COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Big East will be full of surprises — except right at the top
By Howie Kussoy and Zach Braziller
November 6, 2016 | 12:05am
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Two teams ahead of Villanova: The Post's preseason Top 25
No team has benefited more from the 2013 breakup of the Big East than Villanova, which has won an unprecedented three consecutive outright regular season championships, and it is hard to imagine the defending national champions’ dominance within the conference ending this season.
Xavier joins Villanova on the league’s top tier, but the rest of the Big East — which has sent half of the conference to the NCAA Tournament, on average, the past three seasons — could be defined by several surprises.
Big East preseason rankings
1. Villanova; 2. Xavier; 3. Georgetown; 4. Seton Hall; 5. Creighton; 6. Butler; 7. Marquette; 8. St. John’s; 9. Providence; 10. DePaul
Big East Preseason Player of the Year: Josh Hart, G, Villanova
Hart led the Wildcats in scoring (15.5 points per game) last season and ranked second on the team in rebounds (6.8) and steals (1.2), but the 6-foot-6 senior will be expected to do even more for the defending champs as a leader, with the departures of captains Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu. With a larger role on both ends of the floor, Hart will have the chance to lead the team to another Final Four and end up as a First Team All-American.
Big East Preseason Rookie of the Year: Myles Powell, G, Seton Hall
The Trenton native, a four-star recruit, has slimmed down, from 240 pounds to 195, since arriving on campus late last May. His physical reformation was a must, considering he is being asked to help fill the large void left by Isaiah Whitehead. The 6-foot-2 guard is known for his sweet jumper, but he also is a capable penetrator and finisher, who may force his way into the starting lineup before too long.
All-Big East First Team
Angel Delgado, F, Seton Hall
Kris Jenkins, F, Villanova
Kelan Martin, F, Butler
Edmond Sumner, G, Xavier
Maurice Watson Jr., G, Creighton
Games to Watch
Xavier at Villanova, Jan. 10
The two league powers, unanimously predicted to finish first and second in the conference, split two meetings a year ago, each winning on the other’s home court.
Villanova at Seton Hall, Jan. 16
Watching Ismael Sanogo, Seton Hall’s tireless defensive stopper, guard national championship hero Kris Jenkins is worth the trip to Newark for a rematch of last year’s tournament title game.
Georgetown at Creighton, Feb. 19
Seton Hall’s Ismael Sanogo puts up a shot against Xavier in the Big East tournament in March.Photo: Paul J. Bereswill
If Villanova or Xavier slips, the Bluejays and Hoyas may have the talent to make a move up in the standings. Big East Tournament seeding and the NCAA Tournament bubble could loom large when these schools meet for the second time of the season.
Big East Questions
Can anyone take down Villanova?
There are challengers that will push the Wildcats — Xavier, Creighton, Georgetown and Seton Hall — but nobody can match Villanova’s consistency. In the past three seasons, Jay Wright’s team is 48-6 in the regular season. Though Arcidiacono and Ochefu are gone, the talent level in Philadelphia remains sky-high and should result in a fourth straight league crown.
Will more talent equal more victories at St. John’s?
Last year’s glaring weaknesses — perimeter scoring and ball-handlers — have been addressed. Depth issues have been resolved. St. John’s won’t go from eight wins to the NCAA Tournament, but a .500 season, or better, is a realistic goal. The freshman backcourt of Marcus LoVett Jr. and Shamorie Ponds is a major upgrade, and junior college All-American wing Bashir Ahmed of The Bronx is a gritty and talented two-way player who could make a big difference.
How will Seton Hall replace the production of Isaiah Whitehead?
Seton Hall won’t replace Whitehead’s production or his shot-making prowess. Late in games, there likely won’t be that one guy the Pirates can rely upon, but the team may feature better balance and a more unpredictable half-court offense, with multiple scoring options. The Pirates will play inside-out, running the offense through junior forward Angel Delgado, but look for Khadeen Carrington, a slashing junior guard from Brooklyn, to emerge as the team’s top playmaker.
How much longer can John Thompson III survive on his name?
The Hoyas went 15-18 last season, compiling the school’s worst win-percentage (.455) in 44 years. Since reaching the Final Four in 2007, the Hoyas haven’t been to the second week of the NCAA Tournament, failing to even reach the Dance two of the past three seasons. With a talented and experienced squad this season, Thompson’s status could become a hot topic if another opportunity is squandered.
Will a star be born?
In the first season of the reconfigured Big East, the league had Creighton’s Doug McDermott, arguably the best player in the country. After that, Providence’s Kris Dunn took over the league, and was widely considered the best guard in the country. Hart and Jenkins enter the season as the Big East’s most recognizable stars, but ultimately Xavier guards Edmond Sumner or Trevon Bluiett may end up taking the torch, each possessing well-rounded games that still could grow.
http://nypost.com/2016/11/06/big-east-will-be-full-of-surprises-except-right-at-the-top/
Big East will be full of surprises — except right at the top
By Howie Kussoy and Zach Braziller
November 6, 2016 | 12:05am
MORE ON:
COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Two teams ahead of Villanova: The Post's preseason Top 25
No team has benefited more from the 2013 breakup of the Big East than Villanova, which has won an unprecedented three consecutive outright regular season championships, and it is hard to imagine the defending national champions’ dominance within the conference ending this season.
Xavier joins Villanova on the league’s top tier, but the rest of the Big East — which has sent half of the conference to the NCAA Tournament, on average, the past three seasons — could be defined by several surprises.
Big East preseason rankings
1. Villanova; 2. Xavier; 3. Georgetown; 4. Seton Hall; 5. Creighton; 6. Butler; 7. Marquette; 8. St. John’s; 9. Providence; 10. DePaul
Big East Preseason Player of the Year: Josh Hart, G, Villanova
Hart led the Wildcats in scoring (15.5 points per game) last season and ranked second on the team in rebounds (6.8) and steals (1.2), but the 6-foot-6 senior will be expected to do even more for the defending champs as a leader, with the departures of captains Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu. With a larger role on both ends of the floor, Hart will have the chance to lead the team to another Final Four and end up as a First Team All-American.
Big East Preseason Rookie of the Year: Myles Powell, G, Seton Hall
The Trenton native, a four-star recruit, has slimmed down, from 240 pounds to 195, since arriving on campus late last May. His physical reformation was a must, considering he is being asked to help fill the large void left by Isaiah Whitehead. The 6-foot-2 guard is known for his sweet jumper, but he also is a capable penetrator and finisher, who may force his way into the starting lineup before too long.
All-Big East First Team
Angel Delgado, F, Seton Hall
Kris Jenkins, F, Villanova
Kelan Martin, F, Butler
Edmond Sumner, G, Xavier
Maurice Watson Jr., G, Creighton
Games to Watch
Xavier at Villanova, Jan. 10
The two league powers, unanimously predicted to finish first and second in the conference, split two meetings a year ago, each winning on the other’s home court.
Villanova at Seton Hall, Jan. 16
Watching Ismael Sanogo, Seton Hall’s tireless defensive stopper, guard national championship hero Kris Jenkins is worth the trip to Newark for a rematch of last year’s tournament title game.
Georgetown at Creighton, Feb. 19
Seton Hall’s Ismael Sanogo puts up a shot against Xavier in the Big East tournament in March.Photo: Paul J. Bereswill
If Villanova or Xavier slips, the Bluejays and Hoyas may have the talent to make a move up in the standings. Big East Tournament seeding and the NCAA Tournament bubble could loom large when these schools meet for the second time of the season.
Big East Questions
Can anyone take down Villanova?
There are challengers that will push the Wildcats — Xavier, Creighton, Georgetown and Seton Hall — but nobody can match Villanova’s consistency. In the past three seasons, Jay Wright’s team is 48-6 in the regular season. Though Arcidiacono and Ochefu are gone, the talent level in Philadelphia remains sky-high and should result in a fourth straight league crown.
Will more talent equal more victories at St. John’s?
Last year’s glaring weaknesses — perimeter scoring and ball-handlers — have been addressed. Depth issues have been resolved. St. John’s won’t go from eight wins to the NCAA Tournament, but a .500 season, or better, is a realistic goal. The freshman backcourt of Marcus LoVett Jr. and Shamorie Ponds is a major upgrade, and junior college All-American wing Bashir Ahmed of The Bronx is a gritty and talented two-way player who could make a big difference.
How will Seton Hall replace the production of Isaiah Whitehead?
Seton Hall won’t replace Whitehead’s production or his shot-making prowess. Late in games, there likely won’t be that one guy the Pirates can rely upon, but the team may feature better balance and a more unpredictable half-court offense, with multiple scoring options. The Pirates will play inside-out, running the offense through junior forward Angel Delgado, but look for Khadeen Carrington, a slashing junior guard from Brooklyn, to emerge as the team’s top playmaker.
How much longer can John Thompson III survive on his name?
The Hoyas went 15-18 last season, compiling the school’s worst win-percentage (.455) in 44 years. Since reaching the Final Four in 2007, the Hoyas haven’t been to the second week of the NCAA Tournament, failing to even reach the Dance two of the past three seasons. With a talented and experienced squad this season, Thompson’s status could become a hot topic if another opportunity is squandered.
Will a star be born?
In the first season of the reconfigured Big East, the league had Creighton’s Doug McDermott, arguably the best player in the country. After that, Providence’s Kris Dunn took over the league, and was widely considered the best guard in the country. Hart and Jenkins enter the season as the Big East’s most recognizable stars, but ultimately Xavier guards Edmond Sumner or Trevon Bluiett may end up taking the torch, each possessing well-rounded games that still could grow.
http://nypost.com/2016/11/06/big-east-will-be-full-of-surprises-except-right-at-the-top/
