To pass time in the summer, the pcbb1917 Discord crew was laughing at Jon Rothstein’s Big East rankings, so I decided to do an early version of mine. I will also do an updated version of the rankings in October when we have more information but thought this would be fun to discuss as we await the start of school and the season. With those caveats, here we go.
11. Seton Hall. I got sold on overrating Seton Hall last year because of Shaheen Holloway’s coaching. The result was two conference wins and a last place finish. Looking at their roster after the portal season, I am not sure they are any better than last year. I was and still am a big fan of Budd Clark from Merrimack, I think the roster around him is not that of a major college program.
Realistic projection – I see a very difficult season for the Hall and wouldn’t be surprised if they replicate last season’s disaster. Record 3-17
10. Xavier – With Sean Miller bailing out on Xavier for the second time, the Musketeers reached out to Friar alumnus Richard Pitino to rebuild their program. Similarly to DePaul after the 2023-24 season, Xavier has an entirely new roster for year 1 of the Pitino Jr. era. They have signed a number of players who had some success at the mid-major level, including Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year All Wright. Anthony Robinson of Virginia should give them size, and Papa N’Diaye could be a developmental piece for X. Overall, they will need a lot of players to overperform for them to be in the mix in the Big East.
Read more: Brian Reddy: Beyond the Box Score – Big East Early Pre-Season Prognostications
Realistic projection – I am putting them at 6-14, with a couple of upsets along the way.
9. Butler. Butler struggled to a 15-20 (6-14) season last year, but they did have six losses by 4 points or less. They also lost four starters, including Pierre Brooks, Jahmyl Telfort, Patrick McCaffrey, and Andre Screen. They added a trio of high scoring mid-major players in Jalen Jackson, Drayton Jones, and Yame Butler, along with Michael Ajayi of Gonzaga and 4 star recruit Jack McCaffrey (Patrick’s brother). This is a team that again should be competitive in many games but will struggle to improve upon last year’s record.
Realistic projection – It appears that Butler added a number of role players, but unless Finley Bizjack makes a major leap, they will not have a lead dog. I am keeping them at 6-14 this year.
8. Villanova. My view of Villanova has been all over the place since the portal signing period ended, and it’s currently in a negative place. I think Kevin Willard is usually a high floor, low ceiling kind of coach. He should eventually bring the Wildcats into the NCAA tournament contention, but that won’t be this year. I think their strength is at the guard position, with veteran Devin Askew, Sun Belt Rookie of the Year Bryce Lindsay, Zion Stanford of Temple, and top 30 recruit Acaden Lewis. Their only returning player of note is Tyler Perkins, who struggled with the jump from the Ivy League to the Big East. They also signed for GCU Antelope Duke Brennan, who will combine 100% effort with adequate performance.
Realistic projection – This will be a growing year for Willard and the Wildcats, with the potential to grow if their underclassmen stay. 8-12.
7. DePaul. The Blue Demons were able to improve significantly last season and return three solid pieces from that team in CJ Gunn, Layden Blocker, and NJ Benson. They also added Kaleb Banks and RJ Smith, along with Khaman Maker and a number of players looking to move up in competition. The one I will be watching in this group is Jeremy Lorenz from Wofford. He showed flashes last year, including in the NCAA tournament against Tennessee, where he came off the to provide a spark for Wofford with 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal. They have also brought in 4 freshmen, including top 100 center, 7’1” Isaiah Medina.
Coach Holtman last year showed patience in developing his team and was able to avoid building an entirely new roster for the second year in a row. The Blue Demons should be able to improve from last year’s performance, and they develop their program.
Realistic projection – DePaul went from zero wins to four last year, and my guess is that they end up in the range of 8-12 this year.
6. Georgetown. Last year was a true mixed bag for Mr. Ed and the Hoyas. They went from 9-22 and 2-18 to 18-16 and 8-12, both major improvements. However, they beat no one of note in the non-conference, and after starting conference play 3-0 with wins over Creighton and Xavier, they lost 12 of their final 17 Big East games, including their third loss to DePaul in the conference tournament. They also developed freshman Thomas Sorber and TCU transfer Micah Peavy into all conference caliber players. Unfortunately for them, they are both gone, along with starters Jayden Epps and Drew Fielder, and reserves Jordan Burks and Curtis Williams. They were able to add quality in Langston Love, KJ Lewis, and Isaiah Abraham. Ed is also high on Julius Halaifonua, who was injured for most of last year.
Realistic projection – Despite remaining hard feelings toward Ed in Friartown, he deserves credit for his player development, and he has developable pieces this year. A key for the Hoyas this year will be Malik Mack, who had some big games last year but was inconsistent and a defensive liability. He needs to elevate his game for the Hoyas to improve upon last year. I will keep the Hoyas at 8-12.
5. Marquette. The Golden Eagles started strong last year and spent the year in the top 25 until the final poll of the season, peaking in the top 10 for most of December and January. They are also losing their top 3 players from last year while Shaka Smart eschewed the transfer portal, preferring development and recruiting to replenish their roster. Of the returnees, Chase Ross and Royce Parham could be all conference level players. They also have a strong, guard-heavy recruiting class coming in, but the Big East is a tough conference to be relying on freshmen.
Realistic projection. I think they will be in contention for an NCAA tournament bid with a 11-9 conference record.
4. Creighton. The Bluejays lost arguably the best guard-center combo in the country in Ryan Kalkbrenner and Steven Ashworth, along with Jamiya Neal and Pop Isaacs. On the bright side, Greg McDermott did extremely well in the portal, adding a top 10 portal class including Nik Graves, Josh Dix, Owen Freeman and personal favorite Blake Harper, and top 50 recruit Hudson Greer. They also have Jackson McAndrew, Isaac Traudt, and (hopefully) Fedor Zugic returning. My belief is that the key for Creighton will be the ability of Nik Graves and/or Josh Dix to handle the point guard duties. This position has been a constant for McDermott in the Big East, and at least one of these two will need to continue this tradition for them to compete for the top of the league.
Realistic projection – I am penciling in the Jays for a 14-6 conference record and a spot comfortably in the NCAA tournament, somewhere around the 8 seed range.
3. Connecticut. Most early projections have Connecticut atop the Big East and in the top 5 in the country. I think this is a possibility if everything breaks right for the Huskies, but it is not a certainty. By this, I mean at least some of the following needs to pass:
- Alex Karaban needs to get back to his trajectory of his first year or two.
- Tarris Reed needs to show he can play 30ish minutes.
- Soloman Ball needs to continue his improvement
- Silas Demary needs to show he can replace both Hassan Diarra’s play and leadership
- Braylon Mullins or someone else needs to fill the void left by McNeely
- Either or both of Jaylin Steward and Jayden Ross need to show that they are capable of the potential they’ve shown in small doses to date.
I am confident that Solomon Ball will continue his improvement, and some of the others will also come through. How many of them will determine their fate.
Realistic projection – I suspect UConn will have a similar season to last year, so I have them repeating their 14-6 record, and a 6ish seed in the NCAA tournament.
2. Providence. The more I focus on the Friars, the more convinced I am that this is going to be a highly successful year in Friartown. As I have written previously, Coach English had a laundry list of items to address in the off-season, and he batted close to 1.000. He kept the 4 players I and most people wanted to return, he brought in a group of players who have proven success at the high major level and has a group of new guys with the potential to have an immediate impact on the court, but won’t have pressure to be rushed.
Early reports I have gotten include the following:
- The undisputed team leader is Corey Floyd. There was a leadership vacuum last year that was evident on and off the court. That won’t be the case this year.
- Team unity is back. The veteran portal recruits have a winning attitude reminiscent of Al Durham and Justin Minaya in 2021-22.
- Jason Edwards and Jaylin Sellers bring high-level scoring and an aggressive attitude to the team.
- Duncan (Dunkin’?) Powell is a talented player who is able to keep everyone loose while remaining focused.
- Rich Barron is fully healthy and looking better.
- Ryan Mela and Oswin Erhunmwunse are both significantly bigger than they were this year and are both learning from the veteran portal additions.
- Jaylen Harrell and Jamier Jones are both fitting in well, and Jones especially is going to force Coach English’s hand in terms of getting minutes.
Obviously, things could go wrong, and we could have another season full of injuries, or the new guys might not be as projected. Since this is a Providence Friar site, I choose to be optimistic. This team has four returnees and four high major transfers that are all capable of scoring 20+ points on any given night. Cole Hargrove gives Oswin support that he did not have last year. The roster should give Coach English flexibility to adapt to opposing teams and situations. This is an important year for the entire team and staff, and I am convinced that the AMP will be joyous again this season.
Realistic projection – For all of the reasons above, I am putting the Friars in at 15-5, competing for a conference championship and a top 4-6 seed in the NCAA tournament.
1. St. John’s. The Red Storm lost a lot from last year but also brought in arguably to best transfer portal class in the country. They also kept their most irreplaceable player on their roster in Zuby Ejiofor. They also return a group of role players in Ruben Prey, Lefteris Liotopoulos, and Sadiko Ayo who are familiar with Coach Pitino’s system. The key for St. John’s will be the ability of Ian Jackson to handle the starting point guard position. Oziyah Sellers and Bryce Hopkins will add scoring punch, allowing Joson Sanon to develop at his own pace. Dillon Mitchell is a physical forward who has proven he can compete at the highest level. A key under the radar pickup for Pitino is Dylan Darling. He can hit the open shot and will provide a quality backup to Jackson, even allowing Pitino to play them together at times. Filling out the roster is Providence native and for La Salle player Kelvin Odih.
Rick Pitino showed last year that he can manage a major overhaul to his roster and should have a team that improves upon last year’s weaknesses. I suspect Bryce Hopkins is in a great position with this roster and will have a big year. Zuby Ejiofor should continue to improve, and Ian Jackson should embrace playing back home this year.
Realistic projection – I think St. John’s is a legitimate national title contender, and have a better-rounded team than last year, assuming Pitino keeps everyone together. My projection is 17-3 in the Big East and a potential number 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Again, I will update these projections in October as we learn more about the teams. As most schools are playing higher level exhibition games in the fall, we will likely have a better idea of how things are developing throughout the country.