2006-2007 Big East Basketball Preview (Part II)

Considered the nation's dominant basketball conference, the Big East has long been one of the most competitive conferences in the country. Last year was no exception, as Villanova and UConn tied for the regular season Big East title with identical 14-2 records.

With teams like Villanova, UConn, and West Virginia losing a number of key players, the 2006-2007 Big East season should be just as competitive - but more unpredictable. Without a dominant pre-season favorite, the Big East seems to be anybody's game heading into the pre-season.

For previews of the projected bottom half of the conference, please see Part I of the preview.

(2005-06 records include post-season results)

Marquette Golden Eagles
2005-06 Results: 20-11, 10-6 Big East, lost to Alabama in 1st round of NCAA Tournament
Key Losses: F Steve Novak, F Joe Chapman

Marquette returns three starters from last year's underrated squad, which knocked off UConn, Georgetown, and Pitt en route to a ten-win conference season. Leading scorer Steve Novak is off to the NBA; but scoring guards Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, and Jerel McNeal return. The Golden Eagles' big question mark is in the frontcourt. With five letter-winning forwards returning, Marquette has depth, but will need reserves Ryan Amaroso and Dan Fitzgerald to step up and fill some of the void left by Novak's departue.

Marquette should be solid again this season; but another ten-win Big East season may be a reach. The Golden Eagles open conference play with a brutal six-game Big East stretch: at Providence, Syracuse, at UConn, West Virginia, followed by trips to Louisville and Piitsburgh. A 3-3 start could lead to big things for Marquette; but the frontcourt difficulties will likely leave Marquette in the middle of the pack this season.

Projected Finish: Eighth

St. John's Red Storm
2005-06 Results: 12-15, 5-11 Big East
Key Losses: None

St. John's should be an intriguing team in the Big East this season; with all five starters returning, plus junior college transfer Avery Patterson, St. John's will have depth, size, and experience. If senior Daryll Hill can return to the 20-point per game production of his sophomore year, the Johnnies have a shot to be in the top half of the conference.

With a soft pre-season schedule, a nine- or ten-win conference season could get the Red Storm to twenty wins and NCAA consideration. Regardless, coach Norm Roberts has done an outstanding job rebuilding a program recently left for dead.

Projected Finish: Seventh

DePaul Blue Demons
2005-06 Results: 12-15, 5-11 Big East
Key Losses: None

DePaul returns five starters from a team that finished strong a year ago, highlighted by a 39-point blowout of Syracuse that, at the time, crippled the Orangemen's NCAA hopes. Four double-digit scorers return for underrated head coach Jerry Wainwright.

A key question for DePaul is whether their tough early schedule - with matchups against Kansas, Kentucky, Wake Forest, and likely UCLA - will help or hurt their cause. A quality win or two early may set the table for a Big East run; a slow start may hurt the Blue Demons for the second consecutive season. But with experience and talent, led by guards Sammy Mejia and Draelon Burns, DePaul should be at worst an upper-division team in the Big East this season.

Projected Finish: Sixth

Louisville Cardinals
2005-06 Results: 21-13, 6-10 Big East, lost to South Carolina in NIT Semifinals
Key Losses: G Taquan Dean

Another major disappointment a year ago, the Cardinals began the year ranked eighth in the AP preseason poll, only to stumble to a six-win conference season and an eleventh-place finish in the Big East. With four starters returning, the Cardinals looked poised to return to contention; but guard Brandon Jenkins, their third-leading scorer a year ago broke his leg, while promising rising sophomores Brian Johnson and Chad Millard have transferred.

The Cardinals still have talent; with the starting frontcourt returning intact and a major recruiting class arriving, Louisville will have weapons on offense. But depth will be a major issue, particularly for a Rick Pitino team that likes to push the tempo. The Cardinals will be a dangerous team game in and game out, but promising freshmen Edgar Sosa and Derrick Caracter will have to step up for the Cardinals to contend for the Big East title.

Projected Finish: Fifth

Connecticut Huskies
2005-06 Results: 30-4, 14-2 Big East; lost to George Mason in Elite Eight of NCAA Tournament
Key Losses: F Rudy Gay, G-F Rashad Anderson, G Marcus Williams, F Denham Brown, F-C Josh Boone, F-C Hilton Armstrong

What to make of the Huskies? Last year's national championship contender faces a rebuilding year in 2006-07, with no athletic juniors or seniors on the roster. Last year's top six scorers are all gone, and only four scholarship players return from last year's team.

Of course, most programs would die for what UConn considers a rebuilding year. Sophomore Jeff Adrien contributed as a freshman a year ago; his 5.0 rebounds per game ranked third on a deep squad and his 61% field goal percentage led the team. Given extended minutes, Adrien looks to be an All-Big East performer this season, and if he improves from a year ago, he could be one of the conference's best players. Three other sophomores, including Craig Austrie, who started 11 games at point guard as a freshman, will have to lead both on and off the court for the young UConn squad.

UConn's season will probably be defined by A.J. Price, a highly touted recruit three years ago whose two seasons on campus have been derailed by medical and legal problems. Price's talent is undeniable, and if he can get back into playing shape, the Huskies will continue to be dangerous. Price leads a group of eight newcomers who must contribute early and often for UConn to compete for the Big East crown. 7-3 center Hasheem Thabeet was described by ESPN.com's Andy Katz as "a freakish shot-blocker"; but can he play both ends of the floor?

Even in the modern NCAA, where seniors are rare, it seems tough to expect UConn to compete for a national title with such a young roster. But with perennially underrated head coach Jim Calhoun, another 20-win season and an NCAA tournament berth certainly seem within reach.

Projected Finish: Fourth

Syracuse Orangemen
2005-06 Results: 23-12, 7-9 Big East (Big East Tournament Champions), lost to Texas A&M in 1st round of NCAA Tournament
Key Losses: PG Gerry McNamara

The Orange return four starters from last year's squad, which finished 7-9 during the conference regular season but went on a spectacular run to win the Big East Tournament title. Syracuse followed up with a disappointing showing against Texas A&M and a first-round exit from the NCAA Tournament.

Syracuse's inconsistency a year ago will remain their biggest issue until addressed this season. Big men Terrence Roberts and Darryl Watkins have the shown the ability to both take over and disappear from games, often in the same half. The Orange have the experience and the talent to move back atop the conference, if Watkins and Roberts can dominate. If freshman Paul Harris, recently named Blue Ribbon Yearbook's Newcomer of the Year, can provide offense from the wing, Syracuse may be very, very good in 2006-2007.

Projected Finish: Third

Pittsburgh Panthers
2005-06 Results: 25-8, 10-6 Big East, lost to Bradley in second round of NCAA Tournament
Key Losses: PG Carl Krauser

The Panthers have to be considered a pre-season favorite in the Big East; with four starters and eight letter winners returning from last year's Top 20 squad, Pitt looks to be a preseason Top Ten pick nationally in 2006-07.

The biggest question for Pitt is whether they can replace point guard Carl Krauser, a three-year starter who provided leadership and toughness at the point while leading the Panthers in scoring a year ago. There is experience at guard, led by Ronald Ramon, and the frontcourt of C Aaron Gray and forwards Levon Kendall and Sam Young is one of the best in the country. With Pittsburgh's typical emphasis on toughness and defense, they should easily improve on last year's fourth-place finish and look to make a serious NCAA Tournament run.

Projected Finish: Second

Georgetown Hoyas
2005-06 Results: 23-10, 10-6 Big East, lost to Florida in Sweet Sixteen of NCAA Tournament
Key Losses: F Brandon Bowman, G Ashanti Cook, G/F Darrel Owens

Head coach John Thompson III has revived a moribund program in short order, leaping from the NIT to the Sweet Sixteen last year. Now, with three returning starters and a deep class of newcomers, the Hoyas will make a run at a regular-season Big East title.

The frontcourt will be Georgetown's strength; Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert return after each making the All-Big East Second Team. Green will be one of the conference's best players, while the 7-2 Hibbert is an imposing presence in the middle. They may be joined by Patrick Ewing Jr., who transferred from Indiana, or McDonald's All-American Vernon Macklin.

With additional depth on the frontcourt, the backcourt is the Hoyas' biggest question mark. Jonathan Wallace will be a third-year starter, but will be joined by one of three inexperienced returnees or freshman Jeremiah Rivers (son of another NBA great, Doc Rivers). If Thompson can find a point guard, the Hoyas' offense should be solid enough to support their traditionally solid defense. The frontcourt size and the Thompson offense should be enough to garner the Hoyas their first regular season Big East title in fifteen years.

Projected Finish: First