Rutgers Recruiting

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (2/8/2008)

The Backyard Brawl certainly had an exciting finish as Pittsburgh pulled one out against West Virginia, leaving Bob Huggins flabbergasted at the result.

Rutgers gets on the 2009 recruiting board with a big commitment. Luke Harangody is dominating the Big East, will be try and dominate the NBE in the future?

Villanova has hit rock bottom and will have to play through their growing pains quickly to jumpstart their season.

Louisville and Georgetown are headed to a Saturday Primetime showdown, Georgetown then has to turnaround quickly for a ‘Big’ Monday, such is like for the biggest Big East beast.

Connecticut is getting it done with defense. A couple Big East notebooks to peruse and a couple New Jersey high school stars look like they are McDonald’s All-Americans.

Later this afternoon we will update our Big East Conference RPI Ratings and analyze the remaining schedules of the 16 teams.

Pittsburgh 55 West Virginia 54
In one of the most agonizing editions of the Backyard Brawl, the 174th edition ends on a Ronald Ramon three-pointer as time expires to give Pitt a win as This Brawl Goes to the Panthers (Observer-Reporter), 55-54.

The loss, the third in four games for West Virginia left Bob Huggins frustrated as his Mountaineers Collapse at the Finish (Charleston Gazette) as they missed free-throws and a defensive gaffe in the final seconds allows Pitt’s Ramon to Deliver the Dagger (Tribune-Review) and a key win for Pitt.

Call This a Bad Loss for WVU (Charleston Gazette) as the Mountaineers saw their two leading scorers, Joe Alexander and Alex Ruoff, combine for just 10 points, 19 under their collective averages, and the Mountaineers shot just 7-17 from the foul line in the game.

Pitt was not much more effective, missing many open shots themselves. DeJuan Blair struggled finishing inside, shooting just 3-13 from the floor. He did grab 12 rebounds. Sam Young and Keith Benjamin each scored 10 points to lead Pitt. However, the key was that all eight Panthers that played scored at least four points.

Darris Nichols scored 16 for WVU and Joe Mazzulla added 15 off the bench, but it was not enough as Ramon, Pitt Edge WVU on a night where WVU pulls defeat From the Jaws of victory (Times West Virginian).

On another Pitt note, junior point guard Levance Fields was cleared by doctors to begin practicing with the team. Fields’ hope was to return to the line-up in one week when the Panthers face Marquette on the road, but that might be too aggressive of a timetable, however, the trainers feel the injury is healed enough to begin basketball activities.
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Earlier this morning we had a Big East Recruiting Update: Rutgers as the Scarlet Knights have received a verbal commitment from a highly regarded 2009 prospect in the Northeast.
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Luke Harangody is quietly dominating the Big East. On the season, ND’s 6’8 power forward is averaging 20 ppg and 10 rebounds a contest, numbers that balloon to 24 pts and 12 rebounds a game in conference play, both of which leads the Big East.

So, with all this success, is the Irish sophomore thinking about the NBA? According to his coach and teammates, the NBA is not something the quiet star seems comfortable with yet. However, NBA Talks Begins to Follow Harangody (South Bend Tribune) and will likely continue as he piles up the numbers in the Big East.

However, the NBA is not usually in a hurry for 6’8 (at most) post players that aren’t the model of long, lean and athletic with 3-pt range. It’s unfortunate that being a very good basketball player with excellent fundamentals is not always enough. Continue to enjoy college Luke, as it looks like you are!
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The Chicago Tribune takes a look at what is happening around the Big East as Connecticut leads their ‘Who’s Hot’ category as the Price is Right for UConn.

When you think of UConn and past success, you always attach offense and scoring points to their success. However, their recent winning streak it has been their play on the other end of the court that is the biggest key to their victories. Defense is at Root of UConn Winning Streak (TheDay.com) that is up to six games heading into this weekend’s non-conference match-up with Georgia Tech of the ACC.
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The Villanova Wildcats hit bottom on Monday night during a 77-55 loss to city-rival St. Joseph’s at the Palestra. Now, we will see if the ‘dead-cat’ can bounce as Villanova Needs a Jumpstart to End Losing Streak (Inquirer), which has reached five straight games.

The Wildcats find themselves with just three league wins and currently sharing 13th (and 14th) place with St. John’s. Not very good, especially since only 12 of the 16 Big East teams will qualify for the conference tournament at Madison Square Garden in March.

Coach Jay Wright remains positive that his senior-less squad will be alright and that ’Nova is Suffering Growing Pains (phillyburbs.com) right now. With Seton Hall at home this weekend, then a brutal stretch ahead that includes games with Georgetown (Monday night) Connecticut, Louisville and Marquette…they better grow up quick or they will be watching the Big East Tournament on TV. Pretty unbelievable for a team that has spent a good portion of the season ranked in the Nation’s Top 25!
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The Hartford Courant also has their weekly Big East Notebook and looks forward to the weekend slate of games where a Padgett-Hibbert match-up Looms Large as Louisville and Georgetown meet on ESPN’s Primetime spotlight game.

I know this league is made for TV. However, can the conference really ask Georgetown to play Saturday night at 9 PM in Louisville (KY) and then again on Monday night back in DC when they host Villanova? Crazy! Of course, both games are on ESPN…

However, with the Hoyas Being the Big East’s Big Beasts (Louisville Courier-Journal) that is going to be the TV demand dictating your schedule. I guess that is a better position than that of St. John’s or Rutgers…
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Marcus Sikes was a key cog in Cincinnati’s attack last season, an attack that was not very productive, going 2-14 in the Big East. This season, deeper talent and more options in the post has Sikes Adjusting to Lesser Role (Cincinnati Enquirer) as his production has dropped from 9.5 PPG and 5 rebounds a game last year to just 3.4 and 3.3 this year.
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Mike Rosario is the best player on what is likely the best high school team in the country and Samardo Samuels is the best player on one of the top few teams in the country. Both players are headed to the Big East next season and Adam Zagoria also says Rosario and Samuels Have Been Names McDonald’s All-Americans (zagsblog).

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