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BIG EAST SLIP PROVEN PREMATURE

Interesting numbers show why Big East is still strong and maybe deeper than previous seasons

by RAY MERNAGH

It seems as if Big East basketball isn’t quite ready to deliver on that slip everyone’s been looking for. Conference teams have jumped out to a solid (read spectacular) 52-4 record to start the season. So I thought I’d tap my inner-hoops scientist to point out some individual — and team (sorry Rutgers) — stats that popped off the page from games played over the last few days.

Nova Looks Ready…and Deep

While winning the whole dang thing in Puerto Rico, Villanova discovered two things: Antonio Pena can replace Dante Cunningham’s production if need be (and without Yarou it was certainly needed) and, Taylor King will get grimey like Redman was back in the Muddy Waters era. Pena put up 17 points and 16 rebounds (6 offensive) in the tournament-clinching 79-67 win over a game Ole Miss squad. King didn’t shoot it that well but he busted rear all over the floor and finished with 9 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals. Both discoveries have Villanova looking extremely tough extremely early, despite what jay Williams was trying to tell viewers last night. Corey Stokes also came up large with 18 points, 5 boards and 2 blocks on an efficient (5-9) shooting night. Stokes has given Wright 11 and 5 in 26 minutes a game thus far. One more notable thing: The foursome of Stokes, Scottie Reynolds, King and freshman Maalik Wayns were 18-22 from the line.

The ‘Ville’s Depth Will Be Challenged Coming Up

Louisville coach Rick Pitino has to be thrilled with the combination of freshman Rakeem Buckles and sophomore Jared Swopshire thus far. Buckles, a 6-8, 200-pounder from Miami is giving the Don 4.5 and 4.5 per game in only ten minutes. Against Appalachian State Buckles had 6 points and 10 rebounds (not to mention 2 assists) in 15 minutes of action. Swopshire, 6-8 and 205, had 10 and 9 in 22 minutes and is averaging just about 8 and 8 in 25 minutes of action on the young season. Six of the nineteen rebounds the duo snatched were offensive. Louisville is once again very deep and that depth will be tested this weekend when they travel to UNLV (who beat the Cards last season at Louisville).

Cincinnati Getting Into Folks

Cincinnati played the way Mick Cronin’s teams at Murray State used to play yesterday in beating Vanderbilt 67-58 in Hawaii. The Bearcats were in their opponents face all day and rebounded the heck out of the ball — a 45-27 advantage. Yancy Gates was big with 16 and 10, but the two players that jumped out at me were Rashad Bishop and Dion Dixon. Bishop had 9 points, 6 rebounds (3 offensive, including one posterizing flush off a miss) and 3 assists to go along with a block and a steal in 24 minutes. Dixon finished with 12 points and 10 boards in 30 minutes. Bishop, a 6-6 wing-type from Newark –psyche Zags — from Paterson (NJ) is giving Cronin great activity off the bench, averaging 11, 6 and 3 in 23 minutes so far, while Dixon, a sophomore from the Chi, is giving his coach just about 8 and 6 in 24 minutes. Their production was huge yesterday in a big win for a Cincinnati program looking to make the jump into the upper-tier of the Big East.

DePaul Gets W W/Out Koshwal

Will Walker was huge with 25 points, but perhaps the key for DePaul in their 58-51 win over Saint Joseph’s was the play of sophomore big Krys Faber in Mac Koshwal’s absense (ankle). Faber, 6-11 and 260, shot 3-3 and gave the Demons 7 points and 8 rebounds in 14 minutes. Way to step up big man.

Gibbs Getting it Done

Despite the coverage about Travon Woodall, who played very well especially creating buckets for Gary McGhee, I thought Ashton Gibbs really came up with some huge baskets whenever Pitt needed them in their 68-55 win over Wichita State. Gibbs finished with 18 points. Woodall’s fine line of 19, 6, and 5 was diminished by his 6 turnovers, but he will learn to win that battle within himself soon. Gibbs hit shots though, especially down the stretch. Tonight’s game against Texas will be a great test for the young Pittsburgh club.

Same Old Rutgers

In their loss to Vermont the Scarlet Knights were out-rebounded 37-32 (Vermont pounded them for 16 offensive rebounds). They handed out 11 assists and committed 20 turnovers. Not good. Moreso, just over a week into year four of Fred Hill’s Rutgers coaching tenure, RU has lost to Vermont, Lehigh, St. Bonaventure and Binghampton on the RAC floor in the last 12 months.

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