The Providence Crier Big East Preview

We’ve waited all spring, summer, and fall. With the kick-off of Big East Media Day, we’re happy to provide our pre-season predictions of all things Big East. This is high level, and we’ll do a detailed Providence team preview and predictions a few days before the season. We’re certain to get many things incredibly incorrect and look foolish two months from now, but that is okay.

Without further ado…

BOC Rankings

1. Connecticut
2. St. John’s
3. Xavier
4. Creighton
5. Providence
6. Marquette
7. Villanova
8. Butler
9. Georgetown
10. Seton Hall
11. DePaul

Team(s) that are most likely to make me look foolish: St. John’s and Marquette. Could St. John’s falter and finish 5 or 6? Sure. But I’m counting on a trio of Kadary, Smith, and Luis to propel them into the upper echelon of the Big East. I’m so so high on Luis. Oh yeah, their Hall of Fame coach knows a thing or two about basketball as well.

For Marquette, the losses of Kolek and Ighodaro are going to be too much to overcome in my opinion. Shaka Smart has a good core returning in Jones, Mitchell, Joplin, Gold, Ross, but the lack of adding talent in the transfer portal with those two losses above would concern me as a Golden Eagles fan. Shaka has an incredible culture there at Marquette, but I think his reliance on no portal additions will come back to haunt him. They could easily finish top 3 and make my choice of 6th look silly.

Big East Awards – BOC

Player of the Year: Kadary Richmond with a slight edge over Ryan Kalkbrenner

Coach of the Year: Rick Pitino with a slight edge over Sean Miller

Rookie of the Year: Liam McNeeley

Newcomer of the Year: Wesley Cardet over Wooga Poplar

Defensive Player of the Year: Kalkbrenner for the 17th time in his career

First Team All Big East: Kadary Richmond, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Eric Dixon, Bryce Hopkins, Kam Jones

Total Teams in NCAA Tournament: 5 or 6

The Crier Big East Rankings

1. Connecticut
2. Xavier
3. Providence
4. Creighton
5. Marquette
6. St. John’s
7. Villanova
8. Seton Hall
9. Butler
10. DePaul
11. Georgetown

Big East Awards – The Crier

Player of the Year: Kam Jones

Newcomer of the Year: Wesley Cardet, Providence

Freshman/Rookie of the Year: Thomas Sorber, Georgetown

Coach of the Year: Kim English, Providence

First Team All Big East: Jayden Pierre, Wesley Cardet, Kam Jones, Alex Karaban, Ryan Kalkbrenner