Huskies ready for Big East journey
Jim Calhoun once called UConn’s annual trek through the Big East conference schedule a “beautiful journey.”
It’s a different journey now — different programs, different destinations. But it remains a thing of beauty. Even more so this season for UConn, in numerous ways.
For one, it will be the Huskies’ first trip through a true Big East season, with fans in the building for every game, since 2012-13. UConn returned to the league last year, but the pandemic forced all of the Huskies’ home games to be played without fans, and most of their road games, as well. Heck, even the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden was limited to players’ friends and family members.
With fans allowed back this season, expect a sellout buzzing with energy at XL Center on Saturday at 5 p.m., when UConn hosts Providence in its conference opener.
And the Big East appears good this year. Really good. It will never match what it was in the 1980s and 1990s, or even 2009, when the league put five teams in the Sweet 16, three in the Elite Eight and two in the Final Four. Or 2011, when 11 of the Big East’s 16 teams made the NCAA Tournament.
But it certainly appears to be much better than last season, when the league had a mere three at-large bids (Georgetown earned a fourth bid by winning the conference tournament).
Entering Sunday’s action, Big East teams boasted an overall record of 86-22 (.796) and had won 16 of their past 18 games. The league went 6-2 against the Big 10 in the Gavitt Games and is 6-5 in the Big East-Big 12 Challenge.
There have been impressive wins, some from likely sources, some from unlikely ones. No. 23 Seton Hall has won at Michigan and topped No. 7 Texas at home Thursday, clearing the way to a big jump up the rankings this week. Xavier has beaten No. 21 Ohio State, which recently handed Duke its only loss.
UConn has done its part, beating No. 18 Auburn and St. Bonaventure on neutral floors.
But even the league’s lesser lights have shone bright. Perennial bottom-feeder DePaul just beat Louisville on the road. Butler has won at Oklahoma. Marquette boasts wins over Illinois and West Virginia. Providence has won at Wisconsin and at home vs. Texas Tech.
There have been a few bad losses — most of them by 4-4 Georgetown. But consider this: The team tied for second-most losses in the league behind Georgetown is Villanova, which just so happens to be the sixthranked team in the country.
That lofty ranking will change after Sunday’s ugly loss to Baylor. But the Wildcats’ three losses have been to No. 1 Purdue, No. 2 Baylor and No. 4 UCLA. Not bad.
The Big East is good again, folks. Not 2009 or 2011 good. But very good.
Let the “beautiful journey” begin.
Our season predictions:
1. Villanova: Wildcats have an alarmingly short bench, but with freshly minted Hall of Famer Jay Wright at the helm and Big East preseason Player of the Year Collin Gillespie back for a fifth year, they’re the team to beat.
2. UConn: The Huskies have as much talent and depth as anyone in the league, but questions remain. Can they get enough consistent backcourt play to complement R.J. Cole? Will Adama Sanogo’s abdominal injury linger? UConn could win the league — or finish fifth.
3. Seton Hall: Everyone knew the Pirates had talent, but would all the new faces mesh together well? So far, so good.
4. Xavier: With Zach Freemantle healthy again, he combines with Paul Scruggs as perhaps the league’s best 1-2 combo …
5. St. John’s: … unless you want to give that title to Julian Champagnie and Posh Alexander.
6. Providence: Nate Watson can dominate, and Indiana transfer Al Durham has been a terrific addition. Can A.J. Reeves finally live up to his billing? Are the Friars as good as their 10-1 record would suggest? We’ll get a good view on Saturday.
7. Creighton: Bluejays lost everyone from last year’s Big East runners-up, but brought in the school’s best-ever recruiting class and looked great wiping out No. 24 BYU on Saturday.
8. Marquette: Shaka Smart looks much more relaxed away from Texas and in Milwaukee. There’s nothing relaxing about the relentless full-court pressure the Golden Eagles are employing.
9. Butler: Slow, methodical and boring, but experienced (all five starters are back) and boasting Oklahoma’s pelt on its mantelpiece.
10. DePaul: Tony Stubblefield takes over for Dave Leitao and has the Blue Demons off to an 8-1 start. We’ve seen good nonconference starts from DePaul before, but that win at Louisville looked convincing.
11. Georgetown: Patrick Ewing is probably going to need another miracle run through the Big East Tournament to nab another NCAA bid. Hopefully, the ushers at MSG recognize him this time.
ALL-BIG EAST SELECTIONS FIRST TEAM
Collin Gillespie, Villanova Justin Moore, Villanova Julian Champagnie, St. John’s Jared Rhoden, Seton Hall Nate Watson, Providence Adama Sanogo, UConn
SECOND TEAM
Zach Freemantle, Xavier Paul Scruggs, Xavier R.J. Cole, UConn Posh Alexander, St. John’s Justin Lewis, Marquette
THIRD TEAM
Javon Freeman-Liberty, DePaul Jermaine Samuels, Villanova Al Durham, Providence Aminu Mohammed, Georgetown
Tyrese Samuel, Seton Hall