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15 in 40: #2 Big East Predictions

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Friarbasketball.com’s Big East predictions are back. This year the entire staff gives their predictions on the Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, all three All Conference Teams, the regular season standings and Big East Tournament predictions.

It’s a fun way to keep ourselves honest at season’s end, and also take a look back and see how the perception of each program changes over the course of a year. Last season, I felt pretty good about picking USF to bottom out after most had them top 5-6, and the predictions of a bounce back year for Villanova after two down seasons, and Otto Porter as BE Player of the Year were on point. I made the mistake of sleeping on Buzz Williams’ coaching ability, tried to get cute predicting a better finish for Rutgers than UConn, and had questions about how Georgetown would replace three starters – they end up winning 14 conference games. Can’t win ’em all, I guess.

And now, here are our predictions for 2013-14.

Big East Player of the Year: 

Craig Belhumeur: Doug McDermott, Creighton

Kevin Farrahar: Doug McDermott, Creighton

Craig Leighton: Dough McDermott, Creighton

Big East Rookie of the Year:

Craig Belhumeur: Rysheed Jordan, St. John’s

Kevin Farrahar: Myles Davis, Xavier

Craig Leighton: Rysheed Jordan, St. John’s

Craig Belhumeur’s All Big East Teams

1st Team All Big East

  • Doug McDermott, Creighton
  • Bryce Cotton, Providence
  • Semaj Christon, Xavier
  • Davante Gardner, Marquette
  • JaKarr Sampson, St. John’s

2nd Team All Big East

  • Kadeem Batts, Providence
  • Markel Starks, Georgetown
  • D’Angelo Harrison, St. John’s
  • Fuquan Edwin, Seton Hall
  • JayVaughn Pinkston, Villanova

3rd Team All Big East

  • Jamil Wilson, Marquette
  • Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova
  • Cleveland Melvin, DePaul
  • Tyler Harris, Providence
  • Chris Obekpa, St. John’s

CB’s Comments: Doug McDermott is the easy pick for Big East Player of the year, but if I had to go out on a limb… I am really high on Jakaar Sampson this season. D’Angelo Harrison was named preseason All Big East by the coaches, but I actually think Sampson will outperform him this season.

Kevin Farrahar’s All Big East Teams

1st Team All Big East:

  • Doug McDermott, Creighton
  • JaKarr Sampson, St. John’s
  • Chris Obekpa, St. John’s
  • Semaj Christon, Xavier
  • Kadeem Batts, Providence

2nd Team All Big East:

  • Davante Gardner, Marquette
  • Markel Starks, Georgetown
  • Bryce Cotton, Providence
  • Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova
  • JayVaughn Pinkston, Villanova

3rd Team All Big East:

  • Fuquan Edwin, Seton Hall
  • Cleveland Melvin, DePaul
  • Khyle Marshall, Butler
  • D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown
  • Jamil Wilson, Marquette

KF’s comments: I was tempted to go with Sampson over McDermott for the league’s POY, but it’s going to be awfully tough to match that production. I’m taking a huge flyer on Myles Davis of Xavier as the league’s best rookie. I watched him absolutely light it up for two years at ND Prep, and I question whether Jordan, Brandon Austin, or any of Marquette’s freshmen will get enough touches to put up huge numbers. A year off may hurt Davis, but if he could get a lot of looks this year. I gave Butler’s Marshall a nod for all conference honors, thinking his numbers will see a spike on a shallow roster. He played well against good competition last year. Obekpa will be the country’s best shot blocker and gets the 1st team nod because of that. This year’s Gorgui Dieng.

Craig Leighton’s All Big East Teams

1st Team All Big East:

  • Bryce Cotton, Providence
  • Doug McDermott, Creighton
  • Davante Gardner, Marquette
  • Semaj Christon, Xavier
  • Markel Starks, Georgetown

2nd Team All Big East:

  • Kadeem Batts, Providence
  • D’Angelo Harrison, St. John’s
  • Fuquan Edwin, Seton Hall
  • JaKarr Sampson, St. John’s
  • JayVaughn Pinkston, Villanova

3rd Team All Big East:

  • Kris Dunn, Providence
  • Tyler Harris, Providence
  • Chris Obekpa, St. John’s
  • Cleveland Melvin, DePaul
  • Jamil Wilson, Marquette

CL comments: If there was a most improved player on the preseason list I would have picked Kris Dunn. This is all contingent on Dunn’s shoulder injury being not that serious. Tyler Harris will surprise many in the Big East this year and will wind up on numerous post season All Big East teams. I am from the old school and believe that the Player of the Year should be included on the 1st Team All Big East so McDermott is on both.

Belhumeur’s Big East Standings and Tournament Winner

1. Marquette

2. St. John’s

3. Georgetown

4. Providence

5. Creighton

6 .Villanova

7. Xavier

8. Seton Hall

9. DePaul

10.Butler

Championship Game: St. John’s over Marquette

CB comments: I am not as high on Creighton as it seems like everyone else is. Yes they return the nation’s best scorer, but they are entering a new weight class, and I just don’t see them strolling right into one of the top three positions in the standings.

I think Steve Lavin and the Johnnies pack the newly renovated Madison Square Garden and grab the BET title.

Farrahar’s Big East Standings and Tournament Winner

1. Marquette

2. St. John’s

3. Creighton

4. Georgetown

5. Providence

6. Villanova

7. Xavier

8. Seton Hall

9. DePaul

10. Butler

Championship Game: St. John’s over Marquette

KF comments: I was tempted to bump Creighton down a few slots, but having the best player, and a terrific home court advantage scared me off. I have my questions about the Hoyas, picked PC over Nova in a coin flip, fear I’m underrating Xavier, and if I’d trusted Lavin’s ability to coach his team up I would have taken St. John’s to win the regular season. The Johnnies are absolutely loaded – long and deep. Can’t bet against Buzz though.

Leighton’s Big East Standings and Tournament Winner

1. Georgetown

2. Marquette

3. Creighton

4. Providence

5. St. John’s

6. Villanova

7. Xavier

8. Seton Hall

9. Butler

10. DePaul

Championship Game: Creighton over St. John’s

CL comments: Creighton will be just ahead of PC for the no. 3 spot, as I think that it will be really tough for any Big East team to travel to Omaha and win in front of 17,000 screaming fans. Creighton, PC, and St. John’s will fight it out for the 3-5 positions, and I believe that Villanova will make the tournament in the no. 6 position.

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