NCAA Basketball: Best player from each conference entering January 2019

Big East: Markus Howard, Marquette

It has been a long, long time before there has been this clear of a top player in the Big East.

After years of a balanced division of power and talent, Marquette, and their junior guard Markus Howard, have emerged as both the top team and top player.

This season, Howard is averaging a whopping 25 points per game, to go along with four rebounds and assists per game. Howard does it all on offense for the Golden Eagles, who are the favorite to win the Big East after a great non-conference run.

Howard made headlines in December when he dropped 40 points on previously undefeated Buffalo in just the second half, seemingly announcing his presence as one of, if not the top player in the country with a truly unforgettable performance.

Marquette has become a real national championship contender thanks to Howard’s heroics, and will go as far as Howard will take them, which looks to be pretty darn far.

Big Sky: Ahmaad Rorie, Montana

The Big Sky will go through Montana this season, and that is largely in part to the Grizzlies leading scorer Ahmaad Rorie.

Rorie is averaging 16 points per game in his senior season, and led Montana to an NCAA tournament berth last season. The Grizzlies’ guard dropped 23 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in his last game, and has shown a pure ability to score and facilitate the offense this season.

Rorie will likely be playing in March, as his Grizzlies are the favorite to win the Big Sky. Rorie has flown well under the radar in comparison to other mid major stars, but won’t go out quietly if given the chance to showcase his talents this spring on a national stage.