In the hours after star center Angel Delgado announced plans to return for his senior year, the question popped up over and over: Just how good can Seton Hall basketball be next season?

With an accomplished group of seniors on a mission to win big next March, even head coach Kevin Willard talked in historic terms Monday.

“They’re excited to get back out there and be a tremendous group,” Willard said via phone. “They’re going to all graduate and be some of the best players who ever played at Seton Hall. It’s exciting for them and exciting for the university.”

With the meat of everyone’s roster set for next season, here is our projection at how Seton Hall stacks up in the Big East heading into 2017-18:

Dick Vitale's coming to Red Bank with a message

1. Villanova. King of the mountain until proven otherwise. With All-American candidate Jalen Brunson in the backcourt, rising star Donte DiVincenzo on the wing and impact newcomer Omari Spellman inside, plus Jay Wright at the helm, it will awfully tough to prove otherwise.

2. Seton Hall: If Khadeen Carrington makes a smooth transition to point guard (no easy task), this is a Sweet 16 team. Even if he doesn’t, there’s still enough experience, balance and depth for a huge season. Will fans turn out to the Rock?

3. Xavier: The nucleus is excellent with Trevon Bluiett, J.P. Macura and Quentin Goodin back after leading an Elite Eight charge. Mix in the league’s top recruiting class and the Musketeers should contend in the upper tier.

4. Providence: The core of an NCAA Tournament team returns, led by inside-outside studs Rodney Bullock and Kyron Cartwright. Add the conference’s No. 2 recruiting class and he Friars are poised to challenge anyone.

5. Creighton: Marcus Foster will be an all-league force, joining Khyri Thomas in a strong backcourt. A quality three-man recruiting class will help, too. There are questions up front, but it’s hard to imagine this rock-solid program falling far.

6. Butler: Three of the top seven players return off the league’s second-place squad. Kelan Martin is an all-league talent and Kamar Baldwin had a fine freshman year, but there are holes to fill. The Bulldogs usually find a way.

7. St. John’s: This roster is brimming with talent. Backcourt mates Shamorie Ponds and Marcus LoVett are worth the price of admission. Four other key contributors return from a 7-11 Big East finish, and frosh Sid Wilson should help.

8. Marquette: There’s little difference between teams 5-8 here, so the Golden Eagles could finish in the upper half. Four of their top seven are back, but they lack a proven star — though Markus Howard had an excellent freshman year.

9. Georgetown: The Patrick Ewing experiment should be fascinating, but year one will not be pretty. Between his inexperience, the roster turnover and how badly last season train-wrecked, the Hoyas are in DePaul’s sights.

10. DePaul: Owner of the basement until proven otherwise. Help is on the way with five-star 2018 point guard Tyger Campbell. For now, it’s Eli Cain and a bunch of dudes.

Staff Writer Jerry Carino: jcarino@gannettnj.com.