The Big East will look different this year. But, at the same time, you can still expect Villanova and Creighton to be the two frontrunners, and for the rest of the conference to remain competitive. There is still plenty of talent that will continue the Big East’s reputation as one of the best conferences in the country. Find out below where the top players rank.
20. Rasheem Dunn
Class: Redshirt Senior
The 6-foot-2 Dunn is a streaky player that has the ability to get into the lane and finish or create for others. Dunn averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1 steal per game a season ago. This season, Dunn needs to become more consistent for the Red Storm and improve his three-point shooting, as he only shot 22.4% a season ago.
19. Christian Bishop
Class: Junior
The 6-foot-7 Christian Bishop is a high-flying forward that led Creighton in blocks, rejecting 1.1 shots per game. Bishop averaged 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds, while shooting an efficient 59.2% from the field and only 57.9% from the free throw line. There is going to be an opportunity for Bishop to expand his role offensively as an upperclassman.
18. Damien Jefferson
Class: Redshirt Senior
Jefferson is a high-energy player and a tough defender that Coach Greg McDermott relies on to guard the other team’s best player. Jefferson was a key piece on a Creighton team that finished seventh in the final AP top 25 poll. At 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, Jefferson is a talented finisher that made 61.5% of his two point field goals, while averaging 9.4 points per game and led Creighton in rebounds averaging 5.5. The question for Jefferson is if he can develop a respectable three-point shot as he went 21.7% from distance a season ago.
17. Julian Champagnie
Class: Sophomore
Champagnie earned Big East All-Freshman honors after stepping up his play late in the season, finishing with 9.9 points per game, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks. Expect Champagnie to build upon his strong finish to the season, and now with LJ Figueroa and Mustapha Heron gone, Champagnie’s numbers should improve across the board.
16. Jared Rhoden
Class: Junior
Now that the backcourt duo of Myles Powell and Quincy McKnight have graduated, there will be an opportunity for the 6-foot-6 Rhoden to expand his role for the Pirates. Rhoden finished eighth in the Big East in rebounds with 6.4 per game, while posting 9.1 points and 1.2 steals.
15. Charlie Moore
Class: Redshirt Senior
Moore has played for three different universities in three seasons. While Moore averaged an impressive 15.5 points per game and led the Big East in assists with 6.1 per game, he also led the Big East in turnovers with 3.5 per game. The 5-foot-11 guard will need to cut down on his turnover rate, and improve his field goal percentage, since he has never shot over 40% from the field in his career.
14. Aaron Thompson
Class: Senior
Thompson has been the ultimate glue-guy since the moment he stepped on campus in 2017. The 6-foot-2 Thompson is a lockdown defender and will be a contender for Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Despite not being a shooting threat, Thompson has been an impact player for Butler offensively, as he finished fourth in the Big East in assists averaging 4.7 per game. He also commits few mistakes and posted an impressive 2.47 assist-to-turnover ratio last season. The question for Thompson will be if he can become more of a scoring threat now that his backcourt mate Kamar Baldwin has graduated.
13. Bryce Aiken
Class: Redshirt Senior
The graduate transfer from Harvard has the talent to be ranked higher on this list, but he has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. Over the last three seasons, Aiken has only played in 39 total games. In the 18 games he played in the 2018-19 season, he averaged 22.2 points, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals, while shooting 43.4% from the field and 39.8% from distance. Aiken is a shot-maker with limitless range, and if he can stay healthy, Seton Hall will be a dangerous team come March.
12. Jermaine Samuels
Class: Senior
Samuels may not receive the same press as some of his Wildcat teammates, but he is an integral piece for the Wildcats, especially after Saddiq Bey left for the NBA draft. Samuels is a solid defender and hustler, and offensively he is a talented finisher around the hoop, averaging 64.7% on two point field goals. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 10.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game last season.
11. Denzel Mahoney
Class: Redshirt Senior
After starting his career at Southeast Missouri State, Mahoney won the Big East’s Sixth Man of the Year award in his first season at Creighton. Mahoney averaged 12.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in only 22.5 minutes per game, while shooting 42.1% from the field, 35.8% from three, and 83.8% from the free throw line. The 6-foot-5 Mahoney has been a bucket-getter his entire career and his numbers should go up because of an uptick in minutes and with Ty-Shon Alexander going pro.
10. Paul Scruggs
Class: Senior
Paul Scruggs has been consistent statistically for the last two seasons as Xavier’s second option behind Naji Marshall. With Naji Marshall and Tyrique Jones moving on, Scruggs will be relied on as the number one scoring threat. Scruggs brings a solid veteran presence and he can do a little bit of everything for the Musketeers. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.2 steals a season ago, while shooting 46.3% from the field and 37.3% from deep.
9. D.J. Carton
Class: Sophomore
The Ohio State transfer is an explosive scoring guard who has a quick first step that can get him into the lane, where he can finish above the rim or stop on a dime and put up a floater. Carton is also a solid shooter, playmaker, and defender. If Carton wants to lead Marquette to the NCAA tournament, he will need to cut down on his turnover rate, as he had an approximate 1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio for the Buckeyes.
8. Justin Moore
Class: Sophomore
Moore is an agile scoring guard that can light it up from distance, where he shot 39.6%. The 6-foot-4 guard was named to the Big-East All-Freshman team after averaging 11.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. If Moore improves on his consistency, he will give himself a chance to lead the Wildcats in scoring.
7. Mitchell Ballock
Class: Senior
Mitchell Ballock has all the intangibles you want in a player, as he’s a winner with a high basketball IQ. Coach Greg McDermott runs Ballock through endless screens and rarely rests him as he led the Big East with 36 minutes per game. The 6-foot-5 lefty sharpshooter will be gearing up for a big senior year after averaging 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on 43.9% shooting from the field, and 43.5% from distance last season.
6. David Duke
Class: Junior
The high flying David Duke can do everything on the court for the Friars. Duke stuffed the stat sheet a season ago, averaging 12.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting an efficient 42% from three. Now that Alpha Diallo has finally graduated, the Friar offense will run through the 6-foot-5 Duke.
5. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Class: Sophomore
Robinson-Earl deciding to return for his sophomore year is a major reason that many pundits have Villanova in their preseason top five. The big-bodied forward won Big East Rookie of the Year after averaging a near double-double with 10.5 points per game and 9.4 rebounds. At 6-foot-9, Robinson-Earl presents a host of problems for opposing teams, as he has a respectable jump shot, can slash to the hoop, and post up.
4. James Bouknight
Class: Sophomore
Bouknight earned third-team All-AAC honors his freshman year after averaging 13.0 points and 4.1 rebounds. Now as a sophomore, the 6-foot-5 Bouknight will become a household name as UCONN’s star player. The combo-guard is an explosive athlete and talented scorer; the next step for him will be getting his teammates more involved.
3. Sandro Mamukelashvili
Class: Senior
The sky is the limit for Mamu now that the trio of Myles Powell, Quincy McKnight, and Romaro Gill have all graduated. At 6-foot-11, Mamu has an impressive offensive skillset with his savviness, shooting skills (shot 43.4% from three last year), ball-handling, and solid passing ability for a big man. Mamu was limited by injury last season, missing over a month of action and finishing with 11.9 points and 6.0 rebounds. These numbers will increase now that the offense will run through him more this season.
2. Collin Gillespie
Class: Senior
Gillespie will be one of the most well-known college basketball players as the “head of the Villanova snake.” The steady 6-foot-3 guard already has an NCAA championship under his belt and has a team around him that can compete for another one. Gillespie averaged 15.1 points, 4.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game for the Wildcats and was named second-team All-Big East.
1. Marcus Zegarowski
Class: Junior
Zegarowski is the straw that stirs the drink for Creighton’s fast-paced and high-scoring offense. Zegarowski is a great scorer off the dribble, can fill it up from deep, and is a good playmaker, finishing third in the Big East in assists with 5.0 per game. Last season, Zegarowski earned second-team All-Big East honors, while posting 16.1 points on 48.8% shooting from the field and 42.4% from deep along with 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals.
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1 Comment
Good analysis and forecast for the upcoming Big East season! Keep them coming!