For the second time in the last three years, the Big East only sent three men’s basketball teams to the NCAA Tournament.
That should change in 2027, and not just because the field is expanding from 68 teams to 76, creating seven new at-large bids along with the auto-bid for the new Pac-12 Conference.
The league, wide open behind UConn, St. John’s and Villanova last year, didn’t shy from spending this offseason. The number of national title contenders may stay the same and there will still be some bottom-feeders, but there should be more parity in the middle of the standings with the way rosters have been constructed.
The Big Three should stay strong under the direction of Dan Hurley, Rick Pitino and Kevin Willard, but Bryan Hodgson has made some big moves to bring Providence back into the picture, and Shaka Smart dipped into the transfer portal to supplement some of the needs at Marquette. Could Creighton return to the dance in its first year under Alan Huss? Will a strong transfer class help Richard Pitino turn Xavier into a challenger? And just how far can Chris Holtmann take DePaul?
A breakdown of the roster changes in the Big East during this busy offseason:
UConn
2025-26 result: 34-6 (17-3 Big East), National runner-up
Coach: Dan Hurley (Ninth season)
Key departures: Alex Karaban, Tarris Reed Jr., Malachi Smith, Jaylin Stewart, Eric Reibe
Key returners: Braylon Mullins, Silas Demary Jr., Jayden Ross
Additions: Najai Hines, Nik Khamenia, Nils Machowski, Colben Landrew, Junior County, Egor Amosov, Oskar Giltay
UConn could have one of the best backcourts in the country with Demary and Mullins returning, and will be a legitimate contender because of it. The questions come in the frontcourt for the Huskies, where Alex Karaban and Tarris Reed Jr. have been replaced by Nik Khamenia, Najai Hines and an unproven group of reserves.
St. John’s
2025-26 result: 30-7 (18-2 Big East), dual Big East champion, Sweet 16
Coach: Rick Pitino (Fourth season)
Key departures: Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell, Bryce Hopkins, Oziyah Sellers, Dylan Darling, Joson Sanon
Key returners: Ian Jackson, Ruben Prey, Lefteri Liotopoulos
Additions: Tounde Yessoufou, Donnie Freeman, Kyle Cuffe Jr., Avery Brown, Quinn Ellis, Lazar Stojkovic, Djordije Jovanovic, Babacar Sane, Theo Edema
Donnie Freeman’s Achilles injury was a major blow to St. John’s roster this offseason and now the Johnnies’ backcourt will be their strong suit after sending Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell and Bryce Hopkins to the NBA. Tounde Yessoufou, a gifted scorer as a freshman last season at Baylor, was a major pickup on the night of the NBA draft early-entry withdrawal deadline.
Villanova
2025-26 result: 24-9 (15-5), Round of 64
Coach: Kevin Willard (Second season)
Key departures: Acaden Lewis, Bryce Lindsay, Duke Brennan, Devin Askew, Malachi Palmer
Key returners: Tyler Perkins, Matt Hodge
Additions: Kwame Evans Jr., Devin Royal, Elijah Crawford, Luigi Suigo, Jake Fiegen, Darryl Simmons II, Adam Oummidoch
Kevin Willard got Villanova back to the NCAA Tournament in Year One and will essentially start over in his second year on the job with a talented batch of newcomers that includes KJ Evans Jr., a former top-15 prospect, along with Devin Royal from Ohio State and Luigi Suigo, a top Italian prospect who will give the Wildcats a strong starting five.
Providence
2025-26 result: 15-18 (7-13 Big East)
Coach: Bryan Hodgson (First season)
Key departures: Jaylin Sellers, Jason Edwards, Stefan Vaaks, Jamier Jones, Corey Floyd Jr., Oswin Erhunmwunse
Key returners: Ryan Mela
Additions: Miles Byrd, Malik Mack, Devin Vanterpool, Arrinten Page, Dink Pate, Clyde Walters, Samson Aletan, Ryan Sabol
Ryan Mela is the lone returner in Providence as former USF coach Bryan Hodgson looks to turn things around for the hungry fanbase in Friartown. Hodgson was aggressive in signing Pate from the G League soon after he was hired in March, and then adding experience and scoring with players like Sabol, Byrd, Vanterpool and Mack.
Creighton
2025-26 result: 16-18 (9-11)
Coach: Alan Huss (First season)
Key departures: Josh Dix, Nik Graves, Blake Harper, Owen Freeman, Fedor Zugic
Key returners: Jackson McAndrew, Jasen Green, Austin Swartz, Isaac Traudt, Hudson GreerAdditions: Oswin Erhunmwunse, Wes Enis, BJ Davis, Kayden Edwards, Katrelle Harmon, Trevon Carter-Givens, Wesly Rosa
Injuries and roster turnover spoiled Greg McDermott’s final season in Omaha as the Bluejays failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Huss was named coach in waiting before last season, he was able to have some continuity to build around.
Marquette
2025-26 result: 12-20 (7-13)
Coach: Shaka Smart (Sixth season)
Key departures: Chase Ross, Ben Gold, Sean Jones, Tre Norman, Zaide Lowery
Key returners: Nigel James Jr., Royce Parham, Adrien Stevens, Damarius Owens, Ian Miletic
Additions: Alex Egbuonu, Ethan Johnston, Nolan Minessale, Sananda Fru, Nash Walker, Colton Crowdis
Last year turned into a disaster for Marquette, though the Golden Eagles still managed to spoil UConn’s share of the Big East regular season title. Ross is the most significant departure, though Smart has continued to retain key players like Nigel James Jr., and is now using the portal (still less than most) to address additional needs.
Xavier
2025-26 result: 15-18 (6-14)
Coach: Richard Pitino (Second season)
Key departures: Tre Carroll, Malik Messina-Moore, Roddie Anderson III, Filip Borovicanin, All Wright
Key returners: Jovan Milicevic, Gabriel Pozzato
Additions: Chance Westry, Ruben Dominguez, Mike Nwoko, Tru Washington, Rolyns Aligbe, Nikos Chitikoudis, Kalek House, Asher Elson
After a decent first year at Xavier, Richard Pitino clearly wanted more this offseason when he signed a class ranked No. 38 in the country by 247Sports – second to UConn in the Big East.
DePaul
2025-26 result: 16-16 (8-12)
Coach: Chris Holtmann (Third season)
Key departures: CJ Gunn, NJ Benson, Brandon Maclin, RJ Smith, Kaleb Banks
Key returners: Layden Blocker, Kruz McClure
Additions: Magoon Gwath, Ade Popoola, Kahmare Holmes, Noah Meeusen, Wilson Jacques, Koree Cotton, Noah Smith
The rise of DePaul under Holtmann has the program in position to sign players like Gwath, a 7-footer from San Diego State, and Popoola, a 40% 3-point shooter from Tulsa, as they look to build on the Blue Demons’ best season in almost 20 years.
Georgetown
2025-26 result: 16-18 (6-14)
Coach: Ed Cooley (Fourth season)
Key departures: Vince Iwuchukwu, Julius Halaifonua, Malik Mack, KJ Lewis, Isaiah Abraham
Key returners: Caleb Williams, Kayvaun Mulready
Additions: Jaland Lowe, Josiah Parker, Vyctorius Miller, Chol Machot, Elmarko Jackson, Justin Caldwell, Pedro Pastre
A pivotal season is ahead for Ed Cooley at Georgetown, where the turnaround hasn’t gone to plan. Building on a year-to-year basis, Cooley brought in a fresh group that has potential to rise in the Big East, and it has to.
Seton Hall
2025-26 result: 21-12 (10-10)
Coach: Shaheen Holloway (Fifth season)
Key departures: Najai Hines, Adam “Budd” Clark, AJ Staton-McCray, TJ Simpkins, Mike Williams, Elijah Fisher, Stephon Payne
Key returners: Trey Parker
Additions: Del Jones, Devin Williams, Kareem Thomas, Mihailo Petrovic, Rodney Brown Jr., Roddie Anderson III, Simeon Wilcher, Mayar Wol, Darien Moore
Seton Hall exceeded expectations last year, finishing fourth in the league after being picked to finish last in the preseason. Shaheen Holloway faced the same roster-building challenge this offseason with significant turnover and a lack of NIL resources… Can he do it again?
Butler
2025-26 result: 16-16 (7-13)
Coach: Ronald Nored (First season)
Key departures: Michael Ajayi, Finley Bizjack, Jamie Kaiser Jr., Yohan Traore, Azavier Robinson
Key returners: Jalen Jackson, Drayton Jones
Additions: Jordan Ellerbee, Christian Moore, Treyson Anderson, Eduardo Klafke, Samis Calderon, Herly Brutus, Marko Maric
Another program struggling to compete on the NIL side of things, Butler may take another step back after Thad Matta’s retirement. The Bulldogs made an intriguing hire in alum Ronald Nored, who made back-to-back national championship appearances as a player and has been an NBA assistant for several years, though he has very limited college coaching experience.
