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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (11/17/2008)

Here are a few additional News & Notes found today that were not included in our ,Around the Big East Editions of 11/15/2008 and 11/16/2008, including a game from yesterday that was completely off our radar that involved a Big East team!

A busy night is ahead int he Big East as seven games are on the slate involving Big East teams. Check back later tonight for the recaps and observations.

My sincere apologies to the fans of the Cincinnati Bearcats. yes, I do realize they are in the Big East.

Mick Cronin’s squad opened their season on Sunday by hosting South Dakota in a game that Yahoo! Sports did not even list on the schedule. I assummed that it might have been an exhibition game, but South Dakota is a program in their transition year from Division II to Division I and the Bearcats, as expected, made short work of their opponent with a 77-46 victory proving it is a Rocky Road to Division I-A (Argus Leader) basketball.

Cincinnati was strong right from the Gates, Yancy Gates that is as the Freshman Leads UC to Win (Cincinnati.com) by collecting 16 points and 11 rebounds in his debut. Last week Gates was named to the NBE Preseason All-Big East All-Freshman 1st Team and definitely looked like he backed up that honor in the opener on Sunday.

Deonta Vaughn, a NBE Preseason All-Big East 2nd Teamer, added 12 points for UC in the win.
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Last week, Miami (OH) played fourth ranked UCLA right down to the wire, trailing by just a point in the last 20 seconds before the Bruins were able to ice a five point win from the foul line. Tonight the Redhawks travel to meet fifth ranked Pittsburgh and Panther coach Jamie Dixon and Pitt are Wary of Miami (OH) (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review).
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At Villanova, small is in once again as the Wildcats rely on a guard-heavy line-up and philosophy to win games. Even if their opener against Albany had the Big East club at a size dis-advantage, Villanova’s Small Set May Come up Big (DelCo Times) and coach Jay Wright sees no advantage in changing now.
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It was not going to happy overnight for West Virginia with the personnel Bob Huggins inherited from John Beilein. However, the former Mountaineer player turned head coach is working in his preferred style of basketball into the equation and the WVU Men are Looking to Run in 2008-2009 (Times West Virginian) and did so in their 92-47 opening wn over Elon Saturday.

Having a tough and athletic point guard, much in the mold of Bob Huggins as a player, is a key to playing the style Huggins prefers. NYC freshman Daryl ‘Truck’ Bryant is a player that would fit that mold and Bryant Gives Huggins Another Playmaker at WVU (Daily Mail). Bryant contributed 12 points and six assists without turning the ball over in 16 minutes in the opener against Elon.
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There was a little bit of head-scratching happening for Rutgers‘ fans halfway through the first half of Sunday’s basketball tilt with the University of Delaware. After Rutgers Survives a MAAC Scare on Friday, RU found themselves down by 11 mid-way through the 1st half on Sunday in Delaware. However, the Hens Stars Out Hot, But Struggle on Defense (Delaware Online) as the Scarlet Knights rally for an 85-77 victory.

Hamady N’Diaye led the Rutgers’ charge with a career-high 26 points.
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Albany got a taste of the Big East Friday night when they visited Villanova. Now the Danes are in Search of an Upset in Chicago (Times Union) when they meet DePaul for the Blue Demons’ season opener.
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Here is a SU/LeMoyne Recap (Syracuse.com) from the the 85-51 Syracuse win over crosstown foe LeMoyne on Sunday.
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Notre Dame started the season with an easy win over South Carolina Upstate with Luke Harangody looking every bit of the conference’s Preseason Player of the year that many have tabbed him to be. Here is the Journal Gazette’s Irish Breakdown that serves as their season preview.

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