Before they merge to become the best basketball conference known to mankind, the members of the expanded Big East will have to regain their bearings following a tumultuous offseason of NBA departures, staff changes and superstar graduations.
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| Kevin Willard opted for a promotion at Louisville over a top job elsewhere. (Getty Images) |
Cincinnati
Early departures: None. Don't believe the rumor about Roy Bright transferring.
Graduating contributors: Nick Williams was the Bearcats' only reliable 3-point shooter, but he's more replaceable than Jason Maxiell, who finished with more than 1,500 points and 900 rebounds.
Staff turnover: At one point it looked like Bob Huggins might have to replace his entire staff, but faces just one potential departure: Keith LeGree, who is suspended after his arrest on charges of DWI. Huggins doesn't want to part ways with LeGree, a former player, but the decision could be made for him.
Immediate outlook: Huggins is bringing in his best recruiting class in years, but interior depth will again be a problem. Betting against Huggins is a bad move.
Connecticut
Early departures: Sophomore Charlie Villanueva is gone to the NBA, and guard Antonio Kellogg surely will be given the boot after his second arrest in recent weeks.
Graduating contributors: None.
Staff turnover: None.
Immediate outlook: You could make an argument for UConn as the country's preseason No. 1 team.
DePaul
Early departures: None.
Graduating contributors: Quemont Greer and Drake Diener were the team's top scorers, and LeVar Seals was fourth. That's a big hit.
Staff turnover: No one has left, but coach Dave Leitao soon might have to decide between Virginia and DePaul. If Leitao leaves, watch for DePaul to make a run at Manhattan's Bobby Gonzalez.
Immediate outlook: Next year will be difficult either way -- but losing Leitao would be an absolutely awful way for DePaul to enter the Big East.
Georgetown
Early departures: Brandon Bowman has entered the draft. If he listens to scouts, it's unlikely he'll stay in the draft.
Graduating contributors: Darrel Owens was a decent shooter and solid ball-handler, but is replaceable.
Staff turnover: None.
Immediate outlook: If Bowman returns, this is a 2006 NCAA Tournament team.
Louisville
Early departures: Junior Francisco Garcia has entered the NBA Draft, and Rick Pitino won't be surprised if two recruits -- centers Amir Johnson and Clarence Holloway -- do the same. Backup wing Lorrenzo Wade is considering a transfer.
Graduating contributors: Larry O'Bannon and Ellis Myles were rocks on the Final Four team.
Staff turnover: Assistant Reggie Theus left to become New Mexico State's head coach. With Kevin Willard choosing a promotion to associate coach over the top job at Eastern Kentucky, Pitino's staff could stay mostly intact.
Immediate outlook: No 2005-06 Big East team will have endured more offseason upheaval than Louisville ... but none is bringing in a better recruiting class. All those new faces make the Cardinals hard to predict, but suffice it to say they will be fine.
Marquette
Early departures: None.
Graduating contributors: Travis Diener was one of the most accomplished players in Conference USA history, with 1,691 points and 617 assists. Marcus Jackson and Todd Townsend were underrated players whose contributions will be missed.
Staff turnover: None, though assistant Jeff Strohm pursued Fresno State.
Immediate outlook: Not great. Tom Crean has recruited well, but it'll be tough to win in the Big East in 2005-06 with a freshman-dominated team.
Notre Dame
Early departures: Center Torin Francis entered the draft on Thursday. If he goes ... uh-oh.
Graduating contributors: Chris Thomas is one of three players in Division I history with 2,000 points and 800 assists. Forward Jordan Cornette wasn't nearly as flashy, but he was a vital defensive presence.
Staff turnover: None, though Mike Brey could -- possibly -- be on Virginia's radar.
Immediate outlook: Brey has a good freshman class. Not sure if good's going to be good enough for a 2006 NCAA bid.
Pittsburgh
Early departures: Center Chris Taft is gone for good to the NBA, and point guard Carl Krauser might not be far behind.
Graduating contributors: Without Chevy Troutman, the Panthers will lose their top three scorers if Krauser stays in the draft. Mark McCarroll is replaceable.
Staff turnover: None.
Immediate outlook: If you've got stock in Pitt basketball, now's the time to sell.
Providence
Early departures: None besides guard Gerald Brown, who left in midseason and is having a hard time finding a destination.
Graduating contributors: Ryan Gomes was the school's No. 1 scorer (2,138) and No. 5 rebounder (1,028). Tuukka Kotti was unsung but valuable.
Staff turnover: Assistant coach Phil Seymore left to become the Friars' head women's coach.
Immediate outlook: Not good. Look for the Friars to finish in the teens.
Rutgers
Early departures: Backup guard Manny Quezada is transferring. Not a big loss.
Graduating contributors: Ricky Shields never got much hype, but he finished as the No. 8 scorer in Rutgers history. Juel Wiggan was the sixth man.
Staff turnover: Rutgers coach Gary Waters upgraded his staff by replacing Garland Mance with Villanova's Fred Hill.
Immediate outlook: Hill's magic won't come until later. Next season? Put it this way: Those freshmen better be good.
St. John's
Early departures: None, with Daryll Hill wisely putting off the NBDL.
Graduating contributors: None.
Staff turnover: None.
Immediate outlook: Better than last season, but not great. If the Red Storm break the top 10 -- of the Big East, not the country -- Norm Roberts is the coach of the year.
Seton Hall
Early departures: A year from now, someone will wonder: Whatever happened to J.R. Morris? Someone will say he entered the 2005 NBA Draft. Someone will sigh.
Graduating contributors: With Morris gone and Andre Sweet and John Allen out of eligibility, Seton Hall loses three of its top four in scoring and rebounding.
Staff turnover: Louis Orr's best east coast recruiter, Brian Nash, is the new coach at St. Francis (N.Y.). Orr tried to replace him with Fred Hill, but Hill's a Rutgers guy.
Immediate outlook: This could be a long, long season for Seton Hall.
South Florida
Early departures: None.
Graduating contributors: Terrence Leather, Brian Swift and Maryln Bryant were the best three players on last season's team. And last season's team went 5-11 in Conference USA.
Staff turnover: None.
Immediate outlook: The race for last place in the Big East begins with USF in pole position.
Syracuse
Early departures: Don't expect talented-but-troubled Billy Edelin to darken Jim Boeheim's doorstep again. Also headed out the door could be one Wright, and possibly both: Josh and Dayshawn, Grade-A busts last season as freshmen.
Graduating contributors: Hakim Warrick is gone after finishing fourth all-time at Syracuse in points (2,073) and rebounds (1,025). Two other contributors from the Orange's 2003 national champion, Josh Pace and Craig Forth, also are out of eligibility.
Staff turnover: None, though Mike Hopkins was unfairly rumored to be the leading candidate for every job east of the Mississippi. Hopkins is a candidate to replace Boeheim ... way down the road.
Immediate outlook: Syracuse won't fall off the face of the Earth as long as Boeheim is around. With a strong couple of freshmen coming in, the Orange will linger around the top third of the league.
Villanova
Early NBA departures: None, though don't be surprised if at least one of the Wildcats' excellent juniors enters the 2005 draft without hiring an agent.
Graduating contributors: None of note.
Staff turnover: Losing stud recruiter Fred Hill will hurt later, not sooner.
Immediate outlook: If all those juniors become seniors and Jason Fraser stays healthy, this is one of the best two or three teams in the Big East -- if not the country.
West Virginia
Early departures: None.
Graduating contributors: Tyrone Sally was the leading scorer and D'or Fischer the leading shot-blocker, but this is a program built on a system, not individual talent.
Staff turnover: John Beilein lost his top assistant, Jeff Neubauer, to the head coaching position at Eastern Kentucky.
Immediate outlook: The Mountaineers have enough mojo to stay in the Top 25.
