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 #4

By Anthony Jaskulski

*All stats provided are conference games only unless otherwise noted.

1. Connecticut 18-1, 7-1, Stock: UP

National Ranking: 2

Last game: W 69-61 at Notre Dame

Next game: Jan. 28 at DePaul

Strong Point: Forward Jeff Adrien has been a monster for Connecticut, and his 12 points and season-best 19 rebounds helped snap Notre Dame’s 45 game home winning streak on Saturday.

Area of Improvement: The Huskies don’t need much, but an area that could hurt them later down the stretch is their -1.12 turnover margin, with a 3^rd worst 101 turnovers surrendered in league play this year.

Overall Analysis: Connecticut may be averaging a 2^nd conference best 37% from beyond-the-arc, but don’t be fooled, it’s their astounding Big East best 28 rebounds per game and +8.7 rebounding margin that has kept them at the top of the charts for a second week in a row.

2.  Pittsburgh 18-1, 6-1, Stock: UP

National Ranking: 3

Last game: W 79-67 at West Virginia

Next game: Jan. 28 at Villanova

Strong Point: Despite suffering three fouls, the third which was picked up just seven seconds into the second half, forward Sam Young ignited for 16 points in the final period, giving him a team-high 22 points in the win over West Virginia Sunday.

Area of Improvement: Free throw shooting is still Pitt’s kryptonite.  Although they shot a solid 15 of 20 (75%) from the line against West Virginia, they are still at a sub-par 60% on the season. 

Overall Analysis: With an incredible assist/turnover ratio of 1.56 and 17.5 assists per game-both tops in the conference-Pitt is doing a fantastic job taking care of the ball, and finding the extra man for the open shot.  They proved that with 18 assists against West Virginia at a place where they are just 8-23 lifetime, the WVU Coliseum.

3.  Louisville 15-3, 6-0, Stock: UP

National Ranking: 7

Last game: W 67-57 at Syracuse

Next game: Jan. 28 vs. South Florida

Strong Point: Louisville forced 14 turnovers-10 which were steals-in their 10 point wallop over Syracuse Sunday.  Those 10 steals added to their Big East best nine per game.

Area of Improvement: The Cardinals hit eight three-pointers on Sunday, but at the expense of 31 attempts.  They are near the bottom of the standings in 3 pt. field goal percentage with just 27.5% falling.

Overall analysis: This team is deadly inside the paint, and the triple-headed monster of Earl Clark, Terrence Williams and Samardo Samuels has helped push Louisville to a seven-game winning streak, including four of those wins over ranked opponents. 

4.  Marquette 18-2, 7-0, Stock: UP

National Ranking: 8

Last game: W 71-64 at Notre Dame

Next game: Jan. 31 vs. Georgetown

Strong Point: Marquette’s backcourt is surrendering just nine turnovers a game, while forcing the opposition to 15 per game, giving them a Big East best +5.29 turnover margin.

Area of Improvement: The Golden Eagles are giving themselves hardly any second-chance opportunities, pulling down just nine offensive rebounds per game.  They had just six against Notre Dame, being out-rebounded in total 43-32 by the Irish.

Overall Analysis: It’s hard to imagine the best team according to the conference standings is 4^th on this list, but this truly represents how powerful the top of this conference really is.  Don’t fret Marquette fans, if there was a national ranking for backcourts, the Golden Eagles would be atop the list every week with a Jerel McNeal (19.4 PPG), Wesley Matthews (19 PPG) and Dominique James (11.6 PPG) set up.

5.  Syracuse 17-4, 5-3, Stock: Level

National Ranking: 15

Last game: L 67-57 vs. Louisville

Next game: Jan. 28 at Providence

Strong Point: Guard Eric Devendorf put up a game-high 20 points coming off the bench in Sunday’s loss to Louisville.  The senior is averaging 14.6 points per game as Syracuse’s 6^th man.

Area of Improvement: The Orange are killing themselves with simple things.  They are a Big East worst 57% from the free throw line, and are surrendering a near 14 turnovers a game.

Overall Analysis: Syracuse is a good basketball team, but they are not proving that they can keep up with the elite of this league.  Despite a field goal percentage of 50.4%, the Orange shot just under 40% in their two losses to with Pitt and Louisville.

6.  Villanova 16-4, 3-3, Stock: Rising

National Ranking: 21

Last game: W 70-61 at South Florida

Next game: Jan. 28 vs. Pittsburgh

Strong Point: Villanova is a fundamentally sound team.  While they are shooting a solid 74% from the charity stripe, they are also averaging 7.6 steals per game, and a nice 14 assists on top of that.

Area of Improvement: Fundamentals are key for the Wildcats, expect in one category: turnovers, in which they are surrendering an ugly 14 per game.

Overall Analysis: The Wildcats stalk is rising because they are just now starting to realize their potential, and in just enough of time with No.2 Pitt coming to town.  With their potential in full sight, perhaps another scary factor is the fact that a once deficient rebounding team is now actually averaging a pretty impressive rebounding margin of +1.8, corralling 37 per game.

7.  West Virginia 14-5, 3-3, Stock: Level

Last game: L 79-67 vs. Pittsburgh

Next game: Jan. 28 vs. St. John’s

Strong Point: Despite surrendering a season-high 79 points to Pitt Sunday, the Mountaineers are still the Big East best in both scoring defense (58.9 PPG) and 3 pt. field goal percentage defense (21.5%).

Area of Improvement: West Virginia may be able to stop teams from scoring, but scoring themselves has become even more of an issue, averaging just 67 points per game, and 41% from the field.

Overall Analysis: Although they fell hard to Pitt at home, and the offensive numbers are not where they want them to be, the Mountaineers have still won 3 of their last 4 games, and are getting quality numbers from both guard Alex Ruoff (16.1 PPG) and forward Da’Sean Butler (17.2 PPG).  Don’t count this team out of anything just yet.

8.  Providence 13-6, 5-2, Stock: Level

Last game: W 98-93 F/OT

Next game: Jan. 28 vs. Syracuse

Strong Point: Providence’s unselfish ball movement, which has resulted in 16.7 assists per game, has helped contribute to a blistering 78.7 points per game, which is second in the league behind only Marquette.

Area of Improvement: The Friars are 2^nd worst in the league in scoring defense, in which they are surrendering 72.4 points per game.

Overall Analysis: This team boasts amazing athletes and is a very sexy pick for an NCAA tournament birth if the holes on defense can be plugged up.  With their explosive offense and solid field goal percentage numbers, at 43% this year, don’t plan on the Friars being one of those “easy” games anymore. 

9.  Georgetown 12-6, 3-4, Stock: Falling

National Ranking: 23

Last game: L 65-60 at Seton Hall

Next game: Jan. 28 at Cincinnati

Strong Point: DaJuan Summers and Greg Monroe have become the do-it-all men for Georgetown in conference play.  The freshman Monroe is pulling down 7.7 rebounds and scoring 14.7 points per game, while Summers is leading the team with 15.4 points per game.

Area of Improvement: The Hoyas are shooting just 30% from beyond-the-arc, including a disgusting 3 of 22 performance in Sunday’s loss at Seton Hall, which helped Georgetown to a season low 32.7% from the field.

Overall Analysis: The mighty have fallen quickly in Washington D.C. as the Hoyas have dropped five of their last seven games, including an unprecedented slip up to Seton Hall.  If they continue to put up just 32 total rebounds per game, and a -1.8 rebounding margin, the struggles will keep rolling.

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

National Ranking: 22

Last game: L 71-64 vs. Marquette

Next game: Jan. 31 at Pittsburgh

Strong Point: Center Luke Harangody and his old school, running hook shot is continuing to lead the Irish with 25 points and 13.3 rebounds per game-both tops in the Big East-including 29 points and 17 rebounds in the loss to Marquette Monday.

Area of Improvement: Notre Dame’s refusal to play defense has gotten them into this current slide, which saw them lose two games in a row at home.  The Irish are surrendering 70 points per game right now.

Overall Analysis: The Golden Domers need to discover defense before the wheels completely come off.  Allowing the opposition to 43% from the field, and 33.3% from beyond-the-arc is not going to get them anywhere.  Perhaps they could learn a thing or two from the best defensive team in the league, when they travel to Pittsburgh Saturday?

11. Cincinnati 13-7, 3-4, Stock: Level

Last game: W 71-60 at St. John’s

Next game: Jan. 28 vs. Georgetown

Strong Point: The Bearcats forced St. John’s into 21 turnovers on Thursday night, adding to their solid number of forcing opponents to 14 per game.

Area of Improvement: Averaging just 42.4% from the field and 70 points a game, which has contributed to their four conference losses, in which each opponent posted 70 or more points; Cincinnati is not helping their defensive efforts right now.

Overall Analysis: With big stars in guard Deonta Vaughn (15.4 PPG) and forwards Mike Williams and Yancy Gates, each averaging 10 points per game, Cincinnati is not as bad as their three game skid to open conference play indicates.  Since then they have won 3 out of 4.

12. St. John’s 11-8, 2-5, Stock: Level

Last game: W 70-59 vs. Rutgers

Next game: Jan. 28 vs. West Virginia

Strong Point: Guard Paris Horne shot 12 of 13, and went for a career-high 27 points in the Red Storm’s win over Rutgers on Saturday.

Area of Improvement: The three point line is just a terrifying nightmare for St. John’s.  While they are making just four per game themselves, they are also giving up a Big East worst 34.4% to opponents.

Overall Analysis: While they can produce solid numbers on defense at times, St. John’s offensive average of just 68.6 points per game, will get them no further than a one-and-done at the Big East tournament if things keep up. 

13. Seton Hall 10-9, 1-6, Stock: Rising

Last game: W 65-60 vs. Georgetown

Next game: Jan. 29 vs. Rutgers

Strong Point: Guard Jeremy Hazell and forward Robert Mitchell combined for 43 points in Seton Hall’s upset over Georgetown Sunday.

Area of Improvement: The Pirates are giving up a Big East worst 74.4 points per game, and 43.5% from the field, as well as pulling down just 22 rebounds defensively. 

Overall Analysis: While it was an impressive upset they had over Georgetown, let’s keep in mind that is was their first conference win of the year, over a Hoyas team that went 17 of 52 from the field, with many of those shot opportunities left wide-open.  The Pirates also went a pathetic 0 of 13 from three-point range, but were bailed out by Georgetown’s 3 of 22 performance.  It still is an upset, however, and it puts Seton Hall on the rise…for this week.

14. South Florida 7-12, 2-5, Stock: Falling

Last game: L 70-61 vs. Villanova

Next game: Jan. 28 vs. Louisville

Strong Point: South Florida had four starters in double-figures, including 18 points from freshman Augustus Gilchrist in their loss to Villanova Saturday.

Area of Improvement: The Bulls are struggling to find any offense, averaging a Big East worst 40.9% from the field, and just 62 points per game.

Overall Analysis: They don’t play bad defense, but it’s not nearly as good enough to make up for such an appalling offense, that has gotten them into a very bad -1.6 scoring margin.

15. Rutgers 9-11, 0-7, Stock: Falling

Last game: L 70-59 at St. John;s

Next game: Jan. 29 at Seton Hall

Strong Point: Mike Rosario continues to impress, leading all Big East freshmen with a team-high 16 points per game, and an impressive 53 of 60 (88.3%) from the free throw line.

Area of Improvement: Rutgers averages just 11 assists a game, which has pushed them into a Big East worst, -3.7 in turnover margin.

Overall Analysis: Perhaps their overall record is an indication of who they should call to help revive their miserable ball-handling skills, which has them giving up 15 turnovers a game.  That and selfish ball movement on the offensive end has spelt disaster for the Scarlet Knights this year.

16. DePaul 8-12, 0-7, Stock: Plummeted

Last game: L 79-70 at Marquette

Next game: Jan. 28 vs. Connecticut

Strong Point: Forward Mac Koshwal is averaging a solid 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

Area of Improvement: Almost everything needs improving, but most importantly, a disgusting -3.2 rebounding margin, in which the Blue Demons are only pulling down 22.9 defensive rebounds a game.

Overall Analysis: DePaul almost had a win at Marquette Saturday, but refused to show initiative on the offensive end.  Down just eight with less than two minutes to go, instead of running a quick offensive set, the Blue Demons strolled down the floor, ran the shot clock down to two seconds and forced up an air-ball three-pointer.  Perhaps that offensive sequence can describe their average of just 67 points per game.

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