Villanova will once again be the team to beat in the Big East, but this will be a team looking to replace one of the best players and the biggest hero of head coach Jay Wright's 16 years on the Main Line. The losses of Josh Hart, Kris Jenkins, and Darryl Reynolds left some holes to fill in the Wildcats' starting lineup, but they do have a track record of keeping guys in school while replacing important players immediately.

Two players that will be crucial in this effort for a fifth straight conference title will be preseason second-team All-American point guard Jalen Brunson and swingman Mikal Bridges. While Bridges played more of a complimentary role last season, Brunson was a leader in training, ranking second on the team in points per game (14.7) and first in assists per game (4.1).

There are some question marks when it comes to the rotation for the Wildcats. Fourth-year junior guard Phil Booth will need to come back fully healthy after red shirting last year with a knee injury, while freshman big man Omari Spellman will have to contribute quickly as Villanova lacks proven depth in the frontcourt.

Villanova is a strong candidate and the favorite to take the Big East title again, but they will certainly have their work cut out for them.