Cincinnati Recruiting, Louisville Recruiting

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (12/4/2007)

December 4, 2007

Notre might have their last chance to earn an impressive win in their pre-conference schedule tonight. They seem to be the forgotten team among the four participating in the Jimmy V Classic.

The battle of Rhode Island tips off tonight. The battle of Milwaukee has as much drama as any lopsided ‘rivalry’ could and the Pittsburgh City Game is tomorrow.

Seton Hall is still trying to get Michael Glover cleared to participate this season by the NCAA. Cincinnati hopes their freshmen begin to lead them out of the deep hole they have found themselves in. Darris Nichols is fitting in fine in the new WVU style of play. A couplee recruiting updates and a festival preview are also found today.

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The hype regarding tonight’s opening game at Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic is definitely not about the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but squarely on Kansas State and their super frosh Michael Beasley. The Irish Can’t Be Overlooked (South Bend Tribune) and are usually the media slight as a motivational edge. The oddsmakers are not fooled by the hype, however. They have made the Irish a 6-pt favorite.

Commercials and in-game voice-overs focus on Kansas State freshman power forward Michael Beasley, a potential No. 1 NBA draft pick next summer. Another fine freshman, USC swingman O.J. Mayo, has received heavy build-up while Memphis guards Chris Douglas-Roberts and Derrick Rose are touted among the nations’ elite. So much for a 4-team event, huh?

K-State Tries to Live up to Lofty Venue (Kansas.com) and although Notre Dame will be more familiar with the surroundings, Madison Square Garden has not been a home away from hom for ND by any means.

Beasley has shown he is worth the hype and the Irish Focus on Limiting Beasely (Journal Gazette) who is averaging over 26 PPG and 15 rebounds a contest.
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The big game of the season for college hoops in Rhode Island takes place tonight and the Friars, Rams are Revved up for Showdown (Providence Journal) taking place at the Ryan Center on the URI campus tonight. Providence comes into the contest with a 5-1 record and meet 8-1 Rhode Island. The Providence Journal Previews PC vs URI for the state’s bragging rights.
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Darris Nichols has always been a steady point guard, especially in John Beilein’s intricate system. When Bob Huggins took over the head coaching job at WVU last spring, he has worked with Nichols to get into the mind frame to make more plays, not just being a playmaker. The results have been positive as Nichols Has Been a Quick Study in Huggins’ System (Daily Mail).
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Seton Hall hosts St. Peter’s tonight, but the Hall Has Fingers Crossed (NorthJersey.com) that freshman Mike Glover would be able to join the team soon. Seton Hall is appealing the NCAA Clearinghouse’s decision to not certify Glover’s high school transcript from American Christian Academy (Pa.), and a source close to the program says Seton Hall feels it has a “50-50 chance” of winning the appeal.
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Upon Further Review (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) the whole ‘rivalry’ between UWM and Marquette seems to be all too one-sided and something Tom Crean has little patience with. Now, there are complaints Marquette was slow to call off the dogs in their 100-65 win last Friday. To Crean, this series is only about drama and controversy…
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Another local rivalry gets reunited tomorrow in Pittsburgh and this time around it looks as though Duquesne is No Longer an Easy Road Win for Pitt (Observer-Reporter). Duquesne will come out flying in their home gym tomorrow night.
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Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier-Journal catches up on the basketball news with a Monday Hoops Nuggets post on his blog with the newspaper. Here are the Big East points of interest:

Scotty Hopson had UK coach Billy Gillispie and assistants from Louisville and Cincinnati watching him pour in 32 points on Friday in a win over Tates Creek at the Mr. Basketball Classic.

Peyton Siva a 5’11 point junior guard from Seattle (Wash.) Franklin recently received a visit – and offer – from Louisville coach Rick Pitino.

Rakeem Buckles, a 6’7 junior from Miami Monsignor Pace, made an unofficial visit to Louisville over the weekend, taking in the Miami of Ohio game. U of L is his lone offer right now, but he’s also hearing from Cincinnati, Miami (Fla.), Florida and Florida State.
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The fans don’t like it. That much is evident by the small crowds at Fifth Third Arena, but Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin understands the frustrations, but believes his freshmen class of Rashad Bishop, Darnell Wilks, Alvin Mitchell, Larry Davis, Anthony McClain and Larry Belton, along with next year’s freshmen, Yancy Gates and Cashmere Wright, will be the group that pulls UC from the hole left from Bob Huggins’ departure. Cronin Insists Freshmen Will Improve (Cincinnati Enquirer) and progress will show THIS season.
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I95Ballerz.com gives the National High School Hoops Festival Particulars. The event takes place this weekend at Wise High School in Upper Marlboro (MD). The event is loaded with Big East commitments and targets.
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