Big East men’s basketball preseason power rankings for 2026-27

Over the last two seasons, the Big East has transitioned from “the most competitive power conference in college basketball” to “the Dan Hurley vs. Rick Pitino show.”

Will that change in 2026-27? Let’s explore.

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1. UConn Huskies

2025-26 Record: 34-6
2025-26 Conference Finish: 2nd

There’s a pretty straightforward case for putting UConn here: the Huskies were 34-6 last season, won 17 Big East games, reached the Final Four, and bring back arguably the conference’s most important point guard in Silas Demary Jr.

Demary averaged 10.1 points and a Big East-best 5.8 assists per game last season and has been named the conference’s preseason Player of the Year. Sophomore Braylon Mullins is back after a freshman season that included an NCAA Tournament buzzer-beater against Duke that made him a March Madness immortal.

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The roster, like just about every other in power conference hoops, features a healthy number of newcomers as well. Dan Hurley brought in seven transfers and three freshmen for 2026-26, a group headlined by Duke transfer Nik Khamenia and Seton Hall transfer Na’jai Hines.

All the pieces are in place for the reigning national runners-up to go one step further this season and bring Hurley his third national title in five years.

2. St. John’s Red Storm

2025-26 Record: 30-7
2025-26 Conference Finish: 1st

Four of the five leading scorers from last season’s Big East regular season and tournament championship squad have moved on, but Rick Pitino appears to have reloaded with all the right stuff,

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Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou checks all the boxes to be one of the biggest breakout sophomore stars in the sport this season, and international additions Quinn Ellis and Babacar Sane both have legitimate NBA aspirations. Losing Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman for the season due to injury was a huge summer blow, but one that will be cushioned by the late addition of Auburn transfer Keyshawn Hall … so long as Hall remains eligible.

3. Villanova Wildcats

2025-26…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/big-east-men-basketball-preseason-134702205.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-06 13:47:00

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