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5 questions entering the Big East

College basketball season is almost here!

Between now and Nov. 6th, we’ll take an in-depth look at different conferences around the country.

Today’s focus is on the Big East:

1. Will the Big East be the best conference in college basketball in 2023-24?
It’s more than realistic. Seven Big East programs — Marquette, UConn, Creighton, Villanova, St. John’s, Xavier, and Providence — are currently ranked in the Top 39 of the ROTHSTEIN 45. Three of those teams — Marquette, UConn, and Creighton — are ranked in the Top 10 of the ROTHSTEIN 45. It’s going to be very interesting to see how well this conference performs in November and December during the non-league portion of the schedule. If the Big East flourishes during the first two months of the season, seven of its 11 teams could wind up hearing their names called on Selection Sunday. 

2. Can UConn repeat?
It’s more than possible. The Huskies won’t necessarily be expected to be the favorite entering the 2024 NCAA Tournament, but they do return two starters — Tristen Newton and Alex Karaban — from last season’s team that won the national title. 7-3 sophomore big man Donovan Clingan is also primed for a monster season after the departure of Adama Sanogo while Rutgers grad transfer Cam Spencer should instantly add spacing and shot making. If five-star freshman Stephon Castle can be a consistent presence as a starter and Dan Hurley can develop his bench, UConn could be in position to again make a deep run in March Madness. 

3. What are realistic expectations for St. John’s?
To win an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2000. Fans of this program seem to have delusions of grandeur on an annual basis, but this time it’s warranted. With Rick Pitino on the sidelines and a deep roster anchored by veteran big man Joel Soriano (15.2 points, 11.9 rebounds) and Penn transfer Jordan Dingle (23.4 points), St. John’s has the requisites to become a national story.  It’s been over 23 years since the Red Storm have advanced in March Madness, but this season it’s within reach.

4. Which Big East transfer is not getting enough national attention?
Creighton’s Steven Ashworth. The 6-1 guard made 111 three-point shots last season at Utah State while averaging 16.2 points and 4.5 assists. Ashworth has also never shot lower than 36.5 percent from three-point range during the first three years of his college career. The Bluejays didn’t want to lose Ryan Nembhard (Gonzaga) to the transfer portal following last season’s run to the Elite Eight, but Ashworth is a quality replacement. This kid is tailor made to play for Greg McDermott.

5. Who is the sleeper?
Georgetown. Call it the “Ed Cooley factor”. While the Hoyas were a combined 13-50 over the past two seasons under Patrick Ewing, Cooley has assembled a foundation good enough for Georgetown to be a nuisance to play against on a nightly basis. The Hoyas’ perimeter troika of Illinois transfer Jayden Epps, Jay Heath, and North Carolina transfer Dontrez Styles is solid and as long as Cooley is Georgetown’s head coach, this team’s competitive spirit will mirror its leader. Remember: Cooley led Providence to seven of the last nine NCAA Tournaments before taking his current post. He didn’t come to Washington D.C. to be an afterthought.

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