The Big East is a storied conference with a lot of history in NCAA basketball. This conference saw six teams in the 2021-2022 tournament, and look to have even more teams there this season. Let’s take a look at where the teams currently stand and the big east basketball odds to win the conference.
2021-2022 Regular Season Winner: Providence
2021-2022 Conference Tournament Winner: Villanova
Teams in 2021-2022 Tournament: 6 (Creighton, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, UConn, Villanova)
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Big East Basketball Odds by Team
Butler Bulldogs
2021-2022 Record: 14-19
2021-2022 Finish: Lost in Big East Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Thad Matta
Record at School: 24-8 (1 Year)
Preseason Kenpom Rating: 130
Preseason Conference Media Poll: 8
Key Returners: Chuck Harris, Jayden Taylor, Simas Luksius
Key Newcomers: Manny Bates, Eric Hunter Jr., Ali Ali, Jalen Thomas
Thad Matta returns for a second stint as head coach of the Butler Bulldogs after the team finished 2021-2022 14-19 and 6-14 in Big East Play. He was immediately tasked with replacing several veteran players and seemingly aced his first big test. Butler brings in a fantastic transfer class that includes former NC State postman Manny Bates. On paper, this looks like a bubble team, but Matta can certainly push them to be a tournament team again this year and in years to come.
Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +6000
NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +11000
Creighton Bluejays
2021-2022 Record: 23-12
2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NCAA Second Round
Head Coach: Greg McDermott
Record at School: 276-137
Preseason Kenpom Rating: 22
Preseason Conference Media Poll: 1
Key Returners: Ryan Nembhard, Trey Alexander, Arthur Kaluma, Ryan Kalkbrenner
Key Newcomers: Baylor Scheierman, John Christofilis, Jasen Green, Fredrick King
Creighton is riding the momentum from a surprisingly successful 2021-2022 season. A season in which Greg McDermott led a very young Bluejays team to a 23-12 record and a fourth-place finish in the Big East. Even though McDermott loses two starters, the team should improve over last year with some key players returning. Not to mention, the arrival of Baylor Scheierman, one of the most coveted portal prospects in the country. The Bluejays are the team to beat in the Big East in 2022-2023.
Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +150
NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +2500
DePaul Blue Demons
2021-2022 Record: 15-16
2021-2022 Finish: Lost in Big East First Round
Head Coach: Tony Stubblefield
Record at School: 17-28 (1 Year)
Preseason Kenpom Rating: 88
Preseason Conference Media Poll: 11
Key Returners: Jalen Terry, Javan Johnson, Nick Ongenda
Key Newcomers: Umoja Gibson, Caleb Murphy, Zion Cruz
DePaul will be looking for a new go-to scorer after the departure of Javon Freeman-Liberty. Head coach Tony Stubblefield is counting on that person to come from the transfer portal. The Blue Demons bring in Umoja Gibson from Oklahoma and Caleb Murphy from South Florida to replace Freeman-Liberty and David Jones, DePaul’s two best players in 2021-2022. Even with the addition of touted freshman Zion Cruz, it’s tough to see improvement in 2022-2023 from the Blue Demons.
Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +20000
Georgetown Hoyas
2021-2022 Record: 6-25
2021-2022 Finish: Lost in Big East First Round
Head Coach: Patrick Ewing
Record at School: 68-84 (5 Years)
Preseason Kenpom Rating: 102
Preseason Conference Media Poll: 10
Key Returners: Dante Harris
Key Newcomers: Brandon Murray, Qudus Wahab, Akok Akok, Jay Heath, Primo Spears
Georgetown finished the 2021-2022 season 6-25, going 0-19 in conference play. The Hoyas are riding a 19-game losing streak into this season and have yet to win a game in the 2022 calendar year. Patrick Ewing addressed the abysmal season the only way you can—clean house. The Hoyas bring in a convoy of transfers for 2022-2023 and are set to be much more competitive. Though it may take some time for the new bunch to mesh.
Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +20000
NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +50000
Marquette Golden Eagles
2021-2022 Record: 19-13
2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NCAA First Round
Head Coach: Shaka Smart
Record at School: 19-13 (1 Year)
Preseason Kenpom Rating: 76
Preseason Conference Media Poll: 9
Key Returners: Kam Jones, Tyler Kolek, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Oso Ighodaro
Key Newcomers: Zach Wrightsil, Ben Gold, Sean Jones
Shaka Smart exceeded expectations in year one at Marquette, taking the Golden Eagles to the tournament. This task may be even more difficult in year two as Smart will need to replace 56% of Marquette’s points. Not to mention, nearly half of their rebounding and 3-pointers. The Golden Eagles will count on backups to step into starter roles. Also, for NAIA Loyola New Orleans transfer Zach Wrightsil to have immediate production. Marquette could turn into a dangerous team but are likely to take a step back this season.
Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +4000
NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +16000
Providence Friars
2021-2022 Record: 27-6
2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NCAA Sweet 16
Head Coach: Ed Cooley
Record at School: 221-141 (11 Years)
Preseason Kenpom Rating: 57
Preseason Conference Media Poll: 5
Key Returners: Jared Bynum, Alyn Breed, Ed Croswell
Key Newcomers: Bryce Hoplis, Devin Carter, Noah Locke, Corey Floyd Jr, Clifton Moore
Ed Cooley and his Providence Friars took the college basketball universe by storm last year, going 27-6. They took home the conference regular season title for the first time in program history. That group was led by a gang of veterans, and Cooley was tasked this offseason with replacing them. He did so by bringing in five new transfers and two freshmen. The Friars will have a tough time replicating last season’s results but the buzz around this Providence program is something to behold.
Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +4000
NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +11000
Seton Hall Pirates
2021-2022 Record: 21-11
2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NCAA First Round
Head Coach: Shaheen Holloway
Record at School: First Year
Preseason Kenpom Rating: 48
Preseason Conference Media Poll: 7
Key Returners: Kadary Richmond, Alexis Yetna, Jamir Harris, Tyrese Samuel
Key Newcomers: Femi Odukale, Al-Amir Dawes, Dre Davis, KC Ndefo
The prodigal son has returned. Shaheen Holloway, fresh off an Elite Eight run with Saint Peter’s, takes over his alma mater Seton Hall. The Pirates lose two starters to expired eligibility, but the reserves are more than able to fill those roles. Additionally, Holloway brings in four transfers to ensure there is no drop off from last year. Seton Hall should make a strong challenge for the tournament.
St. John’s Red Storm
2021-2022 Record: 17-15
2021-2022 Finish: Lost in Big East Quarterfinals
Head Coach: Mike Anderson
Record at School: 50-41 (3 Years)
Preseason Kenpom Rating: 37
Preseason Conference Media Poll: 6
Key Returners: Posh Alexander, Montez Mathis, Dylan Addae-Wusu, Joel Soriano
Key Newcomers: Andre Curbelo, David Jones
St. John’s would rather forget the end of the 2021-2022 season. Especially after losing six of its last eight games and narrowly missing the tournament. The Red Storm boasted a top 15 offense last season but are now looking to replace two of their top three scorers in Julian Champagnie and Aaron Wheeler. Mike Anderson is bringing in one of the nation’s top transfer classes, headlined by former Illinois guard Andre Curbelo, to fill the gaps and push St. John’s into the tournament.
Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +1600
NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +40000
UConn Huskies
2021-2022 Record: 23-10
2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NCAA First Round
Head Coach: Dan Hurley
Record at School: 73-47 (4 Years)
Preseason Kenpom Rating: 27
Preseason Conference Media Poll: 4
Key Returners: Adama Sanogo, Andre Jackson, Jordan Hawkins
Key Newcomers: Tristen Newton, Nahiem Alleyne
Dan Hurley is poised to take his UConn team back to the tournament in 2022-2023. The concern around this Husky program is what they will do when they get there as UConn has been bounced by lower-seeded teams the past two years. Hurley addressed depth issues in the offseason by bringing in transfers to start and come off the bench. Combined with a returning Adama Sanogo, the Huskies should be better suited when the tournament rolls around.
Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +475
NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +8000
Villanova Wildcats
2021-2022 Record: 30-8
2021-2022 Finish: Lost in NCAA Final Four
Head Coach: Kyle Neptune
Record at School: First Year
Preseason Kenpom Rating: 20
Preseason Conference Media Poll: 3
Key Returners: Eric Dixon, Brandon Slater, Justin Moore, Caleb Daniels
Key Newcomers: Mark Armstrong, Cam Whitmore
Coming off another Final Four run, Jay Wright shocked the basketball world by announcing his retirement. The succession plan went smoothly and for Villanova assistant Kyle Neptune was hired after one year at Fordham. The Wildcats will also need to replace guard Collin Gillespie, who holds the school record for games played. It is safe to say this Wildcat team will look different, but Neptune has infused the program with some young talent in the effort to keep the program at the top of the Big East.
Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +240
NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +4000
Xavier Musketeers
2021-2022 Record: 23-13
2021-2022 Finish: Won NIT Championship
Head Coach: Sean Miller
Record at School: 120-47 (5 Years)
Preseason Kenpom Rating: 38
Preseason Conference Media Poll: 2
Key Returners: Colby Jones, Adam Kunkel, Jack Nunge, Zach Freemantle
Key Newcomers: Souley Boum, Desmond Claude, Kam Craft
Sean Miller returns to the helm as the Xavier head basketball coach, where he previously coached from 2004-2009. Miller was hired for one reason and one reason only: make tournament runs. The first step will be ending the four-year tournament drought. The Musketeers bring in a few freshmen and a graduate transfer to shore up the guard position and will rely on guard Colby Jones and big Jack Nunge to lead Xavier back to the promised land.
Conference Regular Season Winner Odds: +475
NCAA Tournament Winner Odds: +8000