Three BIG EAST teams featured in Top 10 of Associated Press poll

Three - count 'em, three! - BIG EAST teams have landed in the Top 10 of this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Like the USA TODAY poll, the Xavier Musketeers are the No. 6 team in this week's poll, leaping up four spots from the No. 10 position. Joining X in the Top 10 are both Butler and Providence who were at the No. 17 and No. 14 positions a week ago. The 'Dawgs were impressive in defeating the Purdue Boilermakers in the 2015 Crossroads Classic and were rewarded by slotting in at No. 9, while a win over Rider to push the Friars to their best start since 1988 (11-1) gets them at the No. 10 spot.

The Villanova Wildcats tumbled down to the No. 17 spot as they were in the USA TODAY poll. The 'Cats were No. 12 in the nation before being handed a loss in Charlottesville to the Virginia Cavaliers. This snaps a lengthy streak in which 'Nova was in the Top 15.

Full poll is on its way. Suffice it to say, the BIG EAST is looking good on this Monday afternoon.