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5 questions entering the Big East

College basketball season is almost here!

Between now and Nov. 7th, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.

Today’s focus is on the Big East:

1. Is the Big East the deepest that it’s been since realignment?
We won’t truly know until the end of the upcoming season, but it’s very possible. Seven Big East teams — Creighton, Villanova, Xavier, UConn, Seton Hall, St. John’s, and Providence — are currently ranked in the ROTHSTEIN 45. The other four teams in the league — Butler, Marquette, Georgetown, and DePaul — also look capable of competing for postseason berths. Seven NCAA Tournament bids feels like a legitimate goal for the Big East in 2023.

2. Can Creighton live up to the hype?
That means being the best team that Greg McDermott has ever had. That means being better than a three seed in the NCAA Tournament, which the Bluejays achieved in 2014 when they had the National Player of the Year in Doug McDermott. It’s possible. Returning personnel is always the key to having success in college basketball and Creighton returns four players — Ryan Nembhard, Trey Alexander, Arthur Kaluma, and Ryan Kalkbrenner — who were integral parts of last season’s team that lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Kansas. Nembhard — who missed the end of last year due to a wrist injury — was last season’s Big East Rookie of the Year while the 7-1 Kalkbrenner was last season’s Big East Defensive Player of the Year. This program also added a major piece in South Dakota State transfer Baylor Scheierman (16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists) via the transfer portal. The hype is warranted. Creighton is clearly the team to beat in the Big East and has the requisites to be a very high seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. 

3. Will Villanova survive November?
It’s a fair question considering the Wildcats’ early schedule. Villanova begins the Kyle Neptune era with an arduous early slate that features Big 5 games against La Salle and Temple, a trip to Michigan State (Gavitt Games), and three tilts in the PK85 during Thanksgiving Week. The Wildcats will open the event against Iowa State and then could play North Carolina in the second round. Oregon, UConn, Michigan State, and Alabama are on the other side of the bracket. Villanova may also play its entire November schedule without both Justin Moore (achilles) and Cam Whitmore (thumb) — arguably the two most talented players in the Wildcats’ program — who are both out with injuries. It’s important not to judge this team — or Neptune — based on the way it performs early in the season because of the gauntlet that it will endure out the gate. Villanova will play a total of 31 regular season games prior to the Big East Tournament — 30 will be against either Big 5 opponents or power conference programs.

4. Who will be UConn’s point guard?
It’s the million dollar question in Storrs and it’s not going away anytime soon. UConn lost one of the best point guards in college basketball and an All-Big East First-Team player in R.J. Cole (15.8 points, 4.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds) and the way that it replaces him will likely ultimately dictate what type of seed this program can earn in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. UConn went to the transfer portal and added a pair of newcomers who can play the position in Tristen Newton (East Carolina) and Hassan Diarra (Texas A&M). Do-everything junior Andre Jackson (6.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists) is another option for UConn as a facilitator, but is currently out of the lineup until November with a pinky injury. Hurley has the best player in the Big East in junior center Adama Sanogo (14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds) and a burgeoning star in 6-5 sophomore Jordan Hawkins (5.8 points). If he finds a consistent table setter, competing for a Big East regular season title and earning another quality seed in the NCAA Tournament will be well within his reach.

5. Who is the sleeper?
Butler. Thad Matta has never had a losing season as a head coach and he’s not planning to start now. Matta’s second tour of duty as the Bulldogs’ head coach features a roster that returns three of its top seven scorers — Chuck Harris, Jayden Taylor, Simas Lukosious — from last year’s team that finished 14-19 under LaVall Jordan. Butler also added major reinforcements via the transfer portal in Eric Hunter Jr. (Purdue), Ali Ali (Akron), and Manny Bates (NC State), who should all be in the mix to start. With Matta pulling the strings, this feels like a team that could very well flirt with the bubble in February and early March. 

Leftovers