Big East January '26 Thread | Page 8 | The Boneyard

Big East January '26 Thread

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You have to admit, the talent level and overall tourney success is trending in the wrong direction. We lost a lot of longstanding old talent last year, haven't really restocked based on what I see. We have almost no NBA talent in the league outside of UConn.
You continue to speak out of both sides of your mouth. It's all about the amazing freshmen this year for you in many posts but then your other posts are about the transfer portal is where it's at now in this new form of college basketball (superteams) and how the Big East will get left behind when the reality is the Big East does very well in the portal rankings and has money to spend.
 
You continue to speak out of both sides of your mouth. It's all about the amazing freshmen this year for you in many posts but then your other posts are about the transfer portal is where it's at now in this new form of college basketball (superteams) and how the Big East will get left behind when the reality is the Big East does very well in the portal rankings and has money to spend.
It's obviously a combo of both - how many NBA player profiles do you see in the BE this year? Upcoming draft picks? And of course I include UConn in the BE, but in the context of evaluating the league, it's how are the other teams doing. I know UConn will handle it's end of the deal. You can argue the BE lost more good talent to the portal than they brought in (Conwell, Swain).
 
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It's obviously a combo of both - how many NBA player profiles do you see in the BE this year? Upcoming draft picks? And of course I include UConn in the BE, but in the context of evaluating the league, it's how are the other teams doing. I know UConn will handle it's end of the deal. You can argue the BE lost more good talent to the portal than they brought in (Conwell, Swain).
I don't know how many current Big East players will play in the NBA. I think the team we play on Wednesday night has a few guys who will play in the NBA and despite their bad head coach we better be ready for them because that team has a lot of individual talent. Everyone keeps saying the league is down this season and you keep saying it's a trend, I don't consider one season a trend.

Here's a list of Big East players currently in the NBA...

 
Lunardi 1/6 update:

UConn (1)
Villanova (6)
St. Johns (9)
Seton Hall (9)

Butler (2nd team out)
Creighton (7th team out)
 
My guess is Creighton gets in. If there is one coach who will right the ship, it's McDermott.

We just need to keep winning.
I agree. I think Creighton will pass Butler soon.
 
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Villanova trending up. Would love to see them ranked in the teens and with a top 5 seed come March.

What's their ceiling? And yes I know their ceiling entails a W vs UConn
 
Villanova trending up. Would love to see them ranked in the teens and with a top 5 seed come March.

What's their ceiling? And yes I know their ceiling entails a W vs UConn
They're not an athletic team and they're not deep but their starting 5 is really good and they play the right way. They actually remind me of a less athletic/less talented version of some of Jay Wright's really good teams.

Tournament team for sure, IMO. I think their ceiling is in the 20-25 range of top 25.
 
Butler-St. John’s on now. Butler up 4 with a few to play before half. I know Butler is solid, but the Johnnies just don’t look great right now
 
Butler-St. John’s on now. Butler up 4 with a few to play before half. I know Butler is solid, but the Johnnies just don’t look great right now
It was a drag for the first 15 minutes but really fun to end the half. Feels like both teams need this one
 
Butler-St. John’s on now. Butler up 4 with a few to play before half. I know Butler is solid, but the Johnnies just don’t look great right now

It is just one half and it is a road game for St. Johns, but you can see the talent difference and yet it is a tie game at the half.

If Ejiofor was on Butler, they would be 13-2 right now and ranked in the Top 15. The surrounding cast and style SJU plays actually make him worse.
 
Bryce Hopkins is the most unlikable player in the Big East. Does anyone disagree?
 
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Butler-St. John’s on now. Butler up 4 with a few to play before half. I know Butler is solid, but the Johnnies just don’t look great right now
Pitino made a terrible calculation thinking he could turn one of these guys into a point guard but their other major problem is Sanon and Ian Jackson suck. The whole team is a waste of money besides Zuby.
 
If St. Johns focuses on defense, they are going to win. They are so much more athletic than Butler.

Edit: Ajayi picked up 4th foul. There is no excuse for St. Johns not winning by 10+.
 
Butler seems to have come apart at the seams the last few minutes. Playing too fast on the offensive end and foul trouble on their big man keeps him from playing too aggressively on defense
 
Butler seems to have come apart at the seams the last few minutes. Playing too fast on the offensive end and foul trouble on their big man keeps him from playing too aggressively on defense
18 turnovers, 10 this half. It’s killing them
 
So what 4 teams do you predict or want to make it. I prefer:
1. The Good guys obviously and with no BE losses
2. Nova Seems as though they'll play close to their best consistently, and have enough talent to beat a better team
3. St Johns-If Pitino lives up to his reputation and the talent rises to the top, can be dangerous in the tourney. Afraid they'll have more WTF losses though.
4. Seton Hall-This is a Holloway pick, loved what he did in tourney with St Petes, and in NIT with the Hall when they could have had their heads down. Best competitor besides Hurley of the BE Coaches, in my opinion
 
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So what 4 teams do you predict or want to make it. I prefer:
1. The Good guys obviously and with no BE losses
2. Nova Seems as though they'll play close to their best consistently, and have enough talent to beat a better team
3. St Johns-If Pitino lives up to his reputation and the talent rises to the top, can be dangerous in the tourney. Afraid they'll have more WTF losses though.
4. Seton Hall-This is a Holloway pick, loved what he did in tourney with St Petes, and in NIT with the Hall when they could have had their heads down. Best competitor besides Hurley of the BE Coaches, in my opinion
Nova - league always better when they're good
SHU - hard not to pull for the little engine
I would love it if StJ didn't get in.
 
Nova: good rival to UConn as long as they’re always second 😉
Hall: RuffRuff explained it
Butler: No ill will for them, I want them to be good

St. John’s has basically lost all grace for me talking trash and now dragging the conference down.
 
My hope is 5 right now. UConn, Nova, St. John’s, Hall, and I think Creighton works their way in. I’d love for Butler to make the tourney, but I don’t see it right now
 
Depaul/Georgetown is fun to watch, but I wouldn't call it quality basketball.

Edit: I think KJ Lewis kind of sucks.

Edit #2: Depaul plays with their head all the way up their butt a lot of the time.
 
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We have some very offensively challenged teams in this conference.
 
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georgetown.jpg
 
Isaiah Abraham almost had a 12 trillion. No field goal attempts in 12 minutes, and no rebounds or assists either. Managed a steal and a foul.
 
Isaiah Abraham almost had a 12 trillion. No field goal attempts in 12 minutes, and no rebounds or assists either. Managed a steal and a foul.
Not pretty, but it looks like he's put up ok numbers for Gtown thus far. 6.6pt on 50% shooting ain't too shabby. Not much of a game changer, has a role player mentality. Safe to say he probably wasn't UConn DNA.
 
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