all credit to Charlotte Carroll and C.J. Holmes:
By Charlotte Carroll and C.J. Holmes 6h ago
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Big East basketball is back, with two teams in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 (Villanova at No. 4, and UConn at No. 24). Fans are also returning to arenas across the league, undoubtedly increasing the excitement level ahead of the season’s start on Nov. 9.
We’ve heard from the coaches how they think the league will shape up and who they believe are the top players ahead of the season. Now it’s time to get input from those who take the floor.
The Athletic created a players poll that was sent to every team in the Big East, granting players anonymity so they wouldn’t be scared to give their honest assessments of the league. Players were instructed not to vote for their team, coach or arena. We had 14 participants from across the conference. This is how they see the 2021-22 Big East.
Julian Champagnie returns to Queens this season, and the Big East is all the better for it. Last year, the 6-8 forward led the conference in scoring at 19.8 points per game, helping St. John’s to a fourth place finish. He also led the team in rebounding (7.4) and shot a solid 38 percent from 3-point range. Champagnie can get a bucket just about whenever he wants. His shooting stroke is pure, among the best in the nation. Had it not been for a separated thumb and pointer finger, he’d be on an NBAor G League roster by now. Now he’s back and gets to terrorize Big East defenders for one more season.
Villanova’s Collin Gillespie (14.0 points per game in 2020-21) comes in at a close second. While the reigning co-Big East Player of the Year isn’t an explosive scorer like Champagnie, he’s quick off the dribble, dialed in from deep and can also hurt teams as a passer. When a guy can do so many things with the ball in his hands, it’s easy to see why Big East defenders can have a difficult time keeping him in front.
We’ve got a tie here with two different position players in Posh Alexander and Ike Obiagu. The sophomore Alexander took the Big East by storm — pun intended — last season. He shared Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors with Isaiah Whaley. He was the fourth freshman in league history to win the honor. Alexander led the league in steals (2.6 a game) and tied for sixth in the nation. He showed off his chops with a big night in a St. John’s upset over Villanova, keeping Gillespie in check and solidifying himself into the league’s big names to watch. He was named to this year’s preseason All-Big East second team.
Obiagu, meanwhile, is a 7-foot-2, 265-pound big man who owns the paint. He didn’t earn a preseason mention this year, but his peers might take issue with that. (He was named the Big East Scholar-Athlete of Year last season, though). Obiagu averaged 4.9 points, 4.5 boards and 2.9 blocks per game. He led the league in blocks (77 total) and is one of the top-10 rim protectors in the country.
Whaley has drastically improved as a player over his career at UConn, becoming a key piece in the paint for the Huskies last season. Nate Watson was named to the preseason All-Big East first team after leading the Friars in scoring (16.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg) last season.
Big East poll: Men’s players anonymously dish on top players, coaches and more
By Charlotte Carroll and C.J. Holmes 6h ago
Big East basketball is back, with two teams in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 (Villanova at No. 4, and UConn at No. 24). Fans are also returning to arenas across the league, undoubtedly increasing the excitement level ahead of the season’s start on Nov. 9.
We’ve heard from the coaches how they think the league will shape up and who they believe are the top players ahead of the season. Now it’s time to get input from those who take the floor.
The Athletic created a players poll that was sent to every team in the Big East, granting players anonymity so they wouldn’t be scared to give their honest assessments of the league. Players were instructed not to vote for their team, coach or arena. We had 14 participants from across the conference. This is how they see the 2021-22 Big East.
Hardest player to guard
| PLAYER | TEAM | VOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Julian Champagnie |  St. John's | 5 |
| Collin Gillespie |  Villanova | 4 |
| Zach Freemantle |  Xavier | 1 |
| Tyrese Martin |  Connecticut | 1 |
| Paul Scruggs | Xavier | 1 |
| Nate Watson |  Providence | 1 |
Villanova’s Collin Gillespie (14.0 points per game in 2020-21) comes in at a close second. While the reigning co-Big East Player of the Year isn’t an explosive scorer like Champagnie, he’s quick off the dribble, dialed in from deep and can also hurt teams as a passer. When a guy can do so many things with the ball in his hands, it’s easy to see why Big East defenders can have a difficult time keeping him in front.
Hardest player to score on
| PLAYER | TEAM | VOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Posh Alexander | St. John's | 5 |
| Ike Obiagu |  Seton Hall | 5 |
| Isaiah Whaley | Connecticut | 3 |
| Nate Watson | Providence | 1 |
Obiagu, meanwhile, is a 7-foot-2, 265-pound big man who owns the paint. He didn’t earn a preseason mention this year, but his peers might take issue with that. (He was named the Big East Scholar-Athlete of Year last season, though). Obiagu averaged 4.9 points, 4.5 boards and 2.9 blocks per game. He led the league in blocks (77 total) and is one of the top-10 rim protectors in the country.
Whaley has drastically improved as a player over his career at UConn, becoming a key piece in the paint for the Huskies last season. Nate Watson was named to the preseason All-Big East first team after leading the Friars in scoring (16.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg) last season.