It was just nice to talk basketball on Wednesday, BIG EAST Media Day. 
 
Just over seven months following the shutdown of college hoops, BIG EAST men’s basketball coaches and student-athletes met with the media to look forward. While there are unknowns to still be worked through, one thing is for certain - there’s a buzz in the air for the sport to return, and it could be felt even through zoom rooms in society’s new normal. 
 
There were many takeaways, but we have one for each of the 11 teams to savor amongst the many still to come leading up to the 2020-21 campaign. 
 
Butler 
 
“Defense will be a non-negotiable for us.” 
 
Those were the words of LaVall Jordan, the Bulldogs’ head coach, who sees the loss of superstar Kamar Baldwin to graduation being all the more reason for Butler to be a defense-first team this season. But, that’s nothing new for the Dawgs. Last season, they led the conference in scoring defense, allowing 62.1 points per game. The next best team was Providence, at 66.2 ppg. 
 
For senior guard Aaron Thompson, one of three returning starters and an elite defender, there’s a pride factor that he takes in racking up stops. It will once again be a focal point for BU. 
 
“Our attention to detail on defense is second to none, I would say,” said Thompson. “That’s one of the biggest separators for us. No slip-ups are okay. We hold everybody accountable to do their job. So I think that’s one of the biggest things for us: ‘Hold yourself accountable. Do your job for your teammates.” 
 
UConn 
 
There’s no question that Huskies star James Bouknight has an extra sense of motivation entering his sophomore season, and his first in the BIG EAST. Bouknight, who called it a dream to be a part of the conference, was named to the all-league second team on Wednesday. Averaging over 17 points per game over the final 10 contests last season, Bouknight has his eyes on being a first-teamer when the postseason honors come out. 
 
“My confidence is at an all-time high,” said Bouknight. “I feel like I have different abilities. I feel stronger, faster, more explosive. I’m the closest with my teammates that I have ever been. We’re in a good space, and I’m excited to get going.” 
 
UConn has the depth and size to return and be a BIG EAST contender. In this league, those things are necessary to be a factor. Bouknight, though, can provide such a difference for them because he knows how to make plays, and close games. 
 
Creighton 
 
Picked by the BIG EAST coaches to finish second in the conference this season, the Bluejays have their eyes set on taking the next step for the program: making a deep run in March. They have the top individual talent in the conference, Preseason Player of the Year Marcus Zegarowski, so that’s a good start. 
 
“That’s our goal, to go as far as possible,” said Zegarowski. “We believe we have unfinished business. But right now, we have to just focus in on getting better every day.” 
 
The big preseason question for Creighton is how the Jays will fill the void left by Ty-Shon Alexander, who declared for November’s NBA Draft. Alexander’s presence on the defensive end in particular is something CU is trying to figure through. 
 
“It’s a group thing,” said Zegarowski. “Me, Mitch Ballock, Denzel Mahoney, Damien Jefferson, Shereef Mitchell...I don’t think we’ll have one specific guy like Ty-Shon. But I’m not worried about that.” 
 
DePaul 
 
The Blue Demons have an All-BIG EAST First Team selection in senior guard Charlie Moore. He was the lone player in the conference to rank in the top 10 in points per game, steals and assists last season. That said, head coach Dave Leitao’s offseason goal was to find Moore other playmakers to work with in the backcourt and get older as a team.
 
“We added more depth,” said Moore. “We’ve got more guys that can bring the ball up the floor, more guys that have high IQ. I just feel like, all-around, we have a great backcourt. It’s ready to compete and give DePaul 110 percent effort.” 
 
The Blue Demons welcomed three transfers, Ray Salnave (Monmouth), Javon Freeman-Liberty (Valparaiso) and Pauley Paulicap (Manhattan). They also have a freshman, Kobe Elvis, who could see some action. 
 
Georgetown 
 
Could we see a pair of sophomore Hoya towers on the floor at the same time this season? Patrick Ewing isn’t ruling it out, because he’s seeing two of his big men make progress together by competing against one another in practice. 
 
Georgetown will be led in the post by second-year big guys Qudus Wahab and Timothy Ighoefe. Wahab showed flashes of potential last season, including a six-block performance in February against DePaul. They will be relied upon to man the interior this season. 
 
While the Hoyas are selected 11th in the preseason poll, senior Jamorko Pickett says none of that matters. 
 
“We’re the underdog. We’ve got a lot of guys who are hungry,” said Pickett. “We know what we have here. We’ve got a special group here that can do some special things.” 
 
Marquette
 
What will life without national leading scorer Markus Howard be like? Well, the Golden Eagles will be taller. Head coach Steve Wojciechowski ushers in a Top-25 recruiting class led by BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year Dawson Garcia, who stands at 6-11. The other two Marquette freshmen, Osasere Ighadaro and Justin Lewis, are 6-9 and 6-7, respectively. 
 
Senior center Theo John, who figures to start at the “5” spot this season, has seen a difference in the way the freshmen have come in and impacted the locker room. 
 
“They’ve bought into our culture,” said John. “I’m really excited to see what they do out there. It’s been impressive to see, and the hard work they’ve put in is going to show for itself.” 
 
Providence 
 
The Friars are riding momentum into the 2020-21 campaign, and the BIG EAST coaches are buying it. Providence was selected third in the BIG EAST, edging UConn and Seton Hall for a spot that could be highly contested in the coming season. 
 
What’s known with Ed Cooley’s team is that All-BIG EAST First Team selection David Duke and his fellow junior guard AJ Reeves will lead the Friars. The duo, though, sees a lot of potential in being able to make plays off the newest PC point guard, Saint Joseph’s transfer Jared Bynum. 
 
“He has that pace, and you know, he’s a great defender too,” said Duke. 
 
“Jared, he’s going to be a huge help,” added Reeves.  “He’s going to be able to get us in the right position.”  
 
Bynum averaged 11.3 points, 4.5 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game as a freshman, and his acceleration up the court has been compared to former Friar Kyron Cartwright. We’ll see how this translates, but with Duke and Reeves on the wings, there’s no question the point guard could make a high impact and see those assist totals only increase. 
 
St. John’s 
 
There’s a buzz around Queens, and a motivation factor as well. The Red Storm were picked ninth in the preseason poll, but appear to possess the depth to be a team that hangs more towards the middle of the league if things fall the right way. 
 
A key weapon for Mike Anderson’s team? Sophomore Julian Champagnie, who averaged nearly 14 points and eight rebounds last season for the Johnnies over the final 10 games of his freshman year. 
 
“Regarding last year, I feel like towards the end of the year I told myself to just relax and let things come to me,” said Champagnie. “Me playing the way I did, I credit my teammates. Without having the teammates, I had, I wouldn’t have played the way I did. They gave me the confidence and told me to have the utmost confidence in myself to just go out there and just play. It’s just basketball and if things go wrong, it’s just life. I give that credit to my teammates. This year, I’m excited to see what comes. I don’t know what’s going to come, but I like my team, I like my teammates, so I feel like we’re going to have a good year as long as we play together. As far as me being able to take key shots and make key plays, that’s exciting, but I think all of my teammates will be able to take big shots and make big plays.”
 
As for the rest of the Red Storm, SJU junior Greg Williams Jr. talked about Anderson’s impact on the program.
 
“He’s brought a different mindset to this team,” said Williams. “We’re a team that fights. He’s a coach who has taught us a lot on and off the court. He’s taught us about life.” 
 
Seton Hall
 
There is still a Myles in South Orange. That would be Mr. Cale, who enters his senior season for the Pirates. Known for his defensive capabilities, Cale is looking to put together more offensive consistency in his final year at The Hall. He averaged 6.0 points per game and shot 39 percent a season ago, and with Myles Powell having graduated, it will be on the Delaware native to help lead the team’s wings along with junior Jared Rhoden. 
 
“It’s definitely an opportunity for me to show you guys what I can do and what I can showcase,” said Cale of what lies ahead in his senior season. “For my career, I’ve had Myles Powell on my team the last three years and he really turned it up for his junior year, and his senior year. You know, I kind of took that back seat. But I think this year, you guys will see a lot out of me. I’m prepared and I’m ready for it.”
 
Elsewhere in the backcourt for the blue and white, Harvard grad transfer Bryce Aiken said he definitely plans to be ready for the season opener. Aiken has been still working his way back towards full speed after suffering a foot injury last December. 
 
Villanova 
 
“I’m really into winning.”
 
Those were the words of Villanova sophomore Jeremiah Robinson-Earl when he was asked why he returned to the Wildcats for the coming season after testing the NBA Draft waters. Robinson-Earl’s at the right place for Ws. Over the last seven years, “Supernova” has been just that, holding a 103-23 record against BIG EAST competition. 
 
It’s why the Wildcats were picked to finish first in the preseason poll. This season, a pair of sophomores could play a huge part in their success. 
 
“I wanted to win a BIG EAST title and an NCAA championship,” added Robinson-Earl when asked about why he elected to return. 
 
Averaging 10.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last year, expect “JRE” to be a double-double machine in year two. 
 
Meanwhile, head coach Jay Wright says the set-up is there for sophomore Justin Moore to take a huge leap for the Wildcats. An All-BIG EAST Second Team selection, Moore will look to be a big part of filling the void on the wing with Saddiq Bey having gone to the NBA Draft after his sophomore season. Don’t be surprised if Moore ends up on the all-league first team in the postseason. He’s a lead candidate for a breakout season, and Wright and his colleagues showed it in the way they recognized Moore on Wednesday. 
 
Xavier 
 
The Musketeers were 8-7 in BIG EAST play last season, holding a steady spot and looking like a team that would not have to sweat too much on Selection Sunday. Then, Xavier lost its final three games and bowed out in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament to DePaul. 
 
“That loss still hasn’t left our minds,” said sophomore captain Zach Freemantle.
 
So, what needs to change for the Musketeers to turn some of those losses into wins, and find separation in the middle of the conference? 
 
Taking care of the ball is the priority. Xavier committed 446 giveaways last season, second-most in the BIG EAST. 
 
“We have to cut turnovers down,” said senior forward Jason Carter. “We have to get the best shot for Xavier, no matter who’s taking that shot. We have to be unselfish.” 
 
The Musketeers welcome back senior Paul Scruggs, a Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team pick, as well as a sophomore who could take a significant leap, guard KyKy Tandy. Combined with a Top-25 recruiting class with guards Dwon Odom, C.J. Wilcher and Colby Jones, there are plenty of options for the Musketeers to find better offense in the backcourt. 
 
“This year, we’re more powerful offensively, said Freemantle. “Last year, all we could do at times was play paint ball. We will have better shooters this season.”
 
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