The dust has (mostly) settled in the transfer portal. Who has emerged at the top of the Big East pecking order?
Isaac Trotter
Big East
There's just something about Big East basketball. The leaguehas provided electric environments,hate-filledrivalries, elite Twitter battles, an outstanding conference tournament. Oh, and the two-time National Champion. All eyes will be on whether Dan Hurley and UConn can do the unthinkable and win a third-consecutive National Championship.
It'd be a remarkable feat.
But the rest of the Big East is loading up to make a run at the champs. Even lowly DePaul flexed its muscles by hiring ex-Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann who was considered one of the fastest-rising coaches in the sport just a few years ago. Winning in basketball in the Big East is important, and the splashy hires that Georgetown, St. John's and DePaul have made in the last two years only emphasize it even more.
The college basketball transfer portal is dwindling down to a close. Nearly all of the Big East teams have mostly filled their rosters. Who's at the top of the pecking order?
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1. UConn Huskies
Projected starting lineup:
- G Hassan Diarra
- G Aidan Mahaney
- Wing Liam McNeeley
- F Alex Karaban
- C Samson Johnson
Top bench options: C Tarris Reed, G Ahmad Nowell, G Solo Ball, Wing Jayden Ross
Thescoop:Maybe it's offseason fodder, but when Dan Hurley says this 2024-25 UConn roster has a chance to be his most talented group, it demands attention. Thisunit is vastly unproven, but UConn's player-development chops are unmatched. This is one of the best coaching staffs in the country. If talented sophom*ores like Solo Ball, Jayden Ross and Jaylin Stewart explode, UConn's staff will be a big reason why.
UConn is also bullish that St. Mary's transfer Aidan Mahaney can get back on track after a so-so sophom*ore season. Five-star freshman Liam McNeeley is a plug-and-play piece of the UConn wagon. The center platoon of Samson Johnson (a lean, mean, high-flying rim-runner) and Michigan transfer Tarris Reed Jr. (a low-post brute) should complement the other well.
Alex Karaban's stay-or-go decision looms over this roster in a major way. If he returns, UConn is set. If he departs, UConn may have to flirt with the last remaining big names in the transfer portal cycle. It would have a phenomenal sell. Winning two national titles will do that.
2. Xavier Musketeers
Projected starting lineup:
- G Dayvion McKnight
- G Dante Maddox
- G Ryan Conwell
- F Jerome Hunter
- FZach Freemantle
Top bench options: C John Hugley, F Lassina Traore, Wing Dailyn Swain, G Marcus Foster, G Trey Green
Thescoop:Xavier is just overflowing with dudes. Dayvion McKnight returns to run the show, and Xavier hit the portal for two dynamic snipers in Toledo transfer Dante Maddox and Indiana State transfer Ryan Conwell. There's more than enough room for both guys to eat under Sean Miller's careful watch.
Oh, and both Jerome Hunter and Zach Freemantle are slated to return after missing all of last year with devastating injuries. It might take a minute to knock the rust off, but the talent upgrade is so clear. Xavier loaded up on rock-solid depth options for its on-the-mend frontcourt with the likes of Oklahoma transfer John Hurley who will provide a back-to-the-basket threat and Long Beach State transfer Lassina Traore who can dominate the glass.
Xavier's starting lineup might be ateensy bit small, but the skill and shooting gravity should be off the charts. Furman transfer Marcus Foster and Xavier's two sophom*ore holdovers (Trey Green and Dailyn Swain) are starting-caliber players that Xavier could bring off the bench.
This group has all the makings of a serious Big East contender.
3. Creighton Bluejays
Projected starting lineup:
- G Steven Ashworth
- G Pop Isaacs
- Wing Jamiya Neal
- F Mason Miller
- C Ryan Kalkbrenner
Top bench options: Wing Jackson McAndrew, F Isaac Traudt, F Jasen Green, G Larry Johnson, C Fred King
Thescoop:If there was one (tiny) hole in Creighton's personnel last year, it was the lack of that tip-tip athleticism. Creighton's starting backcourt trio of Steven Ashworth, Trey Alexander and Baylor Scheierman combined for 13 dunks all year.
Arizona State transfer Jamiya Neal had 18 alone.
Dunks aren't the end-all, be-all, but it illustrates a bit of how Creighton has to be a bit more dynamic in 2024-25. Ashworth is back to rain fire from downtown. Texas Tech transfer Pop Isaacs enters to … rain fire from downtown. Ryan Kalkbrenner is back to build a fortress around the rim and go for an unconscious fourth Big East Defensive Player of the Year award.
But Creighton needed that dynamic wing with some real athletic pop. Neal shot 65% on 108 attempts at the rim last year. An improved offensive ecosystem –– surrounded by loads of shooting –– could unlock the best version of Neal. Creighton should be good for Neal, and Greg McDermott hopes that relationship is mutually beneficial. The 6-foot-6 guard is a massive X-Factor because odds are strong that Kalkbrenner is going to be steady and awesome, Ashworth will be better in his second year with the program and a now-healthy Isaacs will be super productive.
Creighton's just in such a good place as a program. There's such a high floor defensively with Kalkbrenner anchoring everything, and McDermott knows a thing or two about making an offense hum. 6-foot-9 sharpshooting freshman Jackson McAndrew should help right away. Mason Miller, Isaac Traudt, Jasen Green and Fred King have been there and done that, too.
The Big East has been UConn's league for a minute, but Creighton is going to be a worthy contender, yet again.
4. Marquette Golden Eagles
Projected starting lineup:
- G Kam Jones
- G Stevie Mitchell
- Wing Chase Ross
- F David Joplin
- F Ben Gold
Top bench options: G Tre Norman, Wing Zaide Lowery, F Al Amadou, G Sean Jones
Thescoop:For a second straight offseason, Shaka Smart has no need for the transfer portal. Who could blame him? The fiery Tyler Kolek is off to chase his NBA dreams, but Kam Jones is more than ready to assert his dominance as an All-Big East player. He'll sop up an extra chunk of Kolek's team-high 26% usage rate. Oso Ighodaro is also charting off to the NBA waters, but Ben Gold is really good. His table is set for a breakout junior season. Gold will be in the running to hit the most 3-pointers of any starting center in the country next season.
Marquette will be so much more than just the Jones-and-Gold, two-man band. Chase Ross, David Joplin and Stevie Mitchell are essential winning role players. Tre Norman, Al Amadou and Zaide Lowery got a little taste last year. Their piece of the pie is about to expand. When he gets healthy, Sean Jones will return to cause a lovely ruckus with his ultra-intense, never-relenting ball pressure.
Life without Kolek and Oso ain't going to be easy, but Marquette is sneakily ready for the challenge.
5. St. John's Red Strom
Projected starting lineup:
- G Deivon Smith
- G Kadary Richmond
- Wing RJ Luis
- F Aaron Scott
- F Zuby Ejiofor
Top bench options: C Vince Iwuchuwku, G Simeon Wilcher, Wing Brady Dunlap, G Jaiden Glover, F Sadiku Ibinie Ayo
Thescoop:Individually, St. John's additionsvia the portal are nifty. Utah's Deivon Smith? Awesome player. Seton Hall's Kadary Richmond? Fantastic player. North Texas' Aaron Scott? Great player. USC's Vince Iwuchuwku? You can absolutely see Rick Pitino's vision with the former ballyhooed recruit.
Together? We'll see.
St. John'sdesperately will needScott to be a floor-stretching, catch-and-shoot threat because it isn't a strength for anybody else in this starting lineup. St. John's backcourt of Smith, Luis and Richmondcombined for just 34 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last year. That's ashockingly low number for three guys who, when healthy, playeda ton.
But this defense should rock. It has plenty of positional size at four positions. There's no reason this group should struggle on the glass on either end. St. John's should always be able to have a dynamic point guard on the floor to draw multiple defenders and create advantages.
Pitino has also built a team that should win the shot-volume game every night. St. John's will turn you over, win the rebounding margin and not cough it up. St. John's averaged more than four shots per game more than its opponent last year. That numbershouldbe higher in 2024-25.
That math will be mathin'.
6. Providence Friars
Projected starting lineup:
- GBensley Joseph
- Wing Wesley Cardet
- Wing Jabri Abdur-Rahim
- F Bryce Hopkins
- C Christ Essandoko
Top bench options: GJaydenPierre, Wing Justyn Fernandez, F Eli DeLaurier, Wing Richard Barron, G Corey Floyd Jr.
Thescoop: If getting old was a priority for Kim English, the Friars certainly did that. Providence reeled in four transfers to surround on-the-mend star Bryce Hopkins, and they're all going to beentering at least Year 3. Miami transfer Bensley Joseph is a ready-made role player who can knock down triples and play on or off the ball. He's been there and done that at the high-major ranks. Georgia transfer Jabri Abdur-Rahim is a 6-foot-8, off-movement shot-maker. That's valuable. Chicago State transfer Wesley Cardet was in the portal for about 15 seconds before committing to Providence. If Abdur-Rahim is on the floor to stretch the floor, Cardet is in the game to drive the ball to the rim. St. Joseph's transfer Christ Essandoko will enter his redshirt-sophom*ore season looking to elevate his game to a new level. The 7-foot, 285-pound center has high-major size. Does he have a high-major game?
Jayden Pierre will give English another point guard option to play with or without Joseph. A healthy version of Justyn Fernandez should carve out a role in Providence's rotation if he can stave off Corey Floyd Jr. and/or Richard Barron.
There are real pieces here for English.But the key to all of this is Hopkins. The All-Big East forward is an absolute bucket when healthy. If he can put a season-ending knee injury in the rearview mirror and return to the peak of his powers, Providence can be a tournament team. He's that good.
7. Butler Bulldogs
Projected starting lineup:
- G Kolby King
- G Finley Bizjack
- Wing Pierre Brooks
- Wing Jahmyl Telfort
- C Andre Screen
Top bench options: G Landon Moore, Wing Jamie Kaiser, Wing Patrick McCaffery, F Boden Kapke
Thescoop: Butler's Big Dance hopes might rest on Jahmyl Telfort's stay-or-go decision. The big-bodied forward has less than 48 hours to decide whether he'sstayingin the NBA Draft or returning for another year at Butler.
If he comes back, Butler has the makeupof a tournament team. DJ Davis is a loss, but Posh Alexander's exitcould be a blessing in disguise. It opens the door for sophom*ore Finley Bizjack to command serious minutes, and he's got real juice, especially ifhe can maintain his eliteefficiency in ball screens with higher volume. Telfort's mismatch hunting in the mid-post combined with Pierre Brooks' on-point barrage of treys should give Butler's offense a very high floor. None of Butler's transferportal additions have to be stars, but the opportunity is there to be key role players from the jump. Maryland transfer Jamie Kaiser needed a fresh start in the worst way after playing inKevin Willard's cramped offense last year. Iowa transfer Patrick McCaffery isn't that far removed from being a real Big Ten breakout candidate. Can he find that confidence again?
Butler is pushing for Alabama transfer Kris Parker and it has the Andre Screen-Boden Kapke frontcourt duet that will work to cover the 40 minutes at the 5. Kapke has some untapped floor-stretching abilities that should be on display more often next winter.
Butler can start legitimately dreaming of that first NCAA Tournament bid since 2018 if it gets some good news on the Telfortfront in the coming hours.
8. Georgetown Hoyas
Projected starting lineup:
- G Malik Mack
- G Jayden Epps
- Wing Micah Peavy
- F Jordan Burks
- F Drew Fielder
Top bench options: G Curtis Williams, F Thomas Sorber, Wing Drew McKenna
Thescoop:Jayden Epps shot 38% on 103 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last year. He shot just 22% on 107 off-the-dribble 3-pointers.
Georgetown, simply, had to get another lead guard.
Enter Harvard transfer Malik Mack.
Epps and Mack are a bit small, but offensively, it could really work if Mack is a playmaker who can score and Epps is a scorer who can also create. It might be a bit clunky while the two lead guards figure out how to play with eachother, but it's a gamble Georgetown just had to make. If Mack can get Epps more high-quality, catch-and-shoot treys, the 1-2 punch should put up numbers.
TCU transfer Micah Peavy, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound wing, is the perfect complement to two small guards. Peavy is an excellent defender, but he also can make plays off the bounce and create some long closeouts for Georgetown's talented guards.
Mack, Epps and Peavy is a rock-solid, Big Three and sophom*ore forward Drew Fielder looks like a hit.
But Ed Cooley has three more open scholarships and landing another impact big man is a priority. Georgetown needs more size and a certified glass-cleaner. That's easier said than done at this stage in the portal, but it could make-or-break Georgetown's push out of the Big East cellar.
9. Seton Hall Pirates
Projected starting lineup:
- G Zion Harmon
- GDylan Addae-Wusu
- Wing Scotty Middleton
- F Prince Aligbe
- FEmmanuel Okorafor
Top bench options: G Chaunce Jenkins, Wing Isaiah Coleman, F Gus Yalden, Wing David Tubek
Thescoop: Shaheen Holloway has a right to feel a bit snake-bitten after losing Kadary Richmond and Dre Davis to the transfer portal after that duo was such a big part of Seton Hall's run to the NIT Title. Seton Hall's roster won't jump off the depth charts, but Holloway is masterful at building a top-shelf defensive unit,no matter who is on the floor. That has to be the calling card for this unit next year.
Oh, and Scotty Middleton has to be ready. The Ohio State transfer is waltzing into easily the biggest role of his career. If he's asked to be a go-to creator, there will be growing pains. If he's asked to be a good role player, he might be ready to hit the ground running. It may depend on just how quicklyBethune-Cookman transfer Zion Harmon or Old Dominion transfer Chaunce Jenkins assimilates to Big East hoops.
Holloway also needs to work his magic with talented frontcourt weapons like Prince Aligbe (from Boston College) and Emmanuel Okorafor (from Louisville).
Seton Hall doesn't have the best roster in the league, but its coach is a rockstar. He will elevate this group. The Pirates will be pesky.
10. Villanova Wildcats
Projected starting lineup:
- G Jhamir Brickus
- G Tyler Perkins
- Wing Jordan Longino
- F Eric Dixon
- F/C Enoch Boakye
Top bench options: Wing Josiah Moseley, F Matthew Hodge, F Malcolm Thomas, F Nnanna Njoku
Thescoop:Villanova's roster is in tough shape. Eric Dixon's decision to stay was monumental. Villanova needs its All-Big East big man in the worst way after missing out on numerous top targets and then watching Max Shulga decommit to stay at VCU. Villanova needs another guard. It could use another wing. It might be three starters away from a quality Big East team and time is running out to find 'em in the portal.
Kyle Neptune needs a late-May miracle.
11. DePaul Blue Demons
Projected starting lineup:
- G Layden Blocker
- G Jacob Meyer
- Wing Isaiah Rivera
- Wing JJ Traynor
- C David Skogman
Top bench options: GConorEnright, Wing Troy D'Amico, F NJ Benson, G CJ Gunn, G David Thomas
Thescoop: The rebuild of DePaul basketball is underway. It won't happen overnight, but Chris Holtmann has certainly done a nice job of giving DePaul a chance to be competitive in Year 1. It's a brand new, all-portal teamand thatcomes with lots of risk, but there's no place to go but up for a program that finished 304th on KenPom this past season.
Arkansas transfer Layden Blocker is a former blue-chip prospect who needs an opportunity. DePaul will provide that. It should be a fantastic fit for both sides. It's easy to be bullish on UIC transfer wing Isaiah Rivera and Davidson transfer big man David Skogman as double-digit scorers. DePaul's backcourt is a touch small, so Rivera flexing his muscles as a ready-to-go, Big East wing would help. A CJ Gunn revival wouldn't hurt either. Tamar Bates struggled to find his footing at Indiana but transferred to Missouri and produced the best season of his career. Maybe Gunn can follow that path, too.
Anything DePaul does on the court this year is gravy. The program is instantly in a much better place with Holtmann at the helm. The gap between DePaul and the rest of the league will be much smaller.
