{"id":109935,"date":"2024-11-30T13:35:59","date_gmt":"2024-11-30T18:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=109935"},"modified":"2024-11-30T13:35:59","modified_gmt":"2024-11-30T18:35:59","slug":"most-improved-big-east-players","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/30\/most-improved-big-east-players\/","title":{"rendered":"Ball, Joplin Among the Most Improved Big East Players"},"content":{"rendered":"

There were plenty of talented freshmen and impact transfers joining Big East teams. But some returning players have made quite an early impression. There is no lack of candidates for the most improved Big East player in the early stages of the 2024-25 season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

UConn, Butler, Seton Hall, Marquette, Providence, and St. John’s are teams that have benefited from the improvement and bigger roles for returning players. <\/span>Big East play will begin<\/span><\/a> on Dec. 10 when Providence plays at DePaul. Despite its struggles at the <\/span>Maui Invitational<\/span><\/a>, UConn is still the <\/span>favorite to win the Big East<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ball, Joplin Among the Most Improved Big East Players<\/b><\/h2>\n

Things will heat up soon for Big East teams when the <\/span>Big 12-Big East Battle<\/span><\/a> gets underway next week. It could give some of the most improved Big East players a chance to shine in games sure to attract national attention.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not many people who follow college basketball had DePaul as one of the last remaining undefeated teams in the Big East while Creighton, Seton Hall, UConn, and Villanova are struggling to stay over .500. <\/span>UConn losing<\/span><\/a> all three games in the Maui Invitational is among the biggest surprises in the college basketball universe this season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s take a look at the most improved Big East players so far this season. Keep an eye on these players as they capitalize on bigger roles moving forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Solomon Ball, UConn Huskies<\/b><\/h3>\n

There were questions about who would fill the scoring void when four UConn starters headed to the NBA. It didn’t take long to realize that sophomore guard <\/span>Solomon Ball<\/span><\/a> was ready to make his presence felt.\u00a0<\/span>Ball got off to a decent start as a freshman, with 35 points in his first five games. However, he played less than 10 minutes in 15 of his last 16 games as a freshman.<\/span><\/p>\n

What a difference a year makes. Ball is UConn’s second-leading scorer, with an average of 12.9 points in the first seven games of the season. He has been in double figures in each of those games and scored 16 points on two occasions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Solo. Ball. pic.twitter.com\/ujgqsZ2nCS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 UConn Men’s Basketball (@UConnMBB) November 25, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n