Last season saw five teams from the Big East make the NCAA Tournament, marking a clear divide between the top half and the bottom half of the conference. But with only three of last year’s 17 all-conference players back for another year, some of the teams from the bottom have a chance to climb the ladder.
Here’s a look at the preseason power rankings from the Big East Conference.
*Rankings for freshmen are via 247Sports Composite.
1. UConn Huskies
2024-25: 24-11 (14-6)
Key players: Solomon Ball, 6-foot-3 junior guard, 14.4 points per game; Alex Karaban, 6-foot-8 senior forward, 14.3 points, 5.3 rebounds per game; Tarris Reed, 6-foot-10 senior center, 9.6 points, 7.3 rebounds per game; Silas Demary, 6-foot-5 junior guard, 13.5 points, 3.1 assists per game
The return of two all-league stars (Karaban and Ball) is a great starting point for the Huskies. Demary is one of the top incoming guard transfers, while Reed is more than capable of stepping into the starting center role. Add an incoming top-10 recruiting class and other returning rotation pieces, and UConn is equipped to begin the season as the presumptive best in the Big East.
2. St. John’s Red Storm
2024-25: 31-5 (18-2)
Key players: Zuby Ejiofor, 6-foot-9 senior center, 14.7 points, 8.1 rebounds per game; Oziyah Sellers, 6-foot-5 senior guard, 13.7 points per game (Stanford); Dylan Darling, 6-foot-2 senior guard, 19.8 points, 5.7 assists per game (Idaho State); Dillon Mitchell, 6-foot-8 senior forward, 9.9 points, 6.9 rebounds per game (Cincinnati); Bryce Hopkins, 6-foot-6 senior forward, 17 points, 7.7 rebounds per game (Providence, 3 games)
While UConn may be No. 1, a case can be made that the Red Storm have the highest ceiling of any Big East team. They bring back the other all-league star from last year (Ejiofor), along with one of the top transfer classes in the nation. That group of veteran newcomers includes Hopkins, a proven scorer who has dealt with knee issues for the past two years. The biggest question St. John’s has is at point guard, but if former Big Sky POY Darling can fill the role, they’ll be in great shape.
3. Creighton Bluejays
2024-25: 25-11 (15-5)
Key players: Jackson McAndrew, 6-foot-10 sophomore forward, 7.8 points, 4.4 rebounds per game; Owen Freeman, 6-foot-10 junior forward, 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds (Iowa); Josh Dix, 6-foot-5 senior guard, 14.4 points, 2.8 assists per game (Iowa); Nik Graves, 6-foot-3 senior guard, 17.5 points per game (Charlotte); Blake Harper, 6-foot-5 sophomore forward, 19.5 points, 6.2 rebounds per game (Howard)
Creighton’s offense should not experience any kind of drop-off with former Iowa stars Freeman and Dix coming over (albeit from a team that finished 12th in the Big Ten). Coach Greg McDermott has fielded some of the better defensive units in the nation, but replacing four-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Kalkbrenner at center is the big storyline to watch.
4. Marquette Golden Eagles
2024-25: 23-11 (13-7)
Key players: Chase Ross, 6-foot-4 senior guard, 10.5 points, 2.1 assists per game; Ben Gold, 6-foot-11 senior forward, 7.4 points, 4.3 rebounds per game; Royce Parham, 6-foot-8 sophomore forward, 5.1 points per game; Zaide Lowery, 6-foot-5 junior guard/forward, 4.1 points, 3.0 rebounds per game
Following another offseason where coach Shaka Smart elected not to use the transfer portal, the Golden Eagles are relying on returning pieces to take leaps in order to stay in the top tier of the Big East. All eyes are on Ross, and while a top-25 incoming recruiting class should help with depth, Parham, a former 4-star prospect, is a breakout candidate to watch.
5. Providence Friars
2024-25: 12-20 (6-14)
Key players: Oswin Erhunwunse, 6-foot-10 sophomore center, 6.8 points, 5.6 rebounds per game; Ryan Mela, 6-foot-6 sophomore forward, 6.4 points, 5.2 rebounds per game; Jason Edwards, 6-foot-1 senior guard, 17 points per game (Vanderbilt); Duncan Powell, 6-foot-8 senior forward, 12.2 points, 5.4 rebounds per game (Georgia Tech)
Last year’s Friars frontcourt was filled with youth (and injuries), so there’s a lot of hope that All-Big East freshmen Mela and Erhunwunse will continue to develop with breakout campaigns. Edwards, who led Vanderbilt in scoring, will come in as an impact lead guard. Coach Kim English could be a hot seat candidate to watch if Providence isn’t more competitive, but this could be the deepest roster he’s had since arriving.
6. Georgetown Hoyas
2024-25: 18-16 (8-12)
Key players: Malik Mack, 6-foot-1 junior guard, 12.9 points, 4.3 assists per game; Caleb Williams, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds per game; KJ Lewis, 6-foot-4 junior guard, 10.8 points, 2.9 assists per game (Arizona); Langston Love, 6-foot-5 senior guard, 8.9 points per game (Baylor)
The loss of star freshman center Thomas Sorber is tough for the Hoyas, leaving questions in the frontcourt. But there’s plenty of depth on the perimeter and on the wings; Mack is back as an all-league candidate, and he is joined by several transfers who have averaged double figures at previous high-major stops. This is a big year for coach Ed Cooley, and there’s enough depth to compete in the Big East, even if he has to play small-ball.
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7. Villanova Wildcats
2024-25: 21-15 (11-9)
Key players: Tyler Perkins, 6-foot-4 junior guard, 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds per game; Devin Askew, 6-foot-3 senior guard, 18.9 points, 4.5 assists per game (Long Beach); Duke Brennan, 6-foot-10 senior forward, 10.4 points, 9.2 rebounds per game (Grand Canyon); Acaden Lewis, 6-foot-3 freshman guard, No. 33 overall prospect
Former Maryland head coach Kevin Willard takes over, with Perkins as the lone key returning piece. The lack of proven high-major production is apparent, but the Wildcats’ secret weapon could be Lewis, one of the top incoming Big East freshmen who could be in line to lead the offense as soon as this season.
8. Butler Bulldogs
2024-25: 15-20 (6-14)
Key players: Finley Bizjack, 6-foot-4 junior guard, 10.3 points, 2.4 assists per game; Jalen Jackson, 6-foot-2 senior guard, 19.2 points, 3.1 assists per game (Purdue Fort Wayne); Michael Ajayi, 6-foot-7 senior forward, 6.5 points, 5.4 rebounds per game (Gonzaga); Yohan Traore, 6-foot-10 senior forward, 6.1 points, 3.2 rebounds per game (SMU); Yame Butler, 6-foot-5 senior guard, 13.6 points (Drexel)
After suffering with weak frontcourts of late, the Bulldogs took a couple of swings in the portal. Ajayi averaged nearly 20 and 10 at Pepperdine but struggled at Gonzaga, while Traore is a former 5-star prospect who has yet to have a big impact in college. Another key piece to watch is Jackson, who led the Horizon League in scoring last year.
9. Xavier Musketeers
2024-25: 22-12 (13-7)
Key players: Isaiah Walker, 6-foot-5 senior guard, 10.8 points, 5.8 rebounds per game (Belmont); All Wright, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, 15.5 points per game (Valparaiso); Gabriel Pozzato, 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, 14.9 points, 4.4 rebounds per game; Tre Carroll, 6-foot-7 senior forward, 12.2 points, 5.2 rebounds per game (Florida Atlantic)
Xavier is in rebuilding mode after Sean Miller left for Texas, and this season will show how long that rebuild will take. Former New Mexico head coach Richard Pitino has more than 10 transfers on the roster, and though most of them are stepping up from the mid-major ranks, it wouldn’t be surprising to see any of the newcomers break out.
10. DePaul Blue Demons
2024-25: 14-20 (4-16)
Key players: CJ Gunn, 6-foot-6 senior guard, 12.9 points, 4.0 rebounds per game; Layden Blocker, 6-foot-2 junior guard, 9.5 points, 3.1 assists per game; NJ Benson, 6-foot-8 senior forward, 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds per game; Kaleb Banks, 6-foot-7 senior forward, 14.7 points, 6.7 rebounds per game (Tulane)
Last season showed glimpses that the Blue Demons can start being competitive in the Big East. With multiple starters back, including leading scorer Gunn, this could be their chance to make a move. The hope is that with actual size, DePaul can match up better against league competition.
11. Seton Hall Pirates
2024-25: 7-25 (2-18)
Key players: Adam Clark, 5-foot-10 junior guard, 19.8 points, 6.0 assists per game (Merrimack); Elijah Fisher, 6-foot-6 senior guard, 15.7 points, 4.8 rebounds per game (Pacific); TJ Simpkins, 6-foot-4 junior guard, 14.6 points, 2.9 assists per game (Elon); Josh Rivera, 10.7 points, 4.3 rebounds per game (Fordham)
Losing all of the key players from one of the worst offenses in the country isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but with all of the main newcomers being mid-major transfers, it’s not a guarantee this group will be much better. Fisher, at least, is a former top-40 prospect coming off a big year in the WCC and will be viewed as a vital part of the Seton Hall offense.
