In just a few weeks’ time, Big East basketball will be back and better than ever (Check out our full Big East Preview here). With teams playing fewer non-conference games due to the delayed start to the season, the Big East will likely be as unpredictable as ever. We still thought our team of staffers was up to the challenge! We asked them to project the Big East regular season order of finish, as well as make their picks for several individual awards.
Projected Order of Finish
“Villanova has held at least a share of the Big East title for 6 of the last 7 seasons. I want this to be the year that breaks that trend, but this Wildcats team has more experience and is deeper than most of Jay Wright’s recent squads.” -Jacob VanderZwaag
“With Alpha Diallo and most of last year’s core gone, I think Providence will underperform. Despite finishing fourth in the Big East last season, they lost to the likes of Penn, Long Beach State, and Charleston in non-conference play.” -Kole Wolfe
“Butler and Marquette are the only two teams who fail to return a Big East player who scored at least 10 points per game last year. Marquette should make up some of this production with Ohio State transfer DJ Carton, but Butler seems poised to backslide.” -Bobby Vogel
“I think Georgetown won’t be as bad as people think. It’s clear that Villanova and Creighton are the top teams, but after that it’s almost anyone’s game.” -Kathryn Maloney
“I believe UConn is going to be the biggest surprise of the Big East this year. They have a very talented team, but have been flying under the radar since they weren’t in the best conference. Look for them to do some damage and compete for a top spot in their first year back.” -Armen Haratunian
“UConn in third? Yeah, that’s right. I see them poised for a major breakout year, with the returning talent they have (James Bouknight) and the newcomers (RJ Cole), in addition to the talented coaching and depth that they have. They might’ve played in a joke of a conference the past few years, but sleep on them at your peril. Also, death, taxes, DePaul finishes last. Even with a rebuilding year for the Hoyas, it feels wrong to move off of that principle after it’s served me so well the past few years.” -Will Cromarty
“Seton Hall will struggle tremendously without 4-year star Myles Powell and a couple other prominent role players leaving in Quincy McKnight and Romaro Gill.” -Charlie Sewell
“Villanova returns essentially its core nucleus of star power minus Sadiq Bey, and has the coaching staff to make them a contender for the national title this season.” -Jake DeAnnuntis
Who is your pick for Big East Player of the Year?
Marcus Zegarowski (Creighton)
“He’s proven to be one of the best guards in the country, and we saw how large of an impact Zegarowski had for Creighton after he got injured last year. In a talented conference, he has the ability to be the best.” -Armen Haratunian
“He’s a strong point guard with potential to score many buckets and dish out many assists for the Bluejays as well” -Joella Chase
“By far the best player in the Big East.” -Kathryn Maloney
“With Tyshon Alexander leaving Creighton for the NBA, Zegarowski will have to carry the load on offense and because of this his numbers will increase across the board.” -Charlie Sewell
Collin Gillespie (Villanova)
“Gillespie was perhaps the most consistent Big East player on both sides of the floor last year besides Myles Powell. Given the inevitable chaos of a pandemic season, the stable Villanova system seems primed to thrive.” -Bobby Vogel
“It’s hard to ignore the guy running the show for the best team in the conference.” -Kole Wolfe
“Gillespie has steadily improved each year he’s been with the Wildcats, and he’s poised for a senior breakout season in a year where the Wildcats are national title contenders. Frankly, I see him a better player than Zegarowski. If Gillespie takes another step forward, and Villanova dominates the league as many expect them to do, it’s tough to not see Gillespie reap the rewards.” -Will Cromarty
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Villanova)
“Last year’s Big East Freshman of the Year will make the jump to the conference’s top award in his second season. Robinson-Earl is crazy talented and in the perfect position to succeed.” -Jacob VanderZwaag
“Fresh off of winning Freshman of the Year, Robinson-Earl is poised for a huge role in Villanova’s offense this year. Without Sadiq Bey, somebody will have to step up and be the prime scoring option, and with his combination of size, athleticism, and skill I believe he will have a breakout year. “ -Jake DeAnnuntis
Who is an under-the-radar player you expect to have a breakout season?
Aaron Thompson (Butler)
“Seeing Thompson left off the Preseason All-Big East First and Second Teams (and honorable mention) came as a surprise to me. Rock solid in his three years as Butler’s starting Point Guard, Thompson will be asked to shoulder a larger load in his senior season, especially with the Bulldogs losing their top three (!!) scorers from a year ago.” -Jacob VanderZwaag
David Duke (Providence)
“He’s a guard that is among the most talented in the conference but is yet to show what he can do. After the departure of Alpha Diallo, Duke has the ability to take over that team and have the breakout year the Friars have been waiting for.” -Armen Haratunian
Qudus Wahab (Georgetown)
“He showed flashes in the post last year, and he will have plenty of opportunities this season.” -Kole Wolfe
Takal Molsen (Seton Hall)
“The sizeable Seton Hall transfer via Canisius had to sit out last year due to transfer rules. Expect the guard who previously won MAAC Rookie of the Year to play a critical sixth man role for the Pirates.” -Bobby Vogel
Jared Bynum (Providence)
“Underrated point guard who could be the secret to a successful Providence season.” -Kathryn Maloney”
Bryce Aiken (Seton Hall)
“Aiken is going to take over for [Myles] Powell, and is going to be the engine for a talented and experienced Seton Hall roster. He’s not what Powell was, but Aiken is a smart guard who will still get his buckets.” -Will Cromarty
Julian Champagnie (St. John’s)
“Champagnie finished the year with much more productivity, having back-to-back 20 point games with 12 boards in one of them. I think he will continue this form into the new season and average a near double-double with points and rebounds.” -Charlie Sewell
Ed Croswell (Providence)
“After recently receiving a waiver to play this season, the La Salle transfer will be a force on the glass. Croswell has made huge strides in every year of his career and I have no reason to believe this year will be any different.” -Jake DeAnnuntis
Do you agree with our picks? Who do you think is the team to beat in this year’s Big East? Let us know in the comment section below or tag us on social media to join the conversation!
