College Hoops Today

Serving College Basketball 365 Days a Year

5 questions entering the Big East

College basketball season is almost here!

Between now and Nov. 3rd, 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 play in the 2026 NCAA Tournament?
St. John’s, UConn, and Creighton all feel like safe bets, but after that it’s a bit of a mystery. Major roster turnover occurred at both Marquette and Xavier while Georgetown lost a first-round pick in Thomas Sorber. The other five remaining programs in the Big East — Providence, Villanova, Butler, Seton Hall, and DePaul — have all missed the past two NCAA Tournaments. Don’t count on significant representation from this conference in March Madness this season,

2. Will St. John’s live up to the hype?
What does the hype equate to in terms of expectations? Probably another 25-to-30 win season and another high seed on Selection Sunday. It’s hard to see how that doesn’t happen. The Red Storm have the nation’s best transfer class and the likely Big East Preseason Player of the Year in Zuby Ejiofor (14.7 points, 8.1 rebounds). He, Ian Jackson (North Carolina), Oziyah Sellers (Stanford), Joson Sanon (Arizona State), Dillon Mitchell (Cincinnati), and Bryce Hopkins (Providence) will highlight the sport’s most talented roster. It remains to be seen how deep St. John’s can advance when it gets to March Madness in 2026, but it says here that it will again get a quality seed when it gets there. 

3. Who is the X-Factor for UConn?
Silas Demary Jr. A transfer from Georgia, the 6-5 Demary averaged 13.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists last season on a team that reached the NCAA Tournament. He’ll step into a different weight class in Storrs. Dan Hurley’s best teams have always had great size at point guard and Demary should be a major upgrade at the most important position on the floor. His production level will dictate how far UConn can ultimately go in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. If he performs like he did last season at Georgia then a third Final Four appearance in four years is very much within reach for the Huskies. 

4. Can Marquette still be vintage Marquette?
TBD. Shaka Smart has led the Golden Eagles to four NCAA Tournament appearances in his first four years in Milwaukee, but the upcoming season will present his greatest challenge since he’s arrived at Marquette. This program’s top three scorers from a year ago — Kam Jones (19.2 points, 5.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds), David Joplin (14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds), and Stevie Mitchell (10.7 points, 4.1 rebounds) — have all exhausted their eligibility which means that Chase Ross (10.5 points) is the only returning player who averaged in double figures last season. Smart needs breakout seasons from multiple players with Ben Gold (7.4 points, 4.3 rebounds), Royce Parham (5.1 points), and Sean Jones (5.8 points in 2023-24) — who redshirted last season — being the likely candidates. Smart should be the Big East Coach of the Year if Marquette hears its name called on Selection Sunday. 

5. Who is the sleeper?
Providence. After finishing 12-20 last season, Kim English revamped his perimeter with three power conference transfers — Daquan Davis (Florida State), Jason Edwards (Vanderbilt), and Jaylin Sellers (UCF) — who should pair nicely with a trio of proud returning veterans in Corey Floyd (9.2 points, 4.8 rebounds), Ryan Mela (6.4 points, 5.2 rebounds), and Rich Barron (5.2 points). Georgia Tech transfer Duncan Powell (12.2 points, 5.4 rebounds) is the likely starter at power forward and 6-10 sophomore Oswin Erhunmwunse seems primed for a breakout season. If the Friars stay healthy, a seven-to-nine win improvement feels within reach. This looks like a bubble team. 

Leftovers