The Big East men's basketball landscape is shifting as we look ahead to the 2026-27 season. Last year, it was a clear two-horse race with UConn and St. John's dominating the conference, leaving the rest of the pack scrambling in their wake.
Villanova showed signs of life in Kevin Willard's first season, climbing back into the conversation and helping the conference secure three NCAA Tournament bids. But the Wildcats never truly challenged the top tier, and their postseason run ended abruptly with a first-round loss to Utah State. Meanwhile, Seton Hall overachieved under Shaheen Holloway but couldn't stack enough non-conference wins to crack the March Madness bubble, ultimately declining other postseason invites.
The rest of the conference struggled mightily—eight teams finished below .500 overall. KenPom rankings placed the Big East last among the five power conferences, trailing the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC. There was even a noticeable gap between the Big East and the Mountain West, highlighting just how far the league has to climb.
But here's the good news: this offseason suggests a rebound is coming. UConn, fresh off their third national championship game appearance in four years, is reloading. Dan Hurley retained a core trio featuring Silas Demary Jr.—a legitimate Big East Player of the Year candidate—alongside Braylon Mullins and Jayden Ross. Add four transfers and two top-50 freshmen who should contribute immediately, and the Huskies look poised to contend again.
St. John's took a different approach. Rick Pitino didn't dominate the transfer portal like last year, but he went international—hard. With his dominant frontcourt trio of Zuby Ejiofor, Dillon Mitchell, and Bryce Hopkins moving on, the Hall of Famer added Beacon Falls native Avery Brown from Columbia and Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman (a former UConn target). The Johnnies will feature at least seven international players, including British point guard Quinn Ellis and a 7-foot Serbian standout.
The Big East may have taken a step back last season, but with UConn reloading and St. John's retooling, the race for the top is far from over. Can anyone else close the gap? We'll find out soon enough.