Big East Basketball: Will anyone challenge the defending champs?

Mar 12, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Seton Hall Pirates guard Khadeen Carrington (0) cuts down the net after the Pirates won the championship game of the Big East conference tournament against Villanova at Madison Square Garden. Seton Hall Pirates defeated Villanova Wildcats 69-67.Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 19, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Butler Bulldogs forward Kelan Martin (30) reacts from the court during the final minute against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at PNC Arena. The Cavaliers won 77-69. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Butler Bulldogs

2015-16 record: 21-10 overall, 10-8 in Big East, lost in the second round of NCAA Tournament

Head coach: Chris Holtmann

Key returning players: Kelan Martin, Andrew Chrabascz, Tyler Wideman, Tyler Lewis

Newcomers: Four-star C Joey Brunk, three-star SG Kamar Baldwin, three-star SF Henry Baddley, Memphis transfer G Avery Woodson, George Washington transfer G Kethan Savage

Like Providence, Butler is losing two key veterans, Roosevelt Jones and Kellen Dunham. It’s nearly impossible to make up for the versatility of Jones and the sharp shooting of Dunham, however, the Bulldogs still have some pieces to work with.

Kelan Martin is one of the top scorers in the Big East and could be in the mix for Big East Player of the Year at the end of the conference season. He averaged 15.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last year, and will likely need to improve his playmaking (1.1 assists per game) and defense in 2016-17 if Butler is to make the NCAA Tournament.

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The Bulldogs also have Andrew Chrabascz and Tyler Wideman in the front court. Chrabascz can stretch the floor and finish inside, while Wideman is a powerful force on the interior who plays excellent defense. Chrabascz had a breakout game in the NCAA Tournament against Virginia, scoring 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting, so Butler will be looking at him to become their second leading scorer in 2016-17.

Tyler Lewis, Kethan Savage and Avery Woodson will carry the backcourt. Lewis struggled last season against taller, more physical guards, but he has valuable experience and is a good passer.

Savage is a big scoring guard who averaged 11.7 points on 40 percent shooting in his last season at George Washington in 2014-15. The guard sat out all of last season due to the NCAA transfer rules.

Finally, Woodson is the best shooter of the three, as he hit 43 percent of his jumpers from downtown last season at Memphis.

Beyond the veterans, freshman Joey Brunk, Kamar Baldwin and Henry Baddley all have differing skill sets that will help the Bulldogs off the bench. Brunk (6’11”) will be the most important player of the bunch due to his size and skills. Other than Brunk, the tallest player on the roster is sophomore center Nate Fowler, who only played 6.3 minutes per game last season.

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