College Basketball

Big East men's basketball preview: Power rankings, awards, predictions

Updated Oct. 24, 2023 2:21 p.m. ET

College Basketball Broadcaster and Reporter

"It's going to be a bear. There's no better conference in college basketball."

Those were the words of Creighton head coach Greg McDermott when I sat down with him in Omaha a couple of weeks ago. Sure, almost every coach in the country is going to speak highly of their league, but the word bear was a perfect way to describe the Big East entering the 2023-24 season.

How many times have we been able to say this about a conference? The reigning national champions are a preseason AP Top-10 team, but likely won't be picked first in the league when the coaches' poll drops on Tuesday. Yes, UConn is ranked No. 6 in the nation with Donovan Clingan, Alex Karaban and Tristen Newton back in Storrs and a top-five recruiting class coming in headlined by Stephon Castle. But it's Marquette – a program that won 29 games last year, took home the Big East regular season and tournament crowns and has reigning conference player of the year and preseason All-American Tyler Kolek at point guard – that is favored in the Big East. Not to be forgotten, Creighton is also ranked in the top 10 with Ryan Kalkbrenner, Baylor Scheierman and Trey Alexander running it back after making the Elite Eight last season.

"When you're playing in our league, there's nothing in the NCAA Tournament that's going to surprise you," Karaban told FOX Sports. "We were ready for everybody we saw in March Madness because of what we saw in the grind of the Big East. Honestly, that's what drives us this year. We can't stop thinking about the Big East. Last year wasn't good enough for us in the conference. We want those titles, and another national championship."

The Big East has a trio of legitimate national championship contenders this season, but the intrigue only begins there. In fact, we haven't even gotten to the most compelling storyline in this conference.

Rick Pitino is back in the Big East and looking to resurrect St. John's out of the darkness. The 71-year-old Hall of Famer, who became the first coach in college basketball to lead three different schools to the Final Four (Providence, Kentucky, Louisville), has made an immediate impact in Queens by turning over the roster and building an NCAA Tournament-caliber team. Pitino, a native New Yorker, will call Madison Square Garden home once again after serving as the head coach of the New York Knicks from 1987-89.

"We're going to build it back up," Pitino said in his introductory press conference in May. "No question in my mind. It's gotta be done right away because I don't have a lot of time. I mean, I'm not going anywhere. But you have to do it right away in New York. Patience is not a virtue in New York."

St. John's has not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2000. The first line of business for Pitino is to end that rough drought for a once-proud program in the Louie Carnesecca days.

There was even a flair for the dramatic in the Big East in the offseason. In the most stunning coaching move in conference history, Ed Cooley left Providence after 13 seasons and a Sweet 16 berth in 2022, electing to take the Georgetown job after Patrick Ewing was fired in March. It marked the first time a Big East head coach made a move within the conference. For a Hoyas program that is 13-50 over the last two seasons and has been a shell of its former self, Georgetown greatly needs a turnaround. Will Cooley be able to build the Hoyas up like he did with Providence? We shall see.

Speaking of the Friars, Providence calls on one of the rising coaching stars in the industry, Kim English. At 35 years of age, English is the youngest power-conference coach in America and leads a team that will be powered by All-America candidate Bryce Hopkins, as well as two-way guard Devin Carter.

We haven't even gotten to Villanova yet. After the Wildcats missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012, Kyle Neptune enters his second year at the helm with the pressure to turn things around. With Justin Moore and Eric Dixon back, along with one of the best transfer portal classes in the country, the pieces are in place for Villanova to be a top-15 team.

Then there's Sean Miller, who even through injuries, should not be taken lightly at Xavier after the Musketeers went to the Sweet 16 last year.

Even the teams in the back end of the league have compelling coaches, with Thad Matta entering his second year with an improved Butler team, and Shaheen Holloway, who led Saint Peter's on the Cinderella run in 2022, having an intriguing backcourt at Seton Hall.

This league could absolutely send seven of its 11 teams to the NCAA Tournament this year. With a coaches group that is filled with some characters and All-American worthy talent, get ready for a wild year in the Big East.

Here are our preseason honors and power rankings.

First Team:

Tyler Kolek, G, Marquette
Justin Moore, G, Villanova
Donovan Clingan, C, UConn
Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
Bryce Hopkins, F, Providence

Second Team:

Kam Jones, G, Marquette
Baylor Scheierman, G, Creighton
Trey Alexander, G, Creighton
Joel Soriano, C, St. John's
Eric Dixon, F, Villanova

Big East Preseason Player of the Year: Tyler Kolek, Marquette

Breakout Player to Watch: Donovan Clingan, UConn

Impact Transfer to Watch: Jordan Dingle, St. John's

Dark Horse: Providence

Wild Card: St. John's

Sleeper: Xavier

Big East Preseason team-by-team breakdowns in order of power rankings:

Marquette Golden Eagles

Head coach: Shaka Smart
Last year's record: 29-7
Postseason: Reached second round of NCAA Tournament, lost to Michigan State

The Golden Eagles have virtually everyone back from their Big East regular season and tournament championship team last season, with the exception of Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who was a first-round pick by the Mavericks. In Kolek, Jones and Stevie Mitchell, Marquette has one of the best backcourts in the country. Oso Ighodaro is a mobile big man who is so invaluable to what they do, and David Joplin is poised for a big year at power forward. What says it all about Smart and his staff is that freshmen Tre Norman and Zaide Lowery would play an even bigger role on any other team in the Big East. Marquette saw nobody transfer and did not take any transfers this past offseason. Roster continuity is rare these days, but the Golden Eagles have it because their program culture is as strong as any in college basketball.

Creighton Bluejays

Head coach: Greg McDermott
Last year's record: 24-13
Postseason: Reached Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, lost to San Diego State

While the Bluejays lost Ryan Nembhard and Arthur Kaluma in the transfer portal, that could end up being a blessing in disguise for Greg McDermott. Both of those players are talented, but the Jays had some ball-stopping possessions at times last year, particularly during a bit of a bumpy regular season. This 2023-24 roster feels like it fits better with Scheierman and Alexander back at the wings to play off 23-year-old point guard and Utah State transfer Steven Ashworth. By every account, Ashworth has fit in perfectly in Omaha. With Kalkbrenner at center, the Jays have an elite rim protector and two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year. The key for Creighton will be the power forward position. Sophomore Mason Miller is the leader in the clubhouse for playing time, while Virginia transfer Isaac Traudt and Jasen Green will vie for playing time as well. Between the experience, shotmaking and elite interior defense with an All-American center, I'm all in on this Creighton team. McDermott is an offensive technician, and the possibilities with Ashworth/Scheierman/Alexander are endless.

UConn Huskies

Head coach: Dan Hurley
Last year's record: 31-8
Postseason: Won national championship

The Huskies were an absolute freight train this past March, winning their six NCAA Tournament games by an average of 20 points. Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson were both selected in the NBA Draft, while Adama Sanogo agreed to a two-way contract with the Bulls. That's part of the reason why, in the midst of Marquette and Creighton being stacked, Connecticut is No. 3 in my power rankings. UConn is certainly a top-10 worthy team, but to put them higher in these rankings would disregard who the Huskies lost. In terms of this year's team, it's important that Clingan returns from his foot strain and performs at a high level. It's expected that the center won't miss any significant games, if he misses any at all. Having Newton back at point guard and Karaban as the steady 4-man is huge. Rutgers transfer Cam Spencer was a great add to bolster the perimeter. Just how good will Castle be in his one-and-done season? We shall see. UConn could use Solomon Ball and Hassan Diarra to supply backcourt depth, and Samson Johnson to help the frontcourt. All that said, the Huskies do have the upside to repeat as national champs. We'll see if the new pieces blend in well and if Clingan can in fact perform at an All-American level.

Villanova Wildcats

Head coach: Kyle Neptune
Last year's record: 17-17
Postseason: NIT

The Wildcats are loaded with talent and experience, and the team hit it big in the portal. They brought in Tyler Burton (19.0 PPG and 7.4 RPG at Richmond), TJ Bamba (15.8 PPG at Washington State), Hakim Hart (11.4 PPG at Maryland) and Lance Ware (transfer from Kentucky).

Moore returns for a fifth year of college basketball and could very well be one of the best players in the country if he stays healthy. Once he fully got into a rhythm in his return off his torn Achilles injury suffered in the 2022 Elite Eight, Moore powered Villanova to six wins in seven games as the Cats moved toward the bubble conversation this past season. While the run ended and Villanova was on the wrong side of things, there's a motivation factor heading into this year. The duo of Moore and Dixon have been through so many big spots for this program, but my X-factor for the Wildcats is Mark Armstrong. The sophomore point guard will have every chance to make a significant leap after averaging five points and one assist in 20 minutes per game as a freshman. If Armstrong does evolve, Villanova could make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

St. John's Red Storm

Head coach: Rick Pitino
Last year's record: 18-15
Postseason: N/A

The Red Storm beat Rutgers in a wild double-overtime thriller on Saturday, 89-78, with Nahiem Alleyne hitting a clutch triple to force double overtime.

The game was played for charity, with all funds raised benefiting the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund at the V Foundation.

What did we learn from the game? Well, first and foremost, the Johnnies were without reigning Ivy League Player of the Year Jordan Dingle (minor left-shoulder injury - expected back to practice this week) and RJ Luis (out 3-6 weeks with left-hand injury), both of whom are projected starters for the team on the perimeter. That said, the Johnnies led 41-23 at halftime, forced 18 turnovers in the game and got double-doubles from the frontcourt duo of Joel Soriano (12 points and 16 rebounds) and Chris Ledlum (11 points and 10 rebounds). Iona transfer Daniss Jenkins showed how big of a role he will play for this team as well. The strength of this St. John's team is depth and the ability to apply ball pressure. Finding that go-to player late in games – I think it will be Dingle – will be intriguing to watch, and how Pitino sculpts his rotation is worth monitoring. This roster has plenty of options, though, and playing hard is a given. The acquisition of Ledlum, who was previously going to Tennessee, can't be overstated because he can not only complement Soriano, but apply pressure to him for minutes if Pitino decides to differ on lineups. The guard depth is in a great place too with Jenkins and Dingle expected to shine. I think St. John's is a top-25 team that can compete with anybody in the Big East. We shall see if that comes to fruition. The early date where we get a good measuring stick on St. John's? Nov. 13 in the Gavitt Games when Michigan visits Madison Square Garden (6:30 p.m. ET on FS1). Mark your calendar accordingly.

Providence Friars

Head coach: Kim English
Last year's record: 21-12
Postseason: Lost in first round of NCAA Tournament to Kentucky

The Friars have what I believe is a top-35 caliber team. Picking them sixth is more about the strength of the top of the league than what I think of their potential. This should be an NCAA Tournament team. Hopkins is an NBA Draft prospect who should contend for Big East Player of the Year after averaging 15.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on 45% shooting as a sophomore. He pairs up with Carter, who was one of the best two-way players in the conference last season and an underappreciated player nationally, averaging 13/5/3 per game. So, what's the key for this team, and why aren't they higher in my power rankings? For starters, guard play beyond Carter is key. Will sophomore Jayden Pierre be able to take the keys to the car and run the offense? What kind of progression will we continue to see from Corey Floyd Jr. in the backcourt?

Another big key is just how good Josh Oduro will be making the transition from the Atlantic 10 to the Big East. Averaging 15.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last year and getting named first-team All-Atlantic 10 for a second consecutive season, Oduro has had a tremendous four-year college career. He will be counted on to handle the majority of the production in the paint with Rafael Castro backing him up and Willie McNair no longer part of the team.

The X-factor for this team will be Garwey Dual. The 6-foot-5, four-star combo guard has a ton of upside to be an NBA Draft pick either after this year or next because of his length and offensive capabilities. The jumper can go through hot and cold streaks, but he does more than that with his ability to impact the game both as a scorer and playmaker off the dribble. His body strength is not that of a typical freshman. I expect him to make an immediate impact and be a key piece as he evolves in his first season of college basketball. One other question: How does English handle the transition to a gauntlet of a league? It's not an easy task by any means for a guy in his first year in the Big East, but he does have the talent to win.

Xavier Musketeers

Head coach: Sean Miller
Last year's record: 27-10
Postseason: Reached Sweet 16, lost to Texas

The reason why the Musketeers are not higher in my preseason rankings is because sophomore wing Desmond Claude is the only rotation player back and available for the season. This team would probably be in my top five if All-Big East big man Zach Freemantle (left foot) and versatile forward Jerome Hunter (medical issue) were available, but both are out for the year. The backcourt duo of transfers Quincy Olivari and Dayvion McKnight will be strong, and freshman guards Trey Green and Dailyn Swain will help this team. Miller will be counting on youth to perform at a somewhat significant level this season, particularly on the interior. Xavier could have a freshman starting at center in 6-10 Lazar Djokovic. The Serbian averaged 14.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and one steal for Serbia in seven games at the FIBA U19 World Cup in June. He has terrific athleticism for his size and major upside, and I'm totally bought in on what he can be. Will he be able to be seamless from the start? We shall see. North Texas transfer Abou Ousmane will be critical down low, and don't sleep on Kam Craft on the perimeter to serve in a reserve shooting role.

Seton Hall Pirates

Head coach: Shaheen Holloway
Last year's record: 17-16
Postseason: NIT

Seton Hall will go as far as Kadary Richmond takes the Pirates. That statement is the truth, so much so that Holloway himself has put that on his senior point guard's shoulders. It's important for Richmond to stay fully healthy as he was dealing with a back injury last season. With Al-Amir Dawes, St. John's transfer Dylan Addae-Wusu and Jaquan Sanders, Seton Hall should have a quality backcourt. Expect senior Dre Davis, who missed 10 games last year with ankle and knee injuries, to be the power forward and a critical part to the team. The big question mark is the center position. Santa Clara transfer Jaden Bediako and Austin Peay transfer Elijah Hutchins-Everett will be asked to platoon, with Bediako holding the current edge as the starter. Can that duo handle the transition to the Big East level? That's a big question. But more than anything, the Pirates must stay healthy. Last year, it felt like Holloway never had a full rotation to work with. That cannot happen again is this team has any shot of exceeding expectations, and it all starts with Richmond.

Georgetown Hoyas

Head coach: Ed Cooley
Last year's record: 7-25
Postseason: N/A

It's hard to believe this would ever be the case: The Hoyas are 2-37 in their last 39 Big East games. The hole to dig out of is deep, but in 2–3 years, Cooley can have this program back into the NCAA Tournament conversation because the transfer portal allows for quicker turnarounds and NIL money should not be an issue at Georgetown. In terms of the 2023-24 season? On paper, the NIT would be a good step. The idea of the Hoyas dancing seems like a long shot. Transfer additions Jayden Epps (Illinois) and Rowan Brumbaugh (Texas), along with the return of Jay Heath, should give the Hoyas solid guard play. The bigger issue is the frontcourt. Ismael Massoud was a nice add from Kansas State, and Fairfield transfer Supreme Cook was an All-MAAC honoree, but the Hoyas are undersized on the interior. It's a lot to ask freshmen bigs to contribute, but four-star recruit Drew Fielder will get the opportunity to do so. More than anything, the Hoyas are no longer a doormat. There's only one way this program can go, and while the Big East has thrived without them being a factor, Georgetown returning to relevance would certainly be a good thing for this league because the brand matters.

Butler Bulldogs

Head coach: Thad Matta
Last year's record: 14-18
Postseason: N/A

The first year of the Thad Matta 2.0 era at Butler really could not have gone much worse. The Bulldogs were injured from the start of the year, went 4-12 away from Hinkle Fieldhouse, and struggled to score, finishing last in the Big East with 65.8 points per game.

Having watched Butler practice this past weekend, I can confidently say one thing: The Bulldogs should be improved offensively. They made one of the biggest splashes in the Big East this offseason by taking St. John's transfer and former Big East Defensive Player of the Year Posh Alexander. "We need him to be great if we're going to have a successful season," Matta said. Alexander is going to definitely take more 3s in the Bulldogs system, but can he make them more consistently in games? His shot looks better, but he's been shooting just above 20% in each of the last two seasons. Butler has a strong sharpshooter in DJ Davis from UC Irvine, a quality reserve guard in Landon Moore and a nice wing option in Jahmyl Telfort, who averaged 16.4 points per game at Northeastern last year and is a matchup problem at 6-7. I still don't know how Butler will be able to score the basketball efficiently from 15 feet and in. The Dawgs have returning big man Jalen Thomas, but overall, the frontcourt is unproven at the Big East level. They will rely on the 3 offensively, something that could be really good on certain nights but could cause them to be out of a game on others. One X-factor: sophomore forward Connor Turnbull. He's got arguably the smoothest shot on the team, and at 6-10, he can cause spacing problems for a defense. Michigan State transfer Pierre Brooks II is also an intriguing piece who is looking to prove himself after his role diminished in East Lansing.

DePaul

Head coach: Tony Stubblefield
Last year's record: 10-23
Postseason: N/A

The Blue Demons hold the longest and saddest power-conference streak in college basketball, an infamous 20 years since their last NCAA Tournament season. As Tony Stubblefield enters his third year at the helm of the program, there's pressure to show some signs that DePaul won't be stuck in the basement forever. The issue is that this league is so strong that it's hard to imagine the Blue Demons finishing any better than 10th. Senior forward Da'Sean Nelson (10.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG) will be relied upon to lead this team, while 6-6 Elijah Fisher (Texas Tech) and 6-9 Jeremiah Oden (Wyoming) are expected to come in and give significant contributions. My key player to the puzzle is Caleb Murphy. The USF transfer came in last year but only played in 15 games due to injury. That said, he had three double-figure performances in his last five games and seemed to find a rhythm late in the season. The 6-4 guard can create spurts for DePaul, something this team will need to have any shot this season. They have the athleticism Stubblefield wants in a roster, but I worry about the frontcourt consistency and whether this team can avoid turnovers.

John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him on Twitter @John_Fanta.