Big East Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions
Top player to watch for each team
DePaul Blue Demons: Charlie Moore
Charlie Moore started all 30 games for the team this season and immediately made an impact at the point guard position. A remarkably quick attacker with the ability to let it fly from deep, Moore is a game-changer. Paul Reed is perhaps the best player on this roster but Moore is the one that could potentially push DePaul to a run in the conference tournament. He averaged 14.7 points and 5.6 assists per game during Big East play.
St. John’s Red Storm: Julian Champagnie
Julian Champagnie has really taken a mid-season leap this year to emerge as a star for St. John’s. Although just a freshman, he has been excellent in just about every facet of the game. He might not be a household name yet in the conference, but he will be in the near future.
6-foot-8 freshman forward Julian Champagnie is developing into an absolute star for St. John's.
— Lukas Harkins (@hardwiredsports) March 7, 2020
He has averaged 17.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game over SJU's last six contests.
He should only keep improving. #sjubb
Georgetown Hoyas: Jamorko Pickett
In the absence of McClung and Yurtseven for significant stretches of conference play, Jamorko Pickett has really upped his game. Even though Georgetown has struggled greatly to end the season, the 6-foot-8 junior has averaged 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game over the last seven contests. It seems unlikely that the Hoyas will be able to make a run but Pickett can be a consistent presence while Jahvon Blair can let it fly from three at high volumes.
Xavier Musketeers: Tyrique Jones
An absolute monster in the frontcourt, Tyrique Jones poses a matchup nightmare for just about every team in the country. Additionally, this is his senior season and will be hoping to go out with a bang in the Big Apple. The 6-foot-9 forward plays with a ton of intensity and never gives up. He averaged 13.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks during the Big East season and will be looking to be even more assertive underneath in this event while helping to improve Xavier’s overall resume.
Marquette Golden Eagles: Do I really need to answer?
Markus Howard is one of the pure scorers to ever take the court in college basketball. He is a remarkable talent that has made his mark on the Big East in several ways over the past four years. Basically the only major things left on his to-do list would be to make big runs in the BET and the NCAA Tournament. Howard is the nation’s leading scorer and will do whatever it takes to pull his Golden Eagles out of their funk now that the postseason has arrived.
Butler Bulldogs: Kamar Baldwin
Arguably the most clutch performer in the entire nation, Kamar Baldwin is the type of guard that can carry a team in March. He is an elite three-level scorer with a variety of go-to moves, a killer mentality, and the ability to make opportunistic plays defensively as well. Now that his backcourt mate (Aaron Thompson) is healthy, Baldwin is able to play freely as the off-guard and excels in that situation. He is fresh off dropping 36, including the game-winner, in a road win over Xavier to end the regular season.
Providence Friars: Luwane Pipkins
Luwane Pipkins was a highly-touted incoming transfer for Providence this season but struggled to live up to the hype early. Down the stretch, though, the 5-foot-11 senior has really found his groove and he is the player to watch for the Friars as a result. Pipkins has scored in double-figures in each of PC’s last six games and is averaging 19.2 points on .537/.405/.813 shooting during this stretch. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone that has turned on the jets better than Pipkins.
Seton Hall Pirates: Myles Powell
Myles Powell will likely be named the Big East Player of the Year prior to this event. He is a dynamic scorer, underrated defender, and has been sensational in pushing this team to a strong season. While Romaro Gill and Quincy McKnight lead this squad defensively, the Pirates would not be close to a national title contender without Powell. His numbers might not be as efficient as other stars but he plays winning basketball. He is constantly moving and forces defenses to adjust to his play.
Villanova Wildcats: Saddiq Bey
Easily one of the most efficient high-volume scorers in the country, Saddiq Bey has made a massive leap. While Collin Gillespie is the leader of this squad, Bey is just as dangerous if not more so. The 6-foot-8 sophomore averaged 17.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 48.4% from three during conference play. He is a matchup nightmare that nobody wants to see on the other side of a matchup.
Creighton Bluejays: Ty-Shon Alexander
If Marcus Zegarowski is forced to miss extended time, Creighton will need to get even more out of Ty-Shon Alexander. Not only is the junior the best perimeter defender in the country but he is also extremely dangerous on the offensive end of the floor. He is a dynamic shooter that leads the team in scoring at 16.9 per game while also being able to lock up any guard in the conference.