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

By Connor Wilson

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 20: Adama Sanogo #21 of the Connecticut Huskies is introduced before a college basketball game against the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Arena on January 20, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 20: Adama Sanogo #21 of the Connecticut Huskies is introduced before a college basketball game against the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Arena on January 20, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Big East Basketball Shaka Smart Marquette Golden Eagles (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Big East Basketball Shaka Smart Marquette Golden Eagles (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

8. Marquette Golden Eagles

Projected Lineup

G: Tyler Kolek (Junior)

G: Kam Jones (Soph.)

F: Zach Wrightsil (5th Year)

F: Olivier-Maxence Prosper (Junior)

F: Oso Ighodaro (Soph.)

In his first year as head coach at Marquette, Shaka Smart exceeded preseason expectations and led the Golden Eagles back to the NCAA Tournament after they had just lost their best player, Dawson Garcia, to the transfer portal. Despite their great season, they were run out of the gym by a North Carolina squad that ended up making the national championship. The Golden Eagles are one of the hardest teams to rank in the Big East, and there is one reason for that.

Will Justin Lewis come back? Lewis was a member of the Big East First Team last season and one of the best all-around players in the conference last year. If he comes back, Marquette has the potential to be a Top 5 team in the league. If he doesn’t, then that would mean they lost Lewis, Darryl Morsell, Kur Kuath, and Greg Elliott and not really gain anything.

The Golden Eagles still have a solid core, with point guard Tyler Kolek forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper, and reigning NAIA POY in Zach Wrightsil. As I said, the decision of Justin Lewis will have great effect on where the Golden Eagles place in the Big East next season. Only time will tell.

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