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Big East Basketball 2016: Preview and predictions

By Chris Stone

Mar 26, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Villanova Wildcats head coach Jay Wright celebrates after beating the Kansas Jayhawks in the south regional final of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Villanova Wildcats head coach Jay Wright celebrates after beating the Kansas Jayhawks in the south regional final of the NCAA Tournament at KFC YUM!. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA;Creighton Bluejays guard Maurice Watson Jr. (10) shoots the ball defended by Seton Hall Pirates guard Khadeen Carrington (0) in the first half during the Big East conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA;Creighton Bluejays guard Maurice Watson Jr. (10) shoots the ball defended by Seton Hall Pirates guard Khadeen Carrington (0) in the first half during the Big East conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports /

The Dark Horse: Creighton Blue Jays

It’s hard to imagine anyone in the conference breaking into the top two of the Big East standings next season. Villanova and Xavier are simply a cut above what the rest of the league has to offer, but in terms of talent, the team best positioned to crack the ceiling is Creighton.

All of the action for the Blue Jays will funnel through their two guards who will make up one of the top backcourts in all of college basketball, not just in the Big East. Maurice “Mo” Watson Jr. will return to Omaha for his senior season after leading the team in scoring in 2015-16 at 14.1 points per game. At 5-foot-10, Watson is on the smaller side for high major point guards, but his quickness allows him to attack the rim with ease where he finished 63.0 percent of his chances as a junior. Joining Watson in the backcourt is Kansas State transfer Marcus Foster. As a freshman, Foster lit the Big 12 ablaze, averaging 15.5 points per game while making nearly 40 percent of his three-pointers. The 6-foot-3 guard had a falling out with head coach Bruce Weber as a sophomore, leading to his transfer, but now he should be rejuvenated as he looks to inject a bit of life back into his NBA prospects.

In the frontcourt, Creighton gets 6-foot-8 Cole Huff back for his senior season. Huff is a versatile power forward who can open up space for Watson and Foster to attack the basket off the dribble. The Blue Jays will also add former top 100 recruit Justin Patton to the frontcourt rotation. Patton redshirted in his first year with the program and should have the added bulk to compete at a high-major level after a year of training.

With plenty of talent on the roster, Creighton seems like the Big East team with the best chance of pushing Villanova and Xavier to their limits.