NEW YORK — The Big East has a lot to be thankful for.
Through Wednesday’s action, the Big East is now 39-3 on the season with wins over five ranked teams: Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, VCU and Oklahoma.
Late Wednesday, Georgetown beat No. 18 Florida, 66-65, to advance to the second round of the Battle 4 Atlantis, where they will face No. 2 Wisconsin on Thanksgiving.
Earlier Wednesday night, St. John’s got past Minnesota, 70-61, to advance to the title game of the NIT Season Tip-Off, where they will meet No. 10 Gonzaga on Friday.
That followed Butler’s stunning upset of No. 5 North Carolina, 74-66, in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Butler meets Oklahoma on Thursday.
And on Tuesday night, No. 12 Villanova took out No. 19 Michigan in the Legends Classic championship game one day after beating No. 14 VCU.
Last week, Creighton beat then-No. 18 Oklahoma.
Seton Hall hasn’t beaten any ranked teams, but on Monday they downed Illinois State to win the Paradise Jam crown behind a monster 40-point night from Sterling Gibbs.
“It doesn’t surprise me what these guys are doing,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said late Tuesday. “I think that this league is going to be much harder than last year. No one’s going to win this league at 16-2 like we did last year. You’ve just got really good programs, really good coaches. I’m really excited for the league.
“I never want to be in New York and say that I don’t miss the old Big East because I do, but in the same breath I”m really excited about this new league. It’s just pure basketball, man. Every night you play, every arena, it’s just rockin’, it means the world to everybody there.
“I’m really psyched for this league this year. I think it’s going to be a great league.”
