Big East Tournament action begins on Wednesday afternoon. Madison Square Garden plays host again to the annual event, and things will tip off with a not-so-classic Big East matchup. The Xavier Musketeers (18-12, 8-11) will challenge the Butler Bulldogs (13-18, 6-14). Whoever wins this opening matchup will advance through to the Big East quarterfinals, where they’ll face the top-seeded Providence Friars.
Xavier swept the season series between them and the Bulldogs. They won 87-72 on January 7 in Indianapolis and then 68-66 on February 2 in Cincinnati. Since the two joined the Big East Conference, they’ve met three times in the conference’s tournament.