Big East Basketball Preview 2021

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Oct 28

Our Big East basketball preview 2021 - 2022 projects that four teams from this conference will go to the NCAA Tournament and four will compete in the NIT. The Big East is loaded with fine basketball teams. However, once again, the Villanova Wildcats appear to be the favorite in the conference. The 2018 National Champions always seem to be NCAA Tournament-bound. Still, there’s plenty of competition from teams such as Connecticut, Xavier, and St. John’s. Additionally, Seton Hall, Butler, Creighton, and Providence are solid challengers.

Big East Basketball Preview and Projections 2021 - 2022

1. Villanova Wildcats (18-7, 11-4)

Last season, the Wildcats went deep into the Tournament, being eliminated in the Sweet 16. Eight rotation players return, including guard Collin Gillespie (14.0 PPG, 4.6 APG) and forward Jermaine Samuels (12.0 PPG, 6.4 RPG). Gillespie is a fine player and exemplary leader. Head coach Jay Wright will look to junior guard Justin Moore to step up and become a more dominant player. Although Samuels, who proved to be a fine inside and outside shooter and setup man, is back, Villanova forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and his 15.7 PPG and 8.5 RPG are gone. It will help in the paint if big sophomore Eric Dixon can increase his contributions and freshman forward Trey Patterson can put in meaningful minutes. Look for Nova to be in the Elite Eight.

2. Connecticut Huskies (15-8, 11-6)

Last season, for the first time since 2016, the Huskies made it back to the NCAA Tournament where they were eliminated in the Round of 64. There’s good news for coach Dan Hurley, as UConn loses just one key player. Versatile G/F Tyrese Martin returns. He was solid the first two-thirds of the season but became less effective as the time went on. Martin, who can hit inside and out, averaged 10.3 PPG and 7.5 RPG. The frontcourt is deep, and features forwards Isaiah Whaley (47.9 FG%) and Adam Sanogo (55.4 FG%). The backcourt, which lacks depth, includes anchor R.J. Cole (12.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 APG) and up-and-coming Jalen Gaffney (6.1 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 1.5 APG). The Huskies go to the Big Dance for a second-straight year and make it to the Round of 32.

3. Xavier Musketeers (13-8, 6-7)

This team has a lot of talent, and despite not making it to the Big Dance since 2018, we do believe the Musketeers will be there at the end of this season. The backcourt is filled with experience. Senior point guard Paul Scruggs (14.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 5.7 APG) is an excellent shooter and setup man. Across from him, Nate Johnson (11.4 PPG) hits threes at a 45 percent rate. Colby Jones and Dwon Odom compete for the third guard spot. In front, Zach Freemantle (16.1 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 51.3 FG%) is an awesome force. Two Big Ten transfers, front men Jack Nunge (Iowa) and Jerome Hunter (Indiana), can bring game. Round of 32 looks promising.

4. St. John’s Red Storm (16-11, 10-9)

Over the course of the last four NCAA Tournaments, the Red Storm has made it in once. That was in 2019, when they were in the First Four. This season, led by last year’s Big East Coach of the Year recipient Mike Anderson, St John’s will once again play an up-tempo, turnover-causing style. In front, Julian Champagnie (19.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG) returns for his junior season. The All-Big East player is a major game-changer for this team. Fordham transfer and double-double man Joel Soriano has size and physical skills designed for the paint. Returning two-way guard Posh Alexander (10.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.3 APG) is a major playmaker and defender. There’s a slew of quality transfers who add depth to the backcourt. The Red Storm make it to March Madness and the First Four.

5. Seton Hall Pirates (14-13, 10-9)

Our Big East basketball preview 2021 - 2022 observes that the Pirates always seem to put a competitive team on the court. Head coach Kevin Willard brings in three transfers to upgrade the front and back. Perhaps the biggest addition is guard Kadary Richmond (Syracuse). Last season with the Orange, he averaged 6.3 PPG and 3.1 APG while putting in 21 MPG. Richmond is an excellent setup man who will likely start. If Bryce Aiken can stay healthy and transfer Jamir Harris (American) can bring his 20.5 PPG he averaged last season, this will be a productive group. In front, Myles Cale and Jared Rhoden offer scoring and rebounding chops. Freshman Brandon Weston is a solid scorer, and transfer Alexis Yetna (USF) is a double-double threat. The NIT is in this team’s near future.

6. Butler Bulldogs (10-15, 8-12)

Last year, the Bulldogs finished 10th in the Big East and posted their worst record since 1993. This season, with 97 percent of their scoring returning, these dogs should be competitive once again. The backcourt features fifth-year guard Aaron Thompson and sophomore Chuck Harris. Thompson is a premium two-way player. Last season, he averaged 10.4 PPG and 4.7 APG while hitting field goals at a 51.8 percent rate. As a freshman last season, Harris was good for 12.9 PPG. His field-goal and three-point success rates were each a tad over 40 percent. Jair Bolden comes off the bench to add 10.5 PPG. In front, Bryce Nze and Bryce Golden are both double-digit scorers. Also, Nze averaged 7.7 RPG while shooting 48.8 percent from the floor and 44.2 percent from the arc. G/F Bo Hodges can shoot and rebound. Big East basketball preview 2021 -2022 notes that this is a solid, talented team. An NIT berth is in their future.

7. Providence Friars (13-13, 9-10)

Last year, it was tough going for coach Ed Cooley and his team, as the Friars, who have averaged almost 21 wins per season under Cooley, came eight games short of that mark. This season, we expect Providence to be back on track. In the backcourt, there’s a solid veteran presence with senior A.J. Reeves ready to step up and solid junior point guard Jared Bynum ready to go. Add in Indiana transfer Al Durham, a double-digit scorer inside and out, and this is a sound group. Big man and enforcer Nate Watson, who averaged 16.9 PPG and 6.7 RPG, is back to command the paint. Plus, inside-out scorer Noah Horchler, who shoots 40-plus percent from anywhere on the floor, has scoring chops. This season, Providence gets back to form and advances to the NIT.

8. Creighton Bluejays (22-9, 14-6)

Last season, the Bluejays finished on top of the Big East and made a run in the NCAA Tournament, being eliminated in the Sweet 16. However, we don’t expect this season Creighton will be as potent as they were in 2020-21. Afterall, head coach Greg McDermott loses five key players, which means a major rebuild is underway. Three guards and a center return. In the backcourt, Shereef Mitchell, an accurate shooter and reliable ball handler, will likely start. Look for former Duke transfer Alex O’Connell, another fine shooter, to play wing. In the paint, center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who’s primarily a defensive force, will see more minutes. Two top-100 freshmen, Arthur Kaluma and Mason Miller, will see meaningful minutes. Our Big East basketball preview 2021 - 2022 projects that the Bluejays will be NIT bound.

9. Marquette Golden Eagles (13-14, 8-11)

Last season, Marquette went off the rails, finishing ninth in the Big East and missing both the NCAA and NIT. This season, expect more of the same from new head coach Shaka Smart and the Golden Eagles. For Smart, who likes to play tough defense, the issue will be offense, as last season’s top four scorers have moved onto other schools. Greg Elliot, a sound shooter, will anchor the backcourt, and if forward Justin Lewis can improve his conditioning, he could have a breakthrough season upfront. New players who stand to see substantial minutes include freshman guard Stevie Mitchell and Oklahoma graduate transfer Kur Kuath at forward.

10. Georgetown Hoyas (13-13, 7-9)

Our Big East basketball preview 2021 - 2022 observes that coach Patrick Ewing has a promising recruit in the backcourt, while in front, he’s starting from scratch. Expect to see wing Aminu Mohammed, a five-star recruit and McDonald’s All American, starting in the backcourt. Mohammed, an aggressive player who can drive to the basket, should energize the court. Returning sophomore Dante Harris and senior Donald Carey are both capable of scoring in double digits. Carey is a 44-plus percent shooter from the field and downtown, while Harris is an able assist man. The frontcourt, which includes impact transfer Tre King (Eastern Kentucky), is all new. Freshman center Ryan Muombo has solid defensive and offensive skills while forward Jalin Billingsley, also a freshman, adds depth. No tourney this year for this team.

11. DePaul Blue Demons (5-14, 2-13)

Tony Stubblefield begins his college head-coaching career this season, and his job is overwhelming. He has to start to transform a team that has struggled for a decade into a competitive entity. One starter, guard Javon Freeman-Liberty, returns. Last season, he averaged 14.4 PPG and 5.3 RPG. Transfer Tyson Grant-Foster (Kansas) brings versatility to the backcourt, while sophomore transfer Philmon Gebrewhit adds length on the wing. In front, center Nick Ongenda is a skilled, two-way player, while forward David Jones has shown potential on offense. Senior forward Brandon Johnson, a Minnesota transfer, arrives with a lot of experience. His career averages are solid, 10.4 PPG and 6.4 RPG. The rebuilding and reconfiguring of the Blue Demons starts now.