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Big East Basketball: 10 biggest storylines and questions for 2022-23 season

CINCINNATI, OHIO - FEBRUARY 16: Posh Alexander #0 of the St. John's Red Storm dribbles the ball in the first half against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on February 16, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - FEBRUARY 16: Posh Alexander #0 of the St. John's Red Storm dribbles the ball in the first half against the Xavier Musketeers at the Cintas Center on February 16, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andre Curbelo Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andre Curbelo Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

2. How will the backcourt duo of Posh Alexander and Andre Curbelo work?

One of the biggest offseason moves in the Big East was St. John’s landing Andre Curbelo, a transfer from Illinois and a former top-30 prospect out of high school. He had a strong freshman campaign but between injuries and falling out of his anticipated role as lead guard in favor of the veteran ball-handlers, Curbelo had a disappointing last season.

He went back home to New York and joins one of the top players in the conference in Posh Alexander, who averaged 13.8 ppg and 5.5 apg and was the Co-Big East Basketball Defensive Player of the Year. The junior is a guard that needs the ball in his hands and is a capable scorer inside but not from out, shooting just 22% from three-point range.

And that’s the biggest concern with this pairing. In two years at Illinois, Cubelo shot just 17% in just 65 total attempts. It’s not even that they’re bad (they are) but neither wants to be a volume shooter from deep. And considering that the other key offseason pickup, DePaul transfer David Jones, shot 27% from deep in two years, means that shooting overall is going to be a major concern that could derail any postseason hopes for the Red Storm.

Many college teams are using two ball-handlers so Alexander and Curbelo can work, especially on defense. But can they be effective without needing the ball in their hands? How these two play with one another will determine how viable they are overall.