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5 questions entering the Big East

College basketball season is almost here!

Between now and Nov. 9th, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.

Today’s focus is on the Big East:

1. How many Big East teams will make the 2022 NCAA Tournament? 
That’s to be determined. The Big East would have only had three teams — Villanova, Creighton, and UConn — in last year’s NCAA Tournament had Georgetown not clinched an automatic bid by winning the Big East Tournament. The league needs a greater level of representation in 2022. With the college sports landscape continuing to evolve with football centric moves dominating the headlines, the Big East needs to regularly reiterate that its brand is different and unique because of its basketball centric focus. This conference needs at least five teams in the 2022 NCAA Tournament and it should have an opportunity to achieve that. Villanova, UConn, St. John’s, and Xavier are all currently ranked in the ROTHSTEIN 45.

2. How will UConn replace James Bouknight?
It likely won’t be with one man. Dan Hurley lost a lottery pick in the 6-5 Bouknight, but he’s also got one of the deepest rosters in the Big East ready to step in for his departed star. Veteran point guard R.J. Cole and senior wing Tyrese Martin lead a returning nucleus that went to the NCAA Tournament last season and lost to Maryland. Jalen Gaffney and Andre Jackson are also back on the perimeter, in addition to freshman wing Jordan Hawkins, who was a top-50 recruit. The Huskies may also possess the deepest front court in college basketball and the deepest that the program has seen since the 2011-12 season when it boasted Andre Drummond, Alex Oriakhi, Tyler Olander, and Roscoe Smith. Sophomore Adama Sanogo should be an All-Big East caliber player in his second season while Tyler Polley and Isaiah Whaley both opted to return for their fifth year of eligibility. Former top-50 prospect Akok Akok is also back and finally healthy after dealing with multiple injuries over the past two years. Meanwhile, 6-11 freshman Samson Johnson is another top-50 recruit who is expected to be in the rotation. Don’t be shocked if UConn winds up being an incredibly balanced team, where different players periodically emerge as the go-to offensive option as the season progresses.

3. Which programs are aligned to have breakthrough seasons?
Xavier and St. John’s. Travis Steele has yet to reach the NCAA Tournament as Xavier’s coach, but he’s got the experience, depth, and talent to have his best team yet. The Musketeers return their top seven scorers — Zach Freemantle, Paul Scruggs, Nate Johnson, Colby Jones, Adam Kunkel, KyKy Tandy, and Dwon Odom — from last season’s team that went 13-8 and added two key transfers in Jack Nunge (Iowa) and Jerome Hunter (Indiana). And St. John’s? The Red Storm will have two of the top six or seven players in the Big East in Julian Champagnie and Posh Alexander. The 6-8 Champagnie (19.8 points, 7.4 rebounds) is a potential All-American while the hard nosed Alexander should be officially be a cult hero in Queens by Christmas. Both of these programs have things aligned to make the NCAA Tournament in 2022.

4. Who is the mystery team?
Marquette. One of the Big East’s best brands has a new coach in Shaka Smart and nobody has any idea what to expect from the first team that he’ll lead in Milwaukee. The Golden Eagles don’t return a double figure scorer from last season, but Smart does inherit two quality pieces in Greg Elliott and Justin Lewis. Marquette also did nicely in recruiting this spring via the transfer portal this spring, landing four players — Darryl Morsell (Maryland), Tyler Kolek (George Mason), Kur Kuath (Oklahoma), and Olivier-Maxence Prosper (Clemson) — who should have major roles in 21-22. It will be interesting to see Smart molds the clay in his first year in a job that’s much more aligned with his DNA than his last coaching stop (Texas). 

5. Who is the sleeper?
Butler. The Bulldogs went 10-15 last season, but played their best basketball late, as evidenced by a pair of victories over Villanova and Xavier. Every single player of significance is back, led by veteran point guard Aaron Thompson, who was limited to just 14 games last season due to a shoulder injury. Chuck Harris has the requisites to be one of the best guards in the Big East as a sophomore after averaging 12.9 points as a freshman. The rest of the perimeter will be aided by the returns of Bo Hodges and Jair Bolden while the veteran duo of Bryce Nze and Bryce Golden up front is both seasoned and reliable. Don’t be shocked if LaVall Jordan has this team in the NCAA Tournament discussion.

Leftovers