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. UConn
Projected Starting 5:
G Silas Demary Jr.
G Braylon Mullins
F Jayden Ross
F Nik Khamenia
C Najai Hines
Projected Bench: Junior County, Colben Landrew, Oskar Giltay, Nils Machowski, Jaye Nash, Solo Ball (medical redshirt), Isaiah Shaw, Egor Amosov
Key Newcomers: Colben Landrew, Junior County, Najai Hines (Seton Hall), Nik Khamenia (Duke), Oskar Giltay (Stanford), Nils Machowski (Wofford), Jaye Nash (Jacksonville State), Isaiah Shaw (Northern Arizona), Egor Amosov
Key Losses: Alex Karaban, Malachi Smith, Tarris Reed, Jaylin Stewart
2. St. John’s
Projected Starting 5:
G Quinn Ellis
G Ian Jackson
F Tounde Yessoufou
F Babacar Sane
C Ruben Prey
Projected Bench: Casper Pohto, Dordije Jovanovic, Lazar Stojkovic, Avery Brown, Lefteris Liotopoulos, Theo Edema, Kyle Cuffe Jr., Gildas Gemenez, Donnie Freeman (out for season)
Key Newcomers: Quinn Ellis, Dordije Jovanovic, Donnie Freeman (Syracuse), Lazar Stojkovic, Avery Brown (Columbia), Babacar Sane, Theo Edema, Kyle Cuffe Jr. (Mercer), Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor), Gildas Gemenez
Key Losses: Zuby Ejiofor, Bryce Hopkins, Dillon Mitchell, Oziyah Sellers, Dylan Darling
3. Villanova
Projected Starting 5:
G Elijah Crawford
G Tyler Perkins
F Devin Royal
F Kwame Evans
C Luis Suigo
Projected Bench: Adam Oumiddoch, Jake Fiegen, Darryl Simmons, Matthew Hodge
Key Newcomers: Adam Oumiddoch, Kwame Evans (Oregon), Devin Royal (Ohio State), Jake Fiegen (Cornell), Elijah Crawford (UIC), Darryl Simmons (St. Bonaventure), Luis Suigo
Key Losses: Duke Brennan, Devin Askew, Acaden Lewis, Malachi Palmer
4. Providence
Projected Starting 5:
G Malik Mack
G Dink Pate
G Devin Vanterpool
G Miles Byrd
C Arrinten Page
Projected Bench: Ryan Mela, Samson Aletan, Ryan Sabol, Gavin Hightower, Leonardo Marangon, Jacob Barnarbie
Key Newcomers: Dink Pate (G League), Miles Byrd (San Diego State), Devin Vanterpool (Florida Atlantic), Samson Aletan (Yale), Ryan Sabol (Buffalo), Gavin Hightower (South Florida), Arrinten Page (Northwestern), Leonardo Marangon, Malik Mack (Georgetown), Jacob Barnarbie (UNLV)
Key Losses: Jaylin Sellers, Jason Edwards, Stefan Vaaks, Jamier Jones
5. Creighton
Projected Starting 5:
G BJ Davis
G Wes Enis
F Jasen Green
F Jackson McAndrew
C Oswin Erhunmwunse
Projected Bench: Hudson Greer, Shane Thomas, Katrelle Harmon, Austin Swartz, Isaac Traudt, Kayden Edwards, Trevon Carter-Givens, Wesley Rosa
Key Newcomers: Katrelle Harmon, Oswin Erhunmwunse (Providence), Wes Enis (South Florida), BJ Davis (San Diego State), Kayden Edwards (TCU), Trevon Carter-Givens, Wesley Rosa (JUCO)
Key Losses: Josh Dix, Nik Graves, Ty Davis, Fedor Zugic
6. Marquette
Projected Starting 5:
G Nigel James
G Adrien Stevens
F Damarius Owens
F Royce Parham
F Sananda Fru
Projected Bench: Caedin Hamilton, Nolan Minessale, Joshua Clark, Michael Phillips II, Alex Egbuonu, Ethan Johnston, Nash Walker, Colton Crowdis, Ian Miletic
Key Newcomers: Sananda Fru (Louisville), Nolan Minessale (St. Thomas) Alex Egbuonu, Ethan Johnston, Nash Walker, Colton Crowdis
Key Losses: Chase Ross, Ben Gold
7. Xavier
Projected Starting 5:
G Chance Westry
G Tru Washington
G Ruben Dominguez
F Jovan Milicevic
C Michael Nwoko
Projected Bench: Gabriel Pozzato, Rolyns Aligbe, Braden Applehans, Nikolaos Chitikoudis, Kalek House, Asher Elson, Gedeon Basson
Key Newcomers: Michael Nwoko (LSU), Tru Washington (Miami), Ruben Dominguez (Texas A&M), Chance Westry (UAB), Royns Aligbe (Southern Illinois), Braden Appelhans (Drake), Nikolaos Chitikoudis (Robert Morris), Kalek House, Asher Elson, Gedeon Basson
Key Losses: Tre Carroll, Malik Moore, Filip Borovicanin
8. DePaul
Projected Starting 5:
G Layden Blocker
G Kahmare Holmes
G Ade Popoola
F Magoon Gwath
C Wilson Jacques
Projected Bench: Noah Meeusen, Koree Cotton, Andrew Jensen, Mason Lockett, Noah Smith, Kruz McClure, Theo Pierre-Justin, Fabian Flores, Amsal Delalic
Key Newcomers: Magoon Gwath (San Diego State), Wilson Jacques (Fresno State), Noah Meeusen (Arizona State), Kahmare Holmes (Wofford), Ade Popoola (Tulsa), Koree Cotton (UTRGV), Andrew Jensen, Mason Lockett, Noah Smith
Key Losses: CJ Gunn, NJ Benson
9. Georgetown
Projected Starting 5:
G Jaland Lowe
G Elmarko Jackson
G Vyctorius Miller
F Caleb Williams
C Chol Machot
Projected Bench: Kayvaun Mulready, Justin Caldwell, Josiah Parker, Seal Diouf
Key Newcomers: Justin Caldwell, Jaland Lowe (Pitt), Elmarko Jackson (Kansas), Vyctorius Miller (Oklahoma State), Chol Machot (Charleston), Josiah Parker (Florida Atlantic)
Key Losses: KJ Lewis, Malik Mack, Vincent Iwuchukwu, Julius Halaifonua
10. Seton Hall
Projected Starting 5:
G Roddie Anderson
G Simeon Wilcher
G Rodney Brown
F Chris Nwuli
C Devin Williams
Projected Bench: Del Jones, Kareem Thomas, Mayar Wol, Abdulai Fanta Kabba, Trey Parker, Darien Moore, Terry Copeland, Mihailo Petrovic
Key Newcomers: Simeon Wilcher (Texas), Del Jones (Radford), Roddie Anderson (Xavier), Kareeem Thomas (Dartmouth), Rodney Brown (Loyola Marymount), Devin Williams (Florida Atlantic), Chris Nwuli (Rutgers), Mayar Wol (Bowling Green), Abdulai Fanta Kabba (Western Carolina), Darien Moore, Terry Copeland (JUCO), Mihailo Petrovic (Illinois)
Key Losses: Budd Clark, TJ Simpkins, Najai Hines, Mike Williams, Elijah Fisher
11. Butler
Projected Starting 5:
G Jalen Jackson
G Eduardo Klafke
F Asim Djulovic
F Treyson Anderson
C Drayton Jones
Projected Bench: Herly Brutus, Marco Maric, Samis Calderon, Christian Moore, Jordan Ellerbee, Samu Adler
Key Newcomers: Herly Brutus, Marco Maric, Christian Moore (The Citadel), Samis Calderon (Kansas), Treyson Anderson (North Dakota State), Jordan Ellerbee (Florida Gulf Coast), Eduardo Klafke (Ole Miss), Asim Djulovic, Samu Adler
Key Losses: Finley Bizjack, Michael Ajayi
Big East Preseason Player of the Year
Silas Demary Jr., UConn
All-Big East Preseason First-Team
Silas Demary Jr., UConn
Braylon Mullins, UConn
Tyler Perkins, Villanova
Nigel James, Marquette
Tounde Yessoufou, St. John’s
Big East Preseason Sleeper
Xavier
5 Impact Big East Freshmen
*In no particular order
*Due to NCAA eligibility inconsistencies, foreign players are not included in this list
Junior County, UConn
Colben Landrew, UConn
Adam Oumiddoch, Villanova
Katrelle Harmon, Creighton
Theo Edema, St. John’s
5 Big East Breakout Players
*In no particular order
*A player is not eligible for this list if he has previously averaged in double figures
Jayden Ross, UConn
Ian Jackson, St. John’s
Ruben Prey, St. John’s
Jackson McAndrew, Creighton
Adrien Stevens, Marquette
Leftovers
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (6/14): Guest — Iowa’s Ben McCollum
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (7/13): Big Ten Offseason Breakdown
- Big Ten Offseason Breakdown
- INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW (7/9): Guest — Marquette’s Shaka Smart
- Indiana, Missouri finalizing agreement to meet on Dec. 18th in Bloomington
