Anthony Jaskulski, Cincinnati News, Connecticut News, DePaul News, Georgetown News, Louisville News, Marquette News, Notre Dame News, Pittsburgh News, Providence News, Rutgers News, Seton Hall News, St. John's News, Syracuse News, USF News, Villanova News, West Virginia News

BIG EAST STOCK REPORT: WEEK THREE

By Anthony Jaskulski

*All stats provided are conference games only through 1/19, unless otherwise noted.

            *Rankings 1-16 according to the NBE Power Poll

1. Connecticut 16-1, 5-1, Stock: UP

National Ranking: 3

Last game: W 76-61 vs. Seton Hall

Next game: Jan. 21 vs. Villanova

Strong Point: All the Huskies are starting to showcase that top-notch talent, which had them the preseason favorites to win the Big East.  Guard A.J. Price finished with 23 points, while center Hasheem Thabeet and forward Jeff Adrien both finished with double-doubles in last weeks win over Seton Hall.

Area of Improvement: Connecticut’s turnover margin of -0.83, and surrendering a near 13 turnovers a game is not nearly up to par for a top team in the league.  With a tougher schedule coming up, taking care of the ball is going to have to be a top priority to keep this No.1 status.

Overall Analysis: Winning five straight games, and using their Big East leading +9.2 rebounding edge to keep their opponents to one-shot opportunities, Connecticut is stating their case as the top contender…again.

2.    Pittsburgh 17-1, 5-1, Stock: UP

National Ranking: 4

Last game: W 78-60 vs. Syracuse

Next game: Jan. 25 at West Virginia

Strong Point: The Panthers are the top of the line of the Big East in assists with 17 a game.  Guard Levance Fields, who holds a stranglehold in the assists category with 8.6 a game, has contributed heavily to Pitt’s leading stat.

Area of Improvement: Pitt had a colossal meltdown in the turnover department, surrendering a season-high 20 to Louisville’s 2-2-1 press.  With that and the fact that the Panthers did not score a field goal in the final eight minutes of the same game, says a few repairs need to be invested in their offense when facing a pressing defense.

Overall Analysis: Toppling Syracuse by 18 Monday night showed the true resilience of this Pitt team.  After surrendering a late lead, getting out-rebounded for the first time all year, and giving up 20 turnovers, many teams would be distracted.  Instead, the Panthers out-rebounded the Orange 40-28, and gave up just one turnover in the second half Monday night.  Leadership and hardiness is something this team does not lack.

3.    Marquette 16-2, 5-0, Stock: UP

National Ranking: 10

Last game: W 91-82 at Providence

Next game: Jan. 24 vs. DePaul

Strong Point: Marquette is the only team in the conference with three players in the top 12 in scoring, with Matthews (19.1-3^rd), McNeal (18.8-4^th) and Hayward (16.5-12^th).

Area of Improvement: With an average of only nine offensive rebounds per game, Marquette has to do a better job securing second-chance opportunities, especially as a perimeter-based offense that’s more prone to miss.

Overall Analysis: At this point, not even fans hoping out of the stands and on to the court can stop the Golden Eagles and their offense, as was proved Saturday night at Providence. Despite the Friars shooting an astounding 31 of 55 from the field, Marquette still found a way to rally around their guards and pull out a dramatic come-from-behind win. 

Even with that offensive rebounding deficiency, Marquette is easily the best offensive team in the league thus far.

4.   Louisville 13-3, 4-0, Stock: UP

National Ranking: 12

Last game: W 69-63 vs. Pittsburgh

Next game: Jan. 21 at Rutgers

Strong Point: Louisville’s 2-2-1 press is one of the toughest defenses in the country right now.  The Cardinals forced Pitt into a season-high 20 turnovers, adding to their league-leading 8.7 steals per game, and a turnover margin of +2.5.

Area of Improvement: Offensive guard play is still proving to be the weakness of the Cardinals this year.  Edgar Sosa went just 2 of 9 from the field with 8 points, as well as 0 for 3 from beyond-the-arc, while Jerry Smith clocked in with 17 minutes, scoring no points and one assist in Saturday’s win.  The only bright spot from pure guard play came from Preston Knowles, who dropped 10 points, going 3 of 6 from the field.

Overall Analysis: Beating the No.1 team in the country is an extreme resume boaster.   Having one of the most deadly front courts in the league doesn’t look bad either.  So far, forwards Samardo Samuels, Terrence Williams, and wing Earl Clark have been carrying the Cardinals, each averaging well over double-figures.  They scored 46 of the 69 total points for Louisville on Saturday.

5.   Syracuse 17-3, 5-2, Stock: Level

National Ranking: 8

Last game: L 78-60 at Pittsburgh

Next game: Jan. 25 vs. Louisville

Strong Point: Syracuse’s potent offense is averaging a league-best 82.2 points per game, getting production from center Arinze Onuaku (13.7 PPG), and guards Paul Harris (14.6 PPG), Jonny Flynn (13.8 PPG) and Eric Devendorf, who leads the team with 15.3 points a game. 

Area of Improvement: In their two conference losses-Georgetown and Pittsburgh-the Orange combined to shoot an abysmal 17 of 39, adding to their league-worst 56.3% from the stripe.

Overall Analysis: Despite getting heavily out-rebounded by Pitt on Monday night, Syracuse is still one of the top defensive rebounding teams in the conference.  Add that to their high-octane offense and tough front court and you’ll see that the Orange are still a top contender, despite their two setbacks.

6.   Georgetown 12-4, 3-2, Stock: Level

National Ranking: 14

Last game: L 76-67 at Duke

Next game: Jan. 22 vs. West Virginia

Strong Point: The talented front court tandem of forward DaJuan Summers and center Greg Monroe is averaging a whopping 43% of Georgetown’s total offense so far this year.

Area of Improvement: The Hoyas struggles on the glass continue, as they are averaging a league-worst 20 defensive rebounds, while grabbing another low in just 11 offensive boards per game.

Overall Analysis: Georgetown is a team that cannot face foul trouble do to a small bench.  In three of the Hoyas four losses this year, Monroe had to sit due to early foul trouble, in which teams exploited the paint in his absence, including Duke, who scored the bulk of their points on layups and second chance opportunities on Saturday.

7.   Notre Dame 12-5, 3-3, Stock: Falling

National Ranking: 19

Last game: L 93-74 at Syracuse

Next game: Jan. 24 vs. Connecticut

Strong Point: Notre Dame has dropped league-high 50 three-pointers this year, and guard Kyle McAlarney has contributed to the majority of the category with 25, and an average of 4.17 per game.

Area of Improvement: The Irish allowed Syracuse to shoot 55% from the field, as well as corral 40 rebounds in Saturday’s loss.  Notre Dame’s defense is now allowing a disastrous 79.8 points per game.

Overall Analysis: Year in and year out it’s the same story with Notre Dame and sub-par defense.  If they don’t buckle down now, and plug up the holes in one of the worst defenses in the Big East to date, then their ship is sure to sink eventually, even despite their terrific offensive numbers.

8.   Villanova 14-3, 2-2, Stock: Rising

National Ranking: 21

Last game: W 76-57 vs. St. John’s

Next game: Jan. 21 at Connecticut

Strong Point: The Wildcats showed off their experienced offense, going an astounding 13 of 21 (61.9%) in the second half, including a stretch of 10 consecutive field goals against St. John’s on Sunday.  They are averaging a solid 74.2 points per game offensively this year.

Area of Improvement: Villanova is 2-3 this year in games decided by nine points or less, including losing two of those games-Marquette and Louisville-in which they had leads with under nine minutes in the second half.

Overall Analysis: With a drastically improved team on the boards, and plenty of experience leading the way, Villanova is definitely an underrated defensive team in this league.  They are currently in the top half of every defensive category, including steals with 7.5 per game, and one behind the league leader Louisville.

9.   West Virginia 13-4, 2-2, Stock: Level

Last game: W 62-59 vs. South Florida

Next game: Jan. 22 at Georgetown

Strong Point: Da’Sean Butler continues to carry the Mountaineers this year, with his 8^th best 18.5 points per game, including a game-high 27 point performance against South Florida Saturday.

Area of Improvement: West Virginia is having an awful time finding the bottom of the net in this young Big East season, averaging a league-worst 39% in field goal percentages, and just 65.5 points per game.

Overall Analysis: It’s been a tough stretch for the Mountaineers, who are plagued by injuries, offensive droughts and late game surges from the opposition, including a monstrous comeback by USF, which erased a 17-point West Virginia second half lead.

10.  Providence 11-6, 3-2, Stock: Level

Last game: W 72-63 vs. Cincinnati

Next game: Jan. 22 at Seton Hall

Strong Point: The Friars held Cincinnati to just 40% from the field Monday night, including surrendering just 6 of 20 from beyond-the-arc, improving their 3 pt. defense percentage to just 26.6%

Area of Improvement: The late-game collapse to Marquette on Saturday was due in large part to Providence’s continuing struggles with turnovers, in which the Friars gave up 18, and offensive rebounds, where they gathered in just nine.

Overall Analysis: At 8.6 per game, Providence is the leading team in the conference with made three-point field goals.  But to keep up with the rest of the league, the Friars are going to have to start doing a better job of taking care of the ball.  An average of 14.4 turnovers a game is not going to help their cause.

11.  Cincinnati 12-6, 2-3, Stock: Falling

Last game: L 72-63 at Providence

Next game: Jan. 22 at St. John’s

Strong Point: Guard Deonta Vaughn continues to be the only spark in the otherwise dull Bearcat offense of late.  The junior is 12^th in the conference, averaging 16.2 points per game.

Area of Improvement: Despite their rough outing offensively against Providence Monday night, Cincinnati’s real area of dire need is defense, in which they are giving up a league-worst 50.4%.

Overall Analysis: Cincinnati has shown early in the year that their offense can ignite, but with a defense that has given up 70 or more points in their four conference losses this year, the Bearcats can’t really expect to go far unless something is changed.

12.  St. John’s 10-7, 1-4, Stock: Falling

Last game: L 76-57 at Villanova

Next game: Jan. 22 vs. Cincinnati

Strong Point: Do-it-all forward D.J. Kennedy scored yet another game-high 18 points in Sunday’s loss to Villanova.  The sophomore is averaging team-highs of 13.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

Area of Improvement: The starters for St. John’s had to score 54 of the 57 total points against Villanova.  The complete lack of a bench for Coach Norm Roberts group is leaving players like Kennedy, forward Justin Burrell and guard Paris Horne on the floor for a near 40 minutes per game, which is leaving the starting crew extremely tired for final stretches of the game.

Overall Analysis: Things have fallen apart for the Red Storm after their stunning upset over then No. 5 Notre Dame.  Since the win, they have lost three straight in double-figures.  Don’t expect things to change when most of the starters rarely get a breather.

13.  Seton Hall 9-8, 0-5, Stock: Falling

Last game: L 76-61 vs. Connecticut

Next game: Jan. 22 vs. Providence

Strong Point: The Pirates are finding solid success in the scoring department, averaging 73.4 points per game.  Guard Jeremy Hazell has contributed heavily with a 3^rd best 22 points a game in the league.

Area of Improvement: If basketball was just an offensive game, Seton hall would be the best.  Unfortunately, there is a defensive side to the game, and the Pirates are giving up a league-worst-and near nation worst-89 points per game, which has rubbed off on a -15.6 scoring margin.

Overall Analysis: It’s a shame that Seton Hall has a serious problem defending opponents, because their offense is overall impressive.  Perhaps a start to improving such an appalling defense could be rebounding, where the Pirates are only pulling down 20 a game. 

14.  South Florida 6-11, 1-4, Stock: Level

Last game: L 62-59 at West Virginia

Next game: Jan. 20 vs. DePaul

Strong Point: Dominique Jones pitched a gem against West Virginia Saturday, scoring 35 points, just one shy of his career best.  The explosive guard went 11 of 25 from the field and a fantastic 11 of 15 from the charity stripe.

Area of Improvement: Despite the power performances of Jones, South Florida is still averaging a sub-par 62.4 points per game offensively, scoring just 62 points or under in four of their last five conference games.

Overall Analysis: The Bulls continue to improve defensively, allowing opponents to just 65 points per game, including slicing a 17 point West Virginia lead to three on the road.  The only problem is the offensive numbers, and free throw shooting continue to hammer South Florida in the sub .500 standings.

15.  Rutgers 9-9, 0-5, Stock: Falling

Last game: L 71-59 at Cincinnati

Next game: Jan. 21 vs. Louisville

Strong Point: For the second straight game, guard Anthony Farmer led Rutgers in scoring, with 12 points in the loss in Cincinnati.  He is just 18 points away from becoming the 37^th player in Scarlet Knights history to reach the 1,000 point milestone.

Area of Improvement: A laundry list of improvements plagues this Rutgers squad.  In that range includes steals (2.6 per game), scoring defense (78.4 points given up), field goal percentage (40.3%), and turnover margin, in which the Scarlet Knights are worst in the league at -6.

Overall Analysis: Rutgers raced out to a 19-0 run, which put them ahead of Cincinnati 29-13 early in the game.  Unfortunately they lost the lead, and it’s been like that for their entire Big East season so far.

16.  DePaul 8-10, 0-5, Stock: Plummeted

Last game: L 59-55 vs. Cincinnati

Next game: Jan. 20 at South Florida

Strong Point: Guard Will Walker scored a team-high 18 points in the loss to the Bearcats Saturday.

Area of Improvement: Averaging just 9 offensive rebounds a game, and a harsh 58.3% from the free throw line, DePaul has literally found no way to generate some kind of way to score points.  Their offense, which is averaging just 63.4 points per game, is not helping.

Overall Analysis: The Blue Demons almost found a win, only to squander a late run to Cincinnati, which banished them in the 0-5 ranks with Rutgers and South Florida.  Things are just not in favor for a DePaul team that has a league-worst rebounding margin of -9.6.

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