Summer time means a look ahead to next season!
Each week moving forward, we will preview at least one conference in college basketball from soup to nuts.
Check below for today’s breakdown on the Big East.
Big East Preseason Power Rankings
1. St. John’s
Projected Starting 5:
G Ian Jackson
G Oziyah Sellers
G Joson Sanon
F Bryce Hopkins
C Zuby Ejiofor
Projected Bench: Lefteris Liotopoulos, Rubin Prey, Sadiku Abine Ayo, Imran Suljanovic, Dillon Mitchell, Dylan Darling, Handje Tamba, Kelvin Odih, Casper Pohto
Key Newcomers: Joson Sanon (Arizona State), Bryce Hopkins (Providence), Oziyah Sellers (Stanford), Ian Jackson (North Carolina), Dillon Mitchell (Cincinnati), Imran Suljanovic, Dylan Darling (Idaho State), Handje Tamba (Weber State), Kelvin Odih, Casper Pohto
Key Losses: Kadary Richmond, Aaron Scott, Deivon Smith, RJ Luis, Simeon Wilcher
2. UConn
Projected Starting 5:
G Silas Demary Jr.
G Solo Ball
F Jaylin Stewart
F Alex Karaban
C Tarris Reed
Projected Bench: Jayden Ross, Braylon Mullins, Jacob Furphy, Eric Reibe, Malachi Smith, Jacob Ross
Key Newcomers: Braylon Mullins, Jacob Furphy, Eric Reibe, Silas Demary Jr. (Georgia), Malachi Smith (Dayton), Jacob Ross
Key Losses: Liam McNeeley, Hassan Diarra, Samson Johnson
3. Creighton
Projected Starting 5:
G Nik Graves
G Josh Dix
F Blake Harper
F Jackson McAndrew
C Owen Freeman
Projected Bench: Isaac Traudt, Shane Thomas, Ty Davis, Hudson Greer, Fedor Zugic, Aleksa Dimitrijevic, Austin Swartz, Jasen Green, Liam McChesney
Key Newcomers: Hudson Greer, Owen Freeman (Iowa), Nik Graves (Charlotte), Josh Dix (Iowa), Aleksa Dimitrijevic, Austin Swartz (Miami), Blake Harper (Howard), Liam McChesney (High Point)
Key Losses: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Steven Ashworth, Jamiya Neal, Fredrick King
4. Marquette
Projected Starting 5:
G Sean Jones
G Zaide Lowery
G Chase Ross
F Royce Parham
C Ben Gold
Projected Bench: Caedin Hamilton, Darmarius Owens, Tre Norman, Joshua Clark, Adrien Stevens, Nigel James, Ian Miletic, Michael Phillips
Key Newcomers: Adrien Stevens, Nigel James, Ian Miletic, Michael Phillips
Key Losses: Kam Jones, David Joplin, Stevie Mitchell
5. Georgetown
Projected Starting 5:
G Malik Mack
G KJ Lewis
G Langston Love
F Caleb Williams
C Vince Iwuchukwu
Projected Bench: DeShawn Harris-Smith, Jayden Fort, Seal Diouf, Julius Halaifonua, Isaiah Abraham, Kayvaun Mulready, Jeremiah Williams
Key Newcomers: Langston Love (Baylor), Isaiah Abraham (UConn), KJ Lewis (Arizona), DeShawn Harris-Smith (Maryland), Vince Iwuchukwu (St. John’s), Jeremiah Williams (Rutgers)
Key Losses: Micah Peavy, Drew Fielder, Jordan Burks, Thomas Sorber
6. Providence
Projected Starting 5:
G Jason Edwards
G Corey Floyd
G Jaylin Sellers
F Duncan Powell
C Oswin Erhunmwunse
Projected Bench: Ryan Mela, Daquan Davis, Cole Hargrove, Jamier Jones, Jaylen Harrell, Rich Barron, Stefan Vaaks, Peteris Pinnis
Key Newcomers: Jason Edwards (Vanderbilt), Jaylin Sellers (UCF), Daquan Davis (Florida State), Duncan Powell (Georgia Tech), Cole Hargrove (Drexel), Jamier Jones, Jaylen Harrell, Peteris Pinnis
Key Losses: Bryce Hopkins, Bensley Joseph, Jayden Pierre
7. Villanova
Projected Starting 5:
G Acaden Lewis
G Devin Askew
G Tyler Perkins
F Matthew Hodge
C Duke Brennan
Projected Bench: Zion Stanford, Bryce Lindsay, Tafara Gapare, Malachi Palmer, Braden Pierce, Chris Jeffery, Nico Onyekwere, Malcolm Flaggs
Key Newcomers: Acaden Lewis, Matthew Hodge (redshirt), Tafara Gapare (Maryland), Malachi Palmer (Maryland), Bryce Lindsay (James Madison), Devin Askew (Long Beach State), Zion Stanford (Temple), Braden Pierce (Maryland), Chris Jeffery, Nico Onyekwere, Malcolm Flaggs (Grand Canyon)
Key Losses: Eric Dixon, Wooga Poplar, Jordan Longino
8. Butler
Projected Starting 5:
G Jalen Jackson
G Finley Bizjack
G Jamie Kaiser
F Michael Ajayi
C Drayton Jones
Projected Bench: Azavier Robinson, Jack McCaffery, Jackson Keith, Efeosa Oliogu, Yohan Traore, Yame Butler, Evan Haywood
Key Newcomers: Azavier Robinson, Jack McCaffery, Jackson Keith, Efeosa Oliogu, Yohan Traore (SMU), Michael Ajayi (Gonzaga), Drayton Jones (South Carolina State), Yame Butler (Drexel), Jalen Jackson (Purdue Fort Wayne)
Key Losses: Pierre Brooks, Jahmyl Telfort, Andre Screen, Patrick McCaffery
9. DePaul
Projected Starting 5:
G Layden Blocker
G RJ Smith
G CJ Gunn
F Kaleb Banks
C NJ Benson
Projected Bench: Khaman Maker, Brandon Maclin, Amsal Delalic (out for 2025-26 season due to injury), Kruz McClure, Isaiah Medina, Theo Pierre-Justin, Jeremy Lorenz, Ilija Milijesavic
Key Newcomers: Kaleb Banks (Tulane), Khaman Maker (St. John’s), RJ Smith (Colorado), Brandon Maclin (Radford), Amsal Delalic (Pitt), Kruz McClure, Isaiah Medina, Jeremy Lorenz (Wofford), Ilija Milijesavic
Key Losses: Isaiah Rivera
10. Xavier
Projected Starting 5:
G Roddie Anderson
G Malik Messina-Moore
F Filip Borovicanin
F Tre Carroll
C Anthony Robinson
Projected Bench: Gabriel Pozzato, All Wright, Jovan Milicevic, Pape N’Diaye, Mier Panoam
Key Newcomers: Gabriel Pozzato (Evansville), Tre Carroll (Florida Atlantic), All Wright (VALPO), Filip Borovicanin (New Mexico), Anthony Robinson (Virginia), Malik Messina-Moore (Montana), Jovan Milicevic (New Mexico), Pape N’Diaye (UNLV), Mier Panoam (North Dakota)
Key Losses: Ryan Conwell, Zach Freemantle, Jerome Hunter, Dayvion McKnight, Marcus Foster, Dailyn Swain
11. Seton Hall
Projected Starting 5:
G Budd Clark
G AJ Staton McCray
G Elijah Fisher
F Jacob Dar
C Godswill Erheriene
Projected Bench: Trey Parker, TJ Simpkins, David Tubek, Assane Mbaye, JD Thomas II, Mike Williams, Patrick Suemnick, Najai Hines
Key Newcomers: Trey Parker (NC State), TJ Simpkins (Elon), Budd Clark (Merrimack), Elijah Fisher (Pacific), AJ Staton-McCray (Miami), Jacob Dar (Rice), Patrick Suemnick (Oklahoma State), Mike Williams (LSU), Najai Hines
Key Losses: Isaiah Coleman, Chaunce Jenkins, Dylan Addae-Wusu
All-Big East Preseason First-Team
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
Owen Freeman, Creighton
Alex Karaban, UConn
Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s
Solo Ball, UConn
Big East Preseason Player of the Year
Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s
Big East Preseason Sleeper
Providence
10 Big East Breakout Players
*In no particular order
*A player is not eligible to be on a breakout list if he has previously averaged in double figures
Tarris Reed, UConn
Jaylin Stewart, UConn
Jackson McAndrew, Creighton
Jasen Green, Creighton
Royce Parham, Marquette
Zaide Lowery, Marquette
Oswin Erhunmwunse, Providence
Jamie Kaiser, Butler
NJ Benson, DePaul
Roddie Anderson, Xavier (redshirt)
10 Impact Big East Transfers
*In no particular order
Ian Jackson, St. John’s (North Carolina)
Joson Sanon, St. John’s (Arizona State)
Oziyah Sellers, St. John’s (Stanford)
Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s (Providence)
Silas Demary Jr., UConn (Georgia)
Josh Dix, Creighton (Iowa)
Owen Freeman, Creighton (Iowa)
KJ Lewis, Georgetown (Arizona)
Jason Edwards, Providence (Vanderbilt)
Michael Ajayi, Butler (Gonzaga)
10 Under-The-Radar Transfers
*In no particular order
Dillon Mitchell, St. John’s (Cincinnati)
Malachi Smith, UConn (Dayton)
Nik Graves, Creighton (Charlotte)
Blake Harper, Creighton (Howard)
Langston Love, Baylor (Georgetown)
Daquan Davis, Providence (Florida State)
Duncan Powell, Providence (Georgia Tech)
Devin Askew, Villanova (Long Beach State)
Kaleb Banks, DePaul (Tulane)
Tre Carroll, Xavier (Florida Atlantic)
5 Impact Big East Freshmen
*In no particular order
Braylon Mullins, UConn
Eric Reibe, UConn
Acaden Lewis, Villanova
Matthew Hodge, Villanova (redshirt)
Jamier Jones, Providence
Leftovers
- The Breakfast Buffet: Brayden Burries, Nebraska, UCLA’s defense needs to improve
- The Breakfast Buffet: Melvin Council, Kentucky is getting healthy, Chad Baker-Mazara
- The Breakfast Buffet: Darius Acuff/Christian Anderson, Darrion Williams, Arizona/Alabama
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (12/12): Guest — Alabama’s Nate Oats
- BRACKET BREAKDOWN: December 12th
