Men’s Big East Rankings 

St. John’s

Kaden Knapp, iwr25002@uconn.edu, Campus Correspondent  

After capturing the Big East title last season, Rick Pitino’s St. John’s squad enters the new year loaded with experience, depth and expectations of another conference title.  

The Red Storm enters this season ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll and are picked to finish first in the Big East for the first time since 1991-92.  

Senior forward Zuby Ejiofor is back for SJU after scoring 14.7 points and grabbing 8.1 rebounds per game last season, and receiving All-Big East honors. St. John’s also returns senior captain, Sadiku Ibine Ayo.  

The Red Storm reloaded through the transfer portal, landing North Carolina guard Ian Jackson, who’s already on the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year preseason watch list. They also added Bryce Hopkins, now fully healthy and expected to make an immediate impact. 

If Pitino can get this group to click early, St. John’s could be poised to make a deep tournament run. 

Connecticut 

Sam Calhoun 

Staff Writer 

Last season, the Huskies’ three-peat hopes fell just short of a Sweet Sixteen trip to eventual national champion Florida in the Round of 32. The Huskies were projected to be the top team in the Big East, with Alex Karaban leading the way after a 50/40/90 season during the 2023-24 season. However, the 2024-25 season was a roller coaster, especially with Liam McNeeley being sidelined for a month and Karaban’s confidence dropping after a crucial missed free throw at Villanova. The most important factor for UConn this season will be: How does the defense look? Last year, the Huskies were lucky to be a top 100 team defensively, especially with how many 3-pointers they gave up. With key additions like Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins, along with Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr., Connecticut should be back in the mix for a national championship. 

Creighton

James Badeau

Campus Correspondent 

After a sweet sixteen exit against Auburn, the Creighton Bluejays are hungry for a successful season. Last year, the Bluejays finished second in the regular season in the Big East behind St. John’s. This season for Creighton will look a lot different. The Bluejays will be replacing three of their starters from last season: Steven Ashworth (graduate), Ryan Kalkbrenner (draft), and Jamiya Neal. The projected starting lineup will go as follows: senior guard Nik Graves, senior guard Josh Dix, junior forward Jasen Green, sophomore forward Jackson McAndrew and junior forward Owen Freeman.  

CBS Sports projects Creighton finishing in third place in the Big East behind St. John’s and UConn. This season will be an uphill battle for the Bluejays, but never count them out, as they have always shown that they are a sneaky team in March. 

Marquette

Graham Wilker

Campus Correspondent

Marquette has some big shoes to fill after making the tournament last year. Last season, four players averaged more than ten points, but only one will return: senior guard Chase Ross. Kam Jones, who averaged 19.2 points last year, was selected No. 38 overall by the San Antonio Spurs and subsequently traded to the Indiana Pacers. He was the team’s lone NBA Draft selection. David Joplin and Stevie Mitchell were lost to graduation. 

Of course, Ross will be expected to lead the team in his senior year, but forward Royce Parham is also one to watch: he averaged 5.1 PPG in just 15 minutes last season. Six-foot-11 Ben Gold will return for his senior season after averaging 7.4 PPG and 4.3 RPG last year, too. 

Four-star guard recruit Adrien Stephens, the No. 4 player in Maryland, and the No. 78 ranked recruit overall, was the team’s top recruit. No. 86 ranked Nigel James was the third ranked recruit in New York before committing to the Golden Eagles, and they also nabbed three more four stars: forwards Michael Phillips II and Ian Miletic and center Sheek Pearson. Albeit a young group, Marquette seems to be building a strong future with their incoming crop of players. 

Georgetown

Thaddeus Sawyer

Campus Correspondent 

After getting back over .500 and going 18-16 in their second year under Head Coach Ed Cooley, the Hoyas will be looking to make a similar turnaround in Big East play. In Cooley’s first two seasons at Georgetown, the team posted a combined 10-30 in-conference record.  

Three of the team’s top four scorers from 2024-25 have departed. Both Micah Peavy and Thomas Sorber left for the NBA, while Jayden Epps transferred to Mississippi State. The Hoyas’ best returner is Malik Mack. The versatile guard averaged 19.9 points per game and led the team in assists. Mack was named to the All-Big East preseason third team. Incoming transfer KJ Lewis (Arizona) made the All-Big East preseason second team. 

If Cooley can coach his team to a winning record in Big East play, he is an under the radar candidate for conference Coach of the Year. 

Villanova

Seth Wallen

Campus Correspondent

The Wildcats are entering a new era under their new Head Coach Kevin Willard, a proven winner with NCAA Tournament experience from his successful tenures at Seton Hall and Maryland. The Villanova roster is almost completely revamped, with eight key transfers and three freshmen replacing the core of last year’s squad. 

The season hinges entirely on how quickly the group can gel, and the roster features several key players including Grand Canyon transfer Duke Brennan and, when he returns from injury, Long Island Beach transfer Devin Askew. To substitute for Asket at point guard is highly touted freshman guard Acaden Lewis, who is expected to make an immediate impact.  

Navigating the Big East schedule will demand quick chemistry, with the ultimate goal of establishing a foundation to return to tournament-caliber basketball when March arrives.  

Providence

Brayden Gorski

Staff Writer 

Year two of the Kim English era was an injury filled season that Friar fans would like to forget. A 12-20 campaign filled with lowlights such as losses to DePaul and former coach Ed Cooley’s Georgetown squad led to the departure of star Bryce Hopkins to rival St. John’s.  

However, English did not let last season deter him from landing some big recruits and using the transfer portal to his advantage. Highly touted prospects Jaylen Harrell and Jamier Jones will enter the rotation along with Vanderbilt transfer Jason Edwards and UCF transfer Jaylin Sellers. Edwards averaged 17 points for an NCAA tournament team last season while Sellers, who missed almost all of last season, averaged 15.9 in 2024. Returning players such as Corey Floyd Jr., Oswin Erhunmwunse and Ryan Mela will also be key providers for the Friars. 

Hopes are high in Friartown in a make-or-break year for English.  

Xavier

Gavin Friedman

Campus Correspondent 

The Musketeers had a solid 2024-25 season, posting a 22-12 record and barely making the NCAA tournament. They beat Texas in the First Four before losing in the round of 64 against Illinois. However, things will look completely different for Xavier this season. After the departure of former head coach Sean Miller, the Musketeers will now be coached by Richard Pitino, son of St. John’s Head Coach Rick Pitino.  Xavier also saw the departure of nearly its entire roster from last year, as no returning player logged more than three minutes per game last season. Xavier’s new roster consists of almost all transfers including Tre Carroll, who averaged 12.2 points per game last season with FAU, and Malik Messina-Moore, who averaged 12.6 points per game with Montana. It’s hard to predict how this new team will fare, but it could be a season with some growing pains for Richard Pitino. 

Butler

Will DeLetto

Campus Correspondent 

The Bulldogs are coming off a top 40 ranked season offensively among the nation’s rankings and look to carry their offensive workload again this year. With a stacked offensive unit, the Bulldogs should see similar output from Jalen Jackson, the Purdue Fort Wayne transfer, who averaged 19.2 points per game on his former team. Also, returning three-point ace Finley Bizjack will look to match his impressive 42.8% three-point shooting numbers and his 10.3 points per game average. For all their talent on offense, the Bulldogs will need to make improvements on the defensive side of the ball. Lackluster defense as well as an inability to see games through were key reasons for their 15-20 record last season. Gonzaga transfer Michael Ajayi will look to improve the bulldog’s defensive effort, with Head Coach Thad Matta looking for his first NCAA tournament bid with the bulldogs in his 4-year tenure with the team. 

DePaul

Ryan Lombardi

Campus Correspondent  

The Blue Demons showed flashes of success in Chris Holtmann’s first year as head coach and will be looking to improve even further this season. The Blue Demons will return two regulars from last year’s 14-19 campaign: CJ Gunn and Layden Blocker. Gunn led the team in scoring last year with 12.9 points per game and was a key part of last year’s success. DePaul also brought in a group of promising transfers including forward Kaleb Banks, who averaged 14.7 points and 6.7 assists with Tulane last season, and former Colorado guard RJ Smith, a high-upside option looking to get more opportunities with DePaul. Last year the Blue Demons began to establish an identity, something that couldn’t be said about the program for years. They are no longer perpetually stuck at the bottom of the conference and are working to become a competitive force in the coming years. They may not be at that level right now, but after just three overall wins the season prior, there’s plenty to be optimistic about for this up-and-coming DePaul squad. 

Seton Hall 

Jake Loomis

Many may think that Seton Hall will finish last in the Big East this year, but for Shaheen Holloway and his squad, they have other plans. The Pirates will roll into this year with a fresh roster after eight players transferred out following an abysmal 7-25 record. This year, Holloway has a new $55 million practice facility to his advantage, along with a three-guard lineup that will look to revolutionize college basketball. They will also have a potential freshman of the year in Najai Hines, who stands at six-foot-11 and 265 pounds to hold down the middle. Holloway and his staff will have a challenge to mold this team,; however, they could be the shocker of the Big East this winter.  

POTY – Zuby Ejiofor, St. John’s 

FOTY – Braylon Mullins, UConn  

COTY – Rick Pitino, St. John’s 

All Conference 

• Solo Ball, UConn  

• Tarris Reed Jr., UConn 

• Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s 

• Jackson McAndrew, Creighton 

• Alex Karaban, UConn  

Women’s Big East Rankings 

Connecticut

Jake McCreven

Staff Writer

The Huskies are 103-3 in Big East play since rejoining the conference ahead of the 2020-21 season —– that’s a .972 winning percentage. Connecticut hasn’t lost in conference play since February of 2023 and has won each Big East game by an average of 28.9 points, respectively. Three starters return, including Preseason All-America selections Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, and two highly coveted transfers join the fold (Serah Williams and Kayleigh Heckel) to form what should be one of the best scoring nuclei in the nation. Geno Auriemma will once again have the Huskies at the forefront of national championship contention as he chases a 13^th title in 41 years.  

Creighton

Tyler Pruneau

Campus Correspondent

The newly revamped 2025-2026 Creighton women’s basketball team 

After making a first-round appearance in the 2025 NCAA tournament, the Creighton Bluejays’ women’s basketball team could face problems. In the 2025 offseason, the program said goodbye to seven graduates, who exhausted their collegiate eligibility. Two of the Bluejays’ biggest departures were guards Lauren Jensen and Morgan Maly. Jensen led the team with nearly 18 points per game, while Maly trailed, with slightly over 17 points per clash. Now, head coach Jim Flanery will need to rely heavily on his freshmen, as six of the seven newcomers are first-year players. With only two veterans, who averaged 20-plus minutes per meeting, returning to the Bluejays, the program’s starting lineup will drastically change. In the team’s 117-66 win over the Missouri Western Griffons, the freshmen shined. By the end of the exhibition match, three of the five first-year players finished with double-digit points. Kendall McGee paved the way, topping the team with 18 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Alongside the No. 2 –ranked player in Minnesota’s 2025 class, Neleigh Gessert contributed 15 points, while Ava Zediker scored 14 points. With that being said, the Bluejays should stay just as dominant. 

Seton Hall 

Jack Yadlon 

Campus Correspondent 

Seton Hall is entering this season coming off a 13-5 conference record last year, their third-best record after 43 years in the Big East. Despite not making the NCAA tournament and falling to Creighton in the Big East semifinals, the Pirates are coming off a successful season —, one they’d like to build on. The team’s leading scorer Faith Masonius won’t be returning, but right behind her was freshman guard Jada Eads, who will likely take over as Seton Hall’s main offense in her sophomore year. Both were named to the Big East first team last year. The Pirates also lost two key pieces in I’yanna Lops and Amari Wright, but with five incoming freshmen the future is bright. Head coach Anthony Bozzella looks to guide this new core and create a foundation for years to come. 

Villanova  

Meredith Lloyd 

Campus Correspondent 

The Villanova Wildcats closed out last season with a solid 11-7 conference record and their fourth Big East semifinal appearance in four years. They will face difficult succession this winter following the loss of Maddie Webber, the junior guard who has redirected her journey to the University of Illinois. Fortunately for the Wildcats, they hold onto their other key player, who is gearing up for her second season in the Villanova uniform. Jasmine Boscoe, the All-Big East first team and rookie team honoree, contributed 17.2 points per game in conference matchups. Boscoe will lean on senior forward Denae Carter, who is a force on the defensive end and leads the pack in rebounds. Additionally, the Wildcats will have many fresh faces this season as they welcome five new recruits, but they will have their work cut out for them in a fight to top last season’s conference successes.  

Marquette  

 Avery Becker  

Associate Sports Editor  

The Marquette women’s basketball team is coming off a 21-11 season record with 12 wins and six losses coming from conference play. Despite falling to the Villanova Wildcats 66-73 in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament last season, it’s looking like with three integral players, the Golden Eagles will have a bit more success this season. These players include Lee Volker, Halle Vice and Skylar Forbes, who were all named to the preseason All-Big East team this season, with Volker and Forbes both being selected unanimously. Last season, Forbes was the main focal point of the squad’s offense averaging 12.6 points per game and ranked fifth in the Big East conference with a field goal percentage of 47.2% With the return of Forbes for another season, alongside Vice and Volker, they will all be forces to reckoned with heading into their 2025-26 campaign.  

Georgetown 

Sam Calhoun 

Staff Writer 

Georgetown is coming off a dismal 12-19 season with only four wins in Big East play, down from a 23-12 season during the 2023-24 campaign. It has been a while since the Hoyas have gone dancing, last making the NCAA Tournament in 2012. Georgetown, led by third-year head coach Darnell Haney, brings back senior Victoria Rivera (10.5 ppg) after leading the team in 3-pointers with 62. The top addition will be UCF transfer Laila Jewett, who averaged 8.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game in 29 games last season. What will be important for Georgetown to improve is the defense, which ranked in the 17th percentile in college basketball. With their top two leading scorers, Kelsey Ransom (20.4 ppg) and Ariel Jenkins (11.4 ppg, 10 rpg) gone, the Hoyas need to make up for the lost production on both ends of the court. 

DePaul 

Nicole Caruso

Last season, the DePaul Women’s Basketball team finished 13-19 overall and sixth in Big East rankings (8-10,) but with a healthy roster and new leadership, DePaul will look to climb the rankings and hopefully improve to make postseason contention. Senior guard Kate Clarke will return this season after missing the majority of last year due to a series of injuries.  Also returning are junior guards Shakara McCline and Sumer Lee who played in all 32 games for DePaul last season. However, the team will face a new challenge following leadership under new head coach Jill Pizzotti,, who is taking over the role from Doug Bruno. Bruno was with the DePaul Blue Demons for 39 years. DePaul will look to improve not only their overall rankings but more importantly in the Big East.  

St. John’s  

Chase Cassidy

Campus Correspondent 

After last year’s 5-13 Big East record, the Red Storm falls to number 8 for this season’s rankings. As he enters his 14th season as head coach for St. John’s, Joe Tartamella will have to do so without 8 players from last year’s squad.  However, with the addition of 5-foot-1’ forward Sa’Mya Wyatt and the return of guards Skye Owen and Kylie Lavelle, the team could still pose a threat. St. John’s will look for a better start to the Big East season after going 1-8 last year tarnished any aspirations for an NCAA tournament bid. The last time the Red Storm found themselves playing during March Madness was in 2023, when a first-round exit was handed to them by North Carolina. Fans may be hoping that something better is brewing for the Red Storm this season, but the forecast doesn’t say likely.    

Butler 

Julia Sasso  

Campus Correspondent  

The Butler 2024-25 campaign was a difficult one with the Bulldogs ending their season with a 5-13 conference record. The program was eliminated from the Big East tournament in the first round after losing to No. 8 seed St. John 66-50. Going into this season, the team loses two of their main players, guards Kilyn McGuff and Caroline Strande, both of whom graduated last year.  However, the team will see the return of sophomore guard Lily Zeinstra. She averaged 26.2 minutes per game last season and was second in the team in 3-point field goals. The program will also welcome freshman Addison Baxter, who was a 2025 Indiana all-star when playing for Columbia City. Baxter came just one assist short of scoring a triple-double in Butler’s exhibition game against Taylor University. She scored 13 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in the game. Overall, the Bulldogs come into the season with very low expectations and will just be hoping to show some improvement from their past seasons.  

Providence 

Tyler Lato 

Staff Writer 

The Providence Friars are back after a 13–19 2024–25 campaign, including a 6–12 mark in the Big East. Led by third-year head coach Erin Batth, the Friars feature a virtually brand-new lineup after losing 10 seniors, some of whom played major roles on last year’s squad. 

Teneisia Brown joins the Friars in 2025 after spending the past two seasons at Fairleigh Dickinson. The former two-time All-Northeast Conference first-team forward and 2025 NEC Defensive Player of the Year averaged 15.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game in her last season at FDU. Her long, 6-foot-2 frame was a major selling point for Batth, as she’s a force to reckon with in the paint when grabbing rebounds. 

Joining Brown are transfers Sabou Gueye (Florida A&M) and Eseosa Imafidon (Louisville). The team’s transfers will need to step up if the Friars hope to remain competitive in the Big East. 

Xavier 

Alex Klancko 

Campus Correspondent 

Xavier had a 7-24 record including a 1-17 Big East record last year with their only conference win being a 50-40 game against Butler on Jan. 18. Xaviers’ head coach, Billi Chambers, is heading into her third season with the Musketeers with a 8-51 record. The Musketeers had eight players transfer into the program including Savannah White (Indiana State), Mya Moore (Cleveland State), Audia Young (Auburn) and Mariyah Noel (Ole Miss). They also added four freshmen to the team including Penda Dieng, Denise Neves, Payton RIchards and Kodee Williams-Sefo. They also kept Meri Kanerva who was named to the All Big East Freshman Team last year. All signs point to Xavier finishing near the bottom of the big east again, but with eight new additions to the team, this year could be different. 

POTY – Sarah Strong, UConn 

FOTY – Kelis Fisher, UConn  

COTY – Geno Auriemma, UConn  

All Conference 

• Azzi Fudd, UConn  

• Serah Williams, UConn  

• KK Arnold, UConn 

• Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova 

• Jada Eads, Seton Hall