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 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Ryan Arcidiacono (15) defends against Georgetown Hoyas guard L.J. Peak (0) during the second half of Big East conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. Villanova Wildcats defeated Georgetown Hoyas 81-67. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Georgetown Hoyas

2015-16 record: 15-18 overall, 7-11 in Big East

Head coach: John Thompson III

Key returning players: L.J. Peak, Isaac Copeland, Bradley Hayes, Marcus Derrickson, Jessie Govan, Reggie Cameron II, Tre Campbell, Kaleb Johnson

Newcomers: Four-star SG Jagan Mosely, JUCO PG Jonathan Mulmore, Louisville transfer F Akoy Agau, Robert Morris transfer G Rodney Pryor

Last year, Georgetown finished under .500 for the first time since 2003-04 and didn’t reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2013-14 season. Their lack of team speed, average defense and flawed roster beyond now-graduated D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, resulted in an 8th place finish in the league.

While it’s still up in the air as to if Georgetown will reach the NCAA Tournament this year, I don’t see John Thompson III’s squad finishing in the bottom half of the league standings again.

The Hoyas have eight of their top nine scorers back and are adding three valuable transfers, including Akoy Agau, Jonathan Mulmore and Rodney Pryor. They also have a talented freshman joining the team in Jagan Mosely.

Thompson has plenty of depth (perhaps too much) and can use numerous different styles of play to defeat their opponents.

Georgetown has the option of playing small, with Marcus Derrickson or Akoy Agau at the five, or they can play big with Bradley Hayes and Jessie Govan at the five with Isaac Copeland or Derrickson at the four. Adapting their roster to a modern style of basketball will help the Hoyas have more success in transition and create better sets in the half court.

They can now take advantage of match-ups, while also having the option of switching back to their “old” style of play.

One concern: They legitimately have 11-to-12 players who will be in the rotation, creating a potential problem for Thompson when it comes to finding the right combinations.

Georgetown doesn’t have a single player that will dominant on a nightly basis. This is a team of players that will take turns in the spotlight depending on who their opponent is.

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