While this might not be your mom and pop’s Big East, the conference is still loaded with some star studded talent and depth from top to bottom. While Villanova has become the figurehead of the program over the past few years, this season it seems like there will be a lot more programs vying for a top spot in the conference.

Butler, Georgetown, and Xavier all look to have a fine chance to make a deep run in March, while others like Creighton and Marquette look more than ready to bounce back and sit at the big boy’s table. These next few days, we will take a look at each program’s incoming freshmen class and the top newcomer to the program that will be the most important to the its success during the 2015-2016 campaign.

BUTLER

In Chris Holtmann’s first full year as the lead boss in Indianapolis, the 2015 class brings in two quality, long-term pieces that should really thrive as Bulldogs. The most important piece being thrown into the puzzle is Tyler Lewis, a transfer from NC State, who should solidify the point guard spot. The Carolina native comes to Butler in the throwback variety at the lead guard spot. He would rather create for others and make his teammates better than look for his own shot, though he has the killer handles and confident jumper that make him a threat anytime that he is out on the floor. Touching back on the 2015 class, a lot might not be expected from them right out of the gates. Stars like Roosevelt Jones, Kellen Dunham, and Andrew Chrabascz all come back to the Big East program, a program that was able to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year before bowing out to Notre Dame on their own run to the Elite Eight. This fall, Sean McDermott heads to Indy as the 6-foot-5 wing is the replacement for Dunham over the long haul. He is a lethal shooter of the ball with a polished mid-range game who should be able to learn behind such a star as the senior wing. The guy that may be the most important freshman for the year can be seen within the interior. Nate Fowler, an Ohio native and 6-foot-9 center, is really only the true center on the roster and should be leaned upon to guard such other interior forces at other Big East programs like Jesse Govan at Georgetown, Daniel Ochefu at Villanova, and Luke Fischer at Marquette. Sure, Fowler is able to score the ball from 15-feet and in where he has soft touch on hooks on the block and can hit the face-up jumper with spacing given. However, there is enough scoring punch out of the Bulldogs with the likes of Jones, Dunham, and Chrabascz, and if Fowler can supply a body and a barrier in protecting his basket and making opposing bigs work for their production within the interior, then the freshman will have done his job and just maybe, the Butler Bulldogs will be able to make another run come March.

CREIGHTON

It wasn’t the best of seasons for the Creighton Blue Jays last year. After coming off unbelievable success on the hardwood behind prolific scorer Doug McDermott, the graduation and loss of the college superstar hurt the program some but the future looks bright again in Omaha. While they picked up a star transfer in former Kansas State product Marcus Foster, who will have to sit out this season, it is another transfer guard that should really have a quality impact on the Big East program. Maurice Watson comes to Creighton after having two quality seasons at the helm of the point guard spot for Boston University and immediately becomes one of the best point guards within the conference. Add in such returning starters as Isaiah Zierden and James Miliken and this season looks to be one that will be reminiscent of past years when it comes to success on the playing floor. Now focusing on the incoming class of freshmen to campus, McDermott and his staff welcome in a quality group that is led by Khyri Thomas and Justin Patton. Thomas is a hard-nosed lead guard who has a pungent for putting up big numbers on the scoreboard. Originally committed to Toledo before taking a year to prep at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, while Thomas doesn’t have the ideal size for hiss spot on the floor, he does have the toughness, playmaking skills, and instincts that should allow for him to help out in some way in Omaha. However, the most important freshman to the team’s success this season is Justin Patton. The 6-foot-10 forward is long and agile and is great whenever the game speeds up. He sports quality athleticism at the basket and can even step out and extend the defense with jumpers out to 17-feet. A pretty lauded recruit who quickly rose up a lot of the rankings during his senior year of play, Patton is a great piece and fit at Creighton, for now and down the road. If he can serve as a threat on the glass, show that he can knock down the open jump shot, and run with the floor and produce in transition, the local recruit will have done his job and thus, enabled for Creighton to get back on track for a run in conference play.