“One of the things that was easy for all of us to say last year that there was the Power Five and everyone else. The Big East got lumped in with everyone else. The new Big East has proven that it is really good, and I think that’s important to prove how good it is on its own merit.”

The Big East’s solid start this season is important in establishing a pecking order once conference play starts. Having four teams ranked in the RPI top 50 and eight in the top 80 adds value to wins once league play starts.

“Those RPIs aren’t going anywhere once you start league play,” McDermott said. “You can only enhance your résumé, and there aren’t a lot of opportunities to hurt your résumé.

“There are going to be a host of opportunities for good wins in league play because there are a lot of good teams.”

Creighton and DePaul are the only Big East teams outside the RPI’s top 80. The Bluejays were at 136th through Tuesday, while the Blue Demons sit at No. 189.

Still, the Bluejays are 8-3 and own a victory over an Oklahoma team that is 15th in the rankings and 30th in RPI. DePaul is 6-3, with its best win coming against a Stanford team with a No. 68 RPI.

It’s that kind of strength at the bottom that impresses Bilas.