Early Big East Breakdown - St. John's and UConn are on a collision course + Power Rankings

We’ve got a lot to get to. St. John’s and UConn are on a collision course. Rick Pitino’s roster looks like a high-major All-Star team, and Dan Hurley is reloading with talent that fits his system like a glove. Those two are headed for fireworks. Shaka Smart? He’s about to face his greatest challenge yet at Marquette. No more Tyler Kolek. No more Oso Ighodaro. This will be a pure coaching job — and it’ll tell us a lot about where the program stands. And then there’s Villanova and Georgetown. Two of the most storied programs in the Big East — and quite frankly, the league needs them to matter. The Big East is better when the Wildcats and Hoyas are in the mix. Jon dishes his full preseason power rankings — from St. John’s at No. 1 to Seton Hall at 11 — along with projected starting fives, key newcomers, and a few names you’re going to want to remember come February. Plus, he hands out his preseason awards, including Player of the Year, All-Big East First Team, and his sleeper pick to shake things up. Jon takes your questions and your takes in the live chat — let’s make this a conversation. And before we wrap, Rothstein has three nuggets you need to know: — Bryce Hopkins averaged 17 and 7 in just three games last year. He’s back and healthy. — It’s been over 1,200 days since Villanova played in an NCAA Tournament game. — And DePaul? Quietly returns nearly 49% of its scoring from last season. Only UConn returns more. Let’s talk Big East basketball. 0:00 Intro 1:45 3 Big Things 17:15 Big East Power Rankings 30:30 Live Chat 35:00 3 Good Nuggets #CollegeBasketball #CBB #NCAA #BigTen #SEC #ACC #EyeOnCollegeBasketball #JonRothstein 🎥 WATCH • Subscribe to this channel:    / @cbssportscbb   • Watch CBS Sports HQ: https://cbssports.com/live • Watch CBS Sports Network on your TV or the CBS Sports App with your cable provider 🎧 LISTEN • Stream and follow Eye on College Basketball & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vk8wq9... • Download and follow Eye on College Basketball & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... • Stream and follow Inside College Basketball Now with Jon Rothstein & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t03SRm... • Download and follow Inside College Basketball Now & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 📱FOLLOW • Twitter:   / eyeoncbbpodcast   • Instagram:   / cbssportscbb   • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cbssportscbb?... ▶︎Gary Parrish:   / garyparrishcbs   ▶︎Matt Norlander:   / mattnorlander   ▶︎Jon Rothstein: https://x.com/JonRothstein 📖 READ • More college basketball news: https://www.cbssports.com/college-bas... 🛍️SUPPORT • Shop our merch: https://www.paramountshop.com/collect... 💵BETTING • For everything CBS Sports Betting: https://www.cbssports.com/betting/ • Find the best sportsbooks: https://www.cbssports.com/betting/new... • Get the latest sportsbook promos: https://www.cbssports.com/betting/new... 🎙ABOUT EYE ON COLLEGE BASKETBALL CBS Sports’ official college basketball podcast is the most entertaining and informative of its kind. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander bring the sport into your ears at least three times per week with commentary, reporting, insider information and statistical analysis throughout college basketball all year long. 🎙ABOUT INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW We're also the home for Inside College Basketball Now, hosted by Jon Rothstein. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops. From breaking down the biggest storylines to in-depth interviews with the top coaches in the country, this podcast is your all-access pass to the pulse of the game — 365 days a year. This. Is. March… and everything in between.