West Virginia
MERNAGH: BIG EAST TOURNAMENT WAS BUTLER’S TIME
March 15, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
by RAY MERNAGH
“Da’Sean Butler is the best basketball player in the Big East.”
Those words were uttered by an NBA scout, a guy I respect, back in January of this year.
And while I didn’t scoff at him, I also wasn’t completely buying it.
Butler was definitely one of the top five players in the Big East, maybe even in the top three, but the best?
Really?
“He does whatever they need him to do Raymond,” the scout scolded me — no doubt seeing the doubt in my face. “That’s what this Butler kid does, his will to win is off the charts.”
NCAA TOURNAMENT AT A GLANCE FOR BIG EAST
March 14, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
NCAA Tournament pairings information and ticket resources for Big East teams
The tournament selection committee has set the field of 65 and now the action of March Madness truly gets underway beginning on Tuesday with the play-in game and Thursday and Friday with the first round of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Once again the Big East led all conferences with eight teams selected including the No. 1 seed in the West Region, Syracuse. The Orange open their quest for Jim Boeheim’s fourth Final Four appearance in Buffalo on Friday against 16th seed Vermont. Of course there is some NCAA Tournament history between the two schools as the Catamounts upset the No. 4 seed Orange in an opening round game in overtime back in 2005.
2010 BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP WAS DA’SEAN’S TOURNAMENT
March 14, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
By Anthony Jaskulski
Heroic efforts and exemplary moments are not scarce in the Big East tournament.
In 2006, Gerry McNamara rocked the tournament for four days, hitting buzzer-beaters and shocking every opponent his Syracuse Orange played to reach the title.
In 2009, Syracuse and Connecticut went to an epic six overtime periods to decide a 127-117 Orange victory. The game lasted for 3 hours and 46 minutes.
But this year, Da’Sean Butler’s story could be added to the classics played in the past. Butler played three games in three days that made everybody who watched ask exactly how thin is that line between reality and just plain impossible?
WEST VIRGINIA TAKES BIG EAST TITLE
March 14, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
Mountaineers win on the heels of Da’Sean Butler
By Anthony Jaskulski
He did it again.
Arguably the most clutch shooter in the history of West Virginia basketball, Da’Sean Butler showed exactly why he is the go-to man.
And while he’s hit six game-winning shots for the Mountaineers this year, none was as big as Saturday night’s.
With just four seconds left, the senior did what he does best, and drove from the top of the key to the paint, where he then fired up an acrobatic floater that dropped giving West Virginia (27-6) the 60-58 advantage and eventual win over Georgetown (23-10) in the 2010 Big East tournament championship game at Madison Square Garden Saturday night.
2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT COVERAGE: CHAMPIONSHIP PRIMER
March 13, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
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The 2010 Big East Tournament has reached it’s end-point as Georgetown and West Virginia will meet at 9 PM tonight under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden for the conference tournament championship.
If you can get to NYC, there are still tickets available to be purchased and the links below (or at our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page) provide the resources to find seats with Stub Hub’s guarantee for fans to have their tickets in hand prior to the game, even at this last minute…
The remaining Big East Conference Tournament Schedule…
Championship, Saturday March 13th:
Session 8:
Big East Basketball Tournament Tickets – Session 8 (Championship) March 13 2010
BUTLER LEADS WEST VIRGINIA OVER NOTRE DAME
March 13, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
Mountaineers face Georgetown in pursuit of first-ever Big East Tournament crown
By Anthony Jaskulski
NewYork, NY–They wouldn’t be a contender without him.
The 6-foot-7, do-it-all talent that is Da’Sean Butler—a stones throw native of New York, growing up in Newark, NJ—dominated for 40 minutes, scoring a game-high 24 points and ripping down seven rebounds, leading his West Virginia Mountaineers (26-6, 15-5) to a closer-than-comfort-53-51 Big East semifinal win over Notre Dame at Madison Square Garden Friday night.
The Mountaineers advance to the 2010 Big East Tournament championship final for the second time in school history.
They are the first No. 3 seed to advance to the title game since 2000 when St. John’s did it.
2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT PRIMER: FRIDAY PRIMER
March 12, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
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The 2010 Big East Tournament lived up to the hype with an exciting and nail-biting quartet of games on Thursday afternoon and evening. Now, one of the best night’s of every year in college sports is upon us, the Friday night semifinal doubleheader from Madison Square Garden in the Big East Tournament.
With the four remaining teams (Georgetown – Marquette and West Virginia – Notre Dame) we have a 75% chance of a first time champion as only the Hoyas have hoisted the trophy on the Madison Square Garden floor previously.
If you can get to NYC, there are still tickets available to be purchased and the links below (or at our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page) provide the resources to find seats with Stub Hub’s guarantee for fans to have their tickets in hand prior to the game, even at this last minute…
The remaining Big East Conference Tournament Schedule…
Semifinals, Firday March 12th:
Session 7:
Big East Basketball Tournament Tickets – Session 7 (Semifinals) March 12 2010
(8) Georgetown vs. (5) Marquette, 7 PM.
(3) West Virginia vs. (7) Notre Dame, 9 PM.
Championship, Saturday March 13th:
Session 8:
Big East Basketball Tournament Tickets – Session 8 (Championship) March 13 2010
2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT COVERAGE: DAY THREE RECAP
March 12, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
by RAY FLORIANI and MATT WHITFIELD
NEW YORK CITY – The quaterfinals of the 2010 Big East Tournament served as reminder, as if we needed one, as how tough and unforgiving this conference is. Also, how interesting and exciting for those of us watching and/or analyzing.
The Scores:
Georgetown 91, Syracuse 84
Notre Dame 50, Pittsburgh 45
West Virginia 54, Cincinnati 51
Ray’s ten points of emphasis from Thursday…
1. Syracuse exited the tournament one and done. For Orange faithful, the weekend to quote Steeley Dan, “didn’t turn out as you planned”. Orange fans can also take solace from 2003. That year they won a quarterfinal game before being eliminated by UCONN in the semis. Less than a month later they cut the nets down in New Orleans. ESPN reported no team lost its first conference tournament game and won the national title. Interesting, but right now Syracuse is concerned with Arinze Onuaku who exited the Georgetown game with a knee strain that needed further evaluation.
MIKE TAYLOR BASKING IN PSAL CHAMPIONSHIP
March 10, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
Boys & Girls junior guard shines on MSG floor with 25 points leading ‘Roos to first title since 1979
They have been close before, but this time the Boys & Girls High School Kangaroos finished the job with a 55-50 victory over Cardozo to give the Brooklyn high school their first PSAL championship since 1979. It was their third trip in the last four years to the AA finals and the win made Ruth Lovelace the first female coach to lead a PSAL team to the boy’s title.
Junior (2011) guard Mike Taylor led the ‘Roos with 25 points and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard, who is being pursued by the majority of the Big East, understood the historical aspects of the win, relaying the weight of the accomplishments to NBE last night while returning to Madison Square Garden to take in the 2010 Big East Tournament as a fan.
“It was a good win on Saturday,” said Taylor. “We were down 10 at halftime, we just came out halftime and played hard. The last time we won was in 1979, so it was a 31 year drought. This was Coach Ruth Lovelace’s first championship.”
For more on Taylor’s thoughts on the PSAL championship and an update from him on his recruitment, you can sign up for NBE Premium access and SUBSCRIBE (HERE) read on below…
NATIONAL PREP CHAMPIONSHIP OPENING DAY
March 10, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
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…
NBE POST-SEASON ALL-BIG EAST TEAMS & AWARDS
March 8, 2010 by NBE Blogger · 2 Comments
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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
BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/8/2010)
March 8, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
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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…
NIA PREP ON THE RISE ON THE PREP SCHOOL SCENE
March 8, 2010 by NBE Blogger · 2 Comments
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…
2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE & TICKETS
March 6, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
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!
ANGEL NUNEZ IMPRESSED WITH SYRACUSE VISIT, TALKS RECRUITING
March 5, 2010 by NBE Blogger · 1 Comment
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…
2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT PROJECTED SEEDS/SCHEDULE
March 5, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
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!
BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/2/2010)
March 2, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
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Da’Sean Butler went out as a winner in his West Virginia final home game as the Mountaineers dealt slumping Goergetown another loss. The Hoyas were without Austin Freeman, who is battling an illness, and their lack of depth makes it very tough to overcome.
Tonight on the Big East schedule is four games. Deonta Vaughn hopes to go out as a winner in his final regular season home game at Cincinnati and the Bearcats hopes to finish strong while Villanova, losers of three of their last four, hope to make some short-order repairs in time for the post-season. Syracuse hopes to wrap-up the regular season conference title outright with a win over St. John’s as the Carrier Dome crowd gets to cheer 5th year seniors Andy Rautins and Arinze Onuaku one last time. South Florida looks to keep their hopes for a .500 Big East season alive when they visit DePaul and Louisville and Marquette have an intriguing nightcap with several post-season implicatons tied to the outcome.
In other news, Lenn Robbins gives it to a couple Big East coaches following their weekend losses. Notre Dame is likely without Luke Harangody at least one more time as UConn and the Irish battle tomorrow in a game that has very big post-season ramifications. Carleton Scott has given ND a lift during ‘Gody’s absence. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon is a candidate for coaching awards as the Panthers look to sew up a double-bye in the Big East Tournament in their last two games this year.
Also, it just 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…
UPDATED 2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT SEEDING SCENARIOS
March 1, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
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.
BIG EAST TEAMS JOCKEYING FOR NCAA TOURNAMENT SEEDING & BIDS DOWN THE STRETCH
February 26, 2010 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment
Many key games will highlight the last eight days of the Big East regular season with NCAA implications
Earlier today we took a look at how the 2010 Big East Tournament Seeding is shaping out and how the last three games for each team in the regular season can still determine quite a bit of the match-ups for Madison Square Garden beginning March 9th.
Now, we take a look at the bigger picture and how the last week will impact the Big East and the NCAA Tournament. At this point, everyone is pretty much agreed that five teams are locks from the Big East to earn NCAA bids: Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia, Georgetown and Pittsburgh.
Over the course of the next eight days, beginning tomorrow, six other Big East teams will have the opportunity to play themselves into (or out of) the NCAA Tournament or onto (or off of) the infamous tournanent bubble. An argument could be made that a seventh team could make a case for themselves if they run the table this last week as well. Below we will go over some of the key scenarios yet to play out in the final days of the Big East regular season before all 16 teams hit NYC for one last shot and the 2010 Big East Tournament.
2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT SEEDING AT A GLANCE
February 26, 2010 by NBE Blogger · 1 Comment
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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