The Georgetown Voice 6 November 2018 (Men's Preview)

VOICE The Georgetown

November 6, 2o18

— The Basketball Preview — Photo: Jeffrey armstrong

November 6, 2018

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THE GEORGETOWN VOICE Volume 51 • Issue 6

staff editor-in-chief Jake Maher Managing editor Margaret Gach news

executive editor Alex Lewontin Features editor Emily Jaster assistant features editor Jack Townsend news editor Noah Telerski assistant news editors Rachel Cohen, Damian Garcia, Katya Schwenk

culture

executive editor Caitlin Mannering Leisure editor Brynn Furey assistant leisure editors Kayla Hewitt, Brynne Long, Ryan Mazalatis Sports editor Beth Cunniff Assistant sports editor Jorge DeNeve, Aaron Wolf

Photo: Jeffrey armstrong Cover design: EGAN BARNITT

contents Rising Up: Hoyas Reach for New Heights in Ewing’s Second Year Santul Nerkar

3

Big Expectations for Jamorko Pickett in his Sophomore Season Aaron Wolf

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Meet the New Guys Kayla Hewitt, Dominic Parente, and Cam Smith

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For Georgetown’s Seniors, One Last Year to Make an Impact Chris Dunn

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Men’s Big East Preview Jake Gilstrap and Will Shanahan

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Basketball Preview Staff Producer

Beth Cunniff Design Editor Margaux Fontaine

Poster designer

EDitors Jonny Amon Jorge Deneve Margaret Gach Emily Jaster Alex Lewontin Jake Maher

Contributers

Jacob Bilich

DEsigners Camilla Aitbayev Jake Glass Delaney Corcoran Josh Klein Calvin Dass Olivia Stevens

Caitlin Mannering Santul Nerkar Tyler Pearre Noah Telerski Jack Townsend Aaron WolF

Chris DUnn Nathan CHen Brynn Furey Bradley Galvin Jake Gilstrap

The opinions expressed in The Georgetown Voice do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty, or students of Georgetown University, unless specifically stated. Columns, advertisements, cartoons, and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or the General Board of The Georgetown Voice. The university subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression of its student editors. All materials copyright The Georgetown Voice, unless otherwise indicated.

Max Krukov Kayla Hewitt Dominic Parente Will Shanahan Cameron Smith

opinion

Executive editor CHRIS DUNN voices editor Lizz Pankova Assistant Voices editors Mica Bernhard, Ava Rosato EditoriaL board Chair Nick Gavio Editorial Board Jonny Amon, Sienna Brancato, Chris Dunn, Claire Goldberg, Emily Jaster, Alli Kaufman, Alex Lewontin, Jake Maher, Caitlin Mannering, Phillip Steuber, Noah Telerski, Jack Townsend

halftime

Leisure editor Dajour Evans assistant leisure editors Inès de Miranda, Juliana Vaccaro de Souza, Nicole Lai Sports editor Santul Nerkar Assistant sports editor Teddy Carey, Jake Gilstrap, Tristan Lee

design

Executive editor Margaux Fontaine Spread editor Jake Glass Photo Editor Rachel Zeide cover Editor Egan Barnitt assistant design editor Camilla Aitbayev, Jacob Bilich, Delaney Corcoran Staff designers Kathryn Crager, Josh Klein, Lindsay Reilly, Olivia Stevens

copy

copy chief Hannah Song assistant Copy editors Cade Shore, Neha Wasil editors Mya Allen, Emma Bradley, NataLie Chaudhuri, Brendan Clark, Kate Fin, Max Fredell, Nancy Garrett, Emily Kim, Moira Phan, Madison Scully, Sophie StewarT, Maya Tenzer, Kristin Turner, Megan Wee

online

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support

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Staff writers

Kent Adams, Luis Borrero, Nathan Chen, Annemarie Cuccia, Haley D’Alessio, Errol French, Bradley Galvin, Peter Guthrie, Dominic Parente, Roman Peregrino, John Picker, Zach Pulsifer, Will Shanahan, Cam Smith

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THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

rising up Hoyas reach for new heights in Ewing’s second year

By Santul nerkar

Close LosseS

, missed opportunities, and gradual improvement were the dominant features of the Georgetown men’s basketball 2017-18 campaign. First-year head coach Patrick Ewing (COL ’85) inherited a talented, yet unproven, Hoyas team, and the results spoke for themselves. Georgetown finished 15-15 overall and a paltry 5-13 in Big East play. But after a second offseason of Ewing’s leadership and abundant newcomers, the Hoyas are optimistic and share a simple goal: win more games.

“We want to finish top half of our conference, if not top three,” said junior guard Jagan Mosely. “Go far into the Big East Tournament, if not win it. And then, make it to the NCAA [Tournament].”

As his team moves into their second season with him, Ewing feels more comfortable with his players, and the players have fully bought in to his faster, NBA-style system. “[Ewing] definitely has a lot more confidence in us,” said sophomore guard Jamorko Pickett. “Not that he didn’t last year, but there’s definitely a lot more comfort in the team with this being his second year with us.”

The return of senior center Jessie Govan, who has climbed up the school’s scoring records and earned a spot on the preseason Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award watch list, has bolstered the Hoyas’ chances of a successful season. The 6-foot-10 Queens Village, New York native has downplayed his individual achievements, including a spot on the preseason Big East First Team, but is using them to fuel his determination to take Georgetown back to the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s good motivation, just something to look forward to, something to look towards, but I’m focused on trying to make the tournament this year,” Govan said of his preseason accolades. “We haven’t been since I’ve been in college, and that’s a big thing for me ... to be the leader of this team and go back to the NCAA tournament and get Georgetown back on the map.”

Confidence itself will not be sufficient for the Hoyas to achieve their first winning season since 2015. As fans will recall, the 2017-18 Hoyas struggled on a number of fronts, most of all taking care of the ball. According to KenPom.com, Georgetown turned the ball over on 20.8 percent of their possessions, ranking 308th in Division I. A number of key, close results hinged on the team’s ability, or inability, to effectively conquer defensive pressure. New drills incorporated over the offseason targeted this weakness and the ability to close out games, Mosely said.

Photo: Alex Lewontin

“We score [in the drill] by getting stops,” Mosely said. “And obviously, a stop ends with a rebound. We lost a lot of games, by rebounds, turning the ball over, and you lose points.”

Ewing acknowledged that, despite the offseason work, taking care of the ball is a work in progress.

“It’s gonna be growing pains,” Ewing said. “We’re young, especially at the guard position. All you can do is harp on it, talk about it, show film on it, show them the mistakes.”

The Hoyas’ young, incoming backcourt is the source of much hoopla. Three-star recruit and dunking sensation freshman guard Mac McClung is making his college debut, and freshman guard James Akinjo, this year’s highest-rated recruit, will compete with Mosely for playing time at point guard.

While Akinjo is projected to earn more playing time, McClung

“

All I can concentrate on is getting my guys better.

may also see the floor routinely, not for his prowess at windmill dunks, but for his attitude.

“I love Mac,” Ewing said. “I love his toughness, I love his intensity. That’s one of the reasons why I recruited him. It’s not just about the dunks or all of the highlight reels that fans love. [I] loved his ability, his toughness, and he’s not gonna back down from anyone.”

The Hoyas must also replace the production of former forward Marcus Derrickson, last season’s second-leading scorer and rebounder who declared for the 2018 NBA Draft and later signed a two-way deal with the Golden State Warriors organization. Derrickson’s departure leaves Georgetown without an established counterpart to Govan’s reliable scoring in the frontcourt, and the dismissal of former forward Antwan Walker means that the Hoyas are even thinner on the interior.

However, the Hoyas are not concerning themselves with finding a single replacement for Derrickson’s contributions.

With wing depth provided by Pickett, senior guard Kaleb Johnson, and senior transfer guard Greg Malinowski, they aim to fill the gap at forward by committee.

“We’ve got a lot of people coming in, we’ve got [freshman forward] Josh [LeBlanc], we’ve got [senior forward] Trey Mourning, he’s coming, [freshman forward] Grayson [Carter],” Johnson said. “So we’ve got a lot of different people on the team that is gonna help fill that role.”

The team’s youth and inexperience as a unit will be tested early on this year with non-conference games scheduled against the University of Illinois, Southern Methodist University, and No. 16 Syracuse University. Though the schedule may not be chock-full of prominent matchups, it is an improvement over the 2018 slate, which saw the Hoyas play just one power conference opponent before Big East play started.

Georgetown will also play in the Jamaica Classic starting on Nov. 16, marking the Hoyas’ first non-conference tournament since 2016. For Ewing, a Jamaican-American, the trip to Jamaica will not only provide an early gauge of the team’s ability, but will also represent a homecoming of sorts.

“I thought it would be great for the team to see where I came from, to see my homeland,” Ewing said. “Plus we also have two players on the team [Mosely and sophomore guard Jahvon Blair] who are of Jamaican descent, so, we thought it’d be a good idea to go back.”

Like in previous years, the Big East schedule will make or break the Hoyas’ season. While the usual suspect, No. 9 Villanova, is projected to top the league once more, there have been significant shifts in the balance of power in the conference, the result of player and coach departures. Ewing, however, isn’t keeping an eye on any of that.

“All I can concentrate on is getting my guys better,” Ewing said. “Getting us, the recruits that we have in now, who are freshmen now, just getting them prepared and getting them focused and locked in to have a great year.”

While there are no set expectations for the Hoyas to return to national prominence in Ewing’s second season, the players have set high goals for themselves—namely, they want to win some hardware.

“I haven’t won a trophy since I’ve been here at Georgetown,” Mourning said. “So that would mean the world, just to have a piece of silverware, to get a national championship...I want to win something of value, not just a game.”

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November 6, 2018

Big Expectations for Jamorko Pickett in his Sophomore Season

By Aaron Wolf Jamorko Pickett

made his mark early on in his college career. For the Hoyas’ opening game last season against Jacksonville, head coach Patrick Ewing named Pickett, a four-star freshman, to the starting lineup in his collegiate debut.

On Georgetown’s second offensive possession of the game, starting point guard Jonathan Mulmore (COL ’18) swung the ball to the corner where Pickett was patiently waiting.

Pickett lined up the 3-pointer and calmly knocked it down for the first points of the Patrick Ewing era.

Before he was making shots for the Hoyas, Pickett, born and raised in D.C., attended Eastern High School in the District. He averaged 12 points, four rebounds, and three blocks per game as a senior.

After high school, he opted for a postgraduate year at Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia. There he caught the attention of scouts nationwide by tallying 21 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks per game and soon became a consensus ESPN top 100 recruit. Pickett fielded offers from several Division I schools, originally committing to the University of Mississippi before becoming head coach Patrick Ewing’s first major recruit.

In an interview with Scout.com after Pickett made his decision in July 2017, Chad Myers, his head coach at Massanutten, explained why Georgetown was the best fit.

“He picked [Georgetown] because he felt like he could go in there and contribute immediately,” he said.

“Playing time along with location was the determining factor for him.”

And Pickett did make an immediate impact. He had 20 points over the course of his first two games as a Hoya and went on to average 9.6 points Photo: Georgetown Athletics Communications

per game during a freshman campaign that steadily improved as the season went along. After scoring double-digit points just six times in his first 18 games, Pickett became more aggressive with his shot, and scored double digits in eight of the final 11 regular season games.

During that final stretch, Georgetown hosted Xavier, the fourth-ranked team in the country at the time. The Musketeers came out on top 89-77, but Pickett had one of his best games of the season, matching his career high of 21 points on an efficient six of 11 from the field. After the game, former Xavier head coach Chris Mack had nothing but praise for the freshman.

“I think Jamorko Pickett is going to have one of the best careers,” Mack said. “I know Georgetown’s had some great players.

You can add him to the list. He’s a freshman and he’s out there shooting bombs.”

The late season surge and impressive numbers against top teams helped him secure a spot on the Big East All-Freshman Team as a unanimous selection.

Pickett dazzled opponents and Hoya fans alike with a multifaceted skill set that is especially impressive for a player of his size. As a 6-foot-8 guard, Pickett can handle the ball and shoot just as well as anyone else on the team.

Pickett led the Hoyas in 3-pointers with 56 on 35.7 percent shooting last season.

In year two, Ewing is expecting to get more out of the gifted young guard, Ewing’s only four-star recruit from his first year as head coach. Pickett’s progression is not only crucial to Georgetown’s success on the floor, but will also speak volumes about Ewing’s ability to develop players.

“He has to have a good year for us,” Ewing said. “I thought that he came on for us in the second half of the year last year, but in order for us to be successful he’s going to have to be one of the guys that’s going to carry the load.”

While Pickett may have finished third on the team in scoring a season ago, there is still room for growth. For Ewing, that means Pickett must improve on the boards.

“One of the things that he needs to do better than he did last year is rebound the basketball,” Ewing said. “Because for a person his size, he should be a better rebounder.”

Last year, Pickett averaged just 3.7 rebounds per game. He typically played on the wing, while two of the Big East’s most prolific rebounders, now-senior center Jessie Govan and former forward Marcus Derrickson dominated the boards inside. Following the forward’s departure, Pickett will be tasked with making up part of Derrickson’s 8.1 rebounds per game. Pickett will likely be the second-tallest starter on a guard-heavy roster, so adding to his rebounding totals is essential and a challenge that he believes he is prepared to face.

“In practices, I’ve definitely shown that I can rebound, going after the ball even when it doesn’t come to me,” he said.

Pickett also wants to improve his defensive skills this season, and given his size and length, he has boundless potential to become an elite defender if he puts in the work.

“Scoring is definitely something everyone wants to do, but this year I’d like to predicate my game more on the defensive end,” he said.

Pickett was not a liability on defense last season, but despite a 6-foot-8 frame and a 7-foot-2 wingspan, he was only able to reach season highs of two blocks and two steals.

photo: Anne Coyne

“I proved last year that I can score, so I want to show that I can do other things,” he said. “I’ve got a 7-foot-2 wingspan, so passes through the middle I can easily deflect and get steals, so we can start the break.”

If Ewing can help Pickett be the all-around player he plans on becoming in both of their second seasons at Georgetown, then there is no telling how far he and his team can go. For now though, Pickett has one clear goal on his mind.

“Win a lot more games than we did last year. It’s simple.”

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THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

Meet the New GUYS

Grayson Carter — 6’8” forward

James Akinjo — 6’0” guard

Grayson Carter was the first member of this year’s freshman class to commit to Georgetown. He averaged 12 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks per game over the course of his varsity career at Denton Guyer High School. A three-star recruit from Dallas, Texas, Carter is not the highest ranked of his recruiting class, but his versatility will strengthen the Hoyas’ front court, particularly with Marcus Derrickson forgoing his senior year to enter the NBA draft and the dismissal of Antwan Walker from the team.

Carter also received offers from University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Berkeley; Louisiana State University; and the University of Texas, but announced his decision to come to Georgetown this September.

James Akinjo is a four-star recruit from Oakland, California, who was ranked 90th in the ESPN top 100 for the class of 2018. Akinjo has received plenty of media attention since he was named MVP at the 2017 Nike Peach Jam, where he led his team to victory, averaging 18.7 points and 6.7 assists.

Akinjo was a late addition to this year’s recruiting class, decommitting from the University of Connecticut on March 10. Head coach Patrick Ewing moved quickly to recruit Akinjo shortly after his release from his letter of intent to UConn, and in April, Akinjo announced his commitment to Georgetown. His skill as a point guard will be a welcome addition to the Hoyas, who have struggled to effectively fill this position in recent seasons, especially with the losses of Trey Dickerson and Jonathan Mulmore (COL ’18).

Josh LeBlanc — 6’7” Forward

Four-star recruit Josh LeBlanc will provide the Hoyas with some much-needed size and versatility at the forward position. He averaged 14.9 points and 10 rebounds per game during his junior year at Madison Prep Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, before missing most of his senior year due to injury. He came back at the end of his senior season to lead his team to their fourth state championship in four years.

LeBlanc is best known for his defense. His agility and high-motor play allow him to contain the wings and run the floor to play hard in transition. Opposing shooters will be frustrated by his 7-foot wingspan and excellent timing, which make him a skilled shot blocker. His versatility will be useful for the Hoyas in a variety of schemes and lineups, especially as a defensive specialist. LeBlanc’s basketball IQ will allow him to play to his potential, making him an immediate contributor to this team.

By Kayla Hewitt, Dominic Parente, and Cam Smith

Greg Malinowski — 6’6” GUard

After sitting out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules, senior guard Greg Malinowski is set to finish his college basketball career with Ewing and the Hoyas.

Before he transferred to Georgetown, Malinowski was a reliable player who excelled on the perimeter for the College of William and Mary. During the 2016-17 season, he averaged 7.7 points per game and hit 40 percent of his 3-point attempts, which was fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association.

With the departure of Derrickson, the Hoyas will look to Malinowski’s hot hand to fill the hole left along the perimeter. His shooting ability will help Georgetown space the floor and complement the Hoyas’ plethora of interior size. Malinowski is ready to be off the sidelines and on the court, where he will be a senior leader on this team. At this year’s press conference, he said he was excited to play again.

“It’s been a long time coming.”

Jaden Robinson — 6’3” Guard

Mac McClung — 6’2” Guard

Baltimore native Jaden Robinson was the final addition to the Hoyas’ freshman class. Before arriving at Georgetown, Robinson attended Mount St. Joseph’s in Maryland, where he was named the most improved player of the Baltimore Catholic League in his senior season, and spent one year at Suffield Preparatory School, where he averaged 16 points and five rebounds. Robinson walked onto the team in August, and will add depth at the guard position in this year’s roster.

As a walk on, it is unclear how much time Robinson will see on the court in his first year behind the more prominent backcourt players. However, given the lack of experience at the guard position in this year’s lineup, it is possible that head coach Patrick Ewing will reach into the bench to give Robinson an opportunity to crack the rotation.

Despite being a three-star recruit, Mac McClung has received significant media attention for his big games and big plays; he’s no stranger to high scoring and high flying dunks.

McClung settled on Georgetown just a week after decommitting from Rutgers in October 2017. In his final season of high school ball in Gate City, Virginia, he broke the state single-season scoring record, previously held by legendary Hoya Allen Iverson, while averaging over 38 points and eight rebounds per game. McClung topped off the season by leading his hometown to a state championship.

The freshman has shown that his high school success will translate to a higher level, averaging over 25 points per game in Nike’s pro-am Kenner League. McClung’s athleticism and scoring ability are exciting for Hoya fans, and with a wide-open field for the guard position, he will have the chance to earn significant minutes on the court.

Photos: Georgetown Athletics Communications

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NOVEMBER 6, 2018

For Georgetown’s Seniors, One Last Year to Make an Impact When the Georgetown Hoyas tip off against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to start their season on Nov. 6, they are beginning the next year of a rebuilding phase that Hoya fans hope will return their team to conference, and even national, relevance.

No one understands the Hoyas’ recent frustrations as well as the current senior class, especially center Jessie Govan and guard/forward Kaleb Johnson. In the three years they’ve played for the Hoyas, the team has failed to achieve a winning record, let alone earn a bid to a major postseason tournament. They’ve also undergone a change in coaching staff: Former coach John Thompson III, who recruited them to the Hilltop, was fired and replaced with current head coach Patrick Ewing after their sophomore year.

For many players, such circumstances would keep them from finishing their time at Georgetown—last year’s roster featured only two seniors, both of whom had transferred to Georgetown. The only member of the Hoyas’ original 2014 recruiting class is forward Trey Mourning, who was sidelined in the 2017-18 season with an injury and is now entering his fifth year on the team. Govan, Johnson, and Mourning have decided to complete their collegiate careers at Georgetown; along with senior Greg Malinowski, who transferred from the College of William & Mary in 2017, they hope to lead the Hoyas in their last season with the team.

When asked what he expects from the group of seniors, Ewing said, “Everything. They need to step up and lead. They need to lead on and off the court, they need to do all the things on the court in order to be successful, and also in the classroom and in the community.”

Of all of the team’s seniors, none is expected to play as big a role for Georgetown as center Jessie Govan, who started every game for the Hoyas last year and led the team in both scoring and rebounds, averaging 17.9 points and 10 rebounds per game. But his presence at Georgetown this season wasn’t guaranteed. Govan declared for the NBA draft last spring, but made the decision not to sign an agent, allowing him to return to the Hilltop.

Forward Marcus Derrickson, who was a key part of Georgetown’s frontcourt last season, aided Govan’s success, but Derrickson left Georgetown for the NBA in a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors. Now Govan will be the center of opposing defenses’ attention. But he is aware of the challenge.

“I have to be ready for double teams and ready to have all the attention on me, and I’m ready for that,” Govan said. “I just have to embrace that role and make the right play, whether that’s scoring or getting another guy the ball.”

Govan had the added benefit of a low profile early in the season last year, as most opposing teams excluded him from their scouting reports. Since then, however, Govan has gained prominent national recognition. He was recently named to the First Team All-Big East, as well as to the watchlist for the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Award, given annually to the best NCAA men’s center. But for all of the preseason hype that he’s received

as an individual, Govan is now focused on leading Georgetown to the NCAA Tournament, which the team hasn’t played in since before his time on the Hilltop.

If the Hoyas are to make it back to the NCAA Tournament, they’ll need Govan to be a dynamic player on the court, but he’ll also have to use his experience to set an example for his teammates.

Govan said that, in addition to conditioning and his offense, he has been working on his leadership in the offseason. Ewing knows that the team will ask a lot of the big man, but trusts and expects that he can handle it. “He’s in his fourth year now,” Ewing said. “He should be poised and ready to take on whatever comes.”

Johnson will also be called on to help fill the gap left by Derrickson. He started all 30 of the Hoyas’ games last year, averaging 7.9 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game. Johnson expects to continue the strides he made last year and understands that the team will rely on his play on the court as well as his veteran status.

“I want to be more of a leader and have an impact on the court,” Johnson said. “Whether that means running the floor hard, getting rebounds, scoring, whatever coach needs.”

Without Derrickson, Ewing expects to stretch the court and use his wings and guards more. For Johnson, a wing, that means he will need to strike more of a balance in his post and perimeter play than he has in previous years. Still, he feels confident in his and the team’s ability to play in the perimeter. “Jagan [Mosely] is coming back, who’s just a steady hand and strong with the ball,” Johnson said. “And Mac [McClung] and James [Akinjo] are two dynamic guards, so I think we’re definitely confident on the wing.”

At 6-foot-6 and listed as a guard, Malinowski is expected to help the Hoyas from the perimeter.

“Greg’s a great shooter,” said sophomore guard Jagan Mosely. “He can score [in the paint], but he’s a great shooter as well.”

This will be Malinowski’s first and only year playing with the Hoyas after his transfer, but his fifth year of college basketball. “It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “I hope to help the other guys see the light. [I’ve] been in college for five years. I obviously come from a different college and was taught under a different coach, but I think those principles are still the same.”

Mourning, another fifth-year senior, is the only player on the team who was a part of the 2014-15 roster, the last Georgetown team that made the NCAA Tournament. Mourning admitted that it can be difficult being a leader from

Photo: Alex Lewontin

BY CHRIS DUNN

the sidelines, but he hopes to work on being an effective teacher for younger players.

While their playing time, matchups, and roles on the team will differ, each player knows that he has something to contribute. For Mourning and Malinowski, the start of their fifth year is cause for introspection. When asked what he would go back and tell himself freshman year, Mourning answered, “Just stay patient.

You’ve got to have the mindset that it’s going to pay off.”

Reflecting on his basketball experience, Malinowski expressed a similar sentiment. “To live in the moment, to live in the present day and take things one step at a time,” Malinowski said. “It’s a process, you’ve got to trust your teammates, and that’s something I’ve grown to know.”

For Govan and Johnson, who each hope to continue their playing careers after their time at Georgetown, the start of their senior season offers them the chance to set themselves up for success later on, in basketball and the rest of their lives. “The ball will stop bouncing. No matter who you are, the ball is going to stop bouncing,” Johnson said. “And whenever it stops bouncing for me, I’m going to be able to lean back on my Georgetown degree.”

PhotoS: Georgetown Athletics Communications

7

THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

men’s big east preview

BY Will Shanahan AND Jake Gilstrap

1. VillaNova

6. Providence

Fresh off of its second national title in three years, No. 9 Villanova looks to continue its Big East and NCAA dominance. The Wildcats return senior forward Eric Paschall and senior guard Phil Booth, both starters on last year’s national championship team. ’Nova also returns sophomore guard Collin Gillespie and sophomore forwards Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree and Jermaine Samuels, each of whom will look to fill larger roles in their second seasons. Head coach Jay Wright has brought in another stellar recruiting class, featuring five-star recruit Jahvon Quinerly and transfer senior guard Joe Cremo.

The Wildcats are expected to win both the Big East regular season title and the Big East tournament.

Providence has been a perennial March Madness contender under coach Ed Cooley, making five consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament since 2014. Considering last season’s 10-8 conference record and the loss of all but two starters, Providence does not appear poised to take the Big East by storm. However, they are getting redshirt senior forward Emmitt Holt back from an abdominal injury that prevented him from playing last season, and the two starters they are returning, junior guard Alpha Diallo and sophomore guard Makai Ashton-Langford, are both solid contributors. Cooley is expected to do what he always does and lead a decent, competitive team to a NCAA tournament bid with good coaching and grit.

2. Marquette

7. Georgetown

The Golden Eagles boasted one of the most high-powered offenses in the nation last season, finishing 12th in offensive efficiency and third in 3-point percentage. Junior guard Markus Howard, who earned All-Big East Second Team honors with an average of 20.4 points per game last year, and junior forward Sam Hauser, who finished third in the country in 3-point shooting at 48.7 percent, led the offense. However, Marquette allowed opponents to shoot close to 54 percent on 2-pointers. The Golden Eagles must improve defensively if they want to challenge Villanova’s throne and make a deep postseason run.

Despite losing many close games and experiencing serious turnover troubles, Georgetown’s performance in Patrick Ewing’s first year on the Hilltop as head coach was a step in the right direction.

Senior center Jessie Govan, who averaged a double-double last season, returns as a unanimous preseason First Team All-Big East selection, along with sophomore guard Jamorko Pickett and senior guard/forward Kaleb Johnson, both starters on last year’s squad. Georgetown could surprise with eight returners and an exciting freshman class led by four-star point guard James Akinjo. However, it goes without saying nothing is guaranteed for the Hoyas until the scoreboard reads all zeros.

3. St. John’s The Red Storm has the talent to be a top team in the Big East and the nation, despite a 16-17 record last year. They return prolific junior guard and preseason All-American candidate Shamorie Ponds, who led the Big East with 21.6 points per game last season, as well as senior forward Marvin Clark II, who finished second on the team in scoring last season, and junior guard Justin Simon. Transfer junior guard Mustapha Heron (Auburn) will also be eligible to play this season.

With the backcourt duo of Heron and Ponds and a solid supporting cast of returning players, the Johnnies will look to make a big splash in Big East play and a March Madness appearance.

4. Xavier This Xavier team will look quite different than the Muskies of recent years, with nine-year coach Chris Mack leaving for Louisville and the departure of star senior trio Trevon Bluiett, J.P. Macura, and Kerem Kanter.

Still, the Musketeers should be able to improve upon their average of 74.7 points per game allowed, given their top-to-bottom length and athleticism. Xavier’s returning backcourt options all check in at 6-foot-3 or taller, while sophomore forward Naji Marshall looks to be a potential breakout candidate for All-Big East honors after landing on the Big East All-Freshman squad last season. The Musketeers lack the proven scoring depth to warrant a top-three spot in head coach Travis Steele’s first season, but should remain formidable.

5. Butler In his first year at the helm last season, head coach LaVall Jordan led an inexperienced Butler team to a surprising 21-14 season and a 10-seed in the NCAA tournament. This season, junior guard Kamar Baldwin will be expected to shoulder the offensive load after a breakout sophomore campaign. He will be complemented by redshirt senior guard Paul Jorgensen and transfer sophomore forward Jordan Tucker (Duke). The Bulldogs will not contend for the Big East title until they can find capable secondary scorers and frontcourt options, but with six experienced returners, there is enough continuity in Indianapolis that Butler could certainly return to the Big Dance.

8. Seton Hall While the Pirates have made three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in the last three years, they lost four seniors at the core of their team. Head coach Kevin Willard will rely more heavily on junior guard Myles Powell, who earned Big East Most Improved Player honors last season while averaging 15.5 points per game, to provide offensive production. Powell will not be able to do it alone; the Pirates will hope for immediate results from transfer junior guard Quincy McKnight (Sacred Heart) and transfer sophomore forward Taurean Thompson (Syracuse). Regardless, Seton Hall will undoubtedly finish as one of the conference’s cellar dwellers this season, and Willard has his work cut out for him with such an inexperienced roster.

9. Creighton With the departure of four of the Bluejays’ top six scorers, there’s not too much to get excited about in Omaha. It will likely be difficult to replace the scoring and playmaking abilities of the All-Big East backcourt duo Marcus Foster and Khyri Thomas. Head coach Greg McDermott will have to hope junior guard Davion Mintz and sophomore guards Mitch Ballock and Ty-Shon Alexander rise to the challenge in their stead, while junior center Martin Krampelj returns down low from a torn ACL injury. Their conference opponents do not expect Creighton, picked ninth in the Big East preseason coaches’ poll, to pose much of a threat, but their home court advantage and seasoned head coach could keep the team competitive.

10. DePaul DePaul fans will get to enjoy one more season of the duo of senior guards Eli Cain and Max Strus, who combined for 27.2 points per game last year. The two played no small part in head coach Dave Leitao’s best season since rejoining the Blue Demons, but were still unable to pull DePaul out of the Big East basement. Beyond Cain and Strus, everyone else who averaged more than 12 minutes a night throughout the season has left the program. 6-foot-9 senior forward Femi Olujobi and sharpshooting junior guard Jalen Coleman-Lands join the fold via transfer (North Carolina A&T, Illinois), but this will likely be a trying season for a program that has seen its fair share of lean years in the last decade.