City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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(Ed. Note: This article is part of CoBL's 2015-16 College Season Preview, which will run from October 2-November 13, the first day of games. For the complete rundown, click here)

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In the third season since conference realignment drastically altered the makeup of this historic basketball conference, the so-called “New Big East” appears to have found its footing.

Last season, the league placed 60% of its teams into the NCAA Tournament, led by top-seeded Villanova, and no fewer than seven teams have realistic hopes of making the big dance this year. The next step, however, is experiencing some success in March; in 2014-15, just one of the conference’s six Tournament qualifiers advanced past the first weekend.

While Villanova is again projected to come out on top, there is tons of parity among the middle teams, with plenty of talent and star power-- including two projected NBA lottery picks-- to go around.

Here is CoBL’s take on the Big East:

CoBL’s Big East Presason First Team
Ryan Arcidiacono (10.3 ppg, 3.6 apg)-- Sr., Villanova
Kellen Dunham (16.5 ppg, 41% 3FG)-- Sr., Butler
Kris Dunn (15.6 ppg, 7.5 apg)-- Sr., Providence
Roosevelt Jones (12.7 ppg, 3.7 apg)-- RS Sr., Butler
D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (16.3 ppg, 3.2 apg)-- Sr., Georgetown

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1. Villanova Wildcats
Head Coach: Jay Wright (12th season, 319-152, .677)
Last year: 33-3 (16-2 Big East), won Big East tournament (def. Xavier, 69-52), lost in NCAA Tournament Third Round (NC State, 71-68)
Key Returnees: Ryan Arcidiacono (10.3 ppg, 3.6 apg), Daniel Ochefu (9.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg), Josh Hart (10.1 ppg, 46.4% 3FG)
Newcomers: Mikal Bridges (RS Fr./Great Valley, Pa.), Jalen Brunson (Stevenson, Ill.), Tim Delaney (Blair Academy, N.J.), Donte Divincenzo (Salesianum, Del.)
Key Departures: Darrun Hilliard (14.3 ppg, 38.7% 3FG), JayVaughn Pinkston (9.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Dylan Ennis (9.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

Outlook: All eyes are on Brunson, a five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American, who may be the missing piece the Wildcats need to get to the next level in the postseason. However, how he will fit in or be used in the crowded Villanova backcourt is yet to be known. Arcidiacono, Hart, and Phil Booth will play big roles in Wright’s guard-heavy system.

2. Butler Bulldogs
Head Coach: Chris Holtmann (2nd season, 23-11, .676)
Last year: 23-11 (12-6 Big East), lost in Big East quarterfinals (Xavier, 67-61); lost in NCAA Tournament Third Round (Notre Dame, 67-64)
Key Returnees: Kellen Dunham (16.5 ppg, 41% 3FG), Roosevelt Jones (12.7 ppg, 3.7 apg)
Newcomers: Nate Fowler (Archbishop Moeller, Ohio), Sean McDermott (Pendleton Heights, Ind.), Tyler Lewis (RS Jr., NC State), Jordan Gathers (RS Sr., St. Bonaventure)
Key Departures: Alex Barlow (8.9 ppg, 2.6 apg), Kameron Woods (7.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg)

Outlook: The only team with two players named to the preseason All-Big East First Team, the Bulldogs will lean heavily on returning seniors Dunham and Jones. The former was the third-leading scorer in the conference last season, while the 6-foot-4, 227 pound Jones does a bit of everything for this team, with a strong inside-outside game and the capability to function as a secondary ballhandler and create for teammates.

3. Georgetown Hoyas
Head Coach: John Thompson III (12th season, 249-115, .684)
Last year: 22-11 (12-6 Big East), lost in Big East semifinals (Xavier, 65-63); lost in NCAA Tournament Third Round (Utah, 75-64)
Key Returnees: Devauntes Smith-Rivera (16.3 ppg, 3.2 apg), L.J. Peak (7.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
Newcomers: Jessie Govan (Wings Academy, N.Y.), Marcus Derrickson (Brewster Academy, N.H.), Kaleb Johnson (Carlisle School, Va.), Akoy Agau (So., Louisville)
Key Departures: Joshua Smith (10.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg), Jabril Trawick (9.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg)

Outlook: The Hoyas got a nice surprise in March, when Smith-Rivera, one of the conference’s most dynamic guards, decided to back out of the NBA Draft and return to D.C. for his senior season. He’ll once again be counted on to do most of the creating for JTIII’s squad after leading the team by decent margins in both scoring and assists last season, all with a solid 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.

4. Xavier Musketeers
Head Coach: Chris Mack (7th season, 134-71, .654)
Last year: 23-9 (9-9 Big East), lost in Big East championship (Villanova, 69-52); lost in NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 (Arizona, 68-60)
Key Returnees: Trevon Bluiett (11.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Jalen Reynolds (9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
Newcomers: Kaiser Gates (St. Francis, Ga.), Makinde London (RS Fr./Montverde Academy, Fla.), Edmond Sumner (RS Fr./Country Day, Mich.)
Key Departures: Matt Stainbrook (12.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg), Dee Davis (9.0 ppg, 6.0 apg)

Outlook: The Musketeers will undoubtedly feel the losses of Stainbrook and Davis, one of the conference’s best inside-outside duos last year. Mack’s roster is still very much talented to compete with anyone in the Big East on a given night, however. Reynolds will have a bit more on his shoulders in the post this season, and fellow senior Remy Abell is a 3-point threat and solid on-ball defender.

5. Marquette Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Steve Wojciechowski (2nd season, 13-19, .406)
Last year: (13-19, 4-14 Big East), lost in Big East quarterfinals (Villanova, 84-49)
Key Returnees: Duane Wilson (11.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg), Luke Fischer (11.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Newcomers: Henry Ellenson (Rice Lake, Wis.), Haanif Cheatham (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), Matt Heldt (Neenah, Wis.), Sacar Anim (De La Salle, Minn.), Traci Carter (Life Center, N.J.)
Key Departures: Matt Carlino (15.0 ppg, 41.9% 3FG), Derrick Wilson (5.6 ppg, 4.7 apg)

Outlook: Marquette’s top two returning scorers, Wilson and Fischer, are another year older as sophomores, and the team should be another year more comfortable in Wojciechowski’s second season. The team struggled in the conference last season as it transitioned to the new coach, and while the record might not be there again this season, the Golden Eagles should be more competitive on a nightly basis, especially with the arrival of Ellenson, a consensus five-star recruit and projected top-10 NBA draft pick.

6. Providence Friars
Head Coach: Ed Cooley (5th season, 79-56, .585)
Last year: 22-12 (11-7 Big East), lost in Big East semifinals (Villanova, 63-61); lost in NCAA Tournament Round of 64 (Dayton, 66-53)
Key Returnees: Kris Dunn (15.6 ppg, 7.5 apg), Ben Bentil (6.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Newcomers: Ryan Fazekas (Marquette Heights, Ind.), Drew Edwards (Calvert Hall, Md.), Ricky Council II (Moravian Prep, N.C.), Quadree Smith (IMG Academy, Fla.)
Key Departures: LaDontae Henton (19.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Tyler Harris (9.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg)

Outlook: This year’s team will have lots of production to replace, starting with that of Henton, the conference’s leading scorer last season and a constant matchup nightmare on the wing. With Harris having transferred to Auburn, the graduation of center Carson Desrosiers, and the transfer of his backup, 7-foot-2 Paschal Chukwu, to Syracuse, there is not much returning experience here. However, the single key piece that Cooley does bring back is Dunn, who passed on being a likely lottery pick in the 2015 NBA Draft to return to the Friars for his final year.

7. Seton Hall Pirates
Head Coach: Kevin Willard (12th season, 82-80, .506)
Last year: 17-17 (6-12 Big East), lost in Big East first round (Marquette, 78-56)
Key Returnees: Isaiah Whitehead (12.0 ppg, 3.5 apg), Angel Delgado (9.3 ppg, 9.8 rpg)
Newcomers: Amarveer Singh (Thurgood Marshall, N.Y.), Myles Carter (St. Rita’s, Ill.), Dalton Soffer (Poway, Cali.), Braeden Anderson (RS Jr., Fresno State), Derrick Gordon (RS Sr., UMass)
Key Departures: Sterling Gibbs (16.3 ppg, 3.8 apg), Brandon Mobley (9.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg)

Outlook: Willard returns for his sixth season as head coach. He will try to get Seton Hall back on track, as he deals with the additional losses of players who transferred out.  Aside from those who graduated, Chier Ajou, Jaren Sina, and leading scorer Gibbs have found new homes elsewhere. However, Seton Hall’s sophomore class gives the team something to believe in, with Whitehead is the team’s top returning scorer, and Delgado, the top returning rebounder in the conference.

8. DePaul Blue Demons
Head Coach: Dave Leitao (1st season, 58-34, .630 from 2002-05)
Last year: 12-20 (6-12 Big East), lost in Big East first round (Creighton, 78-63)
Key Returnees: Billy Garrett Jr. (12.3 ppg, 3.9 apg), Myke Henry (12.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Newcomers: Oumar Barry (Bishop O’Connell, Va.), Elijah Cain (St. Benedict’s, N.J.), Develle Phillips (Clinton Christian, Md.), Frederick Scott (Simeon, Ill.), Erten Gazi (Turkey)
Key Departures: Jamee Crockett (11.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Forrest Robinson (6.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg)

Outlook: DePaul hopes that Leitao can reignite the program in his first season. The Blue Demons retain most of their core players from last season. Garrett Jr., Henry, and Tommy Hamilton IV each averaged at least 10.0 points per game last season.

9. St. John’s Red Storm
Head Coach: Chris Mullin (1st season)
Last year: 21-12 (10-8 Big East), lost in Big East quarterfinals (Providence, 74-57); lost in NCAA Tournament Round of 64 (San Diego St., 76-64)
Key Returnees: No one; the Red Storm lost 11 players, including over 96 percent of its scoring, to either graduation, transfer, or the professional ranks
Newcomers: Marcus Lovett Jr. (Morgan Park, Ill.), Kassoum Yakwe (Our Savior New American, N.Y.), Federico Mussini (Italy), Yankuba Sima (Elev8 Sports, Fla.) Malik Ellison (Life Center, N.J.), Durand Johnson (RS Sr. Pittsburgh), Ron Mvouika (RS Sr./Missouri State), Darien Williams (So./City College of San Francisco)
Key Departures: Everyone (see “Key Returnees”)

Outlook: Mullin has very little to work with in his first year on the Red Storm sideline, but the expectations are low for now. This season will be about establishing what Mullin wants the program to turn into and how some of the younger players on the roster perform. Luckily for the first-year coach, he has some veterans on the roster in Johnson and Mvouika that should be able to aid the transition process.

10. Creighton Bluejays
Head Coach: Greg McDermott (6th season, 121-57, .680)
Last year: 14-19 (4-14 Big East), lost in Big East quarterfinals (Georgetown, 60-55)
Key Returnees: James Milliken (9.6 ppg, 38.5% 3FG), Isaiah Zierden (9.5 ppg, 39.6% 3FG)
Newcomers: Justin Patton (Omaha North, Neb.), Marlon Stewart (North Scott, Iowa), Khyri Thomas (Fork Union Military Academy, Va.), Martin Krampelj (Impact Academy, Fla.), Ronnie Harrell Jr. (RS Fr./Denver East, Colo.) Maurice Watson Jr. (RS Jr., Boston University), Cole Huff (RS Jr., Nevada)
Key Departures: Austin Chatman (11.5 ppg, 3.7 apg), Devin Brooks (7.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg)

Outlook: Although the returning production doesn’t look like much, the Jays will receive a significant boost from two players who have both spent a year in the program, with transfers Watson and Huff. Watson Jr., a Boys Latin grad and one of the leading scorers in Philadelphia history, will fill Chatman’s spot at point guard after being named First Team All-Patriot League as a sophomore at BU.