Big East Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2022-23 season

1. Creighton Bluejays

Projected Lineup

G: Trey Alexander (Soph.)

G: Ryan Nembhard (Soph.)

G: Rati Andronikashvili (Soph.)

F: Arthur Kaluma (Soph.)

C: Ryan Kalkbrenner (Junior)

The Creighton Blue Jays were one of the most surprising teams in the Big East last season, as after losing their entire starting lineup from the 2020-21 season, they still finished fourth in the conference, made a run to the Big East Championship game, and won a game in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. Heck, they took the National Champions down to the wire in the Round of 32.

Greg McDermott did a phenomenal job with one of the youngest teams in the conference. The Blue Jays are losing two starters – Ryan Hawkins and Alex O’Connell – but all of the other contributors are returning and will all have another year of experience under their belt. Creighton will be a preseason top 15 team in the country and pushing top 10. The backcourt will be one of the best and deepest in the conference next season with Trey Alexander and Ryan Nembhard.

The frontcourt is strong as well, with the reigning DPOY Ryan Kalkbrenner and a dark horse candidate for BEPOY in Arthur Kaluma. Next season, the Big East will run through Omaha.