Big East Basketball: Top-10 players entering the 2018-19 season

Big East Basketball: Top 10 players entering the 2018-19 season

By Brian Foley | Aug 16, 2018

MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 28: Eric Paschall #4 of the Villanova Wildcats is defended by Sam Hauser #10 of the Marquette Golden Eagles during the first half at the BMO Harris Bradley Center on January 28, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 27: Head coach Leitao of DePaul. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

8. Max Strus, DePaul

2017-18: 16.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 40.8/33.3/80.3 percent shooting

Strus’ efficiency may lag behind his Big East counterparts, but that’s mostly because of his ineffective teammates. Of the six players that soaked up at least 25 percent of DePaul’s minutes last season, only three posted offensive ratings north of 100, and only one – Strus – returns this season. Guard Eli Cain is one of Strus’ top remaining teammates, and his effective field goal percentage ranked in the fifth percentile of all players last year.

More. Can Max Strus elevate the Blue Demons?. light

Strus isn’t flawless and his shot selection needs to improve. Still, he will be forced to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders this season. His game log will be filled with a few clunkers, but he’ll also post several masterful performances that will ultimately carry the Blue Demons to victory. Unsurprisingly, Strus averaged 18.1 points on 47.3 percent shooting in DePaul’s 11 wins last year, compared to his 16.1 points on just 37.2 percent shooting in its 20 losses.

In his second Big East campaign, the senior forward will likely post more performances from the former category in 2018-19.

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