The new Big East is getting back to being the old Big East.
In college basketball, everybody is always longing for the good old days, especially when it comes to the Big East. Whether it’s reminiscing about some of the future Hall of Famers or positive memories of vicious rivalries, there’s always talk of rolling back the clock.
Well, the Big East finally seems to be getting its swagger back. The league, led by the Villanova Wildcats, has experienced a bit of a resurgence in recent seasons with the Wildcats winning the national title in 2016 and the Xavier Musketeers making a deep run last March.
As expected, Villanova is projected to finish on top again this season, but here’s a deeper look at how we expect the conference to shake out.
Preseason Player of the Year: Jalen Brunson, Villanova
Jalen Brunson is set to take over the lead role for the Wildcats after Josh Hart’s departure and if conference play last season is any guide, he’ll be ready. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 19.9 points and 5.6 assists per 40 minutes on a 67.1 true shooting percentage in Big East games in 2016-17. Once the youngster on Villanova’s national championship team, Brunson is now the elder statesman on a squad that’ll aim just as high this season.
The Rest of the All-Big East First Team:
- Marcus Foster, Creighton: Foster had to adjust last season after the Bluejays lost point guard Mo Watson to injury, but he still averaged 23.6 points per 40 minutes. The 6-foot-3 guard should be poised for another big scoring season once again.
- Markus Howard, Marquette: The 5-foot-11 point guard was probably one of the most underrated offensive players in the country last season. Howard averaged 24.1 points per 40 minutes while knocking down 54.7 percent of his 150 3-point attempts. Honestly, Howard’s just a lot of fun and that’s part of why he’s here.
- Trevon Bluiett, Xavier: Offense seems to be a trend and there may not be a better scorer in the country than Bluiett. The 6-foot-6 combo forward can get buckets on the ball and off it. He averaged 21.1 points per 40 minutes as a junior.
- Angel Delgado, Seton Hall: If you like big, bruising frontcourt players then Delgado is the guy for you. His per 40-minute numbers last season of 18.5 points and 15.8 rebounds were on par with National Player of the Year candidate Caleb Swanigan.
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Omari Spellman, Villanova
It always feels a bit like cheating to pick a redshirt freshman to be the Freshman of the Year, but we’re doing it anyway. Omari Spellman was slated to join the Wildcats last season before the NCAA ruled him ineligible due to academic issues, causing him to miss the 2016-17 season.
The 6-foot-9 big man’s rim protection should give Villanova a defensive dimension that it didn’t have last season, but he should also provide plenty of additional offensive firepower. Spellman even knocked down a pair of 3-pointers in the Wildcats’ exhibition win over Drexel last week.
The Favorite: Villanova Wildcats
What? You expected somebody else? Villanova is two seasons removed from a national title and just a few months removed from earning the NCAA Tournament’s overall No. 1 seed. Yes, they lose plenty of experience following the departures of Josh Hart, Darryl Reynolds and Kris Jenkins, but Brunson and Spellman — as discussed above — should be ready to help fill in the gaps.
The Wildcats also get back Phil Booth, the 6-foot-3 guard who dropped 20 points in the title game against North Carolina in 2016. Booth missed last season due to injury. Joining him on the wing will be Donte DiVincenzo and Mikal Bridges, two players who could be due for bigger roles in Hart’s absence.
Head coach Jay Wright has put together quite the system in Philadelphia. The faces may change, but the expectations don’t.
Projected Order of Finish:
- Villanova
- Seton Hall
- Xavier
- Providence
- Butler
- Marquette
- Creighton
- St. John’s
- Georgetown
- DePaul