2025-26 Big East Thread

[Uncle Rico]

I know this was reported before, but it looks official now.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7205002/2026/04/17/pope-notre-dame-villanova-basketball-vatican/

Hoops with the Pope: Villanova, Notre Dame to open season in Rome, visit Vatican

By then, we should have an antipope

[PJDunn]

We definitely have an anti-pope. Speaking of DC, is Georgetown in full meltdown mode? The Providence fans must be over the moon with the absolute Cooley collapse.

[1990Warrior]

Big East basketball transfer portal news: Which players are in, on move

It would be nice to have some interpretation of all of this movement - at least if the result is better/worse roster.

[K1 Lover]

It would be nice to have some interpretation of all of this movement - at least if the result is better/worse roster.

The Big East is going to be much, much better next year. While UConn and St. John's continue to look strong, Marquette, Providence, Xavier, Creighton, and even DePaul have each been making significant roster upgrades through the portal and should be far more competitive than they were this season.

I haven't caught up with how Villanova or Butler are doing so someone else can answer that, but if I had to guess, I'd give Nova the benefit of the doubt and fade Butler.

As for SH and Georgetown, I've heard more bad than good with the portal. Hopefully that turns around.

[burger]

We definitely have an anti-pope. Speaking of DC, is Georgetown in full meltdown mode? The Providence fans must be over the moon with the absolute Cooley collapse.

What is Cooley's buyout at the end of the year.....With this collapse you know he is "so gone"....

He has been Bull $hitting people for so long.....What comes around....Comes around.....And the portal has come around.....

[Scoop Snoop]

What is Cooley's buyout at the end of the year.....With this collapse you know he is "so gone"....

He has been Bull $hitting people for so long.....What comes around....Comes around.....And the portal has come around.....

I forgot the cost, but I believe that DFW Hoya addressed that when I asked why GT ponied up for Cooley. I think he said that the previous prez/administration did that. If I remember correctly, Cooley's buyout drops quite a bit in one more year. I think DFW thought that the current prez/administration would not spend big for a replacement.

DWF, please show up in case I have this wrong.

[nyg]

The Big East is going to be much, much better next year. While UConn and St. John's continue to look strong, Marquette, Providence, Xavier, Creighton, and even DePaul have each been making significant roster upgrades through the portal and should be far more competitive than they were this season.

I haven't caught up with how Villanova or Butler are doing so someone else can answer that, but if I had to guess, I'd give Nova the benefit of the doubt and fade Butler.

As for SH and Georgetown, I've heard more bad than good with the portal. Hopefully that turns around.

I don't see UCONN and ST. Johns continuing to look strong at this point.  SJU has lost its entire roster except Jackson and has no portal guys as yet.
Uconn has lost everybody, including Stewart yesterday, lone exception is Solo Ball, but picked up a center in Hines from SH.  Lot of time left for them, SJU was in same spot last year, with only Zuby coming back.

[The Sultan]

I don't see UCONN and ST. Johns continuing to look strong at this point.  SJU has lost its entire roster except Jackson and has no portal guys as yet.
Uconn has lost everybody, including Stewart yesterday, lone exception is Solo Ball, but picked up a center in Hines from SH.  Lot of time left for them, SJU was in same spot last year, with only Zuby coming back.

UConn picked up Nik Khamenia today.

[Zog from Margo]

UConn picked up Nik Khamenia today.

He'll likely true to lure Hamilton to UConn as well.

[K1 Lover]

I don't see UCONN and ST. Johns continuing to look strong at this point.  SJU has lost its entire roster except Jackson and has no portal guys as yet.
Uconn has lost everybody, including Stewart yesterday, lone exception is Solo Ball, but picked up a center in Hines from SH.  Lot of time left for them, SJU was in same spot last year, with only Zuby coming back.

Are you still using Internet Explorer? If not, you may want to hit refresh on whatever browser you're using.

St. John's has commits from two EuroLeague players, one of which has been in the G-league. Not portal additions per se, but additions, nonetheless.

Silas Demary Jr announced days ago he's returning, and Braylon Mullins hasn't made an official decision on whether or not he's leaving yet. Though it's been reported that Hurley is willing to pay him more than whatever he'd make in the NBA next year. And as mentioned above, they now have two portal additions, plus two high school recruits ranked #22 and #36 nationally.

Edit: speak of the devil, Mullins just announced he's returning.

[nyg]

UConn picked up Nik Khamenia today.

OK, good for them. Didn't see that.
K1 just replied with a nasty post, but could have just said the same as you. 

[K1 Lover]

OK, good for them. Didn't see that.
K1 just replied with a nasty post, but could have just said the same as you. 

Yep, very nasty. Except there's more than just Khamenia.

[nyg]

Are you still using Internet Explorer? If not, you may want to hit refresh on whatever browser you're using.

St. John's has commits from two EuroLeague players, one of which has been in the G-league. Not portal additions per se, but additions, nonetheless.

Silas Demary Jr announced days ago he's returning, and Braylon Mullins hasn't made an official decision on whether or not he's leaving yet. Though it's been reported that Hurley is willing to pay him more than whatever he'd make in the NBA next year. And as mentioned above, they now have two portal additions, plus two high school recruits ranked #22 and #36 nationally.

Thanks for the response.  Why nasty, no clue but I only missed Demery. If a poster misses a player or a fact, just respond like Sultan did.  Was aware of the SJU Euro guys and mentioned in another thread yesterday after Darling and Odih left.  No portal guys, and no one knows anything about Euros players.  Like I said, still early and I presume UCONN will survive and SJU did it last year.

[K1 Lover]

Thanks for the response.  Why nasty, no clue but I only missed Demery. If a poster misses a player or a fact, just respond like Sultan did.  Was aware of the SJU Euro guys and mentioned in another thread yesterday after Darling and Odih left.  Not portal guys, and no one knows anything about Euros players.  Like I said, still early and I presume UCONN will survive and SJU did it last year.

No hard feelings here. Text on a screen is easy to misinterpret. It was meant to be read lightly and humorously, not insultingly.

[MU82]

Though I'm really really worried about them, I'm thinking that somehow Hurley and Pitino will come out of this ok.

[Uncle Rico]

Though I'm really really worried about them, I'm thinking that somehow Hurley and Pitino will come out of this ok.

Well, Hurley is also getting Mullens back

[nyg]

No hard feelings here. Text on a screen is easy to misinterpret. It was meant to be read lightly and humorously, not insultingly.

Fair enough, but insulting it was and it happens way too often here.  Appreciate your acknowledgment.  Like I said, at this point, not at end of portal recruitment process, SJU is hurting now and UCONN making strides with acquisitions.  The final roster constructions of all these BE teams is just crazy.  Enjoy the excitement.

[Jay Bee]

Well, Hurley is also getting Mullens back

Hopefully not Mullins too!

[Uncle Rico]

Hopefully not Mullins too!

UConn has an unlimited budget for roster construction

[Jay Bee]

UConn has an unlimited budget for roster construction

BS! Everyone plays by the rules!

[NickelDimer]

Well, Hurley is also getting Mullens back

Wild

https://x.com/joetipton/status/2045624150648049942?s=46

[Its DJOver]

Nyg softer than Ben/Matt/katin/insert white guy here. Have bad info, get called out.

[79Warrior]

Fair enough, but insulting it was and it happens way too often here.  Appreciate your acknowledgment.  Like I said, at this point, not at end of portal recruitment process, SJU is hurting now and UCONN making strides with acquisitions.  The final roster constructions of all these BE teams is just crazy.  Enjoy the excitement.

Rick will get it done.I suspect both teams you are talking about will be top third in the BE this season.

[K1 Lover]

https://247sports.com/Season/2026-basketball/TransferTeamRankings/

The analyst bros can share whether Evan Miya does something similar since I'd trust his data more, but as far as team rankings go with respect to the transfer portal, 247 Sports currently has six Big East teams in the top 21. (SEC with seven, the rest of the P4 with three each.)

#6 Providence
#7 Villanova
#8 Xavier
#19 Creighton
#20 Depaul
#21 (tie) UConn
--
#31 Marquette w/ Minessale

Obviously it's still early and this is only a transfer ranking, not a power ranking, so this should be taken with a grain of salt. But for general perspective purposes, I think it's safe to say things are looking up for the league.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

https://247sports.com/Season/2026-basketball/TransferTeamRankings/

The analyst bros can share whether Evan Miya does something similar since I'd trust his data more, but as far as team rankings go with respect to the transfer portal, 247 Sports currently has six Big East teams in the top 21. (SEC with seven, the rest of the P4 with three each.)

#6 Providence
#7 Villanova
#8 Xavier
#19 Creighton
#20 Depaul
#21 (tie) UConn
--
#31 Marquette w/ Minessale

Obviously it's still early and this is only a transfer ranking, not a power ranking, so this should be taken with a grain of salt. But for general perspective purposes, I think it's safe to say things are looking up for the league.

Unlike most people I see talking about portal rankings you actually added some context.

Not sure why so many people fail to recognize a highly ranked portal class is often because retention was garbage.