Cincinnati Recruiting, DePaul Recruiting, Pittsburgh Recruiting, Rutgers Recruiting, St. John's Recruiting

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/11/08)

If your a Big East junkie, there might be too much information for even you to handle today in the News & Notes section below. There are numerous stories on Big East teams, players and coaches as we head to Madison Square Garden for the Big East Conference Tournament. Some teams look back at why they are not going and others prepare for what they hope is a lengthy stay in Manhattan.

There is some rumblings about Indiana possibly looking at a Big East head coach as well as some news on current Indiana commitments looking elsewhere. Also, several Big East schools are showing interst in a recent de-commitment from Harvard. Harvard? Yes!

Early this afternoon we will unveil out Big East Bloggers 2007-2008 season awards. Check back to see who our season-long panel of ‘experts’ have picked as the top players and award winners.

Click below to check out all the info on this BUSY Tuesday!

Desmon Conner of the Hartford Courant has an excellent article on how the Hoyas’ Family Ties Lead to Titles. Georgetown head coach John Thompson III is following in some mighty big footsteps of his father, John Thompson II, and has put Georgetown back in a familiar place in the Big East…the top.
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Twelve months ago, he was home in Staten Island, N.Y., while serving a university-imposed suspension stemming from an arrest for marijuana possession. Yesterday, the comeback for Notre Dame junior guard Kyle McAlarney was complete when teammate Rob Kurz sent him a text message informing him he was named to the Big East’s 1st Team All-League squad by the coaches. The Text Makes McAlarney’s Day (South Bend Tribune) and he joins sophomore teammate Luke Harangody on the 11-player 1st team.

The coaching carousel usually starts to pick up steam this time of year as season’s begin to end for programs all across the country. Although their season is still going strong, the biggest seat on the coaching carousel this year will be attached to the Indiana job. Mike Hutton of the Gary Post-Tribune has some advice for Notre Dame coach Mike Brey if Indiana calls: ‘Go South and Don’t Look Back’. Hutton feels that Brey is Too Good for Ungrateful Irish and would win big at IU.
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For 10 consecutive weeks, Villanova found themselves ranked in the Top 25 and reached a spot as high as #17 prior to the start of the Big East season. That seems like quite some time ago as the young Wildcats have seen their shares of ups and downs during conference play, but clawed back to 9-9 in the Big East. Now, they head to Madison Square Garden and the Big East tournament with some work to do in order to make it back to the NCAA Tournament. Villanova is Trying to Resurrect Their Season (Philadelphia Inquirer). For that resurrection to have any chance, Villanova Needs to Beat Syracuse (Inquirer) on Wednesday afternoon in the opening game of the tournament.

Villanova, Syracuse Set for Showdown (Newsday) that is huge for both teams. There was some bad bubble news last night and the pressure could be on as Two Wins Could Earn Orange NCAA Bid (Rochester D&C) and only a victory Wednesday would put them in a very precarious situation. It looks as though the Orange are Finally Clicking (Auburn Citizen) with wins over Seton Hall and Marquette to close the regular season, but they have definitely left themselves with work to do.

One area Syracuse will look to exploit against Villanova on Wednesday is inside where Arinze Onuaku could have a Serious Influence (Post-Standard) on the outcome.
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From 1992 through 1997, Rick Pitino and the University of Kentucky basketball team treated the Southeastern Conference men’s tournament as their own personal playground, winning 17 of the 18 games they played in by an average margin of victory of 21 points. It is certain that Pitino Knows What Conference Success Looks Like (Louisville Courier-Journal) although the Big East has been a tougher event to navigate for him and U of L Men Could Face Tough path to Title in Big East Conference Tournament (Courier-Journal).

“When you think about it, it’s tougher than the first three rounds of the NCAA (Tournament),” Louisville coach Rick Pitino said yesterday. “Because you’re never going to get a first-round game like Pittsburgh, a team as big and talented as that. Or as tough a team defensively as Cincinnati.”
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Welcome to ‘Huggs Town’ (Times West Virginian) was a slogan that carried a lot of uncertainty with it prior to the season, but after an 11-7 debut in the Big East Conference, Bob Huggins has made it work at his alma mater as WVU is Still Exceeding Expectations (Charleston Gazette).

Joe Alexander averaged just under 16 points per game for most of the season, then in the final three games had a combined 93 points – 32 each against Connecticut and Pitt and 29 on Saturday against St. John’s and for those efforts, the 6’8 junior from Mt. Airy (MD) was named to the all-Big East 1st team by the leagues coaches. Alexander Was Honored by the Big East (Charleston Gazette) and will look to lead the Mountaineers into the postseason.

West Virginia will take on Providence in the 5-12 game Wednesday afternoon at Madison Square Garden in the opening round of the Big East Tournament. The Friars will hope for a Third’s Time Charm (Martinsburg Journal) as they dropped two games to the Mountaineers in the regular season.
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Sam Young and DeJuan Blair were constants in a roller-coaster season for the Pitt Panthers. Yesterday, Young and Blair Earned Big East Honors (Post-Gazette) as Young was named first-team all-Big East in a vote of the league coaches and freshman center DeJuan Blair earned honorable mention in the all-league voting and was a unanimous selection to the all-rookie team.

Freshman Wall?? Not for DeJuan Blair as the Panthers’ Blair is Breaking Down Barriers (Beaver County Times) and continuing to smile and enjoy the ride.
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Pittsburgh will take on Cincinnati Wednesday night in the Big East Tournament. UC has wilted down the stretch, losing five straight, but their 8 conference wins showed a lot of progress this season so, Paul Daugherty tells Bearcat Fans to Keep the Faith (Cincinnati Enquirer) as better days should be coming.

Frank Ben-Eze shocked many on the college basketball world by spurning offers from Big East schools such as Marquette and West Virginia, along with heavy interest from Notre Dame in order to attend school in the Ivy League. Now the Highly Regarded Center is No Longer Set to Attend Harvard (NY Times) and Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, DePaul and Rutgers, among others, have already called about his status.

Ben-Eze is an aggressive, strong and athletic 6’10 big man that is rapidly developing. He did not start playing basketball until age 15 and the native of Nigeria played this season at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington, Va. He battled injuries and tore a knee ligament in the season’s final game, but that is unlikely to stop the major college programs from pursuing one of the best available big men talents at the high school level.
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Another high profile recruit who looks to be on the move is likely Devin Ebanks. He could have some company as it looks like another IU signee, Terrell Holloway could opt out as well. Ebanks Will Visit Indiana and Evaluate Options (zagsblog) while the Hoosiers play in the Big 10 Tournament. Schools like Texas, Memphis and Rutgers look likely to be considered as well.

Holloway had interest from St. John’s prior to committing to Indiana, the native New Yorker also looks likely to evaluate any new options out there.

Injuries and playing out of position has become old-hat to Providence College junior forward Geoff McDermott. Through it all, PC’s McDermott Makes Most of Situation (Sun Chronicle) and continues to fill the stat sheet.
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JR Inman had a tough year. The junior forward seemed to be the target of criticism often from head coach Fred Hill, but the winning shot in Sunday’s game against Seton Hall definitely made for a Sweet End to Inman’s Bitter Year (Star-Ledger).
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Justin Burrell definitely had a freshman season that many before him have had. Feelings of frustration, shock and confusion were common, but through it all, Middletown’s Burrell was a Bright Spot for a Bad St. John’s (Herald News) that finished 5-13 in the Big East and did not qualify for the conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. The 6’8, 235 lb forward averaged 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and yesterday was one of 11 players named to the Big East all-rookie team.
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As 12 other Big East teams bustle off to New York for the conference tournament, the DePaul Blue Demons seem more like a frustrated traveler stranded at O’Hare Airport. They were one of four conference teams—South Florida, St. John’s and Rutgers were the others—whose late check-ins kept them grounded. They can point to Sunday’s 98-79 loss at Pittsburgh as the reason, but the truth is DePaul struggled All Year (Chicago Tribune) and for the second time in three years since coming into the Big East, they are left home from the conference tournament.
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Bobby Gonzalez was certainly as high strung as ever on Sunday afternoon during the Seton Hall-Rutgers contest. His post-game comments directed at official Wally Rutecki also could land him with a reprimand from the conference as the Big East is Probing Ref Rip (Star-Ledger). Rutecki’s name was also brought to public light when Jim Calhoun was publicly reprimanded in December after his comments towards Rutecki after the UConn coach was ejected from a game against Northeastern.
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It was another long season for the South Florida Bulls, but Kentrell Gransbeery and Dominique Jones had good individual seasons and yesterday Gransberry Was Named All-Conference (Tampa Tribune) and Jones was named to the all-rookie squad.
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The Connecticut Post sums up the coming week with their Big East Tournament Guide.
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Jerry Carino does his part Breaking Down the Big East Tournament at his Hoops Haven Blog.