College Basketball: Big East Player of the Year Week 14 Power Ranking
We are at the midway point of conference play in the college basketball season. Players are starting to play their way into different tiers of conversation. So I figured it to be a good time to go ahead and start putting out conference power rankings. So I am going to do that this week. Look across five or six different college basketball conferences throughout the week – one per day – and lay out the mid-conference season power ranking for each.
Today, we are talking Big East. So as we look across the college basketball landscape, here are my Big East Player of the Year power rankings from Week 14.
READ: SEC Player of the Year Week 14 Power Ranking | ACC Player of the Year Week 14 Power Ranking
1. G Tristen Newton, UConn
The Buzz: UConn is a pretty complete team, with size, shooting, depth, and length. However, everything they have done to this point this season has rotated around Tristen Newton. The 6-foot-3 senior was the team’s leading scorer in last season’s National Championship game. He entered this season with a lot of confidence, and he has continued to improve throughout the season, averaging 15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists in Big East play. UConn is the No. 1 ranked team in the country, and it is Newton who leads them in points, rebounds, and assists.
2. G Tyler Kolek, Marquette
The Buzz: Tyler Kolek is the reigning Big East Player of the Year, and he has kept his Marquette team ranked in the top ten. He has a steady style of play that brings confidence to those around him. When the Golden Eagles have needed a scorer, Kolek has stepped up. When they need a facilitator to feed another hot hand, Kolek has played that role. His 7.2 assists lead the Big East and his 1.7 steals is fifth. He has also played his best basketball when Shaka Smart has needed him the most.
3. G Devin Carter, Providence
The Buzz: Devin Carter is listed at 6-foot-3 and his 7.9 rebounds per game is tied for third in the Big East. Carter has seamlessly taken the reigns as Providence’s go-to player. The junior guard is also averaging 18.6 points per game, which is second in the conference. Carter has taken his game to another level during Big East play putting up 21.8 points and 3.7 assists on 48.8 percent shooting from the field and 38.2 percent from three. Even with the Friars currently below .500 in Big East play, Carter’s play has him firmly in this conversation.
4. F Baylor Scheierman, Creighton
The Buzz: One look at any Creighton box score and you see Baylor Scheierman’s impact across all categories. The 6-foot-7 wing is leading the No. 19 ranked Bluejays team in points and rebounds while sitting in second in assists and steals. Schierman is a career 39.1 percent shooter from three on 5.4 attempts in his 149 career games. Scheierman brings a reliable hand to the floor and someone who can contribute, consistently, across the board.
5. G Cam Spencer, UConn
The Buzz: The fifth spot for Big East Player of the Year had a couple of names in the conversation. Along with UConn’s Cam Spencer, Marquette’s Oso Ighodaro, and Creighton’s Trey Alexander, each has a very intriguing resume. However, at the end of the day, Spencer has been a steady force for the No. 1 team in the country, all season. On the year, he is averaging 15.3 points and shooting 44.8 percent from three. The ball does not stick in Spencer’s hands as evidenced by his 3.2 assists per game. He also brings a competitive fire to the floor for the Huskies, along with the necessary spacing and ball movement.