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NCAA basketball: Big East basketball bold predictions for 2020-2021

By Cody Williams

Jan 7, 2020; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (24) defends against the Creighton Bluejays in the first half at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2020; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (24) defends against the Creighton Bluejays in the first half at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big East basketball
Creighton Bluejays. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Big East basketball predictions for the 2020-2021 season as the league should be decided in a battle between Villanova and Creighton. 

Over the past few seasons, Big East basketball has consistently provided some of the best top-to-bottom performances in the country. And spoiler alert, the 2020-2021 season isn’t going to be any different. Led by the Villanova Wildcats and Creighton Bluejays, two bonafide top-10 teams, and a host of NCAA Tournament near-locks, this should be a strong conference.

That being the case speaks to the strength of the programs in the conference, especially with the return of the UConn Huskies to their rightful league home this year. There have been a ton of talent departures this season but all of the top teams appear ready to fill the voids and keep rolling.

So how will that shake out? Let’s take a look as we make Big East basketball predictions for awards, the order of finish and more.

Big East basketball Player of the Year: Marcus Zegarowski, G, Creighton

Playing in the shadow of Ty-Shon Alexander last season at Creighton and with a host of ultra-talented guards elsewhere in the Big East — Markus Howard, Myles Powell and Saddiq Bey, just to name a few — Marcus Zegarowski didn’t necessarily get the shine that he deserved for his performance with the Bluejays.

In the 2019-2020 campaign, the Creighton standout averaged 16.1 points per game while shooting over 48 percent from the floor and hitting on over 42 percent of his 3-point attempts for the second straight season. He’s an offensive guru who can score at will and also averaged five assists and 3.8 rebounds per game.

With the departures throughout the Big East this season, it seems as if Zegarowski is the best returning player in the conference and likely the best player by any metric for the Big East. Given that the junior should also step into a bigger role with Alexander gone, he could be in line for a monster season on a very good team.

Creighton figures to challenge Villanova for the Big East basketball crown this season and Zegarowski will be at the heart of that effort. If he takes another step forward with his offensive and all-around prowess, it’s difficult to find anyone who will challenge him in the Player of the Year race.