Big East basketball runs through the back-to-back defending national champions until proven otherwise. Which teams have the best shot at knocking off UConn?
Perhaps no league in the country was as disrespected as the Big East in terms of NCAA Tournament bids last March. Despite nine teams finishing in the KenPom top 61, only three earned tickets to the Big Dance. That fact is far more jarring in hindsight than it was in the moment — but even at the time, it felt like one of Seton Hall, St. John’s, Villanova, or Providence could have gotten a bid. All were on the outside looking in for bracketologists, but all four missing the field was, well, a miss.
Revisionist history? Sure, but the three Big East teams that did make the NCAA Tournament made sure to stand up for the rest of the conference. Creighton and Marquette both made Sweet 16 appearances, while UConn rolled through the competition en route to its second consecutive national championship. In total, the conference was 8-2 in NCAA Tournament games. Oh, and Seton Hall won the NIT. Looking back at the Big East’s bubble teams, maybe they should have earned more credit for playing six or more games against top-16 teams during conference play.
Minor rant aside, the Big East appears poised to land more than three bids this time. UConn is again the favorite, but there is a steady diet of potential contenders behind them in Creighton, Marquette, Xavier and St. John’s — order those four however you wish, but all should be good teams. Behind them, Providence, Villanova and Butler were all bubble teams last season who return all-conference caliber stars to potentially get over the hump this time. Don’t count out Seton Hall’s defense, either.
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Projected Order of Finish
1. UConn Huskies
It’s hard to argue with the back-to-back defending national champions as the preseason favorite to win the Big East. Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer are no longer walking through the door, but Dan Hurley is — and he’s bringing plenty of talent with him. Alex Karaban leads the way after averaging 11.3 points as a tertiary option the past two seasons. Now the program’s anchor, he can take another leap into stardom.
Akin to last offseason’s additions of Spencer and Castle, Hurley has supplemented his returning star with a top transfer (Aidan Mahaney) and a five-star freshman (Liam McNeeley). Mahaney was a two-time All-WCC guard at St. Mary’s, where he averaged 13.9 points last season, while McNeeley is lauded as a ready-made college star. Both touted as strong shooters, UConn should boast superb spacing.
Karaban, Mahaney and McNeeley form a new star trio around which proven role players Hassan Diarra (6.1 ppg) and Samson Johnson (5.4 ppg) can continue to thrive. Opponents beware of sophomore breakouts, too. Solo Ball (3.3 ppg) could be the breakout player to watch in the league.
The biggest question for UConn to answer is how well Johnson and Tarris Reed (9.0 ppg at Michigan) can fill the large shoes (literally) departed by Adama Sanogo and Clingan over the past two seasons.
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