Big East Preview: UConn holds serve; Rick Pitino and Sean Miller look strong in preseason power ranking

The 2024-25 college basketball season is right around the corner. This week, On3 is diving into the Big East for preview week.

Tier one of the Big East will be super competitive, teams who carry the upside to make deep runs into the NCAA Tournament. Tier two should be considered comfortably in the tournament with second-weekend potential.

The top of the Big East will continue to garner national relevance and players like Alex Karaban (UConn) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (Creighton) will vie for spots on All-American lists. And while DePaul and Butler are a step below the rest of the league, the bottom of this Big East, this season, is better than it was last year.

With that kind of laid out, let’s go through the Big East Power Rankings as we head into the 2024-25 college basketball season.

Tier 1

1. UConn

Head Coach Dan Hurley (292-163 overall, 141-58 at UConn)
2023-24: 37-3 (18-2 Big East) National Champions

Key Players: 6-8/225 Jr. Alex Karaban (13.3ppg, 5.1rpg), 6-3/185 Jr. Aidan Mahaney (13.9ppg/St. Mary’s), 6-10/260 Jr. Tarris Reed (9.0ppg, 7.2rpg/Michigan), 6-3/190 So. Solo Ball (3.3ppg), 6-2/195 Sr. Hassan Diarra (6.1ppg, 2.4apg), 6-10/225 Sr. Samson Johnson (5.4ppg), 6-7/210 Fr. Liam McNeeley, 6-0/195 Fr. Ahmad Nowell, 6-7/215 So. Jaylin Stewart (2.5ppg)

The Buzz: The back-to-back national champions lost four players to the NBA Draft. Dan Hurley went out and reloaded his roster. It starts with Karaban, who pulled his name out of the NBA Draft to return to Storrs for one more season. He was last season’s third leading scorer and his 37.9 percent shooting from three was second on the team. UConn also added two key figures from the transfer portal. Mahaney and Reed each look to hop into the starting lineup and bring experience. Mahaney is a tough-minded guard able to create his own shot and Reed is a burly sure-handed big man with touch. Hurley also brought in the No. 8 ranked recruiting class, which is stacked on top of the No. 7 ranked class from 2023. This 2024 high school class brings in five-star Liam McNeeley, a sharp-shooter from national champion Montverde (FL) Academy. He also added guard depth with Ahmad Nowell. Diarra and Johnson are sure-handed presences, especially on the defensive end. Look for sophomore guard Solo Ball to have a clear runway to take a step forward this season. UConn should be counted among the top teams in the country until they prove you wrong.

2. St. John’s

Head Coach Rick Pitino (854-306 overall, 20-13 at St. John’s)
2023-24: 20-13 (11-9 Big East)

Key Players: 6-6/205 Sr. Kadary Richmond (15.7ppg, 7.0rpg, 5.1apg), 6-7/210 Jr. RJ Luis (10.9ppg, 4.6rpg), 6-9/235 Jr. Zuby Ejiofor (4.3ppg, 3.1rpg), 6-0/175 Sr. Deivon Smith (13.3ppg, 6.3rpg, 7.1apg), 6-7/200 Sr. Aaron Scott (11.0ppg, 37.0% 3P), 7-1/240 Jr. Vincent Iwuchukwu (5.5ppg, 3.8rpg), 6-7/190 So. Brady Dunlap (3.2ppg), 6-4/180 So. Simeon Wilcher (2.8ppg), 6-5/190 Fr. Jaiden Glover

The Buzz: Rick Pitino went out in the off season and made it a point to add players to his roster with versatility, size/length, and the ability to create an advantage on the ball. Richmond, a 6-foot-6 creator, earned first-team All-Big East honors last season after he finished second in the league in steals, fourth in assists, and fifth in defensive rebounds. Smith led the Pac 12 in assists last season while also shooting 40.8 percent from three and grabbing 1.1 steals per game. Scott carved out a role as a three-and-d threat, guarding up and down a line up while shooting 37.0 percent from three. Luis is comfortable with th eball in his hands at 6-foot-7. Ejiofor could be in line for a massive breakout season, with his strength, explosive pop, and nose for the ball. Glover, a four-star recruit can be eased into the lineup as sophomore steps are expected from Dunlap and Wilcher.

3. Xavier

Head Coach Sean Miller (465-184 overall, 163-75 at Xavier)
2023-24: 16-18 (9-11 Big East)

Key Players: 6-0/195 Sr. Dayvion McKnight (12.4ppg, 4.8apg), 6-9/225 Sr. Zach Freemantle (15.2ppg, 8.1rpg/2022-23), 6-4/195 Jr. Ryan Conwell (16.6ppg, 40.7% 3P/Indiana State), 6-2/200 Sr. Dante Maddox (15.6ppg, 20.2% 3P/Toledo), 6-4/200 Sr. Marcus Foster (17.0ppg, 7.4rpg/Furman), 6-9/215 Sr. Lassina Traore (11.9ppg, 10.3rpg/Long Beach State), 6-10/260 Sr. John Hugley (8.4ppg, 3.8rpg/Oklahoma), 6-8/215 Sr. Jerome Hunter (7.8ppg, 4.4rpg/2022-23), 6-7/220 Sr. Cam’Ron Fletcher (6.7ppg, 5.0rpg/Florida State), 6-0/160 So. Trey Green (5.6ppg), 6-7/200 So. Dailyn Swain (4.6ppg, 3.0rpg)

The Buzz: Depth is the name of the game for this year’s Xavier team. Head coach Sean Miller went into the portal with a plan. He brought in shooting with Maddox and Conwell. He added versatility and toughness with Foster and Traore. He got bigger with the additions and Hugley and Fletcher. Miller also brings back former All-Big East second-team performer Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter, who started both NCAA 2023 NCAA Tournament games. Dayvion McKnight will be the head of the snake, and he will be able to move the ball around to a team that has size, depth, and spacing. Last season, Miller relied heavily on thfee players who each played 32 or more minutes per game and took over 60 percent of the team’s field goal attempts. This Musketeers team will have multiple players able to go for 20 on any given night, however, given the depth, a single player will not be forced to average 20 for them to reach their ceiling.

Tier 2

4. Creighton

Head Coach Greg McDermott (474-291 overall, 325-160 at Creighton)
2023-24: 25-10 (14-6 Big East) Sweet 16

Key Players: 7-1/270 Sr. Ryan Kalkbrenner (17.3ppg, 7.6rpg, 3.1bpg), 6-1/170 Sr. Steven Ashworth 11.1ppg, 4.2apg), 6-2/180 Jr. Pop Isaacs (15.8ppg, 3.5apg/Texas Tech), 6-5/190 Sr. Jamiya Neal (11.0ppg, 5.4rpg/Arizona State), 6-9/190 Jr. Mason Miller (5.6ppg, 45.3% 3P), 6-9/260 Jr. Fredrick King (2.6ppg, 2.2rpg), 6-10/225 Isaac Traudt (2.9ppg 42.1% 3P), 6-10/215 Fr. Jackson McAndrew

The Buzz: Creighton returns Kalkbrenner, one of the country’s best defenders and three-time defending Big East Player of the Year winner. He will be an iron wall in the back of the Creighton defense and a front-runner for conference player of the year honors. The Bluejays are going to need better efficiency out of Issacs and Ashworth who combined to shoot 36.8 percent from the field, 32.0 percent from three, and a 1.9 assist/turnover ratio. Neal offered a solid season last year averaging 11.0 points and 1.1 steals, he will also need to tighten up his overall shooting numbers. They will need Miller, Green, and Traudt to take steps forward. Freshman Jackson McAndrew, On3’s No. 28 overall in 2024, earned Minnesota’s Gatorade Player of the Year honors last season after averaging 23.9 points and 10.1 rebounds

5. Marquette

Head Coach Shaka Smart (347-172 overall, 75-30 at Marquette)
2023-24: 27-10 (14-6 Big East) Sweet 16

Key Players: 6-5/200 Sr. Kam Jones (17.2ppg, 40.6% 3P), 6-8/225 Sr. David Joplin (10.8ppg, 3.9rpg), 6-3/200 Sr. Stevie Mitchell (8.8ppg), 6-5/205 Jr. Chase Ross (6.1ppg), 6-11/235 Jr. Ben Gold (5.0ppg, 3.0rpg), 5-10/165 Jr. Sean Jones (5.8ppg, 2.0apg), 6-5 So. Zaide Lowery (1.6ppg), 6-8/230 Fr. Royce Parham, 6-7/190 Fr. Damarius Owens

The Buzz: Kam Jones returns as one of the Big East’s most prolific scorers. Last season’s leading scorer, and shot-taker, will now return as the clear-featured guy. It cannot be understated how big the losses of NBA Draft picks Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro will be. The pair combined for 56 wins in their two seasons together as starters. Joplin and Gold are capable of stretching the floor. Gold will be asked to step in place of Ighodaro, who Marquette ran a good chunk of their offense through, will he be able to tighten the efficiency while close to doubling his usage? Mitchell is a premier perimeter defender and Ross is on the verge of a breakout type season. Can Lowery step into Ross’ role from last season? Can Sean Jones return from an ACL injury and take over Kolek’s minutes? Jones could have a breakout type season that carries this group.

6. Providence

Head Coach Kim English (55-43 overall, 21-14 at Providence)
2023-24: 21-14 (10-10 Big East) NIT

Key Players: 6-7/220 Sr. Bryce Hopkins (15.5ppg, 8.6rpg), 6-6/210 Sr. Wesley Cardet (18.7ppg, 2.6apg/Chicago State), 6-2/185 Jr. Jayden Pierre (9.5ppg, 3.2apg), 6-8/220 Sr. Jabri Abdur-Rahim (12.1ppg/Georgia), 6-2/190 Sr. Bensley Joseph (9.6ppg, 3.4apg), 7-0/290 So. Christ Essandoko (8.2ppg, 5.7rpg), 6-4/210 Jr. Corey Floyd (4.8ppg), 6-5/220 So. Richard Barron (4.4pppg, 42.9% 3P), 6-5/205 So. Justyn Fernandez (4.1ppg/2022-23 at George Mason), 6-10/220 Fr. Oswin Erhunmwunse

The Buzz: Bryce Hopkins, a former All-Big East performer, returns from an ACL injury. He brings a toughness and physical force to the lineup. Cardet could make a run at Big East Newcomer of the Year honors. The former top 100 recruit has scored 1,314 career points through his three collegiate seasons. Pierre took a big step forward as the team’s point guard last season. Joseph, an experienced guard, was the sixth man for Miami’s 2023 Final Four run. Abdur-Rahim, son of former NBA All-Star Shareef Abdur-Rahim, averaged double figures in the SEC last season. Essandoko has a big body with soft touch and could be in line for a step forward this season. Floyd, Barron, and Fernandez bring shooting (Barron) and athleticism (Floyd, Fernandez) off the bench. Erhunmuwuse, a top-100 recruit, was one of the most explosive players in the 2024 high school class. If Hopkins can get back to his original abilities, this could elevate the ceiling of this team’s season. There is upside on this roster to pass this prediction.

Tier 3

7. Seton Hall

Head Coach Shaheen Holloway (106-82 overall, 42-28 at Seton Hall)
2023-24: 25-12 (13-7 Big East) NIT Champions

Key Players: 6-5/190 Garwey Dual (3.3ppg/Providence), 6-4/175 Jr. Chaunce Jenkins (15.9ppg/Old Dominion), 6-0/170 Jr. Zion Harmon (14.6ppg, 4.0apg/Bethune Cookman), 6-4/215 Sr. Dylan Addae-Wusu (8.6ppg), 6-7/225 Jr. Prince Aligbe (4.7ppg, 3.4rpg/Boston College), 6-7/190 So. Scotty Middleton (4.4ppg/Ohio State), 6-5/190 So. Isaiah Coleman (5.4ppg), 6-9/245 Fr. Gus Yalden, 6-5/175 Fr. Jahseem Felton

The Buzz: Addae-Wusu is the only returning starter from last season’s NIT Championship-winning team. With that said, there is no denying the talent that is on this team. The question is, can they reach that ceiling in the Big East? Jenkins averaged almost 16 points at Old Dominion last season, and former top 100 recruit, Zion Harmon, went for 14 and 4 at Bethune Cookman. How will those numbers transfer up? Aligbe, Yalden, Felton, Middleton, Dual, and Coleman were all top 150 ranked recruits coming out of high school. Since his first year as a head coach, Shaheen Holloway has not had a losing record in conference play or for a full season. How quickly can Holloway tap into this collective talent?

8. Villanova

Head Coach Kyle Neptune (51-49 overall, 35-33 at Villanova)
2023-24: 18-16 (10-10 Big East)

Key Players: 6-8/255 Sr. Eric Dixon (16.6ppg, 6.5rpg), 6-5/200 Sr. Wooga Poplar (13.1ppg, 38.5% 3P/Miami), 6-4/205 So. Tyler Perkins (13.7ppg/Penn), 5-11/205 Sr. Jhamir Brickus (13.9ppg, 4.8apg, 40.0% 3P/LaSalle), 6-11/250 Sr. Enoch Boakye (7.5ppg, 1.2bpg/Fresno State), 6-5/215 Sr. Jordan Longino (6.6ppg), 6-6/185 Fr. Josiah Moseley, 6-8/200 Fr. Matthew Hodge

The Buzz: Villanova returns first-team All-Big East contender Eric Dixon. Poplar averaged 10.5 points over the last two seasons, shooting 38.1 percent from three on 4.0 attempts. Brickus earned third-team All-A10 honors, after finishing second in assists last season. Perkins finished last season inside the top ten in the Ivy League in points, rebounds, and steals. Moseley and Hodge had big senior seasons, making late pushes up the rankings charts. Summer returns have been positive for both. Boakye should provide some rim protection. Outside of Dixon, there are a lot of questions with this roster on both ends of the floor.

9. Georgetown

Head Coach Ed Cooley (343-245 overall, 9-23 at Georgetown)
2023-24: 9-23 (2-18 Big East)

Key Players: 6-2/190 Jr. Jayden Epps (18.5ppg, 4.2apg), 6-1/170 So. Malik Mack (17.2ppg, 4.8apg/Harvard), 6-8/215 Sr. Micah Peavy (10.9ppg, 4.9rpg/TCU), 6-8/200 So. Jordan Burks (1.9ppg/Kentucky), 6-5/205 So. Curtis Williams (5.3ppg/Louisville), 6-10/220 So. Drew Fielder (5.2ppg, 40.7% 3P), 6-9/250 Fr. Thomas Sorber, 6-4/210 Fr. Kayvaun Mulready, 7-0/270 Fr. Julius Halaifonua

The Buzz: All eyes will be on Epps and Mack. Two guards who are able to create offensive opportunities and play a fearless style of basketball. The interesting aspect of their games will be how they coexist and what that looks like within the construct of a team. Both players shot less than 42 percent from the field and were sub-35 percent from three. They both also averaged 2.5 or more turnovers per game with over 29 percent usage. Looking at other parts of the lineup, Sorber and Halaifonua are both big-bodied, top-75 recruits with soft hands and touch. Peavy padded the stats last season at TCU, where he finished top three on the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals with 34 starts. Williams and Fielder bring shooting touch and Mulready, who was originally committed to Ed Cooley at Providence, brings an innate toughness to the court. If things do come together, there is upside for this team to finish higher than this prediction.

Tier 4

10. Butler

Head Coach Thad Matta (471-187 overall, 56-41 at Butler)
2023-24: 18-15 (9-11 Big East)

Key Players: 6-6/240 Sr. Pierre Brooks (14.8ppg, 40.6% 3P), 6-7/230 Sr. Jahmyl Telfort (13.8ppg, 4.9rpg, 3.0apg), 6-2/170 Jr. Kolby King (10.4ppg/Tulane), 7-1/255 Sr. Andre Screen (5.2ppg, 4.5rpg), 6-4/195 So. Finley Bizjack (4.2ppg), 6-9/200 Sr. Patrick McCaffery (8.9ppg/Iowa), 6-6/205 So. Jamie Kaiser (4.4ppg/Maryland), 6-3/200 Jr. Landon Moore (3.8ppg)

The Buzz: Butler returns its top two scorers from last season in Brooks and Telfort. They added fifth-year transfer Patrick McCaffery, the son of Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery. The Bulldogs lost a lot in the backcourt from last season’s team, so a step forward from Kaiser, Bizjack, and King will be necessary in the backcourt for this team.

11. DePaul

Head Coach Chris Holtmann (251-171 overall, year 1 at DePaul)
2023-24: 3-29 (0-20 Big East)

Key Players: 6-2/190 So. Jacob Meyer (15.7ppg, 5.1rpg, 40.2% 3P/Coastal Carolina), 6-9/205 Sr. JJ Traynor (10.1ppg, 4.6rpg), 6-5/210 Sr. Isaiah Rivera (15.4ppg, 41.6% 3P/Illinois-Chicago), 6-2/180 So. Layden Blocker (3.7ppg/Arkansas), 6-1/195 So. David Thomas (11.0ppg, 40.2% 3P/Mercer), 6-8/230 Jr. NJ Benson (8.6ppg, 7.9rpg, 1.6bpg/Missouri State), 6-10/240 Sr. David Skogman (13.3ppg, 47.1% 3P/Davidson), 6-7/215 Sr. Troy D’Amico (9.3ppg, 36.4% 3P/Southern Illinois), 6-2/175 Jr. Conor Enright (6.9ppg, 3.2apg/Drake), 6-7/200 Jr. CJ Gunn (3.9ppg/Indiana)

The Buzz: New head coach Chris Holtmann scoured the mid-major ranks to find two things, experience and shooting. Four of the players Holtmann brought in shot over 40 percent from three. He also brought in seven juniors or seniors who have starting experience. It will be interesting to watch how the rotation works itself out. While the floor for this team has been raised, I’m curious to see how many games this roster can win in the Big East.