at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. They’ve lost three home conference games by six points or less. You have to think they are due for one of those close ones to go their way. Creighton is coming off a gritty overtime win against Georgetown where Josh Dix and Nik Graves really stepped up. If the Bluejays want to keep pace with Villanova and St. John’s for that second spot, they can't afford a letdown in Rhode Island.
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Marquette at DePaul (8:30 p.m. ET, FS1)
On the other side, we have Marquette visiting Wintrust Arena. It has been a tough sledding for the Golden Eagles. They are 6-12 overall and 1-6 in the Big East. Shaka Smart’s squad is currently the lowest-scoring team in the conference, which is wild to say out loud. DePaul, meanwhile, has been surprisingly competitive this season at 10-7.
Usually, this is where people count Marquette out, but in this league, the bottom-tier teams are always dangerous. DePaul’s defense has been solid, ranked third in the conference, so Marquette is going to have to find a rhythm they haven't had all month to pull this off.
What Happened Earlier This Week?
To understand where the big east basketball scores today are coming from, you have to look at the bloodbath from Tuesday and Wednesday.
Wednesday only had one game, but it was a big one for Xavier. The Musketeers took down Butler 89-75. Tre Carroll was absolutely unconscious, dropping 29 points and grabbing nine boards. Xavier looked like a different team, racking up 30 assists. That win moved them to 3-4 in the conference, keeping their heads above water.
Tuesday was even crazier:
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- UConn 69, Seton Hall 64: Tarris Reed Jr. was a beast with 21 points. The Huskies almost blew an 18-point lead but held on because that's what champions do.
- Villanova took down Providence: The Wildcats are quietly 14-3 and looks like the only real threat to UConn's dominance right now.
- St. John’s beat Marquette: Rick Pitino has the Red Storm rolling. They’ve won three straight and are currently tied for second in the standings.
Current Big East Standings (As of January 16)
Basically, the league is divided into the "Haves," the "Might-Haves," and the "Not-Yets."
- UConn: (7-0 Big East, 17-1 Overall)
- Villanova: (5-1 Big East, 14-3 Overall)
- St. John's: (5-1 Big East, 12-5 Overall)
- Creighton: (5-2 Big East, 11-7 Overall)
- Seton Hall: (4-2 Big East, 14-3 Overall)
- Xavier: (3-4 Big East, 11-7 Overall)
- DePaul: (2-4 Big East, 10-7 Overall)
- Butler: (1-5 Big East, 10-7 Overall)
- Georgetown: (1-5 Big East, 9-8 Overall)
- Providence: (1-5 Big East, 8-9 Overall)
- Marquette: (1-6 Big East, 6-12 Overall)
Why the Scoring Numbers are Weird This Year
One thing most people get wrong about the Big East this season is the identity of the teams. You'd think a Rick Pitino team or a Dan Hurley team would be the highest scoring. Nope. It's Providence. Kim English has the Friars running and gunning, but they are also dead last in scoring defense, giving up 85 points a night.
Contrast that with Seton Hall. They are only scoring about 73 points per game, but they have the best scoring defense in the league, holding opponents to 63. When these two styles clash—like we saw earlier this month—it's like watching two different sports played on the same court.
The efficiency is also worth noting. UConn is leading the league in Field Goal Percentage at nearly 50%, while Marquette is struggling at the bottom, hitting barely 40% of their shots. It’s hard to win in this league when you're cold from the floor, especially when everyone else is shooting the lights out.
Looking Ahead to the Weekend
If the big east basketball scores today whet your appetite, Saturday is going to be a feast. We’ve got a massive triple-header:
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- Butler at Seton Hall (Noon ET, TNT/truTV): Can Butler bounce back from the Xavier loss? It’ll be tough against that Pirates defense.
- UConn at Georgetown (Noon ET, FOX): The Huskies head to D.C. This should be a blowout, but Georgetown played Creighton to the wire in OT, so don't sleep on them.
- St. John’s at Villanova (8 p.m. ET, Peacock): This is the game of the week. Two teams tied for second place fighting for the right to be called the primary challenger to UConn.
Actionable Insights for Big East Fans
If you're following these scores for betting, bracketology, or just pure fandom, here are a few things to keep in mind for the rest of January.
First, watch the "Home-Court Trap." Providence is 1-5 in the league but they are dangerous at home. Taking a ranked team like Creighton to beat them by double digits is risky because the Friars always seem to keep it within two possessions.
Second, pay attention to the "Injury/Availability Reports." This is the first year the Big East is doing formal availability reports. Check those an hour before tip-off. In a league this physical, one missing starter changes everything.
Lastly, keep an eye on the turnover margins. Teams like St. John's thrive on chaos. If you see a team's turnover numbers spiking early in a game, that score is going to get out of hand fast.
The road to Madison Square Garden in March is paved with these January grinds. Every bucket matters. Every stop matters. And honestly, that’s why we love this conference.
To stay ahead of the curve, make sure you're checking the official Big East availability reports on social media or their website about 60 minutes before the FS1 broadcasts tonight. If Creighton or Marquette are missing key interior defenders, the "over" on those scoring totals becomes a much more interesting conversation.