Welcome to The Holy Land of Hoops

Stinks they made Goodman an insider. I usually like his commentary, just not enough to pay for it.

The new Big East is as difficult a league to project as any in the entire country. Butler, Xavier and Creighton have joined seven programs from the old Big East to form a "basketball-centric league" that doesn't have much separation from No. 1 to No. 8. Even the bottom of the league has made strides and won't be a compete walkover.

There's no clear favorite. Creighton brings back a superstar, Georgetown lost its stud, Marquette will be a factor despite significant turnover, and Villanova returns the core from a team that went dancing a year ago. St. John's and Xavier should be improved after sub-par seasons, while coach Ed Cooley could have Providence in the hunt. We haven't even mentioned a Butler team that no longer has Brad Stevens at the helm.

Plenty of questions abound -- and we help answer them in our Big East Preseason Power Rankings.

1. Marquette Golden Eagles
Buzz Williams and the Golden Eagles lost a bunch of last season's team. Vander Blue made a poor decision and decided to leave school early, and the team also lost true point guard Junior Cadougan and fellow starter Trent Lockett. However, this program has been pretty successful since Williams took over five years ago, going to the NCAA tournament and winning at least 22 games each season. Marquette will need Jamil Wilson to step into a starring role, and he's certainly more than capable.

One thing Williams does possess is two quality, veteran big men in Davante Gardner and Chris Otule. The key could come at the point guard position where junior Derrick Wilson and freshman Duane Wilson will battle for the starting spot. Marquette brings in a talented five-man recruiting class that should help, one that includes long and talented Memphis wing JaJuan Johnson and strong Milwaukee native Deonte Burton.

2. Creighton Bluejays
I'm not sure there is a head coach in the country who had a better offseason than Greg McDermott. First came the news that his kid, who also happens to be one of the elite players in the country, decided to return for his senior season in Omaha. Doug McDermott is a star in any league, and is as prolific and proven a scorer as there is in the nation. Then came the news that Grant Gibbs, a terrific leader and one of the most cerebral players, was granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA because of his previous injuries.

Creighton will have to find a way to replace big man Gregory Echenique, but this is a team that returns four players that started all 36 games a year ago. Look for 6-foot-11 junior big man Will Artino to see more time, and while he won't rebound or take up space like Echenique, he will improve the spacing on the offensive end due to his ability to make shots.

3. Villanova Wildcats
The lone significant loss for a Wildcats team that won 20 games and went to the NCAA tournament is Mouphtaou Yarou, who averaged 9.9 points and 7.8 rebounds as a senior big man. Coach Jay Wright has the program back on track, and even though there is no clear-cut star, the chemistry is improved from a couple of seasons ago and the pieces fit. If JayVaughn Pinkston can become more consistent, Nova could contend for the league title.

Ryan Arcidiacono had a strong freshman campaign running the team, and he's worked on his conditioning in the offseason. James Bell and Darrun Hilliard both know their roles and Daniel Ochefu should slide into Yarou's spot in the middle. While Ochefu won't give the Wildcats the same rebounding presence, he'll provide more offensive skill. Don't be surprised to see freshmen Josh Hart and Kris Jenkins make an immediate impact, along with Rice transfer Dylan Ennis, who can come off the bench and add scoring from the wing spot.

4. Georgetown Hoyas
Otto Porter is gone. Greg Whittington was supposed to be back, but a torn ACL in the offseason likely will shelve him for the entire season. That means the backcourt of senior Markel Starks and sophomore D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera will have to carry the load, at least on the offensive end.

Senior big man Nate Lubick is the ultimate glue guy, but he'll have to be more offensive-minded, as will junior wing Jabril Trawick. Another X factor, in addition to Trawick's production, is whether UCLA transfer Josh Smith can make an impact. He's exceptionally talented and has lost weight, but it's still to be determined how he fits into the Princeton offense once he becomes eligible.

5. Xavier Musketeers
It wasn't a typical Xavier season in 2012-13 after coach Chris Mack lost Tu Holloway and Kenny Frease to graduation, Mark Lyons to Arizona and Dez Wells to Maryland. Still, the Musketeers managed to win 17 games and finish 9-7 in the Atlantic 10. Now it's a new league, and Mack has more talent on hand. It all starts with Semaj Christon, who could be the best point guard in the conference. He'll have more help this season with the addition of big man Matt Stainbrook, who lost about 30 pounds sitting out last season following a transfer from Western Michigan.

Xavier returns juniors Dee Davis and Justin Martin, and senior Isaiah Philmore. They also add Myles Davis and Jalen Reynolds, both of whom were ineligible last season. The Musketeers have a star and enough depth, but the key might be whether Stainbrook can become a force in the paint.

6. St. John's Red Storm
Steve Lavin brings back just about everyone from last season's team that won 17 games and was 8-10 in league play. D'Angelo Harrison has been reinstated after being suspended for the tail end of the season, and he'll remain the focal point on the offensive end.

The Red Storm also bring back athletic forward JaKarr Sampson (14.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG); one of the elite shot-blockers in the nation in Chris Obekpa; junior guard Phil Greene (10.1 PPG); and Sir'Dominic Pointer and Jamal Branch. That's a nice core, and Lavin also will add skilled 6-9 forward Orlando Sanchez, a native of the Dominican Republic who could make an impact this season.

7. Providence Friars
I know Friars fans don't want to hear it, but the departure of Ricky Ledo will be addition by subtraction. Sure, he was talented, but I'm not sold he ever would have bought into the team concept Cooley is putting together in Providence. Cooley had virtually no depth a season ago, but that will change now despite losing guard Vincent Council. Kris Dunn is healthy and will be paired with Bryce Cotton in the backcourt.

Don't be surprised if freshman guard Brandon Austin finds his way into the starting lineup. The Friars have Kadeem Batts (14.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG) and LaDontae Henton (13 PPG, 8.3 RPG) up front and add two transfers in Tyler Harris (NC State) and Carson Desrosiers (Wake Forest) who should be able to help. Cooley now has the depth and versatility on his roster to get the Friars into the NCAA tournament this season.

8. Butler Bulldogs
Brad Stevens is off to the NBA, and he's been replaced by Brandon Miller, who has a chance to be a terrific head coach for the Bulldogs. However, this is a daunting task, having to replace Boy Wonder while entering a new league without a proven point guard. Butler will have to replace Rotnei Clarke and his scoring ability, as well as veteran big man Andrew Smith, a key contributor to Butler's magical run the past four seasons.

Miller will rely on versatile forward Roosevelt Jones, senior forward Khyle Marshall and sophomore shooter Kellen Dunham. But the concern is who can run the team. Jones could handle the ball a ton because freshman Rene Castro isn't a pure point, and neither are any of the holdovers on the roster (i.e. Alex Barlow, Jackson Aldridge).

9. Seton Hall Pirates
Kevin Willard's team will depend heavily on its young local backcourt of Sterling Gibbs and Jaren Sina. Gibbs sat out last season and likely will take the reins at the point after barely playing as a freshman at Texas. Sina is a highly regarded freshman who initially chose to play at Northwestern prior to a coaching change.

The Pirates need Fuquan Edwin to get back to what he was two seasons ago on the defensive end, but he's still one of the best two-way players in the league. Willard also will have a veteran frontcourt tandem of undersized big man Eugene Teague and talented power forward Brandon Mobley. However, ultimately it'll come down to the backcourt -- and whether Gibbs and Sina are ready to take Seton Hall back to where it's competing for a postseason bid.

10. DePaul Blue Demons
I'm not sure whether the Blue Demons will make a move in the league, but one thing is for certain: Oliver Purnell's team will win more than two conference games. DePaul's two best players are back and both are seniors: guard Brandon Young (16.7 PPG) and Cleveland Melvin (16.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG).

Purnell also brought in one of the most talented freshmen in the league in long guard Billy Garrett Jr., son of assistant coach Billy Garrett. The offseason addition of Purdue transfer Sandi Marcius will provide an extra physical body along the front line. DePaul finished with 11 wins overall and just a pair in league play last season. Those numbers should climb in 2013-14, but I'm just not sure whom it can pass in the conference standings.

This is some very good reading material for fans of our new schools. I cannot wait for November to arrive.

Seeing a talented STJ 6th and Butler 8th, it makes you realize once again how good this league is. And what a fine line separates the top 8.

The Johnies have some scary good athletes on that team-I personally don't see them finishing 6th.