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Message: [QUOTE="tcf15, post: 4408324, member: 208"] [SIZE=6]Big East Players in [/SIZE][URL='https://theathletic.com/3679022/2022/10/19/marcus-sasser-mike-miles-nick-smith-cbb-best-guards/?source=user_shared_article'][B][SIZE=6]Top 20 Guards[/SIZE][/B][/URL] [B]18. Jared Bynum | 5-10 lead | [URL='https://staging2.theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/providence-friars-college-basketball/']Providence[/URL][/B] One of the most clutch players returning to college basketball this season, Bynum hit big shot after big shot during last season’s magical Providence season that saw them win 12 games by five or fewer points or in overtime. But for the Friars to win the Big East again, Bynum will need to take on an even bigger role with the graduation of five senior starters. Having reloaded in the backcourt with transfers in sharpshooter Noah Locke and two-way guard Devin Carter, Ed Cooley will rely on the stability and toughness of Bynum to get Providence to where it wants to go in 2023. [B]Five breakout guards to watch Trey Alexander | 6-4 combo | Creighton[/B] Alexander was huge to close the season for Creighton after Ryan Nembhard’s injury, averaging 12 points, four rebounds and four assists per game in the team’s last 10 games. Alexander will shift back off the ball with Nembhard back, and will be allowed to try to wreak havoc with his athleticism and energy in transition. The 6-4 guard is also a killer defender who follows in the footsteps of great [URL='https://staging2.theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/creighton-bluejays-college-basketball/']Bluejays[/URL] guards like Ty-Shon Alexander. He’ll get the toughest assignment every night, score double-figures, help with the offensive distribution, and almost be the glue guy for a team that I’m very high on in 2023. [B]Six freshmen who could swing their team’s season Mark Armstrong | 6-1 combo | [URL='https://staging2.theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/villanova-wildcats-college-basketball/']Villanova[/URL][/B] How Villanova adjusts to [URL='https://theathletic.com/3665149/2022/10/06/villanova-kyle-neptune-jay-wright/']a new era under Kyle Neptune[/URL] is one of the most interesting stories in college basketball this season. Undeniably, a big part of that will be finding scoring and efficient offense, especially with star wing Cam Whitmorehaving fractured his thumb early. Caleb Daniels is a good two-way guard, but can he consistently be the No. 1 option? Armstrong being able to handle the point would be huge for them. Typically, Nova doesn’t trust freshmen, and Armstrong isn’t exactly the traditional two-foot, jump-stop, balanced kind of guard. He’s an electric open-floor athlete who is score-first, a creative ballhandler and attack-oriented. If he can handle the duties at some point, Nova’s upside is much higher. If not, it’ll be guys like Angelo Brizzi and Chris Arcidiacono. [B]Desmond Claude | 6-5 lead | Xavier[/B] Scouts who have been to Xavier have been extremely excited about Claude, an enormous 6-5 guard who will be physically ready to play college basketball from the jump despite his high school ranking being right around the No. 100 mark according to most recruiting services. He can shoot from distance off the catch as well as drive all the way to the rim and power through contact to finish. He and Colby Jones should combine well for the [URL='https://staging2.theathletic.com/college-basketball/team/xavier-musketeers-college-basketball/']Musketeers[/URL] sharing on-ball responsibilities, allowing them to present opposing teams with enormous mismatch nightmares as both are in the 6-foot-5-plus neighborhood. If he’s as ready to go as scouts think, Xavier should be a top-three team in the Big East and get back to the NCAA Tournament in Sean Miller’s first year. [/QUOTE]

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