ALL-TIME BIG EAST TOP 50 PLAYERS, Chris Dokish, Georgetown News, Villanova News

BIG EAST ALL-TIME TOP 50 PLAYERS: #41 – #39

Today we continue our countdown of the Big East All-Time Top 50 Players compiled by NBE Basketball Report recruiting analyst and staff writer Chris Dokish.

Over the course of the next four weeks, leading up to the start of the 2008-2009 regular season, our top 50 list will be revealed as we countdown to #1.

Today we continue with a look at #41, #40 and #39 on our list. Enjoy the trip through the history of the Big East.

41) Craig Smith: Boston College – ( 2002-05) Los Angeles, CA

Three years in the Big East: 18.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 55.3% FG

Four year career overall: 18.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 58.8% FG

One of the most productive big men in the league’s history, though the 6’7” 250 Smith finished his career in the ACC after Boston College bolted the league. His best offensive season was as a freshman, a rarity, as Smith averaged 19.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, and 60.3% from the field. As a sophomore, his numbers dropped some as Smith averaged 16.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg, and 55.3% from the field. But he also showed another facet of his game with 1.5 spg. As a junior, his last in the Big East, he averaged 18.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 50.4% from the field, and 1.6 spg.

In his three Big East seasons, he amassed over 1,700 points and 775 rebounds. Over his four year career, he totaled 2,349 points and 1,114 rebounds. He was also First Team all-conference after both his sophomore and junior seasons. A second round draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves, he recently finished his second season. His two year average is 8.4 ppg.
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40) Mike Sweetney: Georgetown – (2000-03) Oxon Hill, MD

Three years: 18.2 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 1.1 spg, 54.7 FG%

Player of the Year (2003)

A bruising 6’8” 275 pound beast in the low post, Sweetney had a decidedly different style of game than other great Hoyas big men. After a solid freshman season, Sweetney exploded as a sophomore averaging 19.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, and 1.7 bpg, while shooting 56.7% from the field and 78.8% from the free throw line. But that was just a warm up for his junior season, which will go down as one of the best in conference history for a big man. For the season, Sweetney averaged 22.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.5 spg, 3.2 bpg, with 54.7% from the field and 73.8% from the line.

Sweetney was fouled so often that during his junior season he actually averaged seven more points a game on made free throws. For his career, he is 11th all-time in conference history in made free throws despite only playing three seasons. For his career he amassed 1,750 points and 887 rebounds in just three seasons. His 19.6 ppg average in conference play is 11th all-time, while his 9.6 rpg average in conference play is 9th all-time. He is also one of only four players, along with Allen Iverson, Terry Dehere, and Troy Bell, that scored 35 or more points in a conference game three times, and only Iverson accomplished it in fewer seasons.

He left for the NBA after his junior season and was the ninth overall pick in the draft. Unfortunately, after three seasons, he could no longer control his weight and is now out of the league.
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39) John Pinone: Villanova – (1979-83) Hartford, CT

Three years in the Big East: 16.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 55.2 FG%, 79.5 FT%

Four year career overall: 16.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 55.7 FG%, 77.9 FT%

A scrappy, smart, all round hustler who got every bit of his talent to come out on to the floor. Pinone was a success right away in his career as he lead the Wildcats with 14.5 ppg and 7.1 rpg, while shooting 57.3% from the field. He is still the only player in the program to lead the team in scoring as a freshman. The following season Villanova joined the Big East and Pinone didn’t miss a beat by averaging 15.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, and 2.0 apg as a sophomore, while shooting 55.4% from the field and 78.9% from the line. Despite the arrival of Ed Pinckney in Pinone’s junior year, Pinone again showed his consistency with 17.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 56.5% from the field, and 75.0% from the line. With Pinckney blossoming during Pinone’s senior year, his points and rebounds dropped to 16.7 ppg and 5.5 rpg as a senior, but he was still excellent in other facets of his game with 1.9 apg, 53.6% from the field, and 84.6% from the line. He was First Team all-conference at the end of his last three seasons and Third Team All-American as a senior.

For his career, Pinone had 2,024 points and grabbed 837 rebounds. But Pinone’s career was much more than stats. The 6’8” center set the tone for a future Villanova National Championship by showing a strong work ethic and mentoring Pinckney. Pinone played just seven games in the NBA, then eventually played professionally in Spain for eight more seasons, where he was a star.
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Note: The only criteria that was used to compile the list was how well a player performed in college, specifically in the conference, physically as well as the degree of impact he made for his program or the league. NOT taken into consideration was the general popularity of the player, how high he was drafted into the NBA, or even his pro career. Also, no current players are eligible.

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