Big East Tournament 2018: Basketball Bracket and Championship Picks

One of the most historic events in men's basketball graces the hardwood at Madison Square Garden from Wednesday to Saturday.

Villanova and Xavier dominated their conference during the regular season, and both are expected to be front and center throughout the Big East tournament.

However, there's a chance the competition doesn't belong to the pair of projected No. 1 seeds for the NCAA men's basketball tournament, as the Big East possesses a few teams capable of upsetting Villanova or Xavier to advance to the final.

Bracket

Championship Picks

Villanova

Jay Wright's Villanova Wildcats have won the Big East tournament twice in the last three years, and there's a good chance they will play for their third in four years in Saturday's final.

As they have been for years, the Wildcats are driven by a tremendous group of guards, led this season by Jalen Brunson.

In addition to the National Player of the Year candidate, Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo and Phil Booth wreak havoc on opposing defenses each time they step out on the floor.

The top four scorers on the Villanova roster shoot 39 percent or better from three-point range and 46 percent or better from the field.

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

The Wildcats aren't afraid to be unselfish either, as each of the guards average multiple assists per game, with Brunson leading the team at 4.8.

The four backcourt stars are comfortable throwing their bodies around in the paint in the hunt for a rebound as well, which makes the Wildcats one of the most well-rounded teams in the nation.

The biggest question surrounding Villanova is the play of Omari Spellman and Eric Paschall in the paint.

Spellman, a freshman who averages 10.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, reached double digits in points in nine of his last 10 regular-season games, while Paschall recorded 10 points or more in four of the last five contests.

As long as the frontcourt duo is effective in the paint, the Wildcats should be in good shape to claim another Big East tournament crown. But if Spellman and Paschall are shut down as they were against Seton Hall February 28, when they combined for 11 points, the Wildcats could be in trouble.

Xavier

It's hard to argue Xavier has something to prove in New York City this week, but that's the feeling you get about the Big East regular-season champion.

The Musketeers impressed with a 15-3 Big East record, but two of those defeats came at the hands of Villanova, and both games featured double-digit margins of victory.

The only Big East loss to a team not named Villanova came January 6 against Providence, a game the Musketeers lost by nine points on the road.

Trevon Bluiett and J.P. Macura are the driving forces of the team, as the pair of experienced players average a combined 31.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.

Aaron Doster/Associated Press

Xavier gained a complementary piece this season in forward Kerem Kanter, who produced 10.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest after transferring from Green Bay.

The Musketeers have an easier path to the Big East tournament final than Villanova, as they avoided Seton Hall and face either Providence or Creighton in the semifinals.

Head coach Chris Mack, who is one of the best in his profession in March, is going to be the X-factor for the Musketeers as they attempt to reach their first Big East tournament final since 2015.

Mack guided the Musketeers to the Elite Eight a year ago, and he has four appearances in the second weekend of the NCAA tournament since taking charge in 2009.

Seton Hall

If you're looking for a team outside of Xavier and Villanova to fall in love with, you can't go wrong with Seton Hall.

Kevin Willard's Pirates won the Big East tournament for the third time in 2016 by beating Villanova 69-67, and there's a good chance they will push the Wildcats in the semifinals.

The senior class that transformed the Pirates into one of the most competitive programs in the Big East enters the postseason as a hungry bunch looking to make as deep a run as possible.

Angel Delgado is as good as they come in the paint, and he could pose a problem for Villanova's duo of Spellman and Paschall just like he did in the penultimate regular-season game.

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Although the senior class led by Delgado, Desi Rodriguez, Khadeen Carrington and Ismael Sanogo is important to the success of the Pirates, sophomore guard Myles Powell is the X-factor in March.

Powell was one of the most improved players in the Big East during the regular season, as he averaged 15.6 points per game, a total up 4.9 points from his freshman season.

With Delgado bruising down low, shooters like Powell and Rodriguez in the backcourt and plenty of postseason experience on their side, the Pirates could be poised for a run to the final that includes a victory over Villanova.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from ESPN.com