Big East Basketball: 3 bold predictions for the 2019-20 season

1) Myles Powell wins National Player of the Year while leading Seton Hall to the Big East title

I don’t have to tell you that Myles Powell is a really good basketball player. He was named Preseason Big East Player of the Year and was named a first-team All-American for a reason.

But I truly believe he will become the best and most hyped individual player in college basketball this year, which is why I’m calling this season his #MylesPowellTakeoverTour.

I go in detail on why I’m picking Powell to win both Big East and National Player of the Year here, but here’s the hint of it – he’s one of the country’s best scorers, an underrated defender, and the best clutch player in the sport. He proved that time and time again last year.

Powell’s play carried the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament last year and he gives them a special element, yet I’m also picking Seton Hall to win the Big East because of the strength of the rest of the roster.

Kevin Willard’s squad returns all but one player from last year’s rotation and added a pair of key pieces to that in the form of Florida State transfer (and shot-blocker extraordinaire) Ike Obiagu and freshman Tyrese Samuel. Both of those players will give the Pirates more depth in the middle and allow them to go 10 or 11 deep.

As Willard said at Big East Media Day, the depth this team has allows them to play with multiple different looks.

"“We go from starting 6-[foot]-6 and 6-8 to 7-1 and 6-9, and come off the bench with 7-1 and 6-11. So just from a defensive presence, we’re such a different team. We have the opportunity to press a little more, play small, play big, where last year we were a one-trick pony. We have the opportunity to play so much different this year.”"

Very few teams have that kind of versatility, and that will only be enhanced by Powell’s greatness.