College Basketball: What to Watch for in Conference Tournaments

Big East

March 8th through March 11th, Madison Square Garden, New York City, FOX

Team to Watch: Butler Bulldogs

Even with the possibility of sending seven teams to the NCAA Tournament, the Big East has been dominated all year by two teams -- the defending National Champion Villanova Wildcats and the Butler Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs may not have the most powerful offense, but they know how to take care of the ball. They rank seventh in the nation in fewest turnovers while posting a top-25 mark in offensive efficiency. They have the look of an elite squad, knocking off Villanova twice, but are not without their flaws. In a pair of losses to Creighton, Butler allowed the Bluejays to shoot over 55% from the floor in both games, exposing their defense, particularly in the frontcourt.

If they can get past Xavier or DePaul in their opening game, Butler will have their hands full in the semifinals with likely either Creighton or Providence, whom the Bulldogs went a combined 1-3 against. Win those two games, and they will find themselves likely squaring up with the Wildcats for the third time. This time with a championship on the line.

Player to Watch: Trevon Bluiett, Xavier Musketeers

While the Musketeers are in a funk, losing six of their last seven, they have one player who is able to get hot and take over the tournament in junior Trevon Bluiett. The 6'6" swingman finished as the Big East's fourth-leading scorer with 18.0 points per game, less than 1.0 points behind leader Josh Hart of Villanova. Not afraid to fire up a three -- the junior averaged 6.8 three-point attempts per game -- Bluiett has had his fair share of big scoring games this season.

In 15 of his 29 games played, Bluiett scored at least 20 points. Against the Cincinnati Bearcats, Bluiett was at his peak, scoring 40 points on just 15 shots from the field. He went 9 for 11 from beyond the arc in that game, showcasing game-changing ability.

Potential Game to Watch: Butler vs. Villanova Final

The Wildcats have just three losses this season, two of them came to the Bulldogs. For Villanova, winning the Big East regular season and the tournament title could only be made sweeter by defeating the Bulldogs at the Garden. On the flip side, if Butler can beat 'Nova for a third time this season, they will cement their status as a top-three seed in the NCAA Tournament.