Summer time means a look ahead to next season!
Each week moving forward, we will preview one conference in college basketball from soup to nuts.
Check below for this week’s breakdown on the Big East.
Big East Preseason Power Rankings
1. Marquette
Projected Starting 5:
G Tyler Kolek
G Stevie Mitchell
G Kam Jones
F David Joplin
C Oso Ighodaro
Projected Bench: Sean Jones, Ben Gold, Chase Ross, Jonah Lucas, Tre Norman, Al Amadou, Zaide Lowery
Key Newcomers: Tre Norman, Al Amadou, Zaide Lowery
Key Losses: Olivier-Maxence Prosper
2. UConn
Projected Starting 5:
G Tristen Newton
G Stephon Castle
G Cam Spencer
F Alex Karaban
C Donovan Clingan
Projected Bench: Samson Johnson, Hassan Diarra, Jaylin Stewart, Jayden Ross, Youssouf Singare, Solomon Ball
Key Newcomers: Stephon Castle, Solomon Ball, Jaylin Stewart, Jayden Ross, Youssouf Singare, Cam Spencer (Rutgers)
Key Losses: Joey Calcaterra, Jordan Hawkins, Adama Sanogo, Andre Jackson
3. Creighton
Projected Starting 5:
PG Steven Ashworth
SG Trey Alexander
SF Baylor Scheierman
PF Isaac Traudt
C Ryan Kalkbrenner
Projected Bench: Jasen Green, Mason Miller, Sami Osmani, Devin Davis, Fredrick King, Josiah Dotzler, Francisco Farabello, Sterling Knox, Johnathan Lawson, Brock Vice
Key Newcomers: Josiah Dotzler, Isaac Traudt (Virginia), Steven Ashworth (Utah State), Sterling Knox, Johnathan Lawson (Memphis), Brock Vice
Key Losses: Ryan Nembhard, Arthur Kaluma
4. Villanova
Projected Starting 5:
G Justin Moore
G TJ Bamba
G Hakim Hart
F Tyler Burton
C Eric Dixon
Projected Bench: Chris Arcidiacono, Nnanna Njoku, Trey Patterson, Jordann Dumont, Brendan Hausen, Jordan Longino, Mark Armstrong, Lance Ware
Key Newcomers: Jordann Dumont, TJ Bamba (Washington State), Hakim Hart (Maryland), Lance Ware (Kentucky), Tyler Burton (Richmond)
Key Losses: Cam Whitmore, Caleb Daniels, Brandon Slater
5. St. John’s
Projected Starting 5:
G Daniss Jenkins
G Jordan Dingle
G RJ Luis
F Chris Ledlum
C Joel Soriano
Projected Bench: Simeon Wilcher, Drissa Traore, Cruz Davis, Sean Conway, Brady Dunlap, Nahiem Alleyne, Zuby Ejiofor, Glenn Taylor Jr.
Key Newcomers: Daniss Jenkins (Iona), Cruz Davis (Iona), Sean Conway (VMI), RJ Luis (UMass), Glenn Taylor Jr. (Oregon State), Nahiem Alleyne (UConn), Brady Dunlap, Jordan Dingle (Penn), Zuby Ejiofor (Kansas), Simeon Wilcher, Chris Ledlum (Harvard)
Key Losses: Posh Alexander, Andre Curbelo, AJ Storr, David Jones, Dylan Addae-Wusu
6. Xavier
Projected Starting 5:
G Dayvion McKnight
G Desmond Claude
G Quincy Olivari
F Jerome Hunter
C Zach Freemantle
Projected Bench: Dailyn Swain, Reid Ducharme, Kachi Nzeh, Trey Green, Logan Duncomb, Kam Craft, Abou Ousmane, Gytis Nemeiksa, Lazar Djokovic
Key Newcomers: Trey Green, Dailyn Swain, Reid Ducharme, Kachi Nzeh, Dayvion McKnight (Western Kentucky), Logan Duncomb (Indiana), Quincy Olivari (Rice), Abou Ousmane (North Texas), Gytis Nemeiksa, Lazar Djokovic
Key Losses: Souley Boum, Adam Kunkel, Cesare Edwards, Colby Jones, Jack Nunge
7. Providence
Projected Starting 5:
G Jayden Pierre
G Corey Floyd Jr.
G Devin Carter
F Bryce Hopkins
F Josh Oduro
Projected Bench: Donovan Santoro, Rafael Castro, Justyn Fernandez, Davonte Gaines, Richard Barron, Garway Dual
Key Newcomers: Donovan Santoro, Josh Oduro (George Mason), Justyn Fernandez (George Mason), Davonte Gaines (George Mason), Richard Barron, Garway Dual
Key Losses: Ed Croswell, Noah Locke, Jared Bynum
8. Georgetown
Projected Starting 5
G Jayden Epps
G Jay Heath
G Dontrez Styles
F Ismael Massoud
C Supreme Cook
Projected Bench: Rowan Brumbaugh, Drew Fielder, Drew McKenna, Ryan Mutombo, Wayne Bristol
Key Newcomers: Jayden Epps (Illinois), Rowan Brumbaugh (Texas), Ismael Massoud (Kansas State), Dontrez Styles (North Carolina), Supreme Cook (Fairfield), Drew Fielder, Drew McKenna
Key Losses: Primo Spears, Brandon Murray, Qudus Wahab
9. Seton Hall
Projected Starting 5
G Al-Amir Dawes
G Kadary Richmond
G Dylan Addae-Wusu
G Dre Davis
C Jaden Bediako
Projected Bench: Isaiah Coleman, Jaquan Sanders, Jaquan Harris, Sady Nganga, David Tubek, Elijah Hutchins-Everett
Key Newcomers: Isaiah Coleman, David Tubek, Dylan Addae-Wusu (St. John’s), Jaden Bediako (Santa Clara), Elijah Hutchins-Everett (Austin Peay), Sadraque Nganga (Boise State)
Key Losses: Tyrese Samuel, KC Ndefo, Tray Jackson, Jamir Harris, Femi Odukale
10. DePaul
Projected Starting 5
G Jalen Terry
G Chico Carter
G Caleb Murphy
F Da’Sean Nelson
C Mac Etienne
Projected Bench: Zion Cruz, K.T. Raimey, Jaden Henley, Keyondre Young, Dramane Camara, Jeremiah Oden, Churchill Abass
Key Newcomers: Elijah Fisher (Texas Tech), Chico Carter (South Carolina), Jeremiah Oden (Wyoming), Jaden Henley (Minnesota), Churchill Abass, Keyondre Young, Dramane Camara, Mac Etienne (UCLA)
Key Losses: Umoja Gibson, Javan Johnson, Nick Ongenda, Eral Penn, Philmon Gebrewhit
11. Butler
Projected Starting 5
G Posh Alexander
G D.J. Davis
G Jahmyl Telfort
F Pierre Brooks
C Jalen Thomas
Projected Bench: Landon Moore, Andre Screen, Finley Bizjack, Boden Kapke, Augusto Cassio, Ethan McComb, Connor Turnbull, John-Michael Mulloy
Key Newcomers: Posh Alexander (St. John’s), D.J. Davis (UC Irvine), Landon Moore (St. Francis PA), Pierre Brooks (Michigan State), Jahmyl Telfort (Northeastern), Andre Screen (Bucknell), Finley Bizjack, Boden Kapke, Augusto Cassio, Ethan McComb
Key Losses: Jayden Taylor, Simas Lukosius, Manny Bates, Chuck Harris, Ali Ali
Big East Preseason First-Team
Tyler Kolek, Marquette
Justin Moore, Villanova
Bryce Hopkins, Providence
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Donovan Clingan, UConn
Big East Preseason Player of the Year
Tyler Kolek, Marquette
Big East Preseason Sleeper
Georgetown
10 Big East Breakout Players
*In no particular order
*A player is not eligible to be a breakout player if he’s previously averaged in double figures
David Joplin, Marquette
Chase Ross, Marquette
Alex Karaban, UConn
Donovan Clingan, UConn
Fredrick King, Creighton
Mark Armstrong, Villanova
Desmond Claude, Xavier
Jayden Pierre, Providence
Dre Davis, Seton Hall
Jalen Terry, DePaul
10 Impact Big East Freshmen
*In no particular order
Stephon Castle, UConn
Solomon Ball, UConn
Jaylin Stewart, UConn
Jayden Ross, UConn
Simeon Wilcher, St. John’s
Brady Dunlap, St. John’s
Garway Dual, Providence
Trey Green, Xavier
Dailyn Swain, Xavier
Reid Norman, Marquette
15 Impact Big East Transfers
*In no particular order
*Two-time transfers who have yet to be cleared by the NCAA are not eligible for this list
Cam Spencer, UConn (Rutgers)
Steven Ashworth, Creighton (Utah State)
Tyler Burton, Villanova (Richmond)
TJ Bamba, Villanova (Washington State)
Hakim Hart, Villanova (Maryland)
Jordan Dingle, St. John’s (Penn)
Chris Ledlum, St. John’s (Harvard)
RJ Luis, St. John’s (UMass)
Glenn Taylor, St. John’s (Oregon State)
Daniss Jenkins, St. John’s (Iona)
Naheim Alleyne, St. John’s (UConn)
Dayvion McKnight, Xavier (Western Kentucky)
Josh Oduro, Providence (George Mason)
Jayden Epps, Georgetown (Illinois)
Posh Alexander, Butler (St. John’s)
10 Under-The-Radar Big East Transfers
*In no particular order
*Two-time transfers who have yet to be cleared by the NCAA are not eligible for this list
Isaac Traudt, Creighton (Virginia)
Lance Ware, Villanova (Kentucky)
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s (Kansas)
Quincy Olivari, Xavier (Rice)
Davonte “Ticket” Gaines, Providence (George Mason)
Dylan Addae-Wusu, Seton Hall (St. John’s)
Dontrez Styles, Georgetown (North Carolina)
Ismael Massoud, Georgetown (Kansas State)
Chico Carter, DePaul (South Carolina)
Mac Etienne, DePaul (UCLA)
Leftovers
- Episode 478 — Marquette’s Shaka Smart
- SEC staying at 18 league games, will not expand to 20
- Early season All-Americans for the 2024-25 college basketball season
- The Breakfast Buffet: Illinois/Missouri, Auburn’s dominance, Liam McNeeley
- The Breakfast Buffet: The CBS Sports Classic, Memphis begins a key home stand against Mississippi State, Purdue/Auburn
