Big East Tournament 2015: Conference's Top Threats to Outlast Villanova

Still not sold on Villanova?

The Wildcats pummeled St. John's on Saturday, ending their season on a high note with a 12-game winning streak.

Before approaching March Madness, they lurk over the Big East tournament as colossal favorites. Here's a look at the bracket, courtesy of the conference's official Twitter page.

It's Villanova's crown to lose, but can anyone make this tournament interesting? Jay Wright's squad has lost twice this season, both in conference play, so it's not out of the realm of possibility.

Let's break down its top competitors for Big East glory.

Georgetown

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On Jan. 19, Georgetown handed Villanova its last loss during a 78-58 beat down. Wright discussed the letdown to The Associated Press, via ESPN.com. 

"We played a team that we couldn't overcome," Wright said. "We've done this before, got down, got a little sloppy offensively, and we've been able to overcome it. This team is too good, this atmosphere was too good, to overcome playing like that."

Villanova ranked No. 4 in KenPom.com's adjusted offensive efficiency before a flawless display against St. John's. Shooting 14-of-41 is highly uncharacteristic of the juggernaut. The Hoyas can't expect another dud, but they won't make life easy for the favorite.

Their 41.7 opposing field-goal percentage ranks first in the conference, and their 93.5 adjusted defense rating places No. 23 among all schools on KenPom.com. In order to strike lightning again, they must exploit their monstrous size advantage during a potential championship bout.

Although leading scorer D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera missed Saturday's game against Seton Hall due to a knee injury, coach John Thompson III told The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore that the guard should return for Thursday's game. 

If anyone is going to beat Villanova, it'll be the team that already has.

Butler

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The third-seeded Butler nearly knocked off Villanova as well, instead losing 68-65 in a heartbreaking Valentine's Day defeat. Even after staving off Providence to conclude the season, the Bulldogs dropped three of their last seven contests.

Along with Villanova, they lost to Georgetown and Xavier, their opening opponent for Thursday. Xavier is Villanova's third-biggest threat, but it must first circumvent Butler and likely Georgetown on consecutive days.

While the Bulldogs are no lock to pass the Musketeers, they stand a better chance at making a deep run. Their calling card is defense, ranking No. 10 in KenPom.com's adjusted defensive rating. For those who prefer simple stats, no Big East school yields fewer points per game than their 61.0 average.

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They lack in height, but their tough style lives up to their nickname. Forward Kameron Woods has become a force down low, grabbing 9.6 rebounds per game during his senior season. Sports-Reference.com credits Woods for 2.4 defensive win shares. 

He'd prove pivotal against Villanova's Daniel Ochefu, who collected 21 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in just 23 minutes against the Red Storm. After making eight of his nine shots, he bolstered his field-goal percentage to 65.3. 

During Villanova's and Butler's last meeting, the junior vanished with two points on two shot attempts. That forced Darrun Hilliard II to pick up the slack with a season-high 31 points. That formula fell just short for Butler last time, but a similar blueprint could procure another close game.