Big East Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2023-24 season

By John Makuch | May 2, 2023

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Adama Sanogo #21 of the Connecticut Huskies cuts the net after winning the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four championship game against the San Diego State Aztecs at NRG Stadium on April 03, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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Big East Basketball Bryce Hopkins #23 of the Providence Friars (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) /

7. Providence Friars

And now begins the part of the Big East Conference where you see several coaching changes heading into 2023-2024.

After Ed Cooley’s controversial departure, the Friars brought in Kim English from George Mason to continue the winning culture this program had under Cooley.

Cooley leaving does not mean this team can never build a good program ever again, and English’s coming to Rhode Island has gone down as one of the more underrated hires in the college basketball world.

However, Providence was always going to have to add in the transfer portal due to their de-commits after the coaching change, but they have held up quite well.

English was also able to bring in three players from George Mason, 6’7 forward Davonte Gaines, 6’5 forward Justyn Fernandez, and 6’8 power forward Josh Oduro.

This team is going to be taller, more physical, and a tough team to beat especially with their great homecourt advantage in this conference.

However, being a first-year head coach with your new program is always going to be tough, so ranking Providence much higher feels a bit risky here, but they can definitely make a surge up closer to the top.

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