This is an exciting but also dangerous time in the world of college basketball. The impact from college basketball changes are making an impact from coast to coast, and the Big East is not immune from the changing landscape of college sports.
There has been discussion of the football powerhouses breaking off from the rest of the NCAA Division I programs to form their own league. St. John’s men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino believes college basketball should consider a super league idea of its own. Also, the ever-evolving ramifications of the transfer portal can’t be overlooked. Those were among the conversations at the recent Big East media day.
Reigning conference and national champion UConn was picked to win the Big East. Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner was named the preseason Big East Player of the Year. However, that was not the only thing of note to come out of Big East media day. Plenty of big-picture subjects were also raised in New York. Eight Big East teams will play when the regular season begins on Nov. 4. That includes St. John’s playing at home against Fordham as all eight Big East teams will have home games.
College Basketball Changes Being Felt in the Big East
It was a challenging first season for Ed Cooley at Georgetown. The Hoyas finished 2-18 in Big East play. The only two Big East basketball wins came against last-place DePaul. The won-loss record is one of the areas that Cooley and the Hoyas want to improve on when it comes to college basketball changes.
"If we don't evolve, we will dissolve"
-Georgetown men's bball coach Ed Cooley on NIL and transfer portal
On portal: "…hasn't taught people how to have resilience and resolve… failure is good sometimes… I don't think our kids know how to fail today"@nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/nRYfC80k2B
— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) October 15, 2024
There are 14 new players on the roster for Georgetown. The Hoyas do return leading scorer Jayden Epps, but there are many new faces for a Georgetown team looking to make some noise in the Big East this season.
“I think the staff has done a good job assembling the group that will be able to compete with the best in our league,” Cooley told the Last Word on Sports at Big East media day.
“I think the biggest difference is that we, as a staff, firmly know how to live in Washington. We understand the philosophy of Georgetown and the mission of Georgetown. [At Georgetown) we’re trying to build an identity. We are in a more comfortable place; we are comfortable but not content. We are comfortable to compete.”
Georgetown had the No. 23 rated class of transfers, according to the 247sports.com transfer portal database. The only Big East program rated higher was St. John’s.
Hoyas Busy On the Recruiting Trail
Georgetown had to be active in the transfer portal in constructing the 2024-25 roster. The Hoyas added forward Jordan Burks from Kentucky, TCU’s Micah Peavy, and Louisville’s Curtis Williams. Another newcomer to watch is former Harvard guard Malik Mack. Add in a large freshman class, and things will look much different for the Hoyas this season. They are just one of the teams addressing college basketball changes.
“In order to continue to grow, you have to evolve with change, and I think we have adjusted to that,” Cooley said. “I think we need to lean into the change. I think it is something that annually, you will probably lose 4-5 players a year given the complexity of college sports.”
Each of the Big East basketball programs utilizes the transfer portal in different ways. There will be transfers who will vie for spots on the All-Big East teams at the end of the seasons. Some transfers will provide depth, especially for the top teams.
Pitino In Favor Of College Basketball Changes
Dan Hurley of two-time defending national champion UConn joined Pitino as the two most popular coaches to interview when the media gathered in New York. Both addressed a variety of topics at the event in New York. Pitino has high hopes for his team as he heads into his second year coaching the Red Storm. He also addressed some of the potential college basketball changes.
The popularity of the NFL has trickled down to college football. Most of the conference realignment decisions are based on current and future success in football. That won’t change even if the Big East wins the next 10 college basketball national titles. Football calls the shots. However, the needs of basketball programs can’t be ignored.
Hall of Fame Coach In Favor Of Proactive Thinking
It wasn’t always that way. Pitino is nearing the end of a remarkable coaching career, so he likely won’t have to deal with the next wave of change. That didn’t stop him from speaking on how he would like to see some proactive thinking resulting in college basketball changes.
“It took a young man [Shabazz Napier] being hungry at Connecticut to get the rules changed,” Pitino said. “The NCAA has never been proactive, they have always been reactive. If you want to expand basketball, you have to be proactive. Any successful business has to be proactive.”
Pitino understands that the money brought in by big-time college football programs can’t be ignored. It is not an issue in the Big East. UConn is the only Big East team playing football at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. St. John’s last fielded a football team in 2002. The other Big East schools that play college football don’t compete at the FBS level.
Rick Pitino gives his thoughts on how conferences should be aligned:
"I would make it more regional than anything else. A super league of 18 teams to define the future of college basketball would be great." pic.twitter.com/tvChWtR5Me
— SNY (@SNYtv) October 23, 2024
“I don’t begrudge football,” Pitino said. “Back when I first started coaching, college football and college basketball were in the same [place]. Football has taken over the world. Basically, we have to be proactive to make us relevant.”
The Big East isn’t planning to address a Super League idea any time soon. Nevertheless, it is something to keep an eye on if the football powers break away from the rest of the Division I programs. Pitino is no stranger to college basketball media days. His idea did add some excitement to the gathering of the coaches, players, and media in New York.
