Rutgers

NATIONAL PREP CHAMPIONSHIP – FINAL DAY RUNDOWN

by PAT STEVENS – A pair of Big East recruits capped off their seasons with a New England championship and now a national title as CJ Fair and Austin Carroll helped Brewster Academy defeated Northfield Mount Hermon in the finals of the National Prep Championships.

Brewster would rally from down 15 points in the first half and trade the lead in the second half before heading to overtime where they pulled away for the 79-76 win.

BIG EAST SIGNEES IN ACTION

CJ Fair (Syracuse/6-7 WF/Brewster Academy) – Fair saved his best for last as he scored a number of big baskets in key moments. He’s a zone-buster for the Brewster team with his ability to operate consistently in the gaps and finish around the rim. Often times he elevated over the defense for scores with his high, slingshot release that goes well with his lift and size. However, most impressive is his effort. Considering he’s fit to be a wing but with his skills to serve as an undersized-four man inside, he’s gone to work and gives the team what it needs consistently when we’ve seen him this year. He scored 13 and 11 in the prior two victories and finished with 19 in his last game with his family also on hand.

Austin Carroll (Rutgers/6-3 SG/Brewster Academy) – He had the chance to win the game when Will Barton couldn’t get enough space for a step-back jumper and got caught in the air, dropping it off to him nearby in the corner. It was a tough spot to make something happen and he nearly scored on a runner that would have been the game-winner. His first two games were tough outings from beyond the arc but he hit several in key stretches come the championship. He made a difference as a help defender and in team defense, showing both good anticipation and timing with a number of strips around the basket along with stepping in for several charges throughout the two days. Rutgers’ head coach Fred Hill and assistant Darren Savino watched him in the championship alongside his family.

Isaiah Epps (Pittsburgh/6-2 PG/Hargrave Military Academy) – Epps has a necessary weapon for the point guard package and it’s a reliable long ball, which he used for two big hoops in Hargrave’s second half rally that eventually fell short against NMH. His toughness shined through down the stretch with will to take and make those big shots. He was a tough cover for the slower guards and finished with a game-high 20 points along with some active defense in the press that forced a number of turnovers during their comeback attempt.

Ron Giplaye (Providence/6-7 PF/Notre Dame Prep) – Giplaye had an average outing in the opening round loss to NMH. A signature rebounder, getting back on defense was an issue for he and his teammates. Offensively, a bright spot was his ability to go to both hands in a crowd. Gerard Coleman stuck around to watch him. He had nine points in the opening round loss to Northfield Mount Hermon.

Gerard Coleman (Providence/6-4 SG/Tilton) – Coleman played within the flow of the offense in the first half but Hargrave jumped Tilton and took a big lead into the half of the opening round matchup. The second half he was more aggressive with the floor opening up and allowing for plenty of his typical scores in transition, but he got plenty of hoops taking his man off the dribble as well. While a majority of the second half both teams pushed the ball off both misses and makes, his drive game was superb when in the half court. Inside, he avoided contact with his ability to change direction on the bounce or adjust mid-air. A quick spin move into a leaner/push shot is in his repertoire. More often than not though, he would get himself all the way to the rim and either convert or head to the free throw line. His jump shot is still a work in progress. Several were short when the defender (quick guards of similar build Mardracus Wade and Lorenzo Brown) was able to get a hand up but he also knocked down a contested pair as well. Condition-wise he’s in great shape for a track meet like the game turned into but the mental of giving so much on offense and essentially trading baskets in a big comeback attempt probably took away from his active defense he’s capable of. He did his best to overcome a slow start as a team and finished with 43 points, 29 coming in the second half.

BIG EAST COACHES IN ATTENDANCE

Rutgers’ Fred Hill and Darren Savino were on hand along with Connecticut’s Pat Sellers and Providence’s Pat Skerry.

*Our premium section will have a few recruiting notes from the Prep Championship later tonight for subscribers…

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NATIONAL PREP CHAMPIONSHIP OPENING DAY

by PAT STEVENS

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Gerard Coleman (Tilton/Providence) had the day’s high of 43 points as the fourth annual National Prep Championships are underway, this year from Albertus Magnus College.

Big East signees Isaiah Epps (Pittsburgh), CJ Fair (Syracuse) and Austin Carroll (Rutgers) all helped their teams to victories that have them slated for Wednesday’s semifinals and potential championship game.

Epps and No. 1 seed Hargrave Military Academy meet No. 5 Northfield Mount Hermon and Fair and Carroll lead No. 2 seed Brewster Academy against No. 6 St. Thomas More, with the championship set for 7:30 p.m.

Read on for more on the opening day of the National Prep Championship, including recruiting updates on Cleveland Melvin, who has plenty of Big East interest and plans a Big East visit in the near future, and Bryon Allen, who is likely to take a Big East official visit this spring. Both were previously Big East verbal commitments and still might land in the conference next season. To see the latest you can sign up for NBE Premium access and SUBSCRIBE (HERE) to read on below…

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BIG EAST TOURNAMENT COVERAGE: MERNAGH’S THOUGHTS ON DAY I

by RAY MERNAGH

USF 58 DePaul 49

A lot is being made about South Florida winning without scoring from outside a few feet and I’ll concede it’s one of the more stranger things I’ve seen in a long time.

But it also points to the control that Stan Heath has over this squad. The Bulls finished 0-8 from three but only took two of those in the second half.

Why? Because they didn’t have to make three’s or a lot of jump shots to beat DePaul. Heat told them that and they executed their game plan of getting to the rim.

Today against Georgetown they’ll have to hit some J’s, but because they realized they didn’t need to yesterday they got to today.

It’s all about advancing folks.

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BIG EAST TOURNAMENT COVERAGE: DAY ONE RECAP

by RAY FLORIANI and MATT WHITFIELD

NEW YORK CITY – The first round of the 2010 Big East Tournament is in the books. Four games, one upset with St. John’s over UCONN in a surprisingly lopsided contest . The scores:

South Florida 58, DePaul 49

St. John’s 73, Connecticut 51

Seton Hall 109, Providence 106

Cincinnati 69, Rutgers 68

—Be sure to visit NBE’s 2010 Big East Tournament home page (HERE!) for the full schedule and links to get tickets to each session—

Ray’s ten points of emphasis from this first day:

1. Loved the attitude of South Florida coach Stan Heath. His Bulls defeated DePaul and are 20-11. Rather than discuss the bubble Heath simply tells his players to keep playing. “We win we get to keep playing,” Heath said, “and that takes care of itself.” Bulls jumped out to a 30-15 halftime lead and outside of a late run fueled by DePaul’s Will Walker (20 points), did a good defensive job.

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2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT: TUESDAY PRIMER

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Let the Madness begin!! The 2010 Big East Tournament tips off today at high noon with a double-header this afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

16) DePaul vs. 9) South Florida, 12 noon.
13) St. John’s vs. 12) Connecticut, 2 PM.

It is not to late to find tickets, but you have to act fast for this afternoon’s session:

Big East Basketball Tournament Tickets – Session 1 March 9 2010 (DePaul/USF & UConn/SJU)

The nightcap doubleheader for the opening day:

15) Providence vs. 10) Seton Hall, 7 PM.
14) Rutgers vs. 11) Cincinnati, 9 PM.

Again, tickets are still available and for great prices:

Big East Basketball Tournament Tickets – Session 2 March 9 2010 (PC/SHU & RU/UC)

All three NYC/NJ-area teams are in action today, as well as UConn. South Florida and Seton Hall desperately need wins to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive and kicking.

For tickets to any session of the Big East Tournament, or to purchase a full tournament ticket package, please visit our 2010 Big East Tournament and Tickets page for the complete schedule and links to purchase tickets. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and your tickets are guaranteed to be in hand before the game, even when purchasing for the early sessions of the BET: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online.

Read on below for more News & Notes on today’s action as well as other notes regarding the Big East Tournament…

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NBE POST-SEASON ALL-BIG EAST TEAMS & AWARDS

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The regular season is complete and the Big East Tournament tips off Tuesday so be sure to visit our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page for the full tournament schedule and the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions.

Throughout the day the majority of NBE writers and contributors contemplated, debated and discussed our post-season awards for the Big East conference. Its been another great season with 16 teams battling it out for 18 games each through the 71 days of Big East action from December 26th through this past Saturday. After much deliberation…here are the NBE Big East 2009-2010 season awards:

NBE Big East Player of the Year: Scottie Reynolds, Villanova

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/8/2010)

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The regular season is complete and the Big East Tournament tips off tomorrow so be sure to visit our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page for the full tournament schedule and the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big East fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. They still have plenty of seats, and inexpensive options, for the early sessions as well as the entire tournament.

Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and your tickets are guaranteed to be in hand before the game, even when purchasing for the early sessions of the BET: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online.

Before we dive into the stories of the Big East Tournament and the post season awards and the latest on this coach’s future and who doesn’t like this coach, which is all below, we urge everyone to check out Keith Sargeant’s blog post at Scarlet Scuttlebutt titled Caring for Brayden and see the stories he wrote on Rutgers men’s basketball recruiting coordinator Jim Carr. His son, Brayden, has been battling epilepsy for most of his 18-month old life and the efforts of the Carr family and those close to them and young Brayden to find a cure.

Now, onto today’s News & Notes around the Big East…

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NEPSAC CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES

BY PAT STEVENS — C.J. Fair (Syracuse) helped Brewster Academy to a NEPSAC Class A Championship as they knocked off Winchendon School and Markus Kennedy (Villanova), 72-69 on Sunday’s season finale at Endicott College. Brewster’s Will Barton (Memphis) was named MVP with 28 points. Naadir Tharpe (2011) added 14 points. Winchendon’s Khem Birch (2012) had 11 points and several key blocks.
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Gerard Coleman (Providence) scored 20 points as Tilton School won its third straight Class B Championship beating Marianapolis, 69-61. Ryan Canty (2011) added 12 points.
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Shabazz Napier (2011) scored 23 points to go with six assists and several steals for Lawrence Academy, who finished the season undefeated at 23-0 with its Class C title win over St. Mark’s, 55-43. Nate Lubick (Georgetown) had 15 points and 13 rebounds for St. Mark’s. Alex Murphy (2012) scored 11.
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Georgetown head coach John Thompson III, Providence head coach Keno Davis, Connecticut assistant Pat Sellers and Rutgers assistants Craig Carter and Darren Savino all made the trip.

Alabama head coach Anthony Grant also watched Shabazz Napier.
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Next Up:

National Prep Championship 2010
March 9th & 10th, 2010
Albertus Magnus College – New Haven, Connecticut

Quarter-Finals – Tuesday, March 9th

2pm – #1 Hargrave Military Academy vs. #8 Tilton School
4pm – #4 Notre Dame Prep vs. #5 Northfield Mount Hermon School
6pm – #2 Brewster Academy vs. #7 Westwind Prep
8pm – #3 Winchendon School vs. #6 St. Thomas More School

Semi-Finals – Wednesday, March 10th

11am – 1/8 winner vs. 4/5 winner
1pm – 2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner

Finals

7:30pm – Championship
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The Big East Tournament tips off this week and be sure to visit our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page for the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big East fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

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NIA PREP ON THE RISE ON THE PREP SCHOOL SCENE

Jamir Hanner headed to Seton Hall; Kelvin Amayo & Shaquille Thomas lead next group of NIA Prep prospects

By Matt Whitfield

The New York tri-state area is a hot bed for high school basketball. With perennial powers St. Anthony’s, St. Benedict’s, St. Patrick’s, Paterson Catholic, Rice, Lincoln and others, it is no surprise a plethora of talented high school players graduate to play in college and then sometimes at the highest level. Despite being such a breeding ground for talent the area also sees many talented players leave the area for stops at prep programs in New England such as Winchendon Prep, South Kent Prep, and others, to pepare them for college on and off the court. A rising program aims to begin to change the migration of talented NYC/NJ-area players to New England and keep them in the tri-state area as Alif Muhammad’s NIA School in Newark (NJ) has put itself on the prep basketball map this season. With the addition of former Bishop Loughlin head coach Rudy King to the coaching staff at NIA School, NIA Prep is posied for bigger things in the future.

NIA Prep’s basketball program is in it’s second season on the court and in it’s first year under Coach Rudy King. The team is 29-11 as of Monday and according to school President Alif Muhammad had it’s best stretch to date in late January/early February when they beat Mack Academy and then went up to Rhode Island for the National Prep Showcase and beat Westwind Prep and Brewster, all of who were ranked high amongst the ESPN top prep school schools. The school has taken on a national schedule this season, playing a mix of traditional New England prep powers as well as the top programs in New Jersey, including Paterson Catholic and St. Anthony’s. NIA Prep owns a two-game season sweep over a loaded Brewster Academy team, which recently captured the NEPSAC Class A championship.

The team right now has several Big East caliber players with the best of those right now being Jamir Hanner, according to Muhammad.

Read on for more on NIA Prep, including recruiting updates on 2011 prospects Shaquille Thomas and Kelvin Amayo who are both highly coveted by Big East programs. To see the latest you can sign up for NBE Premium access and SUBSCRIBE (HERE) to read on below…

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2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE & TICKETS

Madison Square Garden in New York City is the place to be beginning next Tuesday

After 18, hard fought regular season contests all 16 teams head to New York City and Madison Square Garden for the 2010 Big East Tournament as this year’s ‘Garden Party’ tips off at high noon, Tuesday, March 9th.

There is a lot at stake once again in MSG as teams fight for NCAA Tournament seeding and a few fight for their postseason lives. This year’s conference tournament promises to be as wide open as any in recent memory. Below we map out the week’s schedule and offer fans links to buy tickets through StubHub.com and your tickets are guaranteed to be in your hand prior to the games with StubHub’s guarantees.

Enjoy the week…March Madness is here!

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/5/2010)

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Here is a quick Happy Hour fix of the news and notes around the Big East as we take a quick glance back at last night’s action and preview the first game of the weekend tonight that kicks off the final games of the Big East regular season. Also in the news today is the visit list for tomorrow’s Freedom Hall finale as the host cards look to stamp that NCAA Tournament resume. The season has not gone quite as well as planned for Mick Cronin and Cincinnati, but the UC coach can expect to give it at least another try next year with the Bearcats. South Florida and Notre Dame enter this last weekend with hopes remaining of NCAA Tournament bids.

Speaking of tournaments this time of year, a good luck shout out goes to the girls team at Northwest HS in Wichita, Kansas as they play in the sub-state final tonight. Good luck to the Grizzlies in their quest to earn a spot in the state tournament.

It is now less than a week away, so be sure to visit our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page for the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big East fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

Now, onto today’s News & Notes around the Big East…

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ANGEL NUNEZ IMPRESSED WITH SYRACUSE VISIT, TALKS RECRUITING

2011 forward prospect has checked out several Big East schools, wants to see Pitt, Kentucky, UL and UConn

by JEFF BORZELLO

A record crowd was in the Carrier Dome last Saturday night to watch Syracuse knock off Villanova and take control of the Big East standings.

The electric atmosphere that was heightened by the ESPN Gameday crew and an NCAA on-campus crowd of 34,616 added to the excitment and the Orange staff took full advantage by using the festivities as a recruiting tool bringing in several highly touted recruits.

One of those in attendance was 2011 prospect Angel Nunez, a 6-7 native New Yorker now playing at Winchendon Prep (Mass.).

“It was fun. The atmosphere was overwhelming,” Nunez said. “I went with [Winchendon teammate] Khem Birch.”

Nunez talked to NBE last night about his trip to Syracuse and his thoughts on recruiting, which included his interest in visiting other schools such as Pitt, Kentucky, Louisville and UConn in the future and what he will be looking for in his future college home. To see the latest you can sign up for NBE Premium access and SUBSCRIBE (HERE) to read on below…

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2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT PROJECTED SEEDS/SCHEDULE

The last days of the 2009-2010 regular season are here as we prepare for the conference tournament

All 16 Big East teams will conclude their regular season with a conference game beginning tonight and finishing on Saturday We go through the scenarios and break down the seed possibilities for the 2010 Big East Tournament as this year’s ‘Garden Party’ tips off at high noon, March 9th, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. There will be a lot riding on these final regular season games, but the real action will begin next week a teams will be fighting for their collective seasons and trying to make their final cases in impressive the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. Selection Sunday is just nine days away…are you ready?

Below we break down the scenarios and lay out the Big East Tournament seeding landscape in the conference. Also, we provide links for fans to secure tickets to all the action, closing the regular season and opportunities to buy 2010 Big East Tournament Tickets. This year’s tournament promises to be wide-open and exciting, secure your seats today!

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/4/2010)

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There was one lone Big East game on the Wednesday Night schedule and it was an important meeting in South Bend (IN) between UConn and Notre Dame. Riding Tory Jackson, the Irish picked up another resume padding late-season win while UConn is dealt a critical blow to their NCAA Tournament chances. Tonight, Pitt looks to lock down the final double bye into the 2010 Big East Tournament quarterfinals when hosting Providence and the Seton Hall/Rutgers rivalry commences for round two in nine days.

Austin Freeman returned to the practice floor for Georgetown on Wednesday, but the Hoya junior also released the news he has developed diabetes. It will not impact his long-term basketball career, but the immediate impact is still to be determined in regards to his availability on the court in upcoming Georgetown games of the next week or so.

Also, Pat Stevens updates us on some of the happenings in the NEPSAC playoffs with several Big East commits and targets looking to extend their seasons. Finally, Rutgers to the Big 10 looks like a possibility and a good fit for the Scarlet Knights if an offer is extended to them in the future.

It is now less than a week away, so be sure to visit our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page for the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big East fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

Now, onto today’s News & Notes around the Big East…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/3/2010)

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Four games were on last night’s Big East schedule and Marquette made quite a statement, and it was loud and clear. The Golden Eagles are GOOD! MU ran Louisville out of the Bradley Center and the loss puts the Cards back onto the bubble, at least according to Rick Pitino who believes they need a win this weekend to give them enough breathing room before NYC. In other action, South Florida kept their postseason dreams alive while Cincinnati’s looks to be just about shattered. In the process, DePaul gets closer to commencing their job search full steam ahead, but one of their top candidates looks to be off the board. Villanova held on to, at least temporarily, right their ship while Syracuse had a laugher in the Carrier Dome over St. John’s allowing the Orange to celebrate their outright regular season Big East championship.

Tonight is a big game as Notre Dame and UConn put their NCAA Tournament hopes on the line in South Bend. No Luke Harangody again for the Irish…

In other news, Dane Miller is drawing comparisons to another former Big East star from his home area and Jermaine Dixon looks to reach a milestone of his own in his Pitt career. Also, more talk on the Big 10 expansion heats up after the initial report comissions by the conference says it is a feasible plan to move ahead…

Also, it is now less than a week away, so be sure to visit our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page for the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big East fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

Now, onto today’s News & Notes around the Big East…

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BUZZ WILLIAMS’ FRIEND/COACHING SCUTTLEBUTT/COREY EDWARDS UPDATE

by RAY MERNAGH

Marquette’s Biggest Fan

Last night after Marquette blasted Louisville, I noticed some of the players pointing out a man to Buzz Williams.

Williams and the players made a dramatic left turn towards the scorers table and greeted the man, who was even more excited than they were (and if you saw them last night that’s pretty damn excited). I had to get the story and asked Williams about it this morning when we were texting back and forth.

I figured he might have been the father of a player or a long-lost buddy. Turns out it was a man that Williams has had an ongoing friendship/dialogue with for some time. The man pops up all the time to visit Williams and the two talk about every day stuff while at the same time building some trust with each other. “It’s the craziest deal,” wrote Williams, “he knows when we play out of town and he’s waiting when our bus gets back to the office so he can say hello to me. He was so fired up last night, I wasn’t even sure he would show up because I knew he would be nervous in public. Our kids are the ones that saw him come out of the stands to see me.”

Williams said that Jimmy Butler was especially surprised. “Coach,” said Butler, “look, he came!” And if you saw the joy on the faces of the players at the moment they saw the man, it tells you a lot about Marquette, their kids, the program they’re building, and Williams. The players know the man’s homeless. They also know that he, like them, has built up some trust by following through on certain “suggestions” Williams makes to help himself and his situation. The education they’re getting at Marquette, even while immersed in basketball and away from the traditional “classroom” is truly in the Jesuit tradition. Williams and his players are definitely helping each other grow in mind, heart and spirit.

In the world of big-time college basketball that’s unbelievably huge…and so, so rare.

Coaching Scuttlebutt

While there are reports saying interim coach Jared Grasso thinks he’ll be back next season in a full time role at Fordham, and it could happen, it’s not what Fordham wants to happen…

To see the latest on the Fordham job search, including their #1 target, as well as some other major college assistant coaches that could be getting looks, you can sign up for NBE Premium access and SUBSCRIBE (HERE) to read on below…which also includes a Corey Edwards recruiting update as the Christ the King 2011 point guard is up to three Big East offers…

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UPDATED 2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT SEEDING SCENARIOS

Calendar flips to March and the last week of the regular season is upon us as teams jockey for position

All 16 Big East teams were in action with eight highly competitive conference match-ups this past weekend. This year’s conference tournament is shaping up to be as wide-open and as important as ever with NCAA Tournament seeding and bids on the line for several teams. We go through the scenarios and break down the seed possibilities for the 2010 Big East Tournament as this year’s ‘Garden Party’ tips off at high noon, March 9th, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Between tonight’s Big Monday contest (3/1) and next Saturday (3/6), everyone in the Big East will close their regular season with two conference games. Everyone is jockeying for position with conference tournament seeding up for grabs, NCAA Tournament bids and NCAA Tournament seeding riding on the outcomes of these games.

Below, we break down the scenarios and lay out the Big East Tournament seeding landscape in the conference. Also, we provide links for fans to secure tickets to all the action, closing the regular season and opportunities to buy 2010 Big East Tournament Tickets. Later today we will do the same with the NCAA Tournament and how the Big East teams are shaping up for their shot at making, or earning a top seed, in the Big Dance.

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2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT SEEDING AT A GLANCE

Plenty left to play for in the Big East over the final eight days of the regular season beginning tomorrow

A rare two-day break from conference action allows us to go in-depth and analyze where everyone stands with three regular season games left before the postseason gets underway. We go through the scenarios and break down the seed possibilities for the 2010 Big East Tournament, which promises to be as exciting and as wide-open as a game of online roulette. This year’s ‘Garden Party’ tips off at high noon, March 9th, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Between tomorrow (2/27) and next Saturday (3/6), everyone in the Big East will close their regular season with three conference games. Everyone is jockeying for position with conference tournament seeding up for grabs, NCAA Tournament bids and NCAA Tournament seeding riding on the outcomes of the games.

Below, we break down the scenarios and lay out the postseason landscape in the Big East. Also, we provide links for fans to secure tickets to all the action, closing the regular season and opportunities to buy 2010 Big East Tournament Tickets. Later today we will do the same with the NCAA Tournament and how the Big East teams are shaping up for their shot at making, or earning a top seed, in the Big Dance.

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UNSIGNED 2010 UPDATE: MAURICE WALKER

Brewster Academy big man keeping options open in Big East with Pitt’s lack of scholarship available

Every spring college basketball coaches seem to scour the nation trying to find size to add to their recruiting classes in the late signing period. This year is no exception as several big man recruits uncommitted in the class of 2010 are hot commodities among top programs across America.

Standing 6-foot-10 inches tall and weighing in around 300 pounds, Brewster (NH) Academy senior center Maurice Walker certainly has plenty of the size college coaches crave. What Walker also has that makes him more intriguing is a nice set of hands and touch around the rim and the knowledge of how to use his size to make an impact on the boards and in the paint at the highest prep level in the country with Jason Smith’s Brewster program.

It has long been assumed that the massive Canadian native would end up in the Big East playing at Pittsburgh. However, Jamie Dixon’s program does not currently have a scholarship available in their 2010 class, so Walker is keeping his options open and looking to visit a couple Big East schools in the near future.

“I’m keeping my options open and I’m staying open to recruitment,” Walker told NBE yesterday.

Right now, per Walker, those options seem to be in the Big East…read on to see what else Walker said about his recruitment as the native of Toronto (Ont.) was very gracious with his time in giving NBE a full update on his recruitment and how he is looking at things as the spring signing period is less than two months away…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (2/24/2010)

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Its a busy week as the stretch run in college basketball is fully underway. The Big East had a trio of games last night and four more tonight and we recap/preview all the action below.

Also, Providence has a player leave their team with just three weeks left in the season, Lance Stephenson announces his intentions, as of now, for next season and a former city rival coach takes a shot at Mick Cronin from afar…interesting…

Also, it might still be another few weeks away, but our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page has the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big East fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

Now, onto today’s News & Notes around the Big East…

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