NCAA Basketball: Power leagues' 2019-20 surprising, disappointing teams

NCAA Basketball: Power conferences’ 2019-20 surprising and disappointing teams

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: A view of the official game ball in the basket prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 04: Romeo Weems #1 and Paul Reed #4 of the DePaul Blue Demons (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Big East

Surprise: DePaul Blue Demons 12-1

In the Big East, the Butler Bulldogs have been quite the surprise after being picked 8th in the conference and are now No. 21 in the country with an 11-1 record. But, given their longstanding record of futility, the 10-1 DePaul Blue Demons are the surprise of the Big East conference. Dave Leitao’s squad has had an impressive start to the season which has included wins over Iowa, Minnesota and Texas Tech. If it wasn’t for a five-point loss to Buffalo, the Blue Demons would still be among the ranks of the unbeaten.

A trio of juniors has led the way for DePaul, Paul Reed, Charlie Moore, and Jaylen Butz have netted 43 points, 19.7 rebounds, 9.4 assists and five steals per game for perhaps the best DePaul team in decades.

Disappointment: Providence Friars 7-6

The Providence Friars were slotted for a 4th place finish in the preseason Big East poll but so far Ed Cooley and the Friars have had the worst non-conference slate of anyone in the conference with a 7-6 record. After a three-game losing streak to Penn, Long Beach State, and Charleston Providence picked up their best win of the year, over Texas by 22 just before Christmas.

Senior guard Alpha Diallo is one of the best players in the conference and leads the Friars in points (14.1) and rebounds (9.2) while adding three assists and two steals. Will the Friars be able to build off the momentum of the win over Texas as they head into conference play?

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