The days of the old Big East are no more, although UConn will be back soon, but the conference is still very good. There is competition 1-10 on basically every night, and this year, the entire conference is a jumbled mess. There are multiple teams capable of challenging for the conference title and there will also be plenty of competition further down the standings for tournament bids. The bottom isn't even that weak, and it should lead to plenty of great basketball. Make sure to let me know when you think will happen in the conference this season on Twitter @ThreePointRange, and if you see any mistakes, please be sure to correct them. I am not perfect and there have been some mistakes in the my last few previews, so don't hesitate to let me know where I messed up. Anyways, enjoy this look at the Big East for the upcoming season.
The Contenders
1. Seton Hall
Starting 5: Quincy McKnight, Myles Powell, Myles Cale, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Ike Obiagu
Why They'll Be Good: Seton Hall battled inconsistency for most of last season, as illustrated by how they ended the year. After losing to Butler on February 2, they rattled off three straight wins, which were immediately followed by three losses, and then they won their final two regular season games before making a run to the Big East Tournament finals, where they lost to Villanova, and then crashed out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. I realize I have this team pretty high, especially when you see where they are in the Top 25, and banking on teams with a lot of returning talent getting better can be dangerous. However, I think the Pirates will be the exception to that rule. Their team will revolve around superstar guard Myles Powell. The senior is one of the best scorers in the country, and there are reports abound that he could end up handling the ball more this season. He's a threat to pull up from anywhere on the court and, for all the talk about his shooting prowess, is also quite good at getting to the rim. Joining him the backcourt are Quincy McKnight, a stout perimeter defender who is a good low usage option next to Powell, and Myles Cale, who had a bit of a breakout last year and will look to continue that as a junior. He's a good athlete who can shoot from deep, which makes him a nice compliment to Powell on the wing as the second scoring option. Up front, the Pirates will trot out some giants. Sandro Mamukelashvili, known from here on as Sandro, is 6'10" and will be the power forward for this team. He's got alright touch from three and is a good post scorer, and he'll crash the glass as well. He'll be next to Florida State transfer Ike Obiagu. Don't expect him to do much offensively other than dunk, but on the other end, watch out. In his lone year with the Seminoles, he averaged 2.1 blocks in 10.7 minutes. He and returning senior Romario Gill are both great post defenders and should consistently erase shots at the rim. Off the bench, look for Jared Rhoden and Anthony Nelson to continue their strong second half to the season as sophomores, and for freshman big Tyrese Samuel to potentially find minutes as well. He's drawn rave reviews for his rebounding ability, and could carve out some minutes as well.
Why They Won't: As I mentioned, there is a chance this team plateaus. Players like Cale, Sandro, Rhoden, and Nelson all need to get better for the Pirates to be better than they were last season, and that's a big ask. Could it happen? Of course. But with very few impact newcomers and essentially the same roster as last season, it's fair to ask how much better this team will really be. There is also the question of the second banana to Powell. Expect him to see his share of face up defense and double teams, so Seton Hall will have to find a way to score when he is taken out of the game. Cale is the most likely candidate to step up, but perhaps McKnight can find his Sacred Heart form, he averaged 18.9 points per game ads a sophomore, or Sandro develops into a versatile offensive piece. Still, they will need to do someone else to step up and lessen the load Powell has to carry.
X-Factor: Of the two Myles on the Seton Hall roster, Myles Cale gets significantly less publicity. However, he may be the most important player outside of Myles Powell on this roster. The junior from Delaware took good steps forward as a sophomore, improving his stroke from three and becoming more assertive with the ball in his hands. He also gives good effort defensively, making him a really nice piece for the Pirates. However, for them to hit their ceiling, he needs to take another step this year. He averaged 10.2 points a game last year, and if he can get that up in the 13-15 range, it would be huge for the Pirates. It would give them another guy that the defense has to be worried about, at least a little bit, and could help easer the pressure on Powell. He could also step up when Powell is off the court or being double teamed and be a great Robin to Powell's Batman. If he plateaus this season. the Pirates will still be good, but they will be more like they were last year, rather than potential league winners.
Final Verdict: Maybe it's because I'm a Jersey guy, maybe it's because I love Myles Powell, but I'm drinking the Seton Hall Kool-Aid. I'm quite high on the Pirates, and I think they will be the best team in the conference this year. Powell is an All-American, and he should lead this team to new heights. Along with steps forward from role players like Cale and McKnight, and Obiagu making an immediate impact, they are formidable on both sides of the ball and end up finishing atop the Big East.
2. Villanova
Starting 5: Collin Gillespie, Justin Moore, Saddiq Bey, Jermaine Samuels, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Why They'll Be Good: No matter the talent, the Wildcats would rank highly simply because of the man on the sidelines. Jay Wright is one of the best, if not the best, coaches in America, and his offense is consistently great. Luckily for GQ Jay, this team has plenty of talent. Not only to they have some talented returning players, but they also have the fifth ranked recruiting class filled with players ready to make an immediate impact. Returning to lead the team is a variety of players. Guard Collin Gillespie assumed point guard duties last year, and while he isn't a dynamic creator, the junior will take good care of the ball and is a good shooter. On the wing, Saddiq Bey and Jermaine Samuels look poised for breakout seasons. Both are long, versatile wings, with Bey being more of a shooter and Samuels better around the basket, and both are good defensively and work well in the switching scheme Nova runs. Up front, Dhamir Crosby-Roundtree returns, and he is another stout defender. However, the freshman are the reason for the increased optimism around the program. The class is five deep, and while Ryan Arcidiacono is Villanova royalty, I wouldn't expect too much from him this year. The rest of the class looks poised to contribute immediately however. Five star guard Bryan Antoine could be a star in year one, as the New Jersey native is a capable scorer from anywhere on the floor. Joining him in the backcourt is Justin Moore, who is more of a hard nosed, gritty type player. He is still a capable scorer, but he possesses less of the explosiveness of Antoine. Up front, five star big Jeremiah Robinson-Earl out of IMG Academy will be a handful immediately. He's a very fluid athlete for his size, and in addition to being able to score in the post, can play on the perimeter thanks to pretty good ball handling skills, passing ability, and shooting touch. His athleticism should allow him to be a factor both switching and shot blocking. Eric Dixon is the final member of the class, and he's much more of an interior bruiser who gets his points in the paint. All four freshman will contribute immediately, and they should fit right into the Villanova system.
Why They Won't: There are still concerns with these team though. First off, losing Phil Booth and Eric Paschall is going to be a major blow. They led the team in scoring last year, and provided the veteran leadership and experience for a young Wildcats team. This year, not only will they be without their scoring, but the veteran qualities. Additionally, both of them were great shot creators, and Villanova will now need to fill that void. Antoine was expected to be that guy, but he had shoulder surgery in May and the latest reports don't have him returning to practice until the end of November. He may not be back on the court until conference play, and the Wildcats will have to figure out how to score before then. Perhaps Bey or Samuels emerges as a go-to scorer on the wing, or Robinson-Earl is ready to be the guy from the jump. Still, they will need that dynamic shot creator, or else they could struggle to get the open looks that Villanova is used to getting.
X-Factor: As mentioned, there may not be a more important player to Villanova than Bryan Antoine. The five star guard was expected to step into Phil Booth's shoes as the leading scorer on the perimeter, but had to get surgery to repair a torn labrum. The timeline fluctuates depending on where you look, but from what I can tell, the most recent update is that they are targeting a late November return to practice. It remains to be seen how quickly he'll be back up to game speed and he may not even be fully healthy at any point this year. He is all but guaranteed to miss a game against Ohio State as well as the Myrtle Beach Invitational, and a game against Kansas in late December could be his first test in college. If he can be back to his normal self by conference play, it'd be massive for the Wildcats. It'd give them a dynamic shot creator and high level scorer to be the focal point of their offense. It'd open things up for the rest of the roster to do their thing, and keep the Villanova offense strong. If not, there could be some problems. He could get brought back too early and have struggles when he's on the court, or there could be chemistry issues when he gets put back into an already established rotation. Things could go south very quickly, and Jay Wright will have to be careful with how he handles this situation.
Final Verdict: Even with the question marks surrounding this roster, they will be tough to beat. Their offense is going to be good, even without a high level scorer like Booth, as the ball movement and spacing is second to none. I expect all of the freshmen to contribute immediately, and I think Saddiq Bey emerges as a really, really good player this year. I'm also super excited to watch Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, and if Antoine comes back fully healthy, watch out. This team will once again compete for the Big East title.
3. Xavier
Starting 5: Quentin Goodin, Paul Scruggs, Naji Marshall, Jason Carter, Tyrique Jones
Why They'll Be Good: The Musketeers started slowly, but came on like a freight train down the stretch, including rattling off six straight wins during conference play. They will look to keep that momentum up this season, and they have a strong returning core to do so. Seniors Quentin Goodin and Tyrique Jones and juniors Paul Scruggs and Naji Marshall are all back after combined to score just under 50 points a game last season. Goodin and Scruggs compliment each other well in the backcourt, with Goodin being more of a facilitator and Scruggs searching for his own shot more often. Of the two, Scruggs is the better shooter, and both are good on the defensive end. Up front, Jones is a bruising center that is a high efficiency option in the low post. But the star of this team will likely be Naji Marshall. It's no coincidence that as Xavier got hot, so did Marshall. The versatile forward is a weapon defensively, and he'll lead the team offensively as well. He is good at using his strength and size on the wing to get to the bucket, and found his stroke from three during that six game win streak. If he can become a more consistent long range shooter, watch out. Travis Steele went out and supplemented that core with some nice rotation pieces. He hit the grad transfer market and got Ohio forward Jason Carter and Western Michigan guard Bryce Moore. Both should contribute as shooters from distance, and they were both well regarded defenders in the MAC. He also brings in the second best recruiting class in the Big East, headlined by four star guards KyKy Tandy and Dahmir Bishop. Both of them should be contributors off of the bench in scoring roles. Add in front court players Zach Freemantle and Daniel Ramsey, and this will be a deep and talented team. They have plus defenders across the starting lineup, as all of them have good positional size, length, and strength. I'd expect them to be one of the best defensive teams in the Big East this season.
Why They Won't: Similar to Seton Hall, the core of this roster is the same as last year, when they made an NIT appearance. They should be deeper and they have more new pieces than the Pirates, but it's hard to project a ton of improvement from the the main core. Additionally, they will be relying on two MAC transfer and a load of freshman for minutes. Obviously, the Big East is a tough league and it remains to be seen how they adapt. Travis Steele has shown himself to be a good evaluator of talent, turning San Jose State transfer Ryan Welage and D-II transfer Zach Hankins into productive players last year, but that is still a lot of unproven pieces at the highest level. There could be a bit of a learning curve for them. Additionally, outside of Scruggs, this team isn't a good shooting team. None of the other returners shot over 30% on the year from behind the arc last year, and they will need to be able to stretch the floor more this year. There is hope that Marshall has figured out how to shoot, and Carter, Moore, and Tandy are all good shooters, so there is hope they can improve, but I'll need to see it first.
X-Factor: Speaking of shooting, Jason Carter is going to be a huge piece for the Musketeers this year. Originally more of a traditional four man, he expanded his range out to three last year, and the results were mixed. He shot 34.3% on the year, but he was around 40% in MACtion. He'll need to be a floor spacer this year as this team struggles to shoot the ball. Ryan Welage fills that role last year, as the San Jose State transfer was a stretch four who shot 42% from deep. They will need Carter to produce around the same level and just provide the threat of shooting from the perimeter to make this team more complete.
Final Verdict: I think a lot of people have sort of overreacted to the end of the season for Xavier. They have real shooting concerns and I don't know if anyone other than Marshall can take a jump this year. I do trust that Travis Steele is a good coach and I do think that this team is much more similar to the one we saw at the end of the year than the beginning, but there are still concerns that I haven't seen mentioned that often. I still think they compete for the Big East title, but I think they are closer to Providence than Seton Hall and Villanova.
The Tournament Teams
4. Providence
Starting 5: Luwane Pipkins, David Duke, AJ Reeves, Alpha Diallo, Nate Watson
Why They'll Be Good: For as long as I can remember, Providence was a fixture on the 7-11 lines in the NCAA Tournament. It seemed like the Friars were destined to be there forever, until they missed the tournament last year. There's a lot of hope for a big turnaround this year for Ed Cooley's bunch, however. They have a good mix of youth and experience that should blend together nicely. Starting off, the front court duo of Alpha Diallo and Nate Watson is quite effective. Both are very good at converting the close range looks Ed Cooley's offense produces, and Diallo will likely lead the team in scoring as he can play both inside and out, plus he's a good defender. Mix in senior Kalif Young off of the bench, and the Friars have quite the front court rotation. Joining those two veterans are sophomores David Duke and AJ Reeves. Duke showed off some ball handling ability last year, as he was forced into point guard duties, and he should be better with a little more reign to score. Reeves is a guy I love, as the long, athletic wing is also a sniper from deep, and he will certainly find his share of buckets. He dealt with some injury issues last season, but he could have a real breakout as a sophomore. Fellow sophomore Jimmy Nichols will also find minutes on wing, as will Emmitt Holt, who is in his sixth year of eligibility, but may not be healthy or effective at this point in his career. Finally, they welcome UMass grad transfer Luwane Pipkins and four star wing Greg Gantt to Rhode Island. Pipkins was a star last year, and even in a year where he wasn't engaged, he put up 16 points and over 5 assists. He's a quick guard who can shoot from deep, and he should offer a new element to this offense. Meanwhile, Gantt is a big bodied wing that fits in well on both sides of the ball. Providence has consistently had good defense, and that should continue next year, as they defend the three point line as well as any team in the conference, and have a bunch of good defenders.
Why They Won't: The Friars struggled from three last year, and of the returning players, only Reeves can be considered an above average shooter. Diallo can certainly get the job done from behind the arc, but he's not exactly a sharpshooter. Ideally, the addition of Pipkins and a full, healthy season from Reeves remedies this issue, but there are still concerns. The Friars are also known for their flex offense, and they typically play a slow, methodical pace offensively. I think they would be better off utilizing Pipkins full skill set, namely his blazing speed, and run more it transition. It also suits the good athletes they have on the wing, and if they utilize early offense a little more, their offense could easily improve. Cooley is pretty stuck in his ways though, so I doubt they are running more. Pipkins played unhappy at UMass last year, and it really showed, and reigning him in could be detrimental for the team as a whole. Managing the pace of play will be an interesting battle for Cooley.
X-Factor: I've talked about Luwane Pipkins quite a lot so far, and with good reason. The guard has displayed prodigious talent and could definitely be a huge piece in Providence. Two season ago, he averaged 21 points on 42.6% shooting from three, and he looked poised to dominate the A-10. However, he was very clearly unhappy playing on a bad team, and it affected his play. His scoring average dropped 5 points, and he only shot 28% from three. He did increase his assists, but he will need to recapture his 2017-18 form. Point guard was basically a black hole for Providence last year, with Makai Ashton-Langford really, really struggling, so basically anything they get from Pipkins will be better, but if they want to really compete, they need him to be the star he once was.
Final Verdict: Ultimately, this will be a rock solid team. They'll grind defensively, run the flex and get a bunch of looks in the paint, and win enough games to be in the tournament. They'll probably be right back around that 7 line this year, as they should compete in every Big East game. Ultimately, what version of Pipkins they end up with will determine their ceiling. They could use his dynamic shot creation abilities, as it would open up the offense for everyone else and give them an option late in the shot clock. I don't think he'll be as good as he was two years ago, but he should be good enough to lead them back to the tournament.
5. Creighton
Starting 5: Marcus Zegarowski, Davion Mintz, Tyshon Alexander, Mitch Ballock, Jacob Epperson
Why They'll Be Good: If you read my Big 12 preview (if not, check it out here), you'll know I love Oklahoma State this year. Well, Creighton is sort of the Big East version of the Cowboys. There's always going to be points on the board when the Blue Jays play, and that will not change this year. This is a high powered offense, led by their perimeter stars. Juniors Ty-Shon Alexander and Mitch Ballock should take on the majority of the scoring duties, and both of them can fill it up in a hurry. Both players can shoot it well from behind the arc, and they have fairly good size that allows them to be effective around the rim as well. Alexander is much more comfortable with the ball in his hands, as he is a good pull up shooter, while Ballock is deadly as a catch and shoot player. Joining them in the starting lineup will be Davion Mintz and Marcus Zegarowski. Mintz was the starting point guard at the beginning of last year, but Zegarowski's rapid ascension as the year went on made Mintz shift off ball. Both are very willing to share the ball, and Zegarowski especially has great vision. He's a very talented playmaker because of his dribbling ability and speed, which allows him to drive and dish very efficiently. Damien Jefferson is also back, and Southeastern Missouri transfer Denzel Mahoney joins the fold as well. Jefferson is one of the few players on the roster who is more effective defensively than offensively, while Jefferson was a high scorer and prolific shooter at his last stop, so he'll fit right in. Up front, Jacob Epperson could be in for a breakout year. He was unexpectedly thrown into the rotation two years ago after injuries hit the front court, and performed admirably. He was behind Martin Krampelj last year, but the keys to the center position are his, and he should be able to hold it down effectively. Idaho State transfer Kelvin Jones and sophomore Christian Bishop should also see minutes, but look out for Epperson having a big year.
Why They Won't: Well, if you know anything about Creighton basketball, you'll know that they prioritize the offensive fireworks over defense, and they can be a sieve on that end. They do have size, and guys like Mintz and Jefferson are solid defenders, but on the whole, this team gives up as much as they score. It makes for wildly entertaining basketball games, which is one of the reasons I like them so much but it isn't particularly conductive to winning. Also, they really lack size on the interior. Mitch Ballock essentially plays the four, but he's 6'5" and more of a wing. Teams who utilize two bigs, or even bigger wings, should be able to own the boards against the Blue Jays. Even Epperson is fairly skinny and can get pushed around by some of the stronger bigs in the league.
X-Factor: As I mentioned, the Blue Jays are weak on the interior, which is what makes Jacob Epperson so vital. He burst onto the scene two years ago, as he had to burn his redshirt when Martin Krampelj went down with an ACL injury. He had a stretch of scoring double digit games in the middle of conference play, to be fair one game was against Bemidji State, but was relegated to backup duties last year with a healthy Krampelj. He doesn't offer the same jump shooting or shot blocking ability as Krampelj, but he's got touch around the rim and there's hope he can be effective as a post scorer with four shooters surrounding him. Still, he's skinny and he will have to handle a lot of the rebounding duties whenever he's on the floor. If he isn't up to the task, then Creighton will have to either turn to Kelvin Jones, who was playing in the Big Sky last year and didn't average double digit points or rebounds, or Chritsian Bishop, who is undersized himself and could struggle with the same types of players as Epperson. Epperson taking a step forward this year would be big for Creighton as it'd give them consistent front court play and a solid interior presence.
Final Verdict: I love this team. Ty-Shon Alexander, Mitch Ballock, and Marcus Zegarowski are also personal favorites of mine, and the offense just puts up points at an absurd rate. Sure, defense may be optional at times, and they aren't going to dominate the boards, but they shoot and make a lot of threes, and I think that will be enough for them to earn a spot in the tournament despite their deficiencies.
6. Georgetown
Starting 5: James Akinjo, Mac McClung, Josh LeBlanc, JaMorko Pickett, Omer Yurtseven
Why They'll Be Good: With Patrick Ewing at the helm, the Hoyas were running and gunning last season. Led by freshmen guards James Akinjo and Mac McClung, they played at a frenetic pace, and it worked. They finished about .500 for the first time since 2015, and will look to repeat that success this year. Each of the guards should take a leap in efficiency, particularly in shot selection. Despite being the better shooter from deep, Akinjo seemed to prefer the mid-range, while McClung was launching up threes while making just 27.7% of his attempts. The extra year of experience and development should quell those worries and make the backcourt even more potent. On the wing, fellow sophomore Josh LeBlanc is a defensive whiz, and an excellent finisher around the rim. JaMorko Pickett is a 3 and D player, and the lower usage nature of these two guys lets Akinjo and McClung thrive. They also have veteran guards Jagan Mosley and UCF transfer Terrell Allen in the backcourt rotation, each of whom are smart players who also aren't high usage guys. Up front, the big man rotation should be interesting. Jessie Govan is gone, and he'll be replaced by Omer Yurtseven. The Turkish big man is a transfer from NC State, and he offers a lot. He's a great scorer, rebounder, and deceptively quick for his size, which makes him good defensively. He can also step out onto the perimeter a little bit, so he might be utilized a little more as a three point shooter. Ewing also welcomes three freshmen bigs in Qudus Wahab, Malcolm Wilson, and Timothy Igohoefe, and the hope is one of them can be the backup to Yurtseven this year. Wahab was the highest ranked recruit, but expect Ewing to give these guys a few pointers. I've heard he knows a little something about playing center at Georgetown.
Why They Won't: Defense will be an issue for the Hoyas. While guys like LeBlanc, Pickett, and Yurtseven are pretty good defensively, the backcourt struggles on that end. Akinjo is could at getting steals, but other than that, the two relatively undersized guards struggle to contain their men. They can get bullied a little bit, and they also need to improve their off ball positioning. I also just don't know how big of a jump they will take this year. They weren't all that great last year, as they racked up a lot of wins against below average competition, and they will need to prove they can win consistently in the Big East. They'll also struggle to shoot, as Akinjo, Pickett, and possibly Yurtseven are the only guys that can really make threes consistently on the team, so they will need to improve from behind the arc if they want to fully unlock their offensive potential.
X-Factor: If there's one guy I'm really excited to watch on this team, it's Omer Yurtseven. He was good at North Carolina State, but just didn't quite fit Kevin Keatts' system, so he elected to transfer. He should fill in seamlessly, or at least Patrick Ewing hopes he will, for Jessie Govan. Both were good scorers both inside and out, could block shots and rebound, and were quick enough to play on the perimeter a little bit. He'll need to replicate the lost production of Govan if the Hoyas want to make the tournament. If not, they'll be forced to rely on a freshman, and given the quality of bigs in the league, that may not go well. Look for Yurtseven to be one of the better centers in the league.
Final Verdict: I'm buying into Georgetown this year. They have a nice, young backcourt, a really good center, and some nice role players as well. I think Akinjo and McClung figure it out this year and improve their efficiency, making them a fun duo, and Yurtseven steps in and contributes immediately. I'm going to predict a tournament appearance for the Hoyas this season.
The Bubble Teams
7. Marquette
Starting 5: Markus Howard, Koby McEwen, Sacar Anim, Ed Morrow, Theo John
Why They'll Be Good: Have you heard of Markus Howard? If you haven't, go get acquainted. He's one of the best scorers college basketball has seen in recent memory, and he'll be the leader for the Golden Eagles on the offensive end this year. He's best known for his ability to shoot from deep, and he can get hot in the blink of an eye. He's also a good ball handler who can split double teams, which he frequently sees, and is a good finisher at the rim as well. With him, it's typically a matter of when not if he'll get hot. Joining him in the backcourt is Utah State transfer Koby McEwen. He's another high scoring guard, averaging 15 points a game in the Mountain West, and him and Howard will be a high scoring duo. Sacar Anim also took a big step forward last year, especially offensively, and he'll be a nice wing piece. He's a low usage guy who can make shots, and plays some really good defense. The same can be said for Symir Torrence, a freshman who is willing to be a pass first guy and a good defender who once again fits well next to Howard. They also have a very good front court, with Theo John, Brendan Bailey, Ed Morrow, and Jayce Johnson all finding a role there. They are different players, with John being a prolific shot blocker, Bailey playing more on the wing, Johnson pulling in boards, and Morrow doing a little bit of everything. They are why the Golden Eagles were better defensively last year, and they should be once again. Howard and McEwen are the only not very good defenders on the team, and they could have lineups with four really good defenders on the court surrounding one of the best scorers in America.
Why They Won't: I'm really worried about the loss of the Hauser brothers, Sam and Joey. They were key pieces for Marquette last year, and both elected to transfer this offseason. They can knockdown shooting around Howard, and took some of the defensive pressure off of him. You couldn't game plan exclusively for him, because then the Hauser's would beat you. They aren't on the roster now, and I think it creates a few problems. First, I think Howard becomes more inefficient. Defenses will be keyed in on him and him alone, and they will make the McEwen's and Anim's of the world beat them. Secondly, there is significantly less shooting. Going from two guys who were deadeyes to McEwen, who shot 33% from three before transferring, and a big guy will really hurt spacing, and once again, make Howard less effective. They had post ability as well given their size, and they would use that to score on the interior as well. I don't know if Marquette has a guy who can get buckets when Howard is being double teamed. None of the bigs have a wide variety of post moves, Anim is a low usage guy, and Torrence is a freshman.
X-Factor: The one guy who could potentially be the second banana for Marquette is Koby McEwen. He certainly knows how to score, which he did at Utah State, but he was the guy there. They were running most of their offense through him, and gave him free reign. Those teams also weren't particularly good, meaning most of his stats were empty as he was allowed to just throw up shots with reckless abandon. McEwen also faces the challenges of playing against better players, as the Big East is a step up from the Mountain West, and it remains to be seen if his game will be as effective. He'll certainly need to shoot better, and I have real concerns that he won't be the answer next to Howard and that lineups with Symir Torrence are more effective.
Final Verdict: The loss of the Hauser brothers was really tough for this team. With them, they were likely a Top 25 squad. Without them, they now face potentially only having one guy who can get a bucket. The question here is can Markus Howard carry a team to the NCAA Tournament by himself? It's entirely possible that he can, but I don't think the supporting cast is good enough offensively to support him, and the ultimately end up on the wrong side of the bubble.
8. Butler
Starting 5: Aaron Thompson, Kamar Baldwin, Sean McDermott, Jordan Tucker, Derrik Smits
Why They'll Be Good: The Bulldogs returns a strong core of players from last year's team. The projected breakout of Kamar Baldwin the lead role didn't fully materialize, but there is hope he can become a 20 PPG scorer this season. He is a player who can score in a variety of ways, as he has a good pull up game, draws fouls, and gets to the rim, but he isn't particularly great at one thing. While this may seem like a good thing, his lack of a go-to move often leaves him a little indecisive. Developing one of those skills to make it elite would make a world of difference for him. Joining him in the backcourt is Aaron Thompson, a defensive minded guard who offers more as a passer and defender than a scorer, which in theory should fit well next to Baldwin. Sean McDermott returns as a designated shooter, and he should space the floor along with Jordan Tucker. The Duke transfer wasn't eligible until the semester break last year, and never truly found his groove. Butler fans are hoping that with his being able to play a whole year, he will be more consistent and bring the blend of shooting and athleticism that makes him scary to guard. Christian David is a name that has generated some buzz, and the junior wing is a defensive stopper who Lavall Jordan will be hoping can contribute more on the offensive end this year. They also add two transfers and an impact freshman. Starting with the youngest man, Khalif Battle, brother of former Syracuse star Tyus, is an explosive athlete who should contribute as a scorer immediately in the backcourt rotation. Also coming in to bolster the front line are transfers Bryce Nze and Derrik Smits. Nze is a bit undersized for a big man, but he's very strong and a tenacious rebounder and defender. Smits is coming from Valpariso, and the 7'2" center is a fairly skilled post player. He also will improve the interior defense, as will Nze. The defense as a whole should be a plus, especially if Battle can translate his athleticism into defensive prowess.
Why They Won't: Unfortunately, every player on the team has their warts. Baldwin was a low efficiency option, and he needs to improve that this year, especially from three. Thompson offers little to no scoring ability, especially with the jump shot. McDermott is a pretty bad defender and below average athlete, while Tucker has multiple games where he just disappears. David is also a zero offensively, and Nze isn't exactly going to fill it up. Both of them need to improve their jump shots this year to make a consistent impact. Battle may lack the strength to be an impact defender, and he could be easily bothered when attacking the rim, and Smits has very low mobility and is limited in what he can do. Lavall Jordan will have to blend these players together to create a cohesive unit where they compliment each other, and if you couldn't tell, shooting could be an issue. Baldwin needs to be a consistent threat from behind the arc, and Tucker has to be at his best every game for them to have the threats necessary to space the floor effectively.
X-Factor: Jordan Tucker has been brought up more than once, and with good reason. The one time four star Duke commit only played half the year last season, and when he was on the court, it was a real Jekyll and Hyde act. He could go for 19 and 8 like he did at DePaul, or put 24 points past St. John's, but also score 5 or less points four times in games which he played ten or more minutes. When he's on, he's a real threat from behind the arc, and he uses his athleticism to get to the rim as well. When he's not, the shots don't fall and he lacks the explosiveness and strength he displays in other games. Butler will need him to iron out his consistency issues and become one of their leading scorers this year, as after Baldwin, there isn't another reliable option. If he can do that, then the offense should be pretty good. If not, then the Bulldogs will struggle to score.
Final Verdict: I think the pieces on this roster just don't quite fit together right. It's like 90% of the way there, but there's just too many questions and potential for things to go sideways for me to be confident. Could Baldwin bedtime a better and more efficient shooter? Sure. Can Tucker establish himself as a legitimate and consistent threat? Possibly. Will Smits and Nze improve the defense enough to make it tournament caliber? Maybe. And it goes on like that all the way down the roster. If they had maybe one less question, then I could see them pushing for a top half spot. However, I think they need a few too many things to break right to consider them anything more than a bubble team.
The NIT Hopefuls
9. DePaul
Starting 5: Devin Gage, Charlie Moore, Darious Hall, Romeo Weems, Paul Reed
Why They'll Be Good: When I looked at the DePaul roster and thought to myself "Yknow what, I kinda like this team", I thought I was going crazy. I can't remember a time when DePaul was actually good, and they've been a perennial Big East laughingstock. However, they quietly finished 7-11 last year, and while they do lose some key pieces, including star player Max Strus, I wouldn't be shocked to see another good year in Chicago. Paul Reed returns after a bit of a breakout as sophomore, and I expect that to continue. He can score inside and out, and is really excellent at using his size and strength to get buckets. Devin Gage is back and healthy, and he should be one of the plethora of point guards on the roster battling for minutes. He's very quick with the ball in his hands, and can break down his man one on one. Jalen Coleman-Lands is also fully healthy, and can play both on and off the ball, and is a lethal shooter. Flynn Cameron and Lyrik Shreiner are also still here, and will likely find some minutes as well. They also have a strong class of newcomers, and two of them are point guards. Freshman Markese Jacobs is also a jitterbug with the ball in his hands, and is electric in the open floor. He should provide some excitement on the fast break. They also have Kansas transfer Charlie Moore eligible, and he could see time off of the ball. Having so many options to handle the ball is never a bad thing, as it usually reduces turnovers and gives more options for shot creation. The two other newcomers of note are Arkansas transfer Darious Hall and four star freshman Romeo Weems. Hall is a really intriguing piece as a 3 and D wing who is a hard worker and good straight line driver, so he could potentially outperform expectations. Weems is the definition of a Swiss Army knife, as he can do everything. Here are his high school stats per Three-Man-Weave (be sure to check them out, they are great): 27.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 4.2 steals, and 2.6 blocks. I'd say that's pretty good, and he should be capable of contributing right away for the Blue Demons. He should be an important piece on both sides of the ball, and could be the best freshman in the conference.
Why They Won't: Is saying that it's DePaul a valid reason? In all seriousness, there are some concerns. Their front court rotation is very shallow, as beyond Reed and Weems, it's basically just Jaylen Butz, a solid, if unspectacular junior big who may even start for this team. The wing rotation is similarly shallow, as it's Hall and... that's kind of it. I'd expect to see Weems playing the three some to give Hall some rest, and Coleman-Lands could see time there too I guess. They also lack a go-to scorer. They had Max Strus last year, and they need someone to step into that role. The odds on favorite is Paul Reed, but it's not a guarantee that he scales his game up enough. Can Charlie Moore be that guy? What about Weems? It's all unclear, and this team seems like it might be a lot of potential and not a ton of end product. I'd expect inconsistency here as well, and I wouldn't be shocked to see them look awesome one game before turning in a complete dud the next.
X-Factor: Almost every player on this roster could be considered an x-factor, but Charlie Moore is particularly interesting. The Chicago native was a four star recruit out of high school and committed to California, and had a good freshman year. He scored 12.2 points a game, looked like a good pick and roll ball handler, and shot reasonably well from three. He elected to get out of that situation, who can blame him with the state of that program, and landed at Kansas. And for the Jayhawks last season, he was basically invisible. He struggled to find minutes and looked like a shell of himself the court. He decided to transfer once more, and landed back home in Chicago. While he's small and a natural point guard, I actually think he'll be off ball a little more this year, and be asked to be more of a scorer for the Blue Demons. The biggest question is which Charlie Moore are they going to get? If he's allowed to create his own shot and operate in pick and roll more than he did under Bill Self, then I think he could be a really nice piece. If he still looks bad, then there are plenty of other guards chomping at the bit ready to take his minutes. If he can recapture, and maybe even improve upon, the player he was as a freshman, then DePaul could actually push for a tournament bid.
Final Verdict: While writing this preview, I almost wanted to move DePaul up into the bubble section. However, I think it's just a year to early for the Blue Demons. I think they have a lot of good pieces, and I'm a believer in Reed, Hall, and Weems to be good players, plus some good point guard play, but there seems to be something missing that I just can't quite figure out. The potential lineups of two of the guards, Hall, Weems, and Reed could actually be really good offensively, and I think this will be a fun team to watch that surprises people throughout the year. Dave Leitao will need to prove he can coach this year, and I'm not sure he can, so that will hold them back. Still, be sure to keep an eye on this team, and don't be too shocked if they are still in the tournament picture late in conference play.
The Basement
10. St. John's
Starting 5: Jonathon McGriff, Greg Williams, Mustapha Heron, LJ Figueroa, Ian Steere
Why They'll Be Good: I actually don't think this team will be a dumpster fire. Mustapha Heron and LJ Figueroa are Actually Good™ players in the Big East, and should be the leaders on both ends of the floor. Not only are they versatile defenders, they are capable of scoring in a variety of ways and I fully expect both of them to have good year. Ian Steere was a one time highly regarded recruit prior to transferring, and he should anchor the defense. Speaking of the defensive, it will be very interesting to see what Mike Anderson does with his team this year. He comes from Arkansas, where he ran the 40 Minutes of Hell press, and I'm interested to see if that makes the journey to New York with him. This roster could actually work in that, with Heron, Figueroa, Greg Williams, David Caraher, Damien Sears, and Julian Champagnie all looking like they'd be good fits for that style. Williams in particular has a reputation for being a good defender, and should see significantly more minutes as a sophomore. Caraher will also be a prominent rotation member as a transfer from Houston Baptist who is another long and athletic player and can shoot it from the outside as well.
Why They Won't: Point guard play is going to be a problem. Jonathon McGriff could end with the keys to the offense, and it seems like an all or nothing decision. The obvious comparison for him is Chris Lykes, as they are the same size and possess the same shiftiness with the ball. However, he is significantly lower ranked as a recruit, which of course doesn't mean everything, and questions exist not only about his defensive ability, but also scoring the ball. He could turn out to be the next Lykes, but he could also not and really struggle. The other option is Monmouth transfer Nick Rutherford, who is good at creating steals, and not much else. Neither is very promising, and the position is a huge question mark. There is also basically two proven Big East players on the roster in Heron and Figueroa, who I once again think are very good, and there will absolutely be some growing pains.
X-Factor: Greg Williams is actually a guy who could be really good. He headlined the recruiting class last year, and the guard is known for his tenacious defense, which fits right into Mike Anderson's wheelhouse. Developing his offensive game will be the main key. He needs to show that he can do anything consistently in the half court, as he averaged just two points a game. On a team that projects to be at the bottom of the conference, the future is perhaps a bigger concern than the present. Williams will need to show that he can be a part of the solution, not one of the problems, this year, and becoming at least competent on the offensive end would be a big step in that regard.
Final Verdict: At the end of the day, this team probably only has two Big East quality players right now. Maybe Williams or Steere or Caraher or McGriff shows me something this year, but outside of Heron and Figueroa, things like bleak for the Johnnies. I actually think Mike Anderson has some good pieces to work with and they could be somewhat intriguing, but ultimately the talent level is too low for me to bet on them finishing anywhere but last.
First Team All Big East
G: Myles Powell, Seton Hall
G: Markus Howard, Marquette
G: Tyshon Alexander, Creighton
F: Omer Yurtseven, Georgetown
F: Naji Marshall, Xavier
Second Team All Big East
G: Kamar Baldwin, Butler
G: Bryan Antoine, Villanova*
G: Mustapha Heron, St. John's
F: Alpha Diallo, Providence
F: Saddiq Bey, Villanova
Third Team All Big East
G: James Akinjo, Georgetown
G: Paul Scruggs, Xavier
G: AJ Reeves, Providence
F: LJ Figueroa, St. John's
F: Paul Reed, DePaul
Big East All Freshman Team
G: Bryan Antoine, Villanova*
G: Khalif Battle, Butler
G: Justin Moore, Villanova
F: Romeo Weems, DePaul
F: Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova
Big East Player of the Year: Myles Powell, SG, Seton Hall
Big East Newcomer of the Year: Omer Yurtseven, C, Georgetown
*Antoine is currently injured, and it remains to be seen whether or not he is going to play this year. If he isn't able to play by the start of conference play, I'd move Symir Torrence from Marquette onto the freshman team, bump AJ Reeves onto the second team, and put Collin Gillespie onto the third team.
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