Big East New Year's Eve game times, TV listings, betting odds

After nine and a half months off, we're back to Big East conference play, the best ten weeks basketball has to offer. As is their wont, the league has scheduled a marathon of games to run you from before noon to after the ball drops. Here's the brief rundown on each one to go along with our conference preview from yesterday. Each game is on FOX Sports 1; you can find the proper channel number here based on your location and provider.

It's a @BIGEASTMBB marathon tomorrow on FS1! #BENYE pic.twitter.com/T2e5SbUeJz

— FOX Sports 1 (@FOXSports1) December 30, 2014

The conference season tips off with what should be an excellent game. St. John's defense should squelch Seton Hall's offense, but the Pirates have the home court advantage and their defense should be more than a match for the parade of mid-range jumpers the Red Storm figure to chuck up. This game is indicative of the kind of quality that the Big East will be throwing up night after night. Both teams can bolster an NCAA resume with a win.

Villanova is the cream of the conference thus far, while Butler has to be considered the biggest surprise. The Wildcats are the prohibitive favorite here simply because they are next-level kind of good. An offensive efficiency of 114 and a defensive efficiency of 89 figure to overwhelm a Bulldogs squad led by Kellen Dunham's efficiency of 120.9 and Roosevelt Jones 11.2/5.6/4.3 line.

Neither of these teams has been lighting the world on fire, but DePaul in particular has been very bad. The Blue Demons can't defend at all and Marquette can score enough to take advantage of that. Sis-foot-six senior Juan Anderson is a hurricane on the boards and Matt Carlino is capable of going off for 30 for Marquette. DePaul's slender hopes lie with Illinois transfer Myke Henry and his 14.5/5.4/1.3 averages.

Both of these teams lost a lot from last year, but this is an interesting matchup. Creighton still loves to chuck the three and Providence's defense is susceptible from deep. Creighton can work inside-out through big man Will Artino, but Providence's Carson Desrosiers is an eraser in the middle who might gum up that plan. Guard Kris Dunn and  forward LaDontae Henton carry the mail for the Friars, while guards Austin Chatman and Isaiah Zierden get it done for Creighton.

All the coverage you need before, during, and after the game is right here.