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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (11/6/2009)

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It is Friday afternoon and we take a quick tour to see what is happening around the Big East as we head to the final weekend before REAL college basketball action begins. Remember, Syracuse is in action Monday night at 9 PM when they host Albany in the Carrier Dome. Following their exhibition loss to LeMoyne this week, Monday probably can’t get here soon enough for SU!

Cincinnati hit the court last night and they were able to do so with their star freshman eligible to play. Villanova also was in action last night and they had their offense revved up in high gear. DePaul looks to begin a better year in 2009-10 season with an exhibition game tonight. Connecticut hopes to have at least two of their players held out of this week’s exhibition cleared and in uniform Sunday against Lowell-UMass. A pair of redshirts from last season are anxious to contribute this season at Providence while at Notre Dame transfer Ben Hansbrough has found a niche in the Irish line-up. Syracuse assistant Rob Murphy showed of a hidden talent recently and heavy Big East target Devon Collier has made his college decision.

Read all this below…and, be sure to check in this weekend as more season preview articles from Jeff Borzello’s time at the Big East media day last month will be published…as well as some additional recruiting news, notes and breaking news.

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Just hours before Cincinnati hit the floor at Fifth Third Arena against D-II Saginaw Valley State in an exhibition game, coach Mick Cronin got the call he had been hoping for from the NCAA as UC’s Lance Stephenson has been Cleared to Play (Cincinnati Enquirer) for the Bearcats. The NCAA had been investigating the star recruit’s amateur status. Since ‘Born Ready’ had been cleared academically he has been participating in practices. Now, he has the full green light from the NCAA.

On the court, UC Starts with a Victory (Cincinnati Enquirer) over Saginaw Valley, 86-58, in front of just over 6,500 fans.

Stephenson came off the bench at the 16:33 mark of the game and scored just 10 second later on a mid-range jumper. Stephenson played 18 minutes in the contest and finished with nine points on four of 14 shooting from the field.

Sophomore Yancy Gates led the Bearcats with 16 points, playing a team-high 26 minutes. Also making his on-court debut in a game situation for UC was redshirt freshman Cashmere Wright, who missed all of last season necause of a torn ACL suffered in the preseason. Wright started in the backcourt with Deonta Vaughn (10 points) and scored three points and had seven assists, against just one turnover, in 17 minutes of action.

UC faces nationally ranked D-II school Bellarmine next Thursday to close the exhibition portion of their schedule before opening their season with Prairie View A&M on November 16th.
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Also in action last night was Villanova as the 2009 Final Four participant had their offense cranked up from the get-go, racing to a 67-40 lead in the game’s first 20 minutes as ‘Nova Rolls Past Kutztown, 110-84 (Philadelphia Inquirer) before just under 6,000 fans at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.

Scottie Reynolds poured in 27 points in 29 minutes of action with backcourt mate Corey Fisher adding 18. Duke transfer taylor King showed his strength by connecting on all five field goal attempts, including four from beyond the arc, to finish with 17 points.

‘Nova shot 65% in the first half, connecting on nine of 13 three’s and shot 60% for the game in the win.

Villanova opens their regular season on the 13th when Fairleigh Dickinson pays a visit.
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DePaul faces the University of Chicago tonight in an exhibition contest. The Chicago Tribune takes a look at DePaul Basketball at a Glance as preparation to the 2009-2010 college hoops season.
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Connecticut will participate in their second exhibition in preparation for the 09-10 season on Sunday against Lowell-Mass at Gampel Pavision. While Jim Calhoun got word late on Wednesday that three players needed to be held out of the game for eligibility purposes, the coach expects to have at least Donnell Beverly and Jerome Dyson available. The required Documents Have Been Submitted to the NCAA by Dyson and Beverly (Hartford Courant) and it is expected they will be cleared shortly.

Freshman Jamal Commbs-McDaniel has yet to have his initial eligibility granted by the NCAA Eligibility Center. There is not immediate timetable on when word would be received in his case.
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Players used to playing, and being the star, on the basketball court can find sitting out very difficult. Providence head coach Keno Davis made the decision to redshirt freshman Bilal Dixon and sophomore Jamine Peterson last year. The moves will pay off in the long run, even if the players might not have fully understood the decision at first. Now, after a year on the shelf, PC’s Peterson and Dixon are Itching to Contribute (Providence Journal) this season for the Friars.
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With the graduation of Kyle McAlarney Notre Dame has a big hole at shooting guard and that is where they hope Mississippi State transfer Ben Hansbrough can step right in and deliver. Very quickly Hansbrough has Found a Niche with the Irish (South Bend Tribune) and like his All-American older brother Tyler, this Hansbrough is a fierce competitor.
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As most have probably heard by now, Devon Collier made his college decision last night. With three Big East schools among his final four choices (Seton Hall, St. John’s and Providence), Collier Picks Oregon State (ZagsBlog.com) and will head west for college.
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Interesting story on the Syracuse Post-Standard about Syracuse Assistant Rob Murphy’s Rap Becomes Theme Song/Charitable Effort.