The Big East only sent three teams to the NCAA Tournament last season, a drop off from five in 2025. However, the Big East still had a team, Connecticut, in the National Championship game for the third time in the last four years. The Huskies started this year ranked fourth in the AP Poll, with St. John’s ranked No. 13 to join them, while the Villanova Wildcats received six votes.
As the Red Storm look to repeat as conference champions, the Huskies look to get back to the title game and the DePaul Blue Demons and Marquette Golden Eagles will hope to turn heads as we head into a new college basketball season.
Here is the biggest news around the conference heading into its 48th season.
Butler Bulldogs
Key Additions: Mississippi transfer Eduardo Klafke (junior guard), North Dakota State transfer Treyson Anderson (junior forward), Asim Djulovic (junior forward)
Key Departures: Michael Ajayi (forward, NBA), Finley Bizjack (guard, West Virginia), Jamie Kaiser Jr. (guard/forward, Richmond)
Key Returners: Drayton Jones (6.3 ppg), Jalen Jackson (Missed most of last season with ankle injury)
The Bulldogs have a completely new look for the season led by first-year head coach Ronald Nored. After losing their top two scorers from a year ago, including Ajayi, a first-team All-Big East honoree, they will need a lot of production from their transfers. The Bulldogs will get returning starter Jackson back from a season-ending injury, who will look to bring the veteran presence on the squad along with Jones. Although the Dawgs finished with a disappointing 7-13 record in the Big East last year, they will look to improve with a defensive mindset and go to the dance for the first time since 2019.
Connecticut Huskies
Key Additions: Wofford transfer Nils Machowski (senior guard), Duke transfer Nik Khamenia (sophomore forward), Seton Hall transfer Na’jai Hines (sophomore center), Colben Landrew (first-year forward, 247sports No. 26)
Key Departures: Alex Karaban (forward, NBA), Tarris Reed Jr. (center, NBA), Eric Reibe (center, Southern California)
Key Returners: Braylon Mullins (12.0 ppg), Silas Demary Jr. (10.1 ppg)
The Huskies are fresh off a National Championship appearance, and boast the Big East Preseason Player of the Year in Demary Jr. and bring back the player who sent them to the Final Four in Mullins. They open the season ranked fourth in the country. Head coach Dan Hurley brought in seven transfers in the offseason, including prized Duke transfer Khamenia. The Huskies bring back three starters from last season. However, senior guard Solo Ball had season-ending wrist surgery and will be a medical redshirt for the 2026-27 season, with Big East Preseason Freshman of the Year Landrew looking to fill his absence. The Huskies went 17-3 in the Big East — 34-6 overall — and lost to St. John’s in the Big East Championship game last season. Look for them to be back in the same spot they were last year.
Creighton Bluejays
Key Additions: Murray State transfer Fredrick King (fifth-year center), Oakland transfer Brody Robinson (fifth-year guard), South Florida transfer Wes Enis (senior guard), San Diego State transfer BJ Davis (senior guard)
Key Departures: Blake Harper (guard, VCU), Fedor Zugic (guard, Santa Clara)
Key Returners: Jasen Green (10.5 ppg), Jackson McAndrew (6.8 ppg)
For the first time since the 2009-10 season, the Creighton Bluejays will not have Greg McDermott leading them. McDermott retired at the end of the 2026 season, after leading the program to ten NCAA tournaments, one Elite Eight appearance and two Missouri Valley championships. New head coach Alan Huss retooled the roster with mostly upperclassmen transfers, led by Enis and Davis, who hope to bring the Bluejays back to the NCAA tournament after missing last year. Huss led the High Point Panthers to the NCAA Tournament in 2024-25. The Bluejays should be back to Big East contention under the new regime this season.
DePaul Blue Demons
Key Additions: Fresno State transfer Wilson Jacques (junior center), Tulsa transfer Ade Popoola (fifth-year guard), UTRGV transfer Koree Cotton (senior guard), Wofford transfer Kahmare Holmes (junior guard)
Key Departures: CJ Gunn (guard, Missouri), NJ Benson (forward, 11.7 ppg), Brandon Maclin (guard, 10.5 ppg)
Key Returners: Layden Blocker (11.1 ppg)
The Blue Demons have only improved under head coach Chris Holtmann and are poised to do so again in 2026-27. Holtmann brought back two of his top three scorers from a season ago, and brought in two starting transfers in Popoola and Cotton. With veteran presence and new pieces, the Blue Demons seek to improve on an 8-12 conference record and finish over .500 in the Big East for the first time since 2006-07, and with a winning record for the first time since 2018-19.
Georgetown Hoyas
Key Additions: Florida Atlantic transfer Josiah Parker (sophomore forward), Kentucky transfer Jaland Lowe (senior guard), Oklahoma State transfer Vyctorius Miller (junior guard), Kansas transfer Elmarko Jackson (junior guard), College of Charleston transfer Chol Machot (junior center)
Key Departures: KJ Lewis (guard, Southern California), Malik Mack (guard, Providence)
Key Returners: Vince Iwuchukwu (11.9 ppg), Caleb Williams (8.8 ppg)
The Georgetown Hoyas had a poor 2025-26 season, finishing last in the Big East. This is the fourth season for former Providence head coach Ed Cooley, and he has a completely different starting squad than he did last year after losing his top two scorers. Headlined by Kentucky transfer Lowe, the new Hoyas will look to have a strong season around returning junior forward Williams and make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2020-21.
Marquette Golden Eagles
Key Additions: St. Thomas transfer Nolan Minessale (junior guard), Louisville transfer Sananda Fru (senior forward)
Key Departures: Zaide Lowery (guard, Dayton), Sean Jones (guard, Toledo)
Key Returners: Nigel James Jr. (16.4 ppg), Adrien Stevens (7.9 ppg)
2026 Big East Freshman of the Year Nigel James Jr. is back for his sophomore season for the Golden Eagles. After missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in five years, head coach Shaka Smart brought back his leading scorer along with sophomore guard Stevens. While only bringing in two transfers, they will make a big impact taking over the starting lineup and rounding out a young team. The Golden Eagles can make a surprise run in New York City and will be back to their contending ways in the Big East in 2026-27.
Providence Friars
Key Additions: Florida Atlantic transfer Devin Vanterpool (redshirt junior guard), Buffalo transfer Ryan Sabol (senior guard), Georgetown transfer Malik Mack (senior guard), San Diego State transfer Miles Byrd (graduate guard), Javon Bardwell (first-year forward, 247sports No. 33)
Key Departures: Stefan Vaaks (guard, Illinois), Jason Edwards (guard, 16.5 ppg), Jamier Jones (guard, Missouri)
Key Returners: Ryan Mela (9.9 ppg)
After losing standout first-year Stefan Vaaks, the Friars brought in new head coach Bryan Hodgson. Hodgson was successful in the transfer portal, as the Friars pulled in the second-highest transfer class in the Big East — led by Mack and Byrd. Mela, the lone returner in the starting lineup, looks to right the ship for a team that finished 7-13 in the Big East in 2025-26 and hopes to get back to the NCAA Tournament with a new head coach.
Seton Hall Pirates
Key Additions: Radford transfer Del Jones (junior guard), Dartmouth transfer Kareem Thomas (junior guard), Bowling Green transfer Mayar Wol (senior forward), Loyola Marymount transfer Rodney Brown (senior guard)
Key Departures: Adam Clark (guard, Mississippi), Tajuan Simpkins (guard, Mississippi State)
Key Returners: Elijah Fisher (6.6 ppg), Trey Parker (4.3 ppg)
2025-26 Big East Coach of the Year Shaheen Holloway has been nothing but positive for the Pirates. Despite bringing in nine transfers, Holloway’s transfer class is ranked at tenth in the Big East, but the transfers will still make big impacts. The Pirates finished fourth in the Big East last season following a dismal 7-25 campaign in 2024-25 and an NIT title in 2023-24. The Pirates are ready for another solid season with key transfers Jones and Brown leading the charge. Seton Hall looks to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Holloway — who took Saint Peter’s to the regional final in 2022.
St. John’s Red Storm
Key Additions: Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou (sophomore guard), Auburn transfer Keyshawn Hall (graduate forward), Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman (junior forward)
Key Departures: Zuby Ejiofor (forward, NBA), Bryce Hopkins (forward, NBA), Dillon Mitchell (forward, NBA)
Key Returners: Ian Jackson (9.4 ppg)
Rick Pitino led the Red Storm to a Big East championship in 2025-26 and only their third NCAA tournament since 2018-19. The departure of Big East Player of the Year Ejiofor leaves big shoes to fill for the Johnnies, but transfers Yessoufou and Hall are ready for the challenge. Hall helped lead Auburn to an NIT championship a year ago and hopes to take the Red Storm to their first Final Four since 1985. The Johnnies open the year ranked No. 13 in the country after a 30-7 record — including a 18-2 mark in the Big East and a regional semifinal appearance.
Villanova Wildcats
Key Additions: St. Bonaventure transfer Darryl Simmons II (senior guard), Illinois-Chicago transfer Elijah Crawford (junior guard), Ohio State transfer Devin Royal (senior forward), Oregon transfer Kwame Evans Jr. (senior forward), Cornell transfer Jake Fiegen (graduate guard)
Key Departures: Duke Brennan (forward, Oklahoma), Acaden Lewis (guard, Miami), Devin Askew (guard 9.8 ppg)
Key Returners: Tyler Perkins (13.7 ppg), Matt Hodge (9.2 ppg)
Second-year head coach Kevin Willard led the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament in his first season with the program and has them ready to repeat that success in 2026-27. Bringing in a strong transfer class led by Crawford and Royal, the new-look Wildcats will look to improve on their third place finish in the Big East and get out of the first weekend in March.
Xavier Musketeers
Key Additions: Alabama-Birmingham transfer Chance Westry (senior guard), Louisiana State transfer Mike Nwoko (senior forward), Miami transfer Tru Washington (senior guard), Southern Illinois transfer Rolyns Aligbe (junior forward)
Key Departures: Tre Carroll (forward, 17.8 ppg), Malik Messina-Moore (guard, Illinois State), Roddie Anderson (guard, Seton Hall)
Key Returners: Jovan Milicevic (12.4 ppg)
The Musketeers failed to make the NCAA tournament in head coach Richard Pitino’s first season at the helm, and finished tenth in the Big East after an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025. The Musketeers lost All-Big East first team Carroll in the offseason, and with the fourth-ranked transfer class in the Big East, Pitino has the Musketeers ready to bounce back this season. Milicevic returns to the squad and he will get help from transfers Westry and Washington to get the Musketeers back in the Big East championship chase.