On the eve of the Big East Tournament, questions still abound. The favorite remains Villanova, who - with an impressive 16-2 record in conference - appears to be peaking at the right time following a pair of dominating performances against the likes of Providence and St. John's. In this feature, I outline some of the keys to victory for each of the participating teams. 

10) Creighton: The biggest issue surrounding this team all year has been their ability to put teams away late. Twelve of the team's 18 losses have come by 10 points or fewer, and nine have been by five points or fewer. With that said, Austin Chatman is a tough lead guard who can be dynamic when attacking the paint and distributing to his teammates. He will need some help attacking the rim, and guard Devin Brooks has come on strong in spurts this season. They also need some perimeter shooting contributions from Kreklow and Milliken. Finally, and arguably the most important point to underscore here, Creighton will need Will Artino to protect the rim against some of the conference's most dynamic interior weapons.

9) Marquette: After arguably the most gruesome-looking fall all season, the Golden Eagles have their sweet shooting leader Matt Carlino back to make a run. They will first face Seton Hall, but will have a tough road if they are able to win. They will need to contain Sterling Gibbs from beyond the arc, as well as Nova's dynamic weapons if they are able to escape unscathed in the first round. Jajuan Johnson and Derrick Wilson's ability to attack the rim and distribute will be pivotal for this team's chances. Importantly, the post play of Luke Fischer will really determine how far they can go.

8) Seton Hall: After an up and down season that saw some highs (beating Villanova on the road in overtime) and more recent lows (the suspension of Sterling Gibbs and transfer of Jaren Sina to name a few), the Pirates look to make one last run at the big dance. While this team was projected as an early favorite to make it, their play has deteriorated since highly touted freshman Isaiah Whitehead returned to the lineup. The Pirates will need him to play under control and to put the ball in the hands of Gibbs, in order to stand a chance.

7) DePaul: This team had been one of the more surprising squads in the Big East with six early conference victories. Since that time, this team has dropped seven straight. The poise and play of Billy Garrett Jr. are critical for this team and his lack of consistency down the stretch has really hurt the Blue Demons. If he is able to play with renewed effort and Tommy Hamilton can establish himself both inside and out, DePaul can make a run. That said, they are not trending in the right direction coming in.

6) Xavier: One of the more enigmatic teams here has been able to put together some impressive victories, but has also lost a bunch of contests that make you scratch your head. Myles Davis is a dynamic weapon from the outside - in the mold of many former Musketeer greats. This team will likely be dancing, but can ill-afford to drop one to Butler if they hope to obtain a favorable seed. The play inside of Trevon Bluiett, Matt Stainbrook, and Jalen Reynolds has been great this year. They will need to contain Butler on the glass and stop dribble penetration from Roosevelt Jones. 

5) St. John's: Following one of the most dominating defeats in recent St. John's memory, in which Villanova outscored them 55-22 in the second half and scored 105 points overall, the home team will look to rebound at the best time possible. Depth has been a concern, and the Johnnies are really only six players deep, which can spell trouble in tournaments like this. Sir'Dominic Pointer has been a revelation this year with his play on both ends of the floor. They will need everything he has and then some to make a serious run. Ultra dynamic scoring guard D'Angelo Harrison will also have to be at the top of his game.

4) Providence: St. John's will face one of the more dynamic duos in the NCAA this season in LaDontae Henton and Kris Dunn. Dunn's ability to play under control and not force it on the offensive end will determine how far the Friars can get in this tournament. While Henton is clearly the team's go to option in terms of scoring, Dunn's ability to make game altering plays defensively and unselfishness offensively make him the real X factor here.

3) Butler: Despite a tough matchup from a personnel standpoint against Xavier in the first round, the gritty Bulldogs represent everything that the Big East has historically embodied from a toughness standpoint. Kellen Dunham is a dynamic weapon who can score in a variety of ways. His ability shoot the ball, coupled with Roosevelt Jones' slashing instincts, could help this team make a run. With that said, I believe they will have a hard time escaping in the first round due to the dynamic play of Xavier's big men.

2) Georgetown: The Hoyas are a very tough matchup due to their combination of size and athleticism. While intriguing freshmen Isaac Copeland and LJ Peak have had up and down seasons, their ability to play tough defense down the stretch will be critical for this team. The Hoyas' offensive leader D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera can get hot in a hurry and 300-lb big man Joshua Smith is a load on the interior. They are complemented by solid senior contributions from Jabril Trawick, Mikael Hopkins, and Aaron Bowen. Georgetown is a matchup nightmare for every team in this tournament, but their aggressiveness and ability to get to the line are going to be pivotal if they hope to secure the automatic bid.

1) Villanova: What can be said that hasn't already been said about  the Villanova Wildcats this season. While they have had stretches against Creighton and Georgetown where they have not looked like the same team, this squad has a pervasive toughness that is contagious on the floor. They are led by second team all american Darrun Hilliard, who is a defensive stalwart and accurate three point weapon. Fellow senior JayVaughn Pinkston is one of the tougher defensive assignments on the interior. Josh Hart and Dylan Ennis are also two of the best wing defenders in the country. Ryan Arcidiacono is a leader who brings hustle on both ends and hits big shots. They are complemented by rim protector Daniel Ochefu, who has improved considerably over the years. The Wildcats are currently the odds-on favorite and strong candidates to receive a number one seed on selection Sunday.