UConn is right back where they always are, perched atop the Big East preseason poll, a unanimous pick that honestly shocks no one. This team is just built different, year in and year out. They’ve snagged the regular-season conference title 25 times and the Big East Tournament crown 24 times, pulling off both feats every single year since they rejoined the conference back in 2021. Geno Auriemma’s squad rolls deep, and with preseason Big East Player of the Year Sarah Strong leading the charge, you just know they mean business.
Sarah Strong Is On A Whole Other Level
Seriously, Sarah Strong is a force of nature. This junior didn’t just win one, she scooped up *both* the conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards last season. And if that wasn’t enough, she was also named the AP Player of the Year. Her impact is undeniable, and it shows in the team’s record: UConn went a mind-blowing 38-1 last season, including a perfect 20-0 run in conference play. That’s not just dominance; that’s practically flawless. You have to wonder how anyone in the Big East even prepares for that kind of consistent excellence. It’s a dynasty, pure and simple, and Strong is at the absolute heart of it.
Who Else Is Stepping Up? And The Off-Court Shake-Up
While UConn feels like a lock, there are other teams in the Big East who are definitely making some noise. Villanova got picked second, and they’ve earned it, coming off their fifth consecutive 20-win season where they made it all the way to the Big East Tournament title game. Their leader, Jasmine Bascoe, put up serious numbers last season, averaging 18.9 points and 4.0 rebounds. That kind of consistent production is huge. Rounding out the top five, we’ve got Creighton, St. John’s, and Seton Hall, all looking to prove they belong. Marquette, Providence, Georgetown, and Xavier are next in line, with Butler and new head coach Maria Marchesano, along with DePaul, filling out the rest of the poll. It’s clear the conference is deep, but the gap to UConn still feels massive.
Off the court, the Big East saw some changes at its annual media day. This year, the event was held at a local New York hotel, a departure from Madison Square Garden, which had hosted it every year since 2014. We also saw new conference commissioner Tim Brosnan presiding over the event, taking the reins from Val Ackerman, who retired at the end of August after serving as the head of the conference from 2013-26.
Villanova gets things rolling with a tough season opener against Notre Dame in Rome, part of the Eternal City Tip-Off. That’s a true test right out of the gate. Can any team, even with strong talent like Bascoe, consistently challenge UConn’s reign this year? Only time, and a whole lot of gritty basketball, will tell. Get ready, because the Big East season is about to kick off!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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