NCAA Season Preview: The Big East
The No Cap Space NCAA Women's Basketball Preview series continues, taking a look at the Big East and who might be a sneaky Tournament team once you get past UConn and Creighton.
With the NCAA Women’s Basketball season right around the corner, No Cap Space WBB is here to preview every end of the country. We start with a general mid-major preview then dive into the power conferences, priming you for one of the most anticipated women’s basketball seasons in recent memory.
Our NCAA previews continue with the Big East, which you already know are going to be dominated by UConn. But just because the Huskies are the prohibitive favorites — as they always are, it should be noted — in the conference doesn’t mean there isn’t interesting storylines, players to watch and teams to root for. Let’s dive in …
The Teams You Know:
Creighton -
2023 Record & Result: 26-6 (15-3 Big East) NCAA Tournament Second Round
Jim Flanery’s Bluejays are back and almost completely reloaded save for Emma Ronsiek, who transferred to Colorado State to spend her final year of eligibility playing with her sister Hannah. But everyone else that made this Creighton team go last season is back. Lauren Jensen, the Bluejays leading scorer (17.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.1 APG) is back as is another All-Big East first team selection in Morgan Maly (15.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.4 APG). While Ronsiek constitutes a big loss from a production perspective — she averaged 16.8 points per game last year — there are plenty of returning rotational players to be able to fill in the gaps. I’m intrigued by Division II transfer Brooke Littrell, who comes in from the University of Central Missouri. At 6’2, she averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and was a multi-time WBCA DII All-American. There’s a clear jump up in competition but Flanery’s system in Omaha sets up players like Littrell for success. While they might not be knocking off a team like UConn, Creighton is the clear number two in this conference and has plenty of firepower for another second round (or better) run come March.
UConn -
2023 Record & Result: 33-6 (18-0 Big East) NCAA Tournament Final Four
The time is now for Paige Bueckers. After injuries hampered the middle of her college career, the superstar guard is back, healthy and with a full complement of talent around her. The story of UConn for the last couple of years have been brittle bones and awful injury luck. Whether it’s been Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Aubrey Griffin, Ayanna Patterson, Caroline Ducharme or Jana El-Alfy, the list is long and brutal. If any team has been a ‘what if’ in the past few years, it’s been the team in Storrs. With that said, Geno Auriemma still has a bit of a magic touch. The Huskies managed to lock down USC superstar JuJu Watkins in the Elite Eight before falling to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa in the dying seconds. Now, UConn is back and (hopefully) will remain fully healthy. Princeton transfer Kaitlyn Chen feels like a massive pickup in the offseason to help balance the floor with Bueckers and adds another scoring option. There’s plenty of size and versatility, from KK Arnold to Big East Freshman of the Year Ashlynn Shade. The only real question is the depth behind a true center in the 6’5 El Alfy. But there are plenty of good forwards to rotate; Patterson, Ice Brady and 2024 top overall HS recruit Sarah Strong. Barring injury, the Huskies are a legit national champion contender behind their star guard who has been on a summer tour for the ages.
The Teams to Watch:
Butler -
2023 Record & Result: 15-17 (6-12 Big East) WNIT Second Round
The Bulldogs feel like they have the chance to surprise some teams in the Big East this season. Head coach Austin Parkinson has led a couple seasons of improvement and with a lot of returning talent, they could make a run into the conference top 4. Leading scorer Caroline Strande (15.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.7 APG) returns while defensive stalwart Ari Wiggins comes back to anchor the backcourt. If you boxscore watch this team, their offensive numbers look pretty grim but then factor in that Butler are among one of the slowest paced teams in the country. Belmont transfer Kilyn McGuff, a 6’0 guard who was a consistent starter last season down south, will provide an injection of offense (roughly 35% 3PT and 9.0 PPG). What helps the Bulldogs is that Marquette and Villanova may be rebuilding and if there were ever a year for Parkinson to show a proof of concept that a rebuild is starting to come to fruition, it’s this season.
Georgetown -
2023 Record & Result: 23-12 (9-9 Big East) WBIT Second Round
Darnel Haney managed to rally the Hoyas after unimaginable tragedy last season. Playing for head coach Tasha Butts, who passed away from cancer just before the season started, top assistant Haney pulled everyone together for a 20 win season and a magical run in the Big East Tournament. That was enough to get them into the WBIT — the new NIT, essentially, just run by the NCAA — where they fell in the second round. While there are some notable losses, including leading scorer and rebounder Graceann Bennett and fellow starter Alex Cowan, they return Big East Sixth Woman of the Year Brianna Scott and postseason star Kelsey Ransom. Keep an eye on former Richmond star Siobhan Ryan, who transferred in this year. 2024 was a year built on emotion and togetherness, there are some things to like with Georgetown but it’ll be interesting to see what the program looks like at equilibrium.
Providence -
2023 Record & Result: 13-21 (6-12 Big East) WNIT Second Round
Erin Batth is in her second season as a D1 NCAA women’s basketball coach and with that comes the full build of a Providence program that is in need of a bit of juice. The good news is, there isn’t that much in the way of departed players with just rotational pieces Kendall Eddy and Laryn Edwards heading out. Even better news? Kylee Sheppard, one of the top players in Friar Town, will be back after a season ending injury prematurely wrapped up her 2024 campaign. Olivia Olsen, the leading scorer and rebounder from last year, is also staying put for one final run. Grace Efosa (12.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.3 APG) and Brynn Farrell (10.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.0 APG) are also back to bolster the front and back court. Providence didn’t make a huge splash in the transfer portal but they managed to grab Mackayla Scarlett (13.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.6 APG) from Xavier as well as Davai Matthews, a 6’3 forward from Long Beach State who brings some flashes of a developing inside game. Like Butler, it feels like Providence has the type of roster that can excel while so many other regular top half programs are rebuilding. Can the Friars turn it into a run that puts them back in the conversation? Find out this year!
Villanova -
2023 Record & Result: 22-13 (11-7 Big East) WBIT Runner-up
In the span of two years, the Wildcats have lost their two most vital cogs of their 2023 Sweet 16 run. Maddy Siegrist wrapped up her rookie year in the WNBA while Lucy Olsen was the transfer of the offseason heading to Iowa. Olsen, in 2024, averaged 23.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game. She did almost everything. On top of that Christina Dalce, the other star of last year’s Nova team, is headed to Maryland. So what is Denise Dillon to do? The Wildcats scheme is built around centerpiece scorers but there’s not really anyone on the team that does what Siegrist or Olsen can do. The best potential bet is Brongh Power-Cassidy (16.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.8 APG) , an Irish 5’10 guard who was a star at Holy Cross. Returning starter Maddie Webber will be an important component of the backcourt while Denae Carter is on the floor after missing last season with an injury. Santa Clara transfer Lara Edmanson, a 6’0 forward who averaged 7.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, will also likely be called on to fill the gaps. Much like Marquette, this feels like a rebuild with pieces that aren’t the stars that both schools have been used to centering. Dillon has managed to guide Villanova to success the last five years but what she does without two program altering talents will be something to watch this coming year.
The Rest of the Field:
DePaul -
2023 Record & Result: 12-20 (4-14 Big East)
First of all, prayers up to Doug Bruno. The Blue Demons head coach will be on medical leave indefinitely while he tends to the things that matter most. For those that don’t know, Bruno is an absolute legend and one of the unsung good guys of the game. As for his team, this will be an interesting season with Anaya Peoples graduating and heading overseas. Transfers Katlyn Gilbert and Brynn Masikewich expended their final years of eligibility as well. So you have Jorie Allen (11.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG) will be getting a sixth year and joins Kate Clarke (9.8 PPG, 37% 3PT) as the major returning firepower. But it’s definitely something of a youth movement in Chicago. There are six freshmen on the roster and two transfers. Arizona State forward Meg Newman has shown flashes in Tempe and a past stop in Tuscaloosa and could thrive in the more fast paced DePaul offense while Taylor Johnson-Matthews was a top scorer at Pearl River Community College. It’s been a long time (1974-1975) since the Blue Demons had three straight losing seasons. The hope is that Bruno heals up and has time to right the ship before some questions about the program start coming into focus.
Marquette -
2023 Record & Result: 23-9 (11-7 Big East) NCAA Tournament First Round
Head coach Megan Duffy took over for Kenny Brooks at Virginia Tech, meaning the Eagles lost their up-and-coming star program builder. So Marquette went and got a former assistant, Cara Consuegra, who had a relatively successful tenure at the University of Charlotte. Predictably when a coaching change happens, the roster turnover was extensive. Longtime star Liza Karlen transferred to Notre Dame, sophomore shooting guard Mackenzie Hare headed to Iowa State while Nia Clark left for Cincinnati. Consuegra then brought Olivia Porter with her from Charlotte as well as Georgia Tech forward Jada Bediako and Syracuse shooting guard Kennedi Perkins, to name a few. All in all, six new faces joined the roster. Expect this to be a rebuilding year for Marquette. There’s interesting pieces but almost everyone on the roster are or were rotational players. There’s bound to be some that rise to the occasion but they probably won’t be punching above their weight the way they’ve done in past years.
Seton Hall -
2023 Record & Result: 17-15 (8-10 Big East) WBIT First Round
Tony Bozzella has always had some fun talent but it’s now been eight years since the Pirates have made the NCAA Tournament. Will this be the year? It really depends on if the transfers manage to gel, as that’s been this staff’s bread and butter over the last few years. Gone is Azana Baines (14.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.5 SPG) and Kae Satterfield (9.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.2 APG) as well as second leading scorer Micah Gray (11.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG) who transferred to Oklahoma State. But there are some pieces coming in that are worth noting. Maryland transfer Faith Masonius gets a medical redshirt while Kaydan Lawson checks in from Virginia. The one to watch here, for my money, is Nicole Melious. A near legendary New York City prep career on Staten Island brought the 5’8 guard to La Salle, where she averaged over 10 points per game and was an A-10 All-Rookie. Does that mean she is able to be a force in the Big East? Time will tell. But the Pirates have pieces. The issues is melding transfers which can always be a hit and miss game.
St. John’s -
2023 Record & Result: 18-15 (11-7 Big East) WBIT Second Round
A bad start in 2024 doomed a chance for the Johnnies to end up in the NCAA Tournament. They lost non-con games to Monmouth, VCU, UCF and Jackson State. The hope is that Joe Tartamella’s crew won’t be doing that again this year. But it will be hard to replace their two top scorers in Unique Drake and Jillian Archer, who are both playing abroad professionally now. Like Butler, they’re another team where the per game stats don’t tell a full story as they are one-of-if-not-the slowest teams in the country. There’s a couple interesting transfers to keep an eye on — 6’2 Dutch forward Jade Blagrove (8.4 pPG, 7.1 RPG) comes over from Manhattan and 5’9 guard Arianna Vanderhoop (10.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG) transfers from Monmouth — as well as a few returners in Ber.Nyah Mayo (10.9 PPG, 3.5 APG, 32 starts) and Jailah Donald. Offensively, it can’t get that much worse than it did last season. The Red Storm scored 87.8 points per 100 possessions against Top 200 teams. That is … well, it’s bad. If that ticks up slightly then there’s no reason to believe that St. John’s won’t be right back in the NCAA Tournament bubble conversation the way they’ve been in the past.
Xavier -
2023 Record & Result: 1-27 (0-18 Big East)
Billi Chambers first year in Cincinnati was, to be kind, an absolute nightmare and partial shitshow. The injury hit the team so bad they had to cancel two games and had to draft in an Xavier volleyball player just to have bodies to practice. They ended up 1-27 last year and lost on average by more than 25 points pergame. So, yeah, not much to expect here. There are five freshman on the team and the Musketeers lost a good chunk of players to the portal (could you blame them?) but there are a couple interesting transfers that are coming in. Sacramento State’s Irune Orio was a fun piece of a rebuilding Hornets program before coming to Xavier. Petra Oborilova played for Chambers at Iona and will be trying to help bolster her program now. I don’t think much will get better for the Musketeers and they are a long way away from the heydays of Kevin McGuff but … I guess it can’t get worse than 1-27, right?
The Three Best Players You Know:
Paige Bueckers (UConn) - 21.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.1 SPG
2024 WBCA, AP, USBWA, Wooden All-American First Team
2024 Big East Player of the Year
2024 All-Big East First Team
2021 Wooden Award Winner
2021 Naismith Trophy Winner
2021 AP Player of the Year
Azzi Fudd (UConn) - (2022-2023) 15.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.8 APG
2022 Big East All-Freshman Team
Lauren Jensen (Creighton) - 17.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.1 APG
2024 All-Big East First Team
The Five Best Players You Need to Know:
Morgan Maly (Creighton) -
2024 All-Big East First Team
KK Arnold (UConn) - 8.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.2 APG
2024 Big East All-Freshman Team
Brianna Scott (Georgetown) - 8.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.1 BPG
2024 Big East Sixth-Woman of the Year
Olivia Olsen (Providence) - 13.7 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.5 BPG
2024 All-Big East Second Team
Nicole Melious (Seton Hall) - 10.9 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 0.9 APG
2024 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team
Cinderella Story:
Providence - On paper, this is the team to watch as a sneaky top three or four team in the Big East this season. It’s pretty clear that UConn and Creighton will be going 1-2 but everything below that is a crapshoot. I’m not sold on Villanova and Marquette will likely be rebuilding. Georgetown feels like the next best choice but there is something about all the returning players for Providence that gives me a good feeling about how this year can go. Typically with coaches in rebuilds, this is what the first breakthrough season looks like. But the catch is always that the chemistry has to be there. If it’s a good culture being built in Friar Town, I have no reason to believe that Erin Batth can’t take this group of talented players and make a run. It would also be cool for Batth, who has been a long time assistant from NC State to VCU to Michigan and is the first Black woman to be the head coach of Providence. They’re one to root for this year and who knows? Maybe you look up in February and see them hovering near 20 wins. That’s what it feels like it can be.