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Big East Basketball: 2018-19 preseason all-conference and awards predictions

By Lukas Harkins

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: The Villanova Wildcats celebrate their overtime win over the Providence Friars during the championship game of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: The Villanova Wildcats celebrate their overtime win over the Providence Friars during the championship game of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – MARCH 16: Butler’s Baldwin (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 16: Butler’s Baldwin (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Player of the Year: Kamar Baldwin, Butler

Kamar Baldwin might be the most complete player in the Big East this season. An elite defender who has no trouble filling up the stat sheet in a number of ways, Baldwin should be one of the preseason favorites to win the conference’s player of the year award. Furthermore, he could be the all-around leader that pushes Butler to near the top of the conference standings.

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Xavier vs. Butler prediction and odds for Friday February 10 (Value on total)
Xavier vs. Butler prediction and odds for Friday February 10 (Value on total) /

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    • Even though Kelan Martin and Tyler Wideman graduated, the Bulldogs return a ton of depth and a proven star. To me, that is a recipe for a successful season with Baldwin as the spearhead. In short, Baldwin’s versatility as a star is what makes him so special. On any given night, he has the ability to lock down his defensive matchup or go point-for-point with the most elite scorers in the conference.

    A true two-way star, Baldwin can lead Butler to victories by doing more than just scoring. He is a proven scorer who could possibly post 20+ points per game this season while saving a number of points defensively on each night. In summary, his overall impact is not just felt on one end of the floor and that makes him a prime candidate for this award.

    In conference play this past season (20 games), Baldwin posted 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on shooting slashes (FG | 3P | FT) of .464 | .354 | .770. This kind of production as a secondary offensive option is outstanding and, although he was not named to All-Big East team last season, he is among the best returners in the conference for good reason.

    Top contenders: Shamorie Ponds (St. John’s) and Markus Howard (Marquette).

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    In the end, these are only predictions. The 2018-19 season could go in any number of ways and it will be extremely interesting to follow. There are plenty of contenders for each spot, especially when you consider how competitive the conference projects to be this year.

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