Big East Basketball: 10 biggest questions for league entering 2023-24 season

Can UConn Repeat as National Champs?

Fresh off a captivating NCAA championship run last year, Dan Hurley and Co. are gearing up to sustain that success in the 2023/24 season. But that might not be so simple…

This year brings with it a reshaped roster, marked by the departure of stalwarts Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins who graduated to the NBA. With this changing of the guard, the Huskies are ready to usher in a new era, fueled by their young and hungry recruits.

The offseason only featured one notable transfer: Cam Spencer. The guard moved on from his time at Rutgers after averaging 13.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in 2022/23. On the flip side, Nahiem Alleyne, Yarin Hasson, Joe Calcaterra, Emmett Hendry and Richie Springs have all bid farewell to the program.

Now if my math is correct, this roster is still missing quite a few pieces. That’s where Dan Hurley’s stacked freshman class comes into the fray. The group is laden with potential, highlighted by Solomon Ball, Jaylin Stewart, and of course Stephon Castle, who is ranked as the nation’s ninth-best prospect with lottery pick potential. Jayden Ross and Youssouf Singare round out the newcomers, all of whom will be vying to make their mark.

In terms of returns, 6’5” guard Tristen Newton will need to play a pivotal role for the Huskies this season. In his senior season, Newton contributed 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, all while shooting 36.6 percent from beyond the arc. The questions begin to swirl when trying to determine who will pair alongside Newton in the backcourt. Incoming transfer Cam Spencer is expected to take a lion’s share of the workload, while newcomers Stephon Castle, Solomon Ball, and Jaylin Stewart, will need to quickly adapt to the college game to fill the gaps.

In the frontcourt, Donovan Clingan and Alex Caraban will each need to take significant steps forward to match up against the elite big men in the Big East. While both proved very capable en route to the team’s national championship in their rookie seasons, a full season without Sanogo drawing defenders’ attention will require a serious adjustment.

Dan Hurley certainly has his work cut out for him. Tristen Newton’s return will provide leadership and stability to this revamped roster, but without the significant presence of Sanogo and Hawkins, it’s realistic to expect the team may take a slight step back this year. Nonetheless, I project the Huskies to remain competitive within the conference and still cause headaches in March, powered by their young and fun roster.