As league play is set to begin, how good is the Big East this season?
The UConn men’s basketball team’s performance in the non-conference portion of its schedule couldn’t have gone much better.
You could say it went perfectly for the 11-0 Huskies. Not that Dan Hurley would agree.
“I don’t think we’ve played our best yet,” the coach said following UConn’s 53-point drubbing of LIU on Saturday in its final non-conference tune-up.
Jordan Hawkins concurred.
“I don’t think we have, honestly,” the sweet-shooting, sophomore guard said. “They shot, what, 40-percent from the field? That’s not good enough. We had them at 30 for the first half, they got some shots up in the second. I feel like we haven’t played a full, 40-minute game yet.”
OK, Hurley and Hawkins are nit-picking a bit. Yes, LIU shot 42.3 percent from the field on Saturday after shooting 37-percent in the first half (and 48-percent in the second). But this felt like a coach and player looking for ways to continue to push and find ways to get better as it heads into league play.
Sure enough, the Huskies’ Big East schedule begins on Saturday at Butler. As always, UConn’s 20-game trip through conference play — Jim Calhoun once called it a “beautiful journey” — promises renewed rivalries and excitement over the next 2½ months.
But how good is the Big East this season? We’re long past the days of Patrick Ewing (as a player, not a coach!), Chris Mullin (ditto), Ray Allen, Allen Iverson, heck, even Danny Hurley. Some would argue the league is down a bit this season.
When the AP Top 25 poll is released on Monday at noon, it’s likely that UConn will be the only Big East team represented. Yes, the Huskies could be No. 1 (more likely No. 2 or 3), but that doesn’t say much about the league’s depth.
The Big East is 2-8 against Big Ten teams this season,
7-8 against the Big 12 and 3-4 against the ACC. The league is 4-8 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25.
Still, with the Huskies leading the way, and teams like Xavier, Creighton and Marquette posting some impressive non-conference wins, the league is strong.
“I think overall, it’s better,” Hurley said. “Whatever the NET says or KenPom, I’m not even sure because we’ve been just so focused on taking care of the non-conference.”
Indeed, the metrics are kinder to the Big East. As of Sunday morning, the league was fourth in the NET rankings, behind the Big 12, Big 10 and SEC and just ahead of the Mountain West(!), Pac-12 and ACC. The KenPom rankings are similar.
“I think the bottom is stronger,” Hurley said of the league. “Every game in conference play is so difficult because you know each other so well, and it’s one of 20, and it’s a grind.”
Added Alex Karaban: “It’ll be tough. Playing (teams) twice a year, it’s always tough to beat a team two times, especially with the caliber of how good Big East teams are. We’ve played against these teams for a couple of years now, so they know Coach Hurley’s style and how we want to play. So, they can game-plan based on previous experience. It’ll be tough, but we’re excited for it. And I know we really want to make
an emphasis on the Big East this year.”
UConn, picked to finish fourth by in the preseason coaches’ poll, is clearly the class of the Big East (heck, maybe the entire country). Here’s a quick synopsis of how the rest of the Big East’s teams:
CREIGHTON
Stunningly, the preseason coaches’ poll pick to win the league has dropped four in a row, most recently to BYU on Saturday. Granted, 7-foot Big East Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner was out sick for that one, but still, no excuse for the Bluejays’ recent play. Two weeks ago they were ranked No. 7 in the
nation; on Monday, they almost certainly won’t be ranked at all. Creighton boasts perhaps the best starting five in the league, and Greg McDermott is a terrific coach. It should straighten things out, but it needs to get more bench production if it hopes to improve to 6-0 vs. the Huskies since they rejoined the Big East when the Bluejays visit Gampel on Jan. 7.
XAVIER
Surprisingly picked to finish second in the league in the preseason coaches’ poll, the Musketeers are 7-3 following a Crosstown Shootout win over Cincinnati on Saturday. They’ve beaten Florida and West Virginia and lost
close ones to Duke, Gonzaga and Indiana. They’ve got a keeper at point guard in UTEP transfer Souley Boum, one of the league’s best bigs in Jack Nunge, and experienced talent in Zach Freemantle and Colby Jones. Sean Miller is a big step up as head coach from Travis Steele. They’re good.
VILLANOVA
The Kyle Neptune Era got off to a horrific, 2-5 start, with losses to Portland and Temple, among others. But the Wildcats have now won three straight, including a nice one over Oklahoma, coinciding with the debut of freshman and potential NBA lottery pick Cam Whitmore, who’s been as good (15.7 ppg) as advertised. ‘Nova’s offense is starting to look like it did under Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright, and a potential return of Justin Moore could make things even better.
MARQUETTE
Looked like it could be a rebuilding year for Shaka Smart, but the Golden Eagles are 7-3 and boast one of the league’s best wins: a 26-point thrashing of No. 12 Baylor on Nov. 29 in Milwaukee. Led by super sophomore Kam Jones, Big East assists leader (8.0 per game) Tyler Kolek and Smart’s frenetic style of play, Marquette won’t be a fun opponent for any team.
ST. JOHN’S
The Red Storm got off to an 8-0 start with wins over Syracuse, Nebraska and Temple, and even got a Top 25 vote. Then they got smoked by the only ranked team they’ve played so far, Iowa State. The Johnnies are 10-1 but it’s hard to say exactly how good they are. Center Joel Soriano has been a beast, leading the league in rebounding (12.6), and Mike Anderson’s pressure defense has always given UConn trouble.
PROVIDENCE
Ed Cooley melded a bunch of transfers perfectly last season to win the program’s first Big East regular-season title, but a similar plan hasn’t been as successful so far. The Friars are 8-3, with losses to the only three good teams they’ve played (TCU, Miami and Saint Louis). Still, there’s talent here, led by Kentucky transfer Bryce Hopkins (the real deal), and The Dunk…er, sorry… the AMP won’t be a welcoming place for Hurley & Co.
BUTLER
The return of head coach Thad Matta has restored home in Indy, and while the 8-3 Bulldogs haven’t really beaten anybody yet, NC State transfer Manny Bates is a shot-blocking menace (league-best 2.8 per game) and Butler appears on the upswing.
SETON HALL
Injuries and illness have so far sabotaged Shaheen Holloway’s first season at the helm for the Pirates, who were 5-4 heading into Sunday’s Jersey showdown with Rutgers.
DEPAUL Meh GEORGETOWN
The Hoyas are 5-6, with losses to Syracuse and midmajors like American, Loyola Marymount. The Patrick Ewing thing isn’t working at all, though old friend Akok Akok is having some success (7.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks) and Hartford’s Primo Spears is third in the Big East in scoring (17.6 ppg).