With the departures of NCAA champion coach Rick Pitino and Jim Boeheim, Butler’s Brad Stevens now takes over as the head man with the most impressive resume. Stevens led the Bulldogs to back-to-back NCAA championship game appearances in 2010 and ’11. It’s hard to imagine one of his team’s finishing in the bottom division of any league, but, hey, somebody will have to. Butler lost some key pieces in Rotnei Clarke and Andrew Smith, their two leading scorers, as well as Chase Stigall. Butler returns junior forward Roosevelt Jones (10.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg), senior forward Khyle Marshall (9.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and sophomore guard Kellen Dunham (9.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg). This will be the Bulldogs’ third different league in three years; two years ago they were in the Horizon League. After spending one in the A-10, it will be interesting to see how they make the jump to the Big East.

8. PROVIDENCE (19-15, 9-9 Big East) The Friars made a late run last season, going 9-4 in their final 13 games and reaching the NIT quarterfinals where they lost to eventual champ Baylor. Point guard Vincent Council is gone to the NBA Draft, as is scoring sensation Ricky Ledo, who never suited up last season due to eligibility issues. But the Friars return senior guard Bryce Cotton (19.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg), an All-Big East first-team selection a year ago; senior forward Kadeem Batts (14.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg), an honorable mention honoree; and junior forward LaDontae Henton (13.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg). Kris Dunn and Josh Fortune are now sophomores and have a year of experience under their belts. The Friars also add transfers Tyler Harris and Carson Desrosiers to incoming players Brandon Austin and Rodney Bullock. Austin recently went for 91 points in an all-star game. The Friars made a late run last season, going 9-4 in their final 13 games and reaching the NIT quarterfinals where they lost to eventual champ Baylor. Point guardis gone to the NBA Draft, as is scoring sensation, who never suited up last season due to eligibility issues. But the Friars return senior guard(19.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg), an All-Big East first-team selection a year ago; senior forward(14.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg), an honorable mention honoree; and junior forward(13.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg).andare now sophomores and have a year of experience under their belts. The Friars also add transfersandto incoming playersand. Austin recently went for 91 points in an all-star game.

Aquille Carr and Jerron Wilbut ran into legal difficulties, and Carr ultimately opted to play professionally overseas. Aaron Cosby, the team’s second-leading scorer (12.6 ppg), Patrik Auda, Gene Teague, Brandon Mobley and Brian Oliver, who were all hampered by injury last season. Senior Fuquan Edwin (16.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) remains the best player on the team after earning Big East honorable mention status last season. Coach Kevin Willard is placing great faith in the young and unproven backcourt of Texas transfer Sterling Gibbs and New Jersey native Jaren Sina to run the show. Not much went right for the Pirates last season, when it seemed virtually everyone on their roster went down with some kind of injury. Since last season ended, not much has gone right, either. Recruitsandran into legal difficulties, and Carr ultimately opted to play professionally overseas.the team’s second-leading scorer (12.6 ppg), transferred to Illinois and promising, yet under-performing big man Kevin Johnson is also out the door . The good news for the Pirates is that they should get everyone back healthy this year, including bigs, who were all hampered by injury last season. Senior(16.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg) remains the best player on the team after earning Big East honorable mention status last season. Coachis placing great faith in the young and unproven backcourt of Texas transferand New Jersey nativeto run the show.

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TOP INCOMING BIG EAST RECRUITS

*** SNY ALL-BIG EAST PRESEASON TEAM Preseason Player of the Year Doug McDermott, Sr. F, Creighton Preseason All-Big East First Team D’Angelo Harrison, Jr. G, St. John’s Bryce Cotton, Sr. G., Providence Semaj Christon, So. G, Xavier Davante Gardner, Sr. F., Marquette JaKarr Sampson, So. F, St. John’s Preseason All-Big East Second Team Ryan Arcidiacono, So. G, Villanova Markel Starks, Sr. G., Georgetown Fuquan Edwin, Sr. G/F, Seton Hall Kadeem Batts, Jr. F, Providence JayVaughn Pinkston, Jr. F, Villanova Preseason All-Big East Third Team D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, So. G, Georgetown Rysheed Jordan, Fr. G., St. John’s Jamil Wilson, Sr. F, Marquette Cleveland Melvin, Sr. F, DePaul Chris Obekpa, So. F., St. John’s Preseason All-Rookie Team Rysheed Jordan, G, St. John’s JaJuan Johnson, G, Marquette Deonte Burton, F, Marquette Brandon Austin, F, Providence Aleksandar “Aleks” Vezenkov, F, Xavier Per ESPNU Top 100: 17. PG Rysheed Jordan, St. John’s 27. SG JaJuan Johnson, Marquette 39. SF Deonte Burton, Marquette 53. PG Duane Wilson, Marquette 56. SF Brandon Austin, Providence 63. SF Reggie Cameron, Georgetown 73. PF Kris Jenkins, Villanova 89. PG Brandon Randolph, Xavier 91. PG Jaren Sina, Seton Hall 92. SF Josh Hart, Villanova 94. PG Billy Garrett, Jr. DePaulDoug McDermott, Sr. F, CreightonD’Angelo Harrison, Jr. G, St. John’s Bryce Cotton, Sr. G., Providence Semaj Christon, So. G, Xavier Davante Gardner, Sr. F., Marquette JaKarr Sampson, So. F, St. John’sRyan Arcidiacono, So. G, Villanova Markel Starks, Sr. G., Georgetown Fuquan Edwin, Sr. G/F, Seton HallJayVaughn Pinkston, Jr. F, VillanovaD’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, So. G, Georgetown Rysheed Jordan, Fr. G., St. John’s Jamil Wilson, Sr. F, MarquetteChris Obekpa, So. F., St. John’sRysheed Jordan, G, St. John’s JaJuan Johnson, G, Marquette Deonte Burton, F, Marquette Brandon Austin, F, Providence Aleksandar “Aleks” Vezenkov, F, Xavier

This post was updated on June 18 to reflect the news of the torn ACL suffered by Georgetown’s.***This isn’t your father’s Big East Conference. The Big East Conference of 2013-14 won’t have traditional Final Four contenders Syracuse and Louisville. The Jimmy and Ricky Show has moved on to a Denny’s somewhere near Greensboro (will have to wait until Louisville joins the ACC in 2014 for that). Six other schools — Cincinnati, UConn, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh Rutgers and USF — are also gone. Enter Butler, Creighton and Xavier to the new 10-team Big East that managed to keep the conference name and the postseason tournament at Madison Square Garden when it broke off with the football schools.Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about the new league, including a Preseason Top 10, Preseason All-Big East Team and a list of Recruits to Watch.Outside of Louisville and Syracuse, no Big East team has had more postseason success in recent years thanand Marquette, who finally broke through to the Elite Eight last year, where they lost to Syracuse, 55-39. The Golden Eagles lostandbut return some experienced and tough pieces in(11.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg)(9.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and(5.3 ppg).(5.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg) received a waiver for a sixth year of eligibility. Watch out for 6-7 sophomore forward., who is coming off right knee surgery but could emerge as a big-time player. Marquette’s five-man recruiting class is ranked No. 11 overall by ESPN.com, and first in the Big East.Coachhas arguably the most talented roster of his four-year tenure and the pressure will be on him and the Johnnies to live up to the hype and help carry the flag for the new Big East without Syracuse, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame. Junior guard, the team’s leading scorer at 17.8 ppg, is expected to work his way back onto the team after being suspended March 1 , and all eyes will be on his maturity level., the reigning Big East Rookie of the Year, also returns with his 14.9 ppg and 6.6 rpg as he attempts to build his NBA profile.brings his 4.0 blocks per game back for his sophomore season, and he will be joined up front by, a 6-9 senior forward from the Dominican who was given a waiver to play this season . The Johnnies bring in talented Philly combo guardThe loss of 6-8 forward(12.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg) to an ACL injury could be a huge blow for the Hoyas, who already lostto the NBA Draft Lottery. Still, Georgetown returns a solid core, including senior point guard(12.8 ppg, 3.0 apg), sophomore off guard(8.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg), senior forward(7.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg), junior center(5.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and junior guard(5.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg). Sophomore forwardand freshmanwill likely play larger roles in Whittington’s absence. also expects UCLA transfer Josh Smith (5.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg) to suit up , although it is unclear when he will debut.Like Butler,and Xavier are making the jump to the Big East from the Atlantic 10 Conference. Sophomore guard, the team’s leading scorer at 15.2 ppg with 4.6 apg, returns, as does junior guard(8.2 ppg, 3.4 apg) and senior forward(7.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg). The Musketeers also add some nice pieces in 6-10who averaged 11.4 ppg and 6.8 rpg at Western Michigan in 2011-12, and 6-8a Bulgarian who never signed a pro contract with his Greek pro team. New Jersey sharpshooter, a 6-1 guard, a 6-9 forwardare both eligible after the NCAA declared both ineligible last season.Sophomore point guard(11.5 ppg, 3.5 apg) has now been through the Big East blender once around and should also gain some valuable experience this summer playing with the U.S. U19 team . Junior forwardof Brooklyn (13.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg) has all the tools to become an All-Big East first-team player and this could be his breakout year. The Wildcats also return junior guard(11.4 ppg) and senior guard(8.6 ppg).team adds some nice pieces in Rice transfer, who averaged 8.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg two years ago, and incoming 6-5 power forwardand 6-4 small forward, both ranked in the ESPN 100.It will be interesting to see how a team from the Missouri Valley adapts to playing in the rough-and-tumble Big East, but the Bluejays may have shown their colors when they eliminated a tough Cincinnati team from the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Duke in the second.had 27 points and 11 rebounds in the Cincinnati game, and when he opted to remain on campus instead of entering the NBA Draft , he automatically became the Big East Preseason Player of the Year. Aside from McDermott (23.2 pgg, 7.7 rpg), the Bluejays return senior forward(7.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg), junior point guard(7.4 ppg, 4.2 apg and senior guard(5.9 ppg, 2.3 apg). Senior guard(8.5 ppg, 5.8 apg) is petitioning the NCAA for an extra year, and 6-2 JUCO guardof New York is expected to make an impact after averaging 15.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.6 apg, 1.8 spg at Iowa Western . Creighton has also stepped up its recruiting efforts in the Northeast with the hiring of former UConn assistant, and it will be interesting to see if they can land players from Big East territory.It’s DePaul, really, what is there to say? Five players transferred in the off-season. Senior guard(16.7 ppg) and senior forward(16.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg) return as the leading scorers and junior G/F(8.7 ppg) comes back after battling injuries.a 6-9 freshman center, has battled injuries and weight problems but is a talent when motivated. Top-100 recruit. leads the incoming recruits, and will see immediate playing time, along with Oak Hill’s