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: BET EDITION

By Anthony Jaskulski

The second most anticipated postseason tournament is finally here. From March 10th to March 15th, the Big East Tournament will be under way in the basketball capital of the world, Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Here is the stock report for the end of the regular season and start of the Big East Tournament.

*Rankings this week are according to the teams’ seed in the tournament

**All stats provided are conference games only. They are the final regular season stats.

1. Louisville 25-5, 16-2, Stock: UP

National Ranking: 5
Last game: W 62-59 at West Virginia
Big East Quarterfinals vs. No. 8 Providence or No. 9 Cincinnati/No. 16 DePaul
Current Streak: W 7
Postseason Status: NCAA
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Championship Game

Strong Point: Louisville finished the conference season with the second best defense, giving up just 63.2 points per game, and a field goal percentage defense of just 40.3%. They held eight Big East opponents to 60 points or less, as well as holding Pitt, who was No.1 at the time, to just 63.

Area of Improvement: You may not know it, but Louisville is one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the league at just 62.9%. They shot 11 of 17 from the stripe in their finale at West Virginia, but just 1 of 4 in the final minute.

Overall Analysis: With one of the most feared frontcourts in the league, Louisville earned the right to the Big East regular season title, after winning at West Virginia, who had one of their biggest crowds in the schools history in attendance. Forward Terrence Williams, an all Big East first team finalist, is the backbone of this Cardinal team, averaging 12.8 points, 5.1 assists and 8.5 rebounds per game. He is a frontrunner for the Big East player of the year, and a main reason why Louisville lost just two conference games this year.

2. Pittsburgh 28-3, 15-3, Stock: UP

National Ranking: 2
Last game: W 70-60 vs. Connecticut
Big East Quarterfinals vs. No. 7 West Virginia or No. 10 Notre Dame/No. 15 Rutgers
Current Streak: W 3
Postseason Status: NCAA
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Semifinals

Strong Point: The Panthers, who end the regular season with a conference leading rebounding margin of +10.4, a rebounding defense of just 29.2 points and 14.5 offensive rebounds, outclassed yet another team, this time in Connecticut, in which they pulled down 41 rebounds in their senior finale.

Area of Improvement: Missing four straight three pointers in the second half was a large reason why Connecticut raced to a 12-0 run and cut the Panther lead down to two on Saturday. They are 4th in the league at 36.5% from beyond-the-arc on the year, but are just 11 of 37 in their last two games.

Overall Analysis: Pitt did what they had to do, win the final two games at home. For that effort, a No.1 seed in the NCAA tournament looks all but imminent at this point. Three Panthers finished on the three all Big East teams, including a first place nod to Sam Young, who finished the season with a 18.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game average. The other two were center DeJuan Blair (2nd team) and guard Levance Fields (3rd team).

3. Connecticut 27-3, 15-3, Stock: UP

National Ranking: 4
Last game: L 70-60 at Pittsburgh
Big East Quarterfinals vs. No. 6 Syracuse or No. 11 Seton Hall/No. 14 South Florida
Current Streak: L 1
Postseason Status: NCAA
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Championship winner

Strong Point: Connecticut finished the conference regular season with a Big East leading 62.1 points in scoring defense and 37.6% in field goal defense. Defensive player of the year center Hasheem Thabeet’s 10.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game is a big testament to that.

Area of Improvement: Just like Pittsburgh, the Huskies have been shooting terrible from beyond-the-arc lately. At 34% from three point range on the season, they shot just 4 of 14 Saturday at Pittsburgh, hitting their first three pointer of the game with 10:45 left in the second half.

Overall Analysis: Connecticut is coming into this Big East Tournament as a sleeping giant due to their loss to their season finale fall to Pitt. This is exactly what the best defensive team in the conference wants to be labeled as. If they can hike up their regular season offensive numbers of 72.3 points per game just a little bit, it’s tough to imagine anybody stopping them. And if the semifinals matchup is as expected, and Connecticut gets another date with Pitt, the Huskies have only lost to one team three times in the same season when under coach Jim Calhoun.

4. Villanova 25-6, 13-5, Stock: Rising

National Ranking: 13
Last game: W 97-80 vs. Providence
Big East Quarterfinals vs. No. 5 Marquette or No. 12 Georgetown/No. 13 St. John’s
Current Streak: W 2
Postseason Status: NCAA
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Quarterfinals

Strong Point: Villanova finished the regular season as the leagues top scoring offense with 79.5 points per game. They also had a 3rd best field goal percentage of 46.6%.

Area of Improvement: The Wildcats slipped a little bit towards the end of the season, ending with a scoring defense average of 73.3 points per game given up. They gave up 70 or more points in 8 of their last 10 games.

Overall Analysis: With the Big East’s most improved player of the year on their roster in forward Dante Cunningham, and a slew of talented guards, headlined by senior Scottie Reynolds, the skies are certainly the limit for the Wildcats. If all goes as planned, two of the best backcourts in the country in Villanova and Marquette will square off in the quarterfinal round. Reynolds with his team leading 15.7 points per game and veteran leadership would remain the X factor in such a game.

5. Marquette 23-8, 12-6, Stock: Falling

National Ranking: 21
Last game: L 86-79 F/OT vs. Syracuse
Second Round Big East Tournament vs. Winner of No. 12 Georgetown/No. 13 St. John’s
Current Streak: L 4
Postseason Status: NCAA
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Semifinals

Strong Point: Marquette finished the regular season with a conference leading turnover margin of +4.39, giving up just 10.6 a game. They won the turnover battle in Saturday’s loss vs. Syracuse giving up just nine, while forcing the Orange into 13.

Area of Improvement: Giving up nearly 47% to end the year in field goal percentage defense, the Golden Eagles really need to improve allowing open, uncontested shots to opponents. Their last two opponents had a field day, each shooting over 55% including 63% from Pittsburgh on Mar. 4.

Overall Analysis: There is no reason to count such a high powered offense as Marquette out, despite a four game skid. In just four minutes, the Golden Eagles staged a 21-5 run in the opening stages of the second half to take a six point lead. With first team all Big East player Jerel McNeal on the floor, and his off the dribble shooting that has him at a 20.1 points per game average, anything is possible, especially in March.

6. Syracuse 23-8, 11-7, Stock: Rising

National Ranking: 20
Last game: W 86-79 F/OT at Marquette
Second Round Big East Tournament vs. winner of No. 11 Seton Hall/No. 14 South Florida
Current Streak: W 4
Postseason Status: NCAA
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Quarterfinals

Strong Point: This four game winning streak Syracuse is riding is thanks to explosive offense, adding to their final total of 79.2 points per game. In 3 of those 4 games, the Orange scored 85 or more points.

Area of Improvement: Syracuse struggled taking care of the ball this year, giving the ball up 14.7 times in the season. They managed to commit single digit turnovers in just 1 out of their last 5 games.

Overall Analysis: With forward Arinze Onuaku and guard Andy Rautins back to solid health, Syracuse is soaring of late and just in time for the Big East Tournament. They are behind only Pittsburgh in assists at 17.3 a game, and have the best field goal percentage in the league at 48.9%. If Jonny Flynn, who is averaging a team-best 17.3 points per game, can continue his all star status, and distributing the ball through this fast pace, transition offense, who is to say they couldn’t make some noise in New York City?

7. West Virginia 21-10, 10-8, Stock: Level

Last game: L 62-59 vs. Louisville
Second Round Big East Tournament vs. winner of No. 10 Notre Dame/No. 15 Rutgers
Current Streak: L 1
Postseason Status: NCAA
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Quarterfinals

Strong Point: The Mountaineers finished the season in Coach Bob Huggins style: defense. They gave up just 64.3 points per game, had a turnover margin of +2.39, forcing 14.1 opposition turnovers and allowed 70 or more points in four Big East games.

Area of Improvement: Alex Ruoff finished as bad as a player could in West Virginia’s Saturday loss to Louisville. The point guard went 0 of 4 from the field with 0 points, four assists and six turnovers in 22 minutes of play.

Overall Analysis: If Ruoff doesn’t get double teamed, attention is somewhat off of leading scorer Da’Sean Butler (17.1 PPG), and the jumpers fall on half court possessions, West Virginia could be a force to be reckoned with. But right now, 70 points per game and a subpar 42.1% from the field is not a noisemaking stat.

8. Providence 18-11, 10-7, Stock: Level

Last game: L 97-80 at Villanova
Second Round Big East Tournament vs. winner of No. 9 Cincinnati/No. 16 DePaul
Current Streak: L 1
Postseason Status: NIT
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Second Round

Strong Point: Providence remains one of the deepest teams in this conference, with seven guys averaging eight or points per game, as well as 20 or more minutes for each.

Area of Improvement: The Friars dropped to dead last in scoring defense to end the regular season with an appalling 80.4 points given up per game, making themselves the only team in the conference giving up 80 or more points.

Overall Analysis: It seems if the opposition isn’t bogged down with turnovers, they have the right of passage down the lane for wide open layups on the Providence defense. Villanova was the latest to expose the (lack of) defense, when forward Dante Cunningham torched the Friars, going 8 of 17 with 19 points, scoring the bulk of that in the paint. The graph is quite simple really. When Providence gave up 80 or less points they went 7-0 in conference play. When they gave up 80 or more they went 3-7.

9. Cincinnati 18-12, 8-9, Stock: Falling

Last game: L 67-63 F/OT vs. Seton Hall
First Round Big East Tournament vs. No. 16 DePaul
Current Streak: L 3
Postseason Status: NIT
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Quarterfinals

Strong Point: With his team leading 15.3 points per game and 4.7 assists, guard Deonta Vaughn received the highest honor for any Bearcat, getting voted on the All-Big East third team.

Area of Improvement: While allowing Seton Hall to 21 of 27 from the charity stripe, Cincinnati also shot an abysmal 24 of 67 (35.8%) and 7 of 25 from beyond-the-arc on Saturday. The awful offensive performance just added to a weak 66.1 points per game and 42.2% field goal average.

Overall Analysis: Barring a miracle tournament championship run, Cincinnati lost all NCAA Tournament hopes with awful losses to Seton Hall and South Florida. What makes their current three game losing streak even more sad is the fact that they haven’t scored over 65 points since Feb. 14. Perhaps fate gives the Bearcats some hope against the worst defensive team in the league, DePaul, and then if a win, they get the second worst in Providence.

10. Notre Dame 17-13, 8-10, Stock: Level

Last game: W 74-55 vs. St. John’s
First Round Big East Tournament vs. No. 15 Rutgers
Current Streak: W 1
Postseason Status: NIT
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Second Round

Strong Point: Making first team All-Big East for a second year in a row, forward Luke Harangody finished with a league leading 23.7 points per game and finished second in rebounding at 12.1 per game.

Area of Improvement: Shooting 38.9% from beyond-the-arc might be a great stat, but not when you are shooting just 42.8% from the field in general. Almost all of your offense cannot come from shooting three pointers.

Overall Analysis: Thank goodness for Harangody. If the Irish didn’t have the big man in the middle averaging more than half of their rebounds a game and almost half of their points, Notre Dame would be a one-dimensional three point shooting nightmare with four guards and no rebounding what so ever. However, even with Harangody in-tact, the Irish just have no good matchups on the perimeter, which is why they gave up 75.1 points per game.

11. Seton Hall 16-14, 7-11, Stock: Level

Last game: W 67-63 F/OT at Cincinnati
First Round Big East Tournament vs. No. 14 South Florida
Current Streak: W 1
Postseason Status: None
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Second Round

Strong Point: Guard Jeremy Hazell, a third team All-Big East member, tallied up a team-high 22 points at Cincinnati Saturday. It marked the 14th conference game in which Hazell has scored 20 or more points.

Area of Improvement: Despite defeating Cincinnati Saturday, the Pirates have a lot of work to do from the field, where they went just 33.7% in that game. They average 43.2% and on field goal defense, they are giving up 43.5%.

Overall Analysis: While Seton Hall has gone through the most technical’s than any other team has in the conference, and has certainly had the most on the court and off problems than any other team in the conference, they didn’t do as bad as many thought, and they should be proud of the fact that they will finish with an above .500 record this season.

12. Georgetown 15-13, 6-11, Stock: Falling

Last game: W 48-40 vs. DePaul
First Round Big East Tournament vs. No. 13 St. John’s
Current Streak: W 1
Postseason Status: NIT
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: Second Round

Strong Point: Center Greg Monroe’s 12.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game earned him a spot on the Big East All-Rookie team.

Area of Improvement: Georgetown shot 39.5% against the worst defense in the conference in DePaul Saturday at the Verizon Center. They went just 4 of 20 from beyond-the-arc, which adds to their lackluster 33% performance on the year.

Overall Analysis: This Hoyas team should be happy to be considered for an NIT birth after that hideous performance against DePaul at home. They are now pitted against St. John’s in the first round of the tournament, and if memory serves correct, it was the Hoyas that got the 59-56 overtime slap in the face vs. the Red Storm in their last meeting. Georgetown shot just 41.2% in that game, allowing St. John’s to win it from the charity stripe, where they shot 15 of 17.

13. St. John’s 15-16, 6-12, Stock: Falling

Last game: L 74-55 at Notre Dame
First Round Big East Tournament vs. No. 12 Georgetown
Current Streak: L 1
Postseason Status: None
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: First Round

Strong Point: The Wing combo of D.J. Kennedy and Paris Horne averaged a combined 27.4 points per game to St. John’s team average of 62.5.

Area of Improvement: St. John’s went a down right awful 3 of 23 from three point range in their 21 point loss to Notre Dame. They are averaging just 30.9% from deep, and have knocked down a league worst 75.

Overall Analysis: Not much to say about a team that is dead tired, and continues to decline in both scoring offense, where they are now at 62.5 points per game and scoring defense, where they are giving up 70.2 points. At least the entire roster is returning next year, which is always a good thing.

14. South Florida 9-21, 4-14, Stock: Falling

Last game: L 45-42 at Rutgers
First Round Big East Tournament vs. No. 11 Seton Hall
Current Streak: L 1
Postseason Status: None
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: First Round

Strong Point: Dominique Jones was recognized as the only Bull in the regular season awards, getting honorable mention for his team leading 18.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

Area of Improvement: In what was arguably the ugliest Big East game of the year Sunday, South Florida shot just 14 of 47 (29.8%) and went seven minutes in the first half without scoring a single point.

Overall Analysis: It’s something we mention every week and it’s something that thankfully comes to an end with the regular season. That is the South Florida offensive statistics, which are dead last in the league at 57.4 points per game, a 39.1% field goal percentage and 62.4% from the free throw line. What more could you possibly say?

15. Rutgers 11-20, 2-16, Stock: Falling

Last game: W 45-42 vs. South Florida
First Round Big East Tournament vs. No. 10 Notre Dame
Current Streak: W 1
Postseason Status: None
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: First Round

Strong Point: Mike Rosario got his name on the All Freshman Big East list and it was well deserved as the guard was the only Rutgers player to average over double figures with 16.3 points per game this year.

Area of Improvement: Despite defeating South Florida Sunday, Rutgers shot just 18 of 58 (31%) from the field and had just six assists. They are tied as the worst team in the league with just 11.1 assists per game.

Overall Analysis: They finally won another game and doubled their win total in the conference for the year. Outrebounding South Florida 37-28 and allowing just 3 three pointers all game was a small glimmer of hope in an otherwise darkened, plagued season.

16. DePaul 8-23, 0-18, Stock: Plummeted

Last game: L 48-40 at Georgetown
First Round Big East Tournament vs. No. 9 Cincinnati
Current Streak: L 18
Postseason Status: None
Projected Big East Tournament Finish: First Round

Strong Point: Forward Dar Tucker was snubbed for the All-Big East teams. Despite his team playing flat out pitiful, Tucker finished with 18.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. A stat he should be proud of given the talent that surrounds him.

Area of Improvement: Everything needs improvement. Coaching staff, players, statistics, you name it, they need it fixed.

Overall Analysis: Luckily for Big East basketball fans, and even DePaul fans themselves for that matter, you only have to stand the stench of just one more game from the Blue Demons, or as they are now known as: the Detroit Lions of the Big East. There is no need to run off the awful, putrid stats they put up this year, because it would just take entirely too long, and by this part of the sentence, you are probably done reading about this team anyway. Let’s just hope things change in Chicago, because this season was just unbearable for everybody involved in the league.

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