Big East Basketball: Each team’s best acquisition out of 2023 transfer portal
![Jan 28, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Jayden Epps (3) calls out a play during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports Jan 28, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Jayden Epps (3) calls out a play during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Kohl Center. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/0413c68aa4e1b0f436791fdddd669817faa2c86ab46fcaee77198718b0d9eb15.jpg)
Posh Alexander – 6’0 Guard – Butler Bulldogs
Posh Alexander is the first intraconference mover in the Big East as he moves from the St. John’s Red Storm to the Butler Bulldogs. After spending 2020-23 with the Red Storm, he moves a bit further to the Midwest to improve his usability.
In three seasons with the Red Storm, Alexander proved to be quite the two-way presence in the backcourt, especially when it came to leading on defense. He took home the Big East Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year award in 2020-21. He finished second in the conference in steals (61) this past season while leading the conference in the category in back-to-back seasons from 2020-22.
Alexander produced 11.7 ppg, 4.7 apg, 4.0 rpg and 2.3 spg across 84 appearances, 77 starts, while at St. John’s. He isn’t the greatest perimeter shooter, but he makes up for it in other ways with his ability to defend the floor and make things happen for others. He’ll need to do plenty of that with Butler after they went 6-14 in conference action.
During the 2021-22 season, he dished out a career-high 5.5 apg and finished fifth in PER (22.6). He didn’t finish outside of the Top 10 in assists in the Big East in any of the past three seasons. He dished out 125 assists this past season, good for ninth in the Big East. In 2021-22, he dished out a career-high 159 assists (5.5 apg) to finish second in the conference.
Things won’t look too familiar for Butler fans when they return in 2023-24 as just three players from last year’s 14-18 squad return. Alexander is one of six acquisitions out of the portal. He’ll join head coach Thad Matta and company looking to change the fortunes for the Bulldogs in Indianapolis this upcoming season.