We’re officially less than three months away from the start of another college basketball journey. With the roster changes that came and went during transfer season cleared up for the most part and summer workouts in the rearview mirror, let’s take a look at some of the storylines in the BIG EAST entering the 2021-22 campaign for all 11 teams. We’ll go in reverse alphabetical order this time around.
Xavier
The Musketeers have all of the pieces on paper to reach their first NCAA Tournament since 2018. The key question might be as simple as can they peak at the right time? Xavier started the 2020-21 campaign at 8-0. They finished the season 5-8. There has to be a motivational factor in Cincinnati to account for, and that will be spearheaded by Paul Scruggs, who elected to return for a fifth season utilizing the NCAA’s added year of eligibility for all student-athletes due to COVID-19. Scruggs led the league with 5.7 assists per game last season. With sharpshooter Nate Johnson, rising sophomore guard Colby Jones and a deep backcourt back, Xavier should be able to score the ball well. One question is defense. While reigning BIG EAST Most Improved Player Zach Freemantle did what he could, and is one of the best frontcourt players in the conference, he needs some assistance in the paint. Travis Steele and his staff addressed the needs with Iowa transfer Jack Nunge and Indiana transfer Jerome Hunter. There’s a well-rounded nature to this roster and with Scruggs, who should be considered as a BIG EAST Player of the Year contender, leading them, Steele’s team has the fire power to be a team near the top of the conference and a factor nationally. It’s just a matter of piecing everything together and playing the best basketball they are capable of at the right time.
Villanova
Raise your hand if you’ve heard this before: the BIG EAST is the Wildcats’ to lose entering the season. They’ve won seven of the last eight conference regular season titles, and are looking like a consensus top five team nationally in preseason polls. Welcoming back Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels for a fifth season leads the reasons why Jay Wright’s program could be destined for New Orleans next April, but the key in my mind is what the Wildcats’ supporting cast of shooters do. Junior wing Justin Moore will look to boost his 31 percent mark from the perimeter. He averaged 13 points per game last season, but it’s what he does from the outside that is something to watch. We’ll see what Tulane transfer Caleb Daniels does after having a year under his belt in Wright’s system. Plus, Villanova has a Top 20 recruiting class coming in according to 247 Sports, with Pennsylvania native and 6-foot-5 guard Jordan Longino highlighting the group. Gillespie is an All-America caliber talent. If he has consistency in shotmaking surrounding him, the Wildcats are going to be one tough out for anybody. They will certainly be ready for anything come March, with road games at Baylor and UCLA on their slate and a neutral court showdown with Syracuse at Madison Square Garden leading into BIG EAST play.
Seton Hall
How will Kevin Willard manage his hefty amount of backcourt depth? It’s a good problem to have, as the Pirates bring in a variety of additions on top of what they have returning. Let’s start with the certainty: senior Jared Rhoden is primed to be the leading scorer for this team, and the man handling key situations in games. Myles Cale will be back for a fifth year, and he offers a steady defensive presence. In terms of what’s in question, Harvard transfer Bryce Aiken will be back, but injuries prevented him from finding a rhythm. Can he stay healthy? That’s a large question for The Hall. Willard added a physical guard, 6-6 Kadary Richmond, who transfers from Syracuse. The Brooklyn native averaged 6.3 points and 3.1 boards per game last season and was known for his defensive pedigree. The Pirates’ staff also brought in a scoring presence with American transfer Jamir Harris, who ranked third in the Patriot League at 20.3 points per game last season. In the recruiting realm, Seton Hall ushers in its highest ranked recruit since Isaiah Whitehead with the addition of four-star wing Brandon Weston. So, there are a flowing amount of options for Willard to choose from. The Hall will be battle-tested for league play, with non-conference games against Michigan, Ohio State and Texas on the schedule.
St. John’s
The Red Storm are one of the winners of the offseason, in my opinion. Most importantly, welcoming junior forward Julian Champagnie back to the fold after he led the BIG EAST with 19.8 points per game last season makes the Johnnies an NCAA Tournament contender. Reigning BIG EAST Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year Posh Alexander has the makeup of a player who should only get better in his second year in Queens. While the Johnnies had some departures from their roster early in the transfer cycle, they made up for it with quality additions. One area of concern for the Johnnies in the past has been size. Reigning BIG EAST Coach of the Year Mike Anderson and his staff addressed that need by bringing in 6-9 Aaron Wheeler from Purdue. Wheeler, who appeared in all 28 games last season and started five of those contests, averaged over 18 minutes per game for a Purdue squad that earned a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. By all accounts from Carnesecca Arena, Wheeler was a bright spot during summer workouts. St. John’s was not done there, adding Fordham transfer Joel Soriano. The New York native averaged 10.4 points and 9.2 boards per game in the Atlantic 10 last season. With Vermont transfer Stef Smith and Rutgers transfer Montez Mathis coming in, Alexander will have fellow weapons in the backcourt in addition to his high school teammate, sophomore Dylan Addae-Wusu. The pieces are on the table, and SJU has two All-BIG EAST First Team candidates with Champagnie and Alexander. Year three of the Anderson Era should be the best yet.
Providence
Here’s what we know about the Friars: Nate Watson is back for a fifth year, and he should be one of the best big men in college basketball. At 6-10 and 260 pounds, Watson was a real handful for teams last season, averaging 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. If he stays out of foul trouble, the big man should be primed for a monster campaign. Ed Cooley has a distinct edge on the interior with Watson out there. In the backcourt, the Friars have options but need to sort through some things. With David Duke gone to the NBA - and impressing in summer league for the Nets, by the way - the Friars added 1,000-point scorer Al Durham from Indiana. The 6-foot-4 guard, a team captain for the Hoosiers this past season, was third on the team with over 11 points per game. He will split time handling the ball with returnee Jared Bynum, who is very important if PC is going to have success this season. While he averaged 3.9 assists per game last season, Bynum only averaged 5.8 points and shot just 31 percent. Perhaps the biggest key for Cooley’s team is senior AJ Reeves. The 6-6 guard was stuck in a shooting funk last season. When he is on, he’s been huge, coming up with clutch buckets in wins over Seton Hall and DePaul last season. He only shot 32 percent from distance, though, and that has to improve some if the Friars are going to be a factor in the BIG EAST. Reeves has showed signs before that he can be a really quality player in a backcourt. Can he save the best for last as a senior? We shall see.
Marquette
The Shaka Smart Era is underway in Milwaukee, and the focal point thus far has been attitude. Smart has said this summer that his team will be the most energetic in the BIG EAST. The Golden Eagles have nine new scholarship players and only two, Justin Lewis and Greg Elliott, with any experience with the program. That being said, the Golden Eagles bring in a Top-20 recruiting class according to 247 sports and made some impact transfer additions, including reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Darryl Moresell. The 6-5 graduate transfer from Maryland is still recovering from surgery and did not play this summer, but the coaching staff is very optimistic about what he brings to the table. Clemson transfer and former four-star recruit Olivier-Maxence Prosper comes in after appearing in 22 games for the Tigers this past season. He should add something to the frontcourt. In terms of the new faces, four-star guards Stevie Mitchell and Emarion Ellis are both going to have an opportunity to make an immediate impact. Guard Tyler Kolek, who was Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year this past season after posting 11 points per game, should fill in the backcourt rotation as well. Lewis is someone who should thrive in Smart’s system, as he brings a high energy to the game and versatility at his 6-7 size. The Golden Eagles will be young, but intriguing with Smart back in his home state and adding to the coaching personality of the conference.
Georgetown
Before we look ahead, it cannot be overstated just how much four days at Madison Square Garden this past March meant for Georgetown Basketball. For the Hoyas to win their first BIG EAST Tournament title in 14 years, and do it as an 8-seed, was nothing short of incredible. As Patrick Ewing enters year five, he will have a very young group. Jamorko Pickett and Jahvon Blair are gone, which means plenty of minutes and shots open up for the Hoyas. The key returnee is point guard Dante Harris, who was wise beyond his years as a freshman, winning the Dave Gavitt Trophy as the BIG EAST Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Ewing has his point guard, and now Harris will be tasked with leading the team. The Hoyas’ incoming class is one of the best in the nation, ranked 16th by 247 Sports. Five-star shooting guard Aminu Mohammed, ranked third among all incoming freshman shooting guards in the country, headlines the group. On the interior, a familiar name will be on the back of a blue and gray jersey again. Ryan Mutombo, the son of Dikembe, comes to Georgetown as a four-star prospect and as the 17th ranked center in the country. Add in three-star guards Jordan Riley and Tyler Beard, and the Hoyas are filled with potential. This group may go through the early growing pains of learning how to win, but Ewing has shown that his teams evolve as the season goes on. It’s hard to pin down an exact expectation level for such a youthful team, but the key in the big picture on the Hilltop is roster continuity. Having this class stay with intact is what could lead 2022-23 and beyond to be seasons where Georgetown isn’t the perceived underdog, but a team near the top of the conference again.
DePaul
There’s a fresh energy in Chicago with Athletic Director DeWayne Peevy, formerly of Kentucky, hiring former Oregon assistant Tony Stubblefield. That energy is needed for a program that hasn’t appeared in the NCAA Tournament since 2004. And while the Blue Demons have their work cut out for them, they won’t lack in the ability to bring in talent. Now, it’s about turning that into a combination that can work together on the floor, and find ways to win in the BIG EAST. DePaul will have six new players to the roster, and Stubblefield hopes that bringing in Oregon transfer Jalen Terry, a 6-0 guard, will help get others acclimated with his system. The Blue Demons should be solid inside, adding Minnesota transfer Brandon Johnson (8.9 points, 6.3 rebounds) and SMU transfer Yor Anei (7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks) in addition to returnee Nick Ongenda. The freshman class is headlined by four-star shooting guard Ahamad Bynum, who is staying home after leading Simeon High School to a Chicago Public League title as a junior. Sharpshooter Javon Freeman-Liberty, who posted three 20-plus point performances last season, is also back. For DePaul, this season is about establishing an identity under Stubblefield, and finding a formula to finish some conference games.
Creighton
The Bluejays are one of the more intriguing teams in the BIG EAST in my opinion. Why? Well, they lose Marcus Zegarowski, Mitch Ballock, Damien Jefferson, Denzel Mahoney and Christian Bishop. The good news: Creighton brings in the No. 1 recruiting class in the conference according to 247 Sports, ranked sixth nationally. So, how will all of the young pieces come together and can coach Greg McDermott get this group to be a factor in the league despite the inexperience? The Jays usher in a quartet of four-star prospects - point guard Ryan Nembhard, forwards Arthur Kaluma and Mason Miller and shooting guard Trey Alexander. The word out of Omaha is that Nembhard is ready right now for the big stage of college basketball and he could be McDermott’s next great point guard. Shereef Mitchell enters his junior season, and should be able to help the young guards along and establish the defensive end for CU. In the frontcourt, 7-0 Ryan Kalkbrenner should be primed for a larger role, after a breakout campaign as a sophomore. Last year, Kalkbrenner’s 37 blocked shots ranked seventh among all freshmen in college hoops. It can take time for a young team to figure itself out, but McDermott has such a strong identity in the way he runs his offense, and how easy it can come for players that the Jays could grow into a dangerous group as the season moves along. This is a team that could be anywhere from 4-5 in the league to 8-9. Youth will be tested, but there are reasons to think the Jays will be a factor again. There’s no question that it won’t be long before Creighton is contending for the BIG EAST crown again if these pieces stay around in Omaha.
UConn
Here’s what we know about the Huskies: they will defend and rebound as well as anyone in the BIG EAST. In their return season to the league, UConn allowed only 64.6 points per game and owned a +5.1 rebounding margin, both of which were best in the conference. The Huskies have a large amount of their core back with RJ Cole, Tyrese Martin, Tyler Polley, Isaiah Whaley, Adama Sanogo and others. The question: Who will be the Huskies’ alpha? With James Bouknight gone to the NBA, UConn is looking for someone to step up and be the lead scorer offensively. Martin could be someone who takes on more after averaging 10 and eight last season. A healthy Andre Jackson could be a breakout candidate for the Huskies. He was recruited to be a dynamic wing for UConn. Coach Dan Hurley and his staff also bring in the league’s No. 2 recruiting class according to 247 Sports, with four-star guards Jordan Hawkins and Rahsool Diggins joined by four-star center Samson Johnson. The offense could also take on a by-committee approach with different players stepping up when needed, such as Polley, who was vital for the Huskies at times from beyond the three-point arc, particularly when Bouknight was sidelined last year with an injury. There’s no question in my mind that Sanogo (7.3 points, 4.8 rebounds last year) should take a significant leap in his second year. He’s primed for it, and will be one of the best bigs in the league. Again, experience usually wins in college basketball and UConn has plenty of it. Identifying their star in late-game situations will be interesting to watch, but with the length they have inside and Cole at the point guard spot, there’s no reason why the Huskies shouldn’t be one of the top teams in the BIG EAST and returning to the Big Dance floor in March.
Butler
Do not sleep on the Bulldogs. This could be the dark horse of the conference this season for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, coach LaVall Jordan welcomes back 97 percent of his team’s scoring from last season. Second off, Butler’s roster includes six players who are entering their fifth or sixth season of college basketball. Last year, a young squad that was hampered by COVID-19, playing just three non-conference games and having nine players miss time due to the virus, still came together down the stretch and notched upset wins over Villanova and Creighton. After a shoulder injury ended his season in mid-February, point guard Aaron Thompson (10.4 PPG, 4.7 APG) is back for a fifth season. He’ll be accompanied in the backcourt by a variety of weapons including impact transfers Jair Bolden and Bo Hodges, as well as rising sophomores Chuck Harris and Myles Tate. Harris was incredibly dynamic in his rookie season, and was the first freshman to lead the Bulldogs in scoring since 1979-80. He averaged 13 points per contest, and posted six 20-point outings. He has the makeup of someone who can take the keys and be Butler’s star in these next few seasons. In the frontcourt, Bryce Nze plays bigger than his 6-7 frame, averaging 11.0 PPG and 7.8 RPG last season. He’s accompanied by 6-9 Bryce Golden, who posted 10.4 PPG and 4.7 RPG, and was someone who showed he can stretch the floor from time to time. The Bulldogs are always stout defensively, only allowing 68.7 points per game last season which was fourth in the BIG EAST. The question mark will be if they can score the basketball more effectively this year. They were last in the conference and 319th nationally at 63.5 points per game. That figure should go up with nearly their entire roster back and a healthy Thompson running the point. Hodges only scratched the surface in the nine games he played last season and should be someone they can count on to have some breakout scoring performances. Overall, the way the Bulldogs closed last season, beating Villanova and Seton Hall then edging Xavier at Madison Square Garden before bowing out in the BIG EAST Tournament, there’s reason to believe this team could get back to the NCAA Tournament this season.