As the college basketball season is coming upon us, opening tonight actually with nearly half of Division 1A in action, I wanted to commence posting some conference previews for the upcoming season. I am not sure how many of these I will be able to write-up, but I personally have finished my analysis of the top 18 conference in the country, and am more prepared than ever for the early part of this season – which is a perfect time to take advantage of the lines and numbers if you are as prepared as I am.
To start this series let’s examine the Big East. Here are a few thoughts on each team, along with the spot in the standings I feel each team will finish, along with the projected spots from few others sources (I will show my ranking, Lindys rank, USAToday rank - then team - then # of starters returning - then few comments):
1, 1, 1 Louisville (3): Lost 2 key players in F Kuric & G C.Smith. Calling card is defense and will remain that way as they were 6th in country LY in FG defense. Keep eye on George Mason transfer F Hancock. Solid depth. Siva must improve as a PG. Solid FC. Overall I do not feel they will be as good as many project, but feel they are still among the class of the conference.
2, 4, 4 Notre Dame (5): All 5 starters back from a team that was 22-12/13-5 LY. Led by 2nd team ABE F Cooley. They also add a F transfer from Michigan State and Missouri Prep POY. BC led by Grant and Atkins, one of better combos in country. Solid 3pt shooters. 9 of 13 roster spots Jr or Sr. May need help on FC, big key there will be MSU transfer. Very experienced team.
3, 2, 3 Syracuse (1): Lost Jardine, Joseph, Waiters and Melo from LY, obviously a TON. FC still looks solid with likes of Fair, Southerland, Christmas and multiple newcomers who are highly rated. BC will be led by Triche, and Cuse fans are very excited for 2G Carter-Williams - could be next Orange star.
4, 6, 5 Marquette (4): I am a big fan of Marquette this season. They have lost two studs in DJO and Crowder, but everyone else returns and they add in a solid Arizona St transfer SG Lockett. BC deep, but keep an eye on the status of 2G Mayo. FC we will not know as many of the names but they have some nice size and decent experience, although they will have to make up for a lot of production from the 2 losses mentioned above. Concerns are making up for rebounding lost, and FC scoring. Led by BC, as always.
5, 7, 2 Cincinnati (3): Lost Gates and G Dixon. Rest return. LY they mostly rode a 4G lineup to S16. Once again BC is loaded with Kilpatrick, Wright and Parker. They basically have 5 guards who will play, and most likely 4 of them will be on the court more often than not. Keep eye on RSFr Thomas in FC, could be star. Depth is questionable. Beat 8 ranked teams LY, most in country. Need to improve offensively to take that next step.
I feel those 5 teams are the clear cut top of the pack in the conference, next group of teams are a step back.
6, 3, 12 Pittsburgh (3): Big variance between how good Panthers will be this year, as you can see Lindy's has them 3rd in conference, USAT has them 12th, I am kind of in middle ground 6th. They lose Gibbs and Robinson, but add CMU transfer Ziegler who will play some 2/3 for them. PG Woodall is key, he must be 100% as they really struggled w/o him LY, but played well when he was leading the team on the court. BC not as much proven depth as FC, which will be led by Zanna and Taylor. No big time players, but will fit Pitt style OK.
7, 10, 15 St Johns (4): Lost two solid players in Harkless and Lindsey. Lavin needs to be back on sidelines which I believe he will be. Awful stats LY. Added 6 newcomers, keep eye on Texas A&M transfer PG Branch and Top 50 big man Sampson. Seems like good talent on roster but will not have much chemistry as the newcomers are more talented than the incumbents. Probably still a year away from contending in conference.
8, 5, 7 Georgetown (2): Definite step back from LY, lost 3 key players in Clark, Thompson and Sims. 8 of 10 roster spots Fr or So, no Sr on team. Solid 3pt defense LY. Lost top 3 scorers and they were only players to average double digits. Big concern with lack of proven scorers. Only 4 guards on roster. PG OK, SG ? FC has two best players in Lubick & Porter.
9, 14, 9 Villanova (3): the Cats remain in flux, as they continue searching for the successful formula that was so easily found during the early and middle portion of Jay Wright’s tenure on the Main Line. This year they lose their starting BC from LY in PG Wayns and SG Cheek, but a few nice pieces return in the FC. Odd for the Wildcats to have more talent and experience up front, but that is what they have this season in Pinkston, Yarou, Sutton and highly rated Fr F Ochefu. They will need a lot of production from unknown sources to put themselves back in the NCAA Tournament discussion – which doesn’t seem likely at this point.
10, 9, 14 Providence (3): Lost 1 good player in Coleman, but BC remains very solid, among best in conference led by Council and Cotton. Keep eye on Fr G Ledo - will he be cleared to play this year? Many in their class are having issues getting cleared, much be watched. Lots of concern in FC, as always for PC. At best elite BC carries team to bubble status - at worst another year same type of result for PC.
11, 15, 13 DePaul (4): Showed improvement LY but still finished in basement. Finally have some experience to leverage with HC Pernell believes will help defensively, which is area they always seem to struggle with. Lost PG, only starter gone from LY was excellent and will be tough to replace. OK talent but nothing great. Keep eye on Miami (FL) transfer F Kirk.
12, 13, 6 Rutgers (3): Only lost 1 guy who put up decent stats in F Biruta, but add KState transfer F Wally Judge which is probably an upgrade talent wise. Freshmen played 55% of the minutes LY which should only pay off this year with some experience. BC looks good and talented. FC looks OK, not great. Terrible stats LY. Could see some improvement from the Scarlet Knights this season in a pretty weak lower half of the conference.
13, 8, 8 South Florida (2): Lost 3 key players from LY including both F's. PG Collins is back and is a good player but like Siva needs to play PG better - i.e., taking care of the ball. Few new 2G's likely to get minutes over incumbents due to being more talented - especially because USF needs scoring badly. Lack of depth in FC for certain. LY #321 offense vs. #7 defense. Desperate for more offense, not sure they have it.
14, 11, 11 UConn (1): Only guys back of note are Napier and Boatright. BC is OK, keep eye on Fr G Calhoun who should turn out being a good one. FC has no proven players at all. New HC as we all know. It will certainly be a rough season for the Huskies, and will certainly be interesting to follow if Kevin Ollie can keep this program among the elite in college basketball.
15, 12, 10 Seton Hall (3): Lost two best players in Pope and Theodore. Three key transfers will join program: S Illinois C Teague, Georgia Tech G/F Oliver, and Iona G Smyth - all likely to see minutes, first two perhaps big minutes. PG is HUGE area of concern. SG Edwin could have an All Big East first team type of season. OK depth in #'s and skill, but nothing very good or bad. Key will likely be chemistry and production of transfers.
1, 1, 1 Louisville (3): Lost 2 key players in F Kuric & G C.Smith. Calling card is defense and will remain that way as they were 6th in country LY in FG defense. Keep eye on George Mason transfer F Hancock. Solid depth. Siva must improve as a PG. Solid FC. Overall I do not feel they will be as good as many project, but feel they are still among the class of the conference.
2, 4, 4 Notre Dame (5): All 5 starters back from a team that was 22-12/13-5 LY. Led by 2nd team ABE F Cooley. They also add a F transfer from Michigan State and Missouri Prep POY. BC led by Grant and Atkins, one of better combos in country. Solid 3pt shooters. 9 of 13 roster spots Jr or Sr. May need help on FC, big key there will be MSU transfer. Very experienced team.
3, 2, 3 Syracuse (1): Lost Jardine, Joseph, Waiters and Melo from LY, obviously a TON. FC still looks solid with likes of Fair, Southerland, Christmas and multiple newcomers who are highly rated. BC will be led by Triche, and Cuse fans are very excited for 2G Carter-Williams - could be next Orange star.
4, 6, 5 Marquette (4): I am a big fan of Marquette this season. They have lost two studs in DJO and Crowder, but everyone else returns and they add in a solid Arizona St transfer SG Lockett. BC deep, but keep an eye on the status of 2G Mayo. FC we will not know as many of the names but they have some nice size and decent experience, although they will have to make up for a lot of production from the 2 losses mentioned above. Concerns are making up for rebounding lost, and FC scoring. Led by BC, as always.
5, 7, 2 Cincinnati (3): Lost Gates and G Dixon. Rest return. LY they mostly rode a 4G lineup to S16. Once again BC is loaded with Kilpatrick, Wright and Parker. They basically have 5 guards who will play, and most likely 4 of them will be on the court more often than not. Keep eye on RSFr Thomas in FC, could be star. Depth is questionable. Beat 8 ranked teams LY, most in country. Need to improve offensively to take that next step.
I feel those 5 teams are the clear cut top of the pack in the conference, next group of teams are a step back.
6, 3, 12 Pittsburgh (3): Big variance between how good Panthers will be this year, as you can see Lindy's has them 3rd in conference, USAT has them 12th, I am kind of in middle ground 6th. They lose Gibbs and Robinson, but add CMU transfer Ziegler who will play some 2/3 for them. PG Woodall is key, he must be 100% as they really struggled w/o him LY, but played well when he was leading the team on the court. BC not as much proven depth as FC, which will be led by Zanna and Taylor. No big time players, but will fit Pitt style OK.
7, 10, 15 St Johns (4): Lost two solid players in Harkless and Lindsey. Lavin needs to be back on sidelines which I believe he will be. Awful stats LY. Added 6 newcomers, keep eye on Texas A&M transfer PG Branch and Top 50 big man Sampson. Seems like good talent on roster but will not have much chemistry as the newcomers are more talented than the incumbents. Probably still a year away from contending in conference.
8, 5, 7 Georgetown (2): Definite step back from LY, lost 3 key players in Clark, Thompson and Sims. 8 of 10 roster spots Fr or So, no Sr on team. Solid 3pt defense LY. Lost top 3 scorers and they were only players to average double digits. Big concern with lack of proven scorers. Only 4 guards on roster. PG OK, SG ? FC has two best players in Lubick & Porter.
9, 14, 9 Villanova (3): the Cats remain in flux, as they continue searching for the successful formula that was so easily found during the early and middle portion of Jay Wright’s tenure on the Main Line. This year they lose their starting BC from LY in PG Wayns and SG Cheek, but a few nice pieces return in the FC. Odd for the Wildcats to have more talent and experience up front, but that is what they have this season in Pinkston, Yarou, Sutton and highly rated Fr F Ochefu. They will need a lot of production from unknown sources to put themselves back in the NCAA Tournament discussion – which doesn’t seem likely at this point.
10, 9, 14 Providence (3): Lost 1 good player in Coleman, but BC remains very solid, among best in conference led by Council and Cotton. Keep eye on Fr G Ledo - will he be cleared to play this year? Many in their class are having issues getting cleared, much be watched. Lots of concern in FC, as always for PC. At best elite BC carries team to bubble status - at worst another year same type of result for PC.
11, 15, 13 DePaul (4): Showed improvement LY but still finished in basement. Finally have some experience to leverage with HC Pernell believes will help defensively, which is area they always seem to struggle with. Lost PG, only starter gone from LY was excellent and will be tough to replace. OK talent but nothing great. Keep eye on Miami (FL) transfer F Kirk.
12, 13, 6 Rutgers (3): Only lost 1 guy who put up decent stats in F Biruta, but add KState transfer F Wally Judge which is probably an upgrade talent wise. Freshmen played 55% of the minutes LY which should only pay off this year with some experience. BC looks good and talented. FC looks OK, not great. Terrible stats LY. Could see some improvement from the Scarlet Knights this season in a pretty weak lower half of the conference.
13, 8, 8 South Florida (2): Lost 3 key players from LY including both F's. PG Collins is back and is a good player but like Siva needs to play PG better - i.e., taking care of the ball. Few new 2G's likely to get minutes over incumbents due to being more talented - especially because USF needs scoring badly. Lack of depth in FC for certain. LY #321 offense vs. #7 defense. Desperate for more offense, not sure they have it.
14, 11, 11 UConn (1): Only guys back of note are Napier and Boatright. BC is OK, keep eye on Fr G Calhoun who should turn out being a good one. FC has no proven players at all. New HC as we all know. It will certainly be a rough season for the Huskies, and will certainly be interesting to follow if Kevin Ollie can keep this program among the elite in college basketball.
15, 12, 10 Seton Hall (3): Lost two best players in Pope and Theodore. Three key transfers will join program: S Illinois C Teague, Georgia Tech G/F Oliver, and Iona G Smyth - all likely to see minutes, first two perhaps big minutes. PG is HUGE area of concern. SG Edwin could have an All Big East first team type of season. OK depth in #'s and skill, but nothing very good or bad. Key will likely be chemistry and production of transfers.
The Big East as a conference is clearly down from recent years, and could even be considered way down as there do not seem to be the elite level talent and team’s we typically see, and after the top handful or so the talent really takes a step back. I expect the Big East to receive fewer bids this year than probably every season since it has been constructed as it currently stands. And with college football seemingly driving all the realignment we are seeing across the country, the status of this conference going forward is very much up in the air considering next year Syracuse and Pittsburgh will be moving on to the ACC.
Over the next couple weeks I will continue posting additional conference previews for college basketball. Keep an eye out!
Selections will commence possibly tonight and definitely by next week at some point.
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