BEASTS OF THE EAST
Wide-open conference filled with legitimate contenders
First, several stars — Myles Powell, Markus Howard and Naji Marshall — returned. Then, the Big East welcomed back a former marquee member (UConn).
The offseason was kind to the conference, and this season projects to be even better. After a predictable down year in which the league failed to advance a single team past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, this campaign could be its best since realignment.
Big East coaches picked Powell and Seton Hall to win the league. The Post sees Villanova, led by its elite recruiting class, as the top team. But Xavier, Georgetown, Providence and Marquette are also all legit contenders and potential top-25 teams.
It should be a wild season in the Big East.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR Myles Powell, Seton Hall
From an overweight freshman to a sharpshooting sidekick to one of the country’s best players, Powell’s evolution ranks as one of the best stories in Seton Hall history. The 6-foot-2 senior, who averaged 23.1 points and shot 36 percent on 3-pointers last season, is likely headed to his fourth straight NCAA Tournament, and would become the first Pirate to capture this award since Terry Dehere (1993).
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova
He hasn’t played a game yet and the hype is a l re ady immense, with some coaches predicting the 6-foot-9 standout could earn first-team all-league honors. The McDonald’s All-American was the second-leading scorer for the USA Basketball team that won the FIBA U-19 World Championship and was the high school player of the year in Kansas as a junior. Robinson-Earl led Villanova in scoring and rebounding in an exhibition game against USC, a sign of his through-the-roof potential.
FIVE KEY QUESTIONS
Is Villanova being overlooked?
Despite winning f ive of the six regular season championships in the reconf igured Big East, and three straight Big East Tournament titles, the Wildcats were picked to finish second —behind Seton Hall — in the preseason coaches poll. Though Villanova loses its top two players — Eric Paschall and Phil Booth, the last true links to the team’s most recent national championship — the Wildcats bring back multiple starters, a strong recruiting class and the conference’s most accomplished coach. The Big East belongs to Villanova, until proven otherwise.
Who becomes the face of the Big East?
Only two players in the league return from last season’s Big East First Team: Powell and Marquette’s Markus Howard, who won the conference’s top individual honor last season. Few teams in t he country rely on t heir biggest s tars so much, and both s e ni or marksmen carry the potential to lead the country in scoring and/or be named All-Americans. Either could achieve the league’s highest profile since Doug McDermott.
Will the league live up to the hype?
The pieces are certainly in place for that to happen, with 10 of last year’s top 17 scorers back. The Big East was the only conference with two preseason f irst-team Associated Press All-Americans (Howard and Powell) and had three teams — Villanova (10), Seton Hall (12) and Xavier (19) — ranked in the AP poll, plus four others receiving votes. The entire league is ranked in KenPom.com’s top 100, a sign of impressive depth. Now it could make a breakthrough in March by sending at least three teams to the second weekend of the tournament, which has yet to happen since the league was re-created.
How does Marquette deal with losing the Hausers?
By adapting. Marquette won’t outscore teams anymore after losing skilled forwards Joey and Sam Hauser, who transferred to Michigan State and Virginia, respectively, after combining to average 24.6 points per game a year ago. However, the Golden Eagles should be improved defensively and on the glass, and be able to get out in transition more, thanks to the additions of four-star recruit Symir Torrence, Utah State transfer guard Koby McEwen and 7-foot Utah transfer Jayce Johnson, along with the return of guard Greg Elliott from injury.
Is Georgetown ready to make the leap?
All indications are the Hoyas will be dancing for the first time in five years. Patrick Ewing returns stud sophomores James Akinjo, Mac McClung and Josh LeBlanc — a trio named to the league’s all-freshman team — and adds 7-foot N.C. State transfer Omer Yurtseven, a rim-protecting big man with pro potential. The hope is his presence helps improve last year’s woeful defense.