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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (5/12/2008)

We take a quick break from sorting through notes and articles from a busy weekend of AAU action to quickly bring Big East fans up to speed with what is happening around the conference. John Thompson III is quietly and calmly weathering the storm of roster movement that has hit the Hoyas since ending their season against Davidson in the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament.

The spring IS* playoffs are heating up and the future Big East players are showing off their talents. Pitt recently joined SHU and Rutgers in offering a 2010 New Jersey guard. Maurice Sutton has a visit to a Big East school up next before he decides on a college destination. Justin Crosgile has plenty of Big East schools interested in his future services, he has a leader…is it a Big East school? Another impact transfer takes a look at Notre Dame and keno Davis is excited to jump into what many believe as the Big East’s toughest job.

After three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, back to back Big East regular season championships and a 100-36 record the last four seasons, the Georgetown Hoyas will have a brand-new look next season. Their season came to a close with a loss to Pittsburgh in the Big East Tournament final and an upset loss in Round 2 of the NCAA Tournament at the hands of Davidson. That game marked the end of the career for graduating seniors Roy Hibbert, Jonathan Wallace, Pat Ewing Jr and Tyler Crawford and, surprisingly, transfers such as Vernon Macklin and Jeremiah Rivers, both expected to play bigger roles next year.

Now, with the realization that recruit Chris Braswell will need additional time to prep prior to enrolling at Georgetown, the Hoyas are down to nine scholarship players for next season. Head coach John Thompson III is Calmly Weathering the Losses (Washington Times), but the lack of experience and depth is going to but the Hoyas to the test each and every night in the 2008-2009 Big East.

Not too long ago, we wondered how the Hoyas were going to fit all the talent onto their roster. Commitments were coming left and right, but the attrition (5 of 7 players who would be juniors or seniors in 08-09 have transferred out) that is so common in college basketball has left Georgetown with nine available scholarship players, seven of which are expected to be contributors in the Big East.

There is still a very talented core group of players suiting up for coach Thompson, but it does not look like we will be expecting a regular season championship three-peat out of Georgetown next season.

The future of the Big East was on display at Round Two of the IS8 Spring playoffs over the weekend. Among the impressive performers were Mike Rosario (Rutgers), Ashton Gibbs (Pitt), Travon Woodall (Pitt), Kemba Walker (UConn) and Jordan Theodore (Seton Hall). Adam Zagoria writes that Rosario, Theodore Star at IS8 (zagsblog) with Rosario scoring 18 of his 21 points in the second half leading the Playaz to an 86-85 win over the New Heights 2010 squad. Woodall added 17.

Ashton Gibbs pored in a game-high 41 points for New Heights, but it was not enough as Theodore and Kemba Walker each scored 30 for the Gauchos Seniors in a 103-93 win for the Gauchos.

Hoops Weiss also stopped by the IS8 playoffs and goes over the Who’s Who of Local Talent Starring at IS8 Playoffs (NY Daily News) and referred to Gibbs 41-point outburst, which included nine straight three-pointers as the performance of the day.
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Adam Zagoria also updates readers on the recruitment of Plainfield (NJ) 6’2 sophomore (class of 2010) guard Isaiah Epps. Pittsburgh associate head coach Tom Herrion recently watched Epps work out and left impressed, according to Plainfield High School coach Pete Vasil, Pitt Offers Plainfield’s Epps (zagsblog) a scholarship, joining Maryland Seton Hall and Rutgers among the teams offering the young star. Epps averaged 16.5 PPG and over 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals for an 18-7 team as a sophomore. He is playing for the NJ Playaz U-16 team this AAU season.
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The chase for Maurice Sutton is winding down and after a trip to the Hoosier State over the weekend where Sutton Feels the Love at Indiana (Indianapolis Star), Tom Crean’s program has moved to the top of his list. Sutton has also visited Seton Hall this spring and will take a trip to Villanova this weekend before choosing a program. Kentucky also looks to be in the race as well.
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Justin Crosgile is a popular 2009 recruit among several Big East schools as offers from Rutgers, St. John’s and Seton Hall have offered the 5’11 point guard from DePaul (NJ) Catholic High School. Adam Zagoria has a Justin Crosgile Update (zagsblog.net) where it is clear he has a leading school in the recruiting process.
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We spend a lot of time in April and May talking about transfers leaving the Big East, but there are also transfer possibilities coming to the Big East as well. Julian Vaughn looks to be coming to Georgetown, Jonathan Mitchell could pick between Rutgers and Seton Hall this week, Taylor King picked Villanova, Ben Hansbrough is headed to South Bend and Scott Martin, who announced he is leaving Purdue on April 9th, also has the Big East on his mind and could be joining Hansbrough.

After visiting Notre Dame last Wednesday and Thursday, Martin Finds a lot to Like in the Irish (Gary Post-Tribune) and places Mike Brey’s program as a potential leader for his services, along with Valpo and Butler. Martin is also considering a visit to DePaul.
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The head coaching job of the Providence Friars has long been considered the toughest in the Big East. New coach Keno Davis is Ready for the Big Challenge at Providence (Hartford Courant) and vows not to be outworked.

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