Ask around the country and it feels like every expert has their own hot take on what the Big East will be like this season. Half of them think the league will be bogus. The other half think this will be season it returns to the forefront of college basketball.
Whichever side of the spectrum you find yourself siding with, there is one thing that cannot be denied: There is no shortage of intrigue this season in the Big East. With that in mind, here is our Big East Conference Preseason Preview.
Big East Champion: Villanova Wildcats
Once again, the Wildcats look like they’ll have the conference’s most lethal, efficient offense/defense combination. The addition of heralded freshman Jalen Brunson gives Jay Wright so many toys to play with on this team, a roster that no one else in the conference can match.
Big East Runner-up: Butler Bulldogos
Tyler Lewis has some lofty expectations on his shoulders following his transfer from North Carolina State, but he won’t have to shoulder the load, at all. The combo of Kellen Dunham and Roosevelt Jones is the most dangerous in the conference.
Big East Dark horse: Georgetown Hoyas
It was a tight race between the Hoyas and Bulldogs for second-place, but GU needs to prove that they have the consistency necessary to keep pace. Having a POY candidate doesn’t hurt, but this is still a very young group for John Thompson III.
Big East Player of the Year: D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown
As long as Georgetown finishes in the top three, I think Smith-Rivera should be the favorite. After nearly leaving school for the NBA Draft, college experts everywhere were elated to hear news that they’d get to watch him work for one more year.
Big East Rookie of the Year: Henry Ellenson, Marquette
He’s the top-rated recruit to sign in the conference for 2015, and he’s in a position to have the most usage of any Big East freshman. Ellenson’s arrival is a big reason for optimism in Milwaukee.
Big East Coach of the Year: Chris Holtmann, Butler
Things haven’t been easy for Butler, switching conferences and losing their legendary coach to the NBA. But Holtmann has held it down, and has the Bulldogs as a serious contender in a major conference.
