Big East Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose | Jul 4, 2023

Dec 13, 2016; Villanova, PA, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) gets congratulations from head coach Jay Wright and guard Jalen Brunson (1) after leaving the game late in the second half against the Temple Owls at The Pavilion. Villanova defeated Temple, 78-57. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

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Big East Basketball Providence Friars forward Ben Bentil Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

22. Ben Bentil

A 6’8 forward from Wilmington, Delaware, it was quite the brief yet exciting collegiate journey for Bentil. He arrived in Providence way back in 2014, right around the time Ed Cooley was starting to turn this program back into a winner. By the end of his sophomore season, Bentil had transformed into one of the nation’s standout performers.

As a freshman, Bentil spent a majority of the year in the starting frontcourt and put up decent numbers, averaging 6.4 points and 4.9 assists as the Friars returned to the NCAA Tournament. He would take a massive step forward in the offseason en route to an explosive sophomore campaign. It was a season where Bentil averaged 21.1 points and 7.7 rebounds, improving in virtually every aspect of his game. He scored 32 in a road win at eventual champion Villanova, 42 points against Marquette, and put up 38 in the Big East Tournament against Butler.

For his impressive sophomore season, Bentil was named First Team All-Big East and the conference’s Most Improved Player. He led the Big East in scoring and got the Friars to their first Tourney win in nearly twenty years. He was off to the NBA after that stellar season, but we’re not holding that against Bentil at all. He showed that he was a major weapon for the Friars with a remarkable impact on that team.

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