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Big East Basketball questions: Key storyline, biggest surprise/disappointments

By Tristan Freeman

Jan 7, 2023; Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Desmond Claude (1) talks with guard Adam Kunkel (5) against the Villanova Wildcats in the second half at William B. Finneran Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2023; Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA; Xavier Musketeers guard Desmond Claude (1) talks with guard Adam Kunkel (5) against the Villanova Wildcats in the second half at William B. Finneran Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball
Big East Basketball Connecticut Huskies forward Adama Sanogo Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Who is your prediction for Conference Player of the Year? Possible runner-up?

Mauro

There could be so many but for player of the year let’s go with Adama Sanogo.  For the runner-up:  Bryce Hopkins.  They could flip flop and everyone would understand as well.

Freeman

I have to go with Adama Sanogo, who has been the best player on the best team. He’s become a quality scorer inside, leading UConn to a No. 2 ranking at one point. The next best player may be Bryce Hopkins, the Kentucky transfer who now leads Providence in scoring and currently on top of the rankings.

Mullenix

Adama Sanogo – In the last eight seasons, the conference player of the year — or co-player of the year — in the Big East has played for the team that won the regular season title exactly four times. So, it’s split right down the middle. Their teams are always competitive and in contention late in the season, but don’t always win. That ropes in a lot of players in the running for this year’s Big East Player of the Year.

Bryce Hopkins has been spectacular for Ed Cooley at 16 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Zach Freemantle has built on every aspect of his game from last season and is averaging 15.3 and eight rebounds per the undefeated in league play Xavier Musketeers. Kam Jones at Marquette deserves at least an acknowledgment in the conversation and Ryan Kaklbrenner might have proven via injury that he’s the most important player in this conference.

But the frontrunner is still Adama Sanogo as the best player for a UConn team that is living in the top five of the AP Poll. He’s averaged 17.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game on nearly 60 percent shooting. Those numbers shift slightly to 17.2 and 7.3 in Big East play. Any rumblings of another frontrunner were put to bed on Saturday when he had 26 points and nine rebounds in a win over Creighton.

The preseason player of the year hasn’t done anything to relinquish his front runner-ship nearly a third of the way through the conference schedule. The runner-up is Ryan Kalkbrenner. Creighton is only 3-2 in conference, but it’s clear how much better the Bluejays are on both ends of the floor with him on the court. His 14.8 points and 6.8 rebounds don’t do justice to his impact as a defender and the guy who unlocks what they do offensively.

Right now, Providence and Xavier are winning Big East games at too high of a clip for it to not be a player from one of those teams, but the Bluejays will win enough conference games with Kalkbrenner in the lineup for him to get back into the conversation. And to be frank, if it really were the most valuable and not most outstanding then Kalkbrenner would be the favorite.

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