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Big East Basketball: 2022 Conference Tournament preview and predictions

By Connor Wilson

Feb 14, 2022; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Creighton Bluejays forward Ryan Hawkins (44) scores on a three point shot against Georgetown Hoyas guard Aminu Mohammed (0) in the second half at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2022; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Creighton Bluejays forward Ryan Hawkins (44) scores on a three point shot against Georgetown Hoyas guard Aminu Mohammed (0) in the second half at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big East Basketball
Big East Basketball Collin Gillespie Villanova Wildcats Justin Minaya Providence Friars (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Players to Watch

Collin Gillespie – Villanova

After being named one of three Big East Players of the Year last season, Gillespie has upped his production this year, averaging a career-best 16.3 PPG while shooting over 40% from distance on over seven attempts a night.

The super senior has already been a part of two teams that have gone on to win the Big East Tournament in the past and is a relentless leader on a Wildcats squad that is ready to make another run at the trophy at The Garden.

RJ Cole – UConn

In his second season playing for UConn, Cole has taken over as the go-to scorer for the Huskies and has shown flashes of his days back at Howard, in which he scored over 1,500 points in just two seasons. This year, he is averaging 15.8 PPG and was recently named to the All-Big East First Team. One of the most underrated defenders in the conference.

Jared Bynum – Providence

Coming off the bench for a majority of the season for Providence, Bynum has emerged since early February as the Friars’ go-to option and has hit countless big shots all year, including a game-winner against Xavier. He has range out of the gym and has scored at least 18 points in seven of his last eight games.

Ryan Hawkins – Creighton

After scoring over 2,000 points across four years at Division II Northwest Missouri St, Hawkins has made an immediate impact for Creighton, leading the Blue Jays in points per game (14.3) and rebounding (7.7). He is one of the best playmaking big men in the conference, despite his 1.6 assists per game average. He’s gone for at least 25 points five times this season.

Javon Freeman-Liberty – DePaul

Despite the Blue Demons finishing 10th in the Big East standings, Freeman-Liberty has been electric since coming back from injury. Since mid-February, he is averaging 23.6 PPG and DePaul has been extremely competitive in all but one of those games. He scored 39 points in a win over St. John’s and 34 points against a great Villanova defense in a loss. He certainly has the ability to carry DePaul on a run this week.

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