NIT

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/17/2010) – BOBBY GONZALEZ FIRED?

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The 2010 postseason got under way last night and it was not a great night for Big East teams. While Connecticut survived a challenge from Northeastern to win their opening NIT contest, South Florida fell at home to North Carolina State on a late Wolfpack bucket and Seton Hall was blown out of their own building. The loss by the Pirates has but a cap on a bizarre couple of days and last night might have truly been ‘Rock’ bottom at the Prudential Center.

In fact, the display, among other incidents over the last few years seems to have ended the Bobby Gonzalez era at the school as the NJO is reporting that Gonzalez Has Been Forced out at Seton Hall.

Tonight Cincinnati and St. John’s are in action while half the league is preparing for the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament that tips off on Thursday afternoon.

Read on for more from last night’s NIT action with the Big East and stay tuned to more on the SHU coaching situation. Also, a decision on the Rutgers position also will be coming in the very near future. Stay tuned…

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SETON HALL GOES DOWN SWINGING, BUT WITHOUT A FIGHT

By Ray Floriani

NEWARK, NJ – A week ago Seton Hall still had hopes of a bid to the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Now the season is over. The Pirates were handed a quick exit by Texas Tech, 87-69 in the opening round of the NIT at the Prudential Center. The three key points:

1. Herb Pope’s ejection. Seton Hall’s outstanding sophomore forward was ejected just under 6 minutes into the game for a flagrant foul. The first few times down the floor Pope and Darko Cohadarevic of Texas Tech jostled for position. “Herb thought he was getting pushed and retaliated,” Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez said. “I didn’t get a good look at what Herb did but the officials were adamant in tossing him. I told Herb you can’t retaliate, you just have to keep your head and play through things.”

Minus Pope the burden fell on John Garcia and Ferrakohn Hall to produce. Garcia, playing in what would be his last Seton Hall game, had a creditable 7 point, 10 rebound effort. Hall was not much of a factor with two points and four boards.

2. Defense. Texas Tech coach Pat Knight pointed out his team does not have trouble putting points on the board. The defensive end is another thing. “We had a lot of games we gave up 80 points,” Knight said. “Seventy is our cutoff. We give up under 70 we are tough to beat.” Tech gave up 69 and in the process limited the Hall to 35% shooting from the floor that included a 5 of 26 mark from beyond the arc.

3. Here’s to you Mr. Robinson. With apologies to Simon and Garfunkel…Jeff Robinson was the only consistent performer for Seton Hall. The junior forward scored a game-high 23 points, added 12 rebounds and did a little of everything for the Pirates. Unfortunately for the Hall, Robinson had little or no help. Jeremy Hazell, with a bad back, struggled through a 6 point night and was 0 for 4 from three. Eugene Harvey, also playing in his last game, added 12 points and 6 assists. It was not enough.

“Jeff (Robinson) was spectacular,” Gonzalez said. “But for us to win we need contributions from Herb Pope and Jeremy Hazell. Herb (Pope) was gone and Jeremy (Hazell) had one of his poorer offensive games. He wasn’t at full strength but also cedit Texas Tech’s defense for that (Hazell’s performance) as well.”

Texas Tech had five players in double figures, a well-rounded attack. Guard John Roberson led the way with 22 points. Junior forward D’Walyn Roberts had a well rounded 12 point 11 rebound effort. The 6-9 Cohadarevic showed the ability to step outside (12 points) while battling inside (9 rebounds). Tech shot 30 of 60 (50%) for the game. Gonzalez said he broke down about four tapes of Tech in preparation but, “tonight they stepped up and hit some shots they normally do not make.”

Tough night overall for the Big East as NC State edged South Florida and UConn held on for dear life just getting by Northeastern by two in Storrs.

Some teams enter the NIT with disappointment. Not Texas Tech as Knight noted there was about a three week stretch when the Red Raiders lost several close games. The NCAA picture was basically out so his team refocused on getting to the NIT. “We are thrilled to be here,” Knight said. The Tech mentor also commented on his respect for the tournament. “That goes back with my father who admires this tournament so much. In fact my middle name is Clair after Clair Bee (a coaching legend with success in early NITs).”

Texas Tech advanced to 18-15 and the Hall finished at 19-13. “We had nineteen wins and were 9-9 in the best conference in the country,” Gonzalez said. “We had a successful season. You just have to look at the whole body of work not just tonight.”

Attendance was a disappointing 1,829. The atmosphere was also devoid of any excitement. It felt like two teams were playing a 3 p.m. game in a neutral site two time zones away. Unfortunately the only energy in the crowd was supplied by a sparse Seton Hall student section under one basket. They began with ‘Robert Mitchell’ chants, in support of the Hall junior recently put off the team. Later through the evening the chants changed to ‘fire Bobby..’.

Sad way to end what was the first post season tournament since 2006.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (4/1/2009)

With the coaching carousel in college basketball in full swing, beware of the April Fool’s jokes. Last year it was no joking manner, but Tom Crean shocked the Marquette faithful when he left for Indiana on April 1st. Will a big coaching domino fall today. One thing is certain, John Calipari’s move from Memphis to Kentucky will cause some recruiting waves.

Elsewhere in college basketball, two Big East teams are gearing up for the Final Four as UConn and Villanova continue preparations to do battle. The Wildcats hope their previous Ford Field basketball experience is of help while the Huskies should get an emotional lift on their bench and in pre-game warmups.

Louisville is preparing for next season and Pittsburgh will be adding a big man to the line-up already possessing the Pitt will to improve. The NBA early entry decisions have begun to trickle in, and one Big East player is off to the NBA and not looking back.

Lance Stephenson is back in a holding pattern. Jeremy Tyler could be the next Stephenson as a documentary film star. Tyler, in the class of 2010, is already committed to a Big East school.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/25/2009)

Once again today we take the tour of the five Big East teams preparing for Sweet 16 action in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Also, we have laid out links for fans to purchase the tickets to see their team in each step of the way this week as UConn, SU, Pitt, Louisville and ‘Nova vie for spots in Detroit.

The big news dominating college basketball today is the Y! Sports exclusive on recruiting irregularities by UConn in the recruitment of Nate Miles. Also, Notre Dame meets Kentucky with a spot in the NIT Final Four in New York City on the line. The coaching carousel rumors are starting to spin. A few Big East assistants are candidates at Boston U and a couple Big East coaches are being tossed into the discussion at Virginia.

Also, Marquette and Buzz Williams say good-bye to a great group of seniors, but are ready to get to work on the future. In recruiting, a former Big East target (and onetime early commit) is back on the market.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/18/2009)

NIT action started last night with Notre Dame earning a win in front of dozens of fans in the Joyce Center in South Bend. The Irish turned back UAB on St. Patrick’s Day. Tonight, both Georgetown and Providence are in action in the NIT and St. John’s is in action in the CBI, hoping to reach .500 on the season.

Also, some updates and notes on 2009 NCAA Tournament participants Villanova, West Virginia, UConn and Syracuse, where Eric Devendorf feeds on the opposing fan’s negative energy towards him.

Also, some very informative recruiting updates centering on Georgetown and South Florida, as well as Lance Stephenson, who knows where he is headed for college, we will just all have to wait for the announcement which will be forthcoming…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/17/2009)

With seven Big East teams readying for the 2009 NCAA Tournament, three more for the NIT and one for the CBI, there is still plenty of action ahead as March Madness begins tonight.

Be sure to visit our page devoted to the 2009 NCAA Tournament & Tickets for links to purchase tickets every step of the way so you do not miss a single minute of action as the Big East looks to make more history this month.

The USBWA writers handed out their All-American awards on Monday and a Big Fella represents the Big East on the 1st team. UConn hopes to use the Big East Tournament loss to their advantage, but time is running out for their seniors to mark their legacy in Storrs. Villanova is riding their upperclassmen leadership into the Big Dance while West Virginia is using their toughness and useful exuberance for a run through what they feel is a favorable draw. Marquette looks to dig deep on the defensive end as they shuffle off to Idaho. Once coach believes the top seeds are positioned well for a deep run.

Notre Dame will put the disappointment of a regular season of failed expectations behind them tonight as they open the NIT against some familiar faces in new places. St. John’s opts to extend their season while Cincinnati and Seton Hall have different views on the feeling of their coming to an end. UC also has some roster updates forthcoming and Rutgers looks to begin some improvement under Fred Hill, but roster shuffling could happen with the Knights as well.

The coaching carousel also can cause for some new available spring recruits to appear. That could be the case with the Virginia coaching change and it could lead to a very high profile transfer being available. Will Barton shined last weekend in Maryland and he has plenty of Big East offers. Also, Jarrid Famous is making another Big East official visit.

Yes, it is a pretty jam-packed edition below…

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BIG EAST MAKES NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY

With UConn, Louisville and Pitt, Big East is first conference with three #1 seeds

For much of the 2008-2009 season, especially early on, the talk of the Big East was always centered on ‘how many’ teams the Big East would have in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Would they place an unheard of 10 teams? Would they break their own record of eight by sending nine teams into the ‘Big dance’? Well, in the end, the powerful Big East ‘only’ has seven teams representing the conference.

With Notre Dame and Georgetown falling from top 10 rankings in January all the way into the NIT and Providence suffering from a non-descript November and December, the selection committee made the right call with the seven teams they chose from the Big East. While the seven teams might have been a little disappointing, the Big East flexed it’s muscles by earning three No. 1 seeds, led by the top overall seed in Louisville. It was the first time in the history of the NCAA Tournament that one conference had three #1 seeds as Pittsburgh and Connecticut also earned the top spot in their regions.

Let’s take a look at how the brackets shape up for the Big East teams and show fans how YOU can go root on your team in person with easy links to secure tickets for each step of the way…

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/26/2008)

Syracuse can close the curtain on their season with one final collapse, now all their fans have their eyes set on an upcoming decision from Donte Greene on his future. The Providence College coaching search continues, but the names involved seem to stay about the same.

Villanova, West Virginia continue to prepare for this week’s Sweet 16 match-ups.

Several recruiting notes including fallout from Rutgers big week and will it sway players like Devin Ebanks and Dominic Cheek to give RU a closer look? Frank Ben-Eze has narrowed his list this spring to five schools. Gary Flowers’ list might be expanding to include up to three Big East schools. A 2009 JUCO has interest from UConn. Dalton Pepper has a pair of Big East schools at the top of his list. Tyreke Evans is not the only unsigned McDonald’s All-American with Big East schools hoping to sign him this spring, Scotty Hopson is in the same boat.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/25/2008)

Well, the spring recruiting period for unsigned seniors is quickly approaching and South Florida continues to be very active lining up visits the next couple weeks. USF target Maurice Sutton has up to three Big East schools very interested, including one still in the NCAA Tournament.

Will the NCAA Tournament success of Villanova sway Tyreke Evans at all? Another late period target of several schools has an interest in Providence. More and more, this early period of AAU basketball has replaced the summer period for the current juniors (seniors to be) as the time they begin seriously making their moves in recruiting. Rutgers definitely got out ahead of the curve in a BIG way yesterday.

Also, a few news and notes around the three NCAA Tournament teams left from the Big East: Villanova, Louisville and West Virginia. Also, Pitt, Notre Dame and UConn continue to try and pick up the pieces from their earlier-than-hoped exits from the Big Dance.

For SU, the NIT gives their young squad a chance at more game experience and tonight’s match-up also allows a chance for some payback!

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/20/2008)

As a likely pre-emptive move by Seton Hall, the University handed down a punishment against head coach Bobby Gonzalez for his post-game remarks directed at an official following their loss to Rutgers to close the regular season (among other items and a growing laundry list between Gonzalez, the school and conference). Gonzo is Suspended One Game (zagsblog) by Seton Hall, the opening game of the 2008-2009 Big East conference season. The SHU season has been over more than a week, yet we do not seem to go a day without something coming out of this situation in the news.

We also take a look at the Big East teams in action today in the NCAA Tournament with largely a collection of out-of-area articles previewing the action. Also, more on the Gonzalez suspension, Cincinnati’s results from the CBI and Syracuse prepares for an NIT match-up against an ACC opponent tonight.

On the recruiting front, see who Tyreke Evans will be watching closely this weekend, as well as Dominic Cheek. Another update on South Florida on the recruiting trail and the uncertainty for Providence recruiting moving forward, especially the important 2009 class which will likely determine how quickly a new coach can get them up to speed in the rough tumble Big East.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/19/2008)

Here is a quick view of some Big East News and Notes on the Eve of the NCAA Tournament. Bobby Knight continues to go with a Big East team as his pick to win the National Championship. Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody carries the athletic dreams of his own as well as hi brother’s into the Tournament. Zach Hillesland is one that will surprise you on the court. Antonio Pena has been to the NCAA Tournament before, unlike his three frosh teammates. Dominic James looks to flip the switch.

Bradley and Cincinnati renew and old-time rivalry tonight in the CBI and Syracuse, although frustrating coach Jim Boeheim down the stretch again, moves on in the NIT last night.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/18/08)

A few more notes on teams preparing for the NCAA Tournament. Syracuse tips off the NIT tonight while Cincinnati tips off the CBI tomorrow. Seton Hall was passed over by the NIT, but they have passed on the NIT…now, we must wonder about the relationship between their head coach and athletic director.

Seton Hall is actively recruiting for some frontcourt help, UConn can use their trip south for the NCAA to work in some recruiting time, too. Devin Ebanks will get a release from his LOI with Miami and St. Anthony’s finishes off their perfect season.

The players at Providence will move forward after Tim welsh’s firing and South Carolina has a big name from the Big East on their coaching search wishlist.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES

March 30, 2007

One tournament champion from the Big East has been crowned as West Virginia took home the hardware from Madison Square Garden last night with a 78-73 win over Clemson in the NIT. Hopefully, by this time on Tuesday morning, we are congratulating Georgetown for taking home the NCAA Tournament Title!!

It has been a surprising season for West Virginia and now they can be called CHAMPS! Even Coach Beilein Surprised by NIT Run (Daily Mail). Frank Young was the tournament MVP and scored 24 pts in the final and freshman Desean Butler added 20 as WVU is the NIT Champions (Charleston Gazette), their first NIT championship since 1942 and they earn the right to call themselves #66! Well, in reality, they definitely were MUCH better than many in the Field of 65.

On a lighter note, check out the image of Frank Young proudly displaying his NIT championship t-shirt…what is wrong with this picture (click on it for a closer look)?

Yep, West VirginIA is spelled WRONG (West Virgina)! The NIT does matter…it really does…

The Michigan coaching search might keep many around the West Virginia program from basking in the glow of their NIT Championship for long as U-M Narrows its Search to Three (Ann Arbor News), but the Ball Appears in Beilein’s Court (Detroit Free Press) as he has been established as the candidate Michigan Athletic Director Bill Martin is most interested in. However, U-M has not approached West Virginia about permission to speak with Beilein and the other three names most often linked to the job, Kevin Stallings of Vanderbilt and Chris Lowery of Southern Illinoi, have also not been contacted. There were No Comments by Beilein after WVU Wins NIT (Detroit News) about his future, only about the present and his current team. Rumors swirl that he will be meeting with Michigan officials while in Atlanta for the Final Four.

OK…now onto the REAL tournament as Georgetown prepares to meet Ohio State in the National Semifinals on Saturday. John Thompson III is The Calm in the Hoyas Storm (Washington Post) as his cool sideline demeanor is reflected in Georgetown’s poised play, not doubt a big factor in their two comeback wins of last weekend.

Everyone is talking about the match-up between Greg Oden and Roy Hibbert, a pair of big men that has beeen missing from the college game in recent years. There is no doubt that Hibbert Faces a Sizable Battle (Washington Times) against Oden, a near lock as the #1 or #2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. However, a good showing could make Hibbert’s draft decision VERY difficult and make him a lot of $$$ THIS year.

The Baltimore Sun has an article on native son DaJuan Summers who is in the Final FOur as a startign freshman on the Hoyas. Summers has strong ties to his Baltimore family whom he is Indelibly Linked with in. Summers is part of the ‘new’ Hoyas that Decades Later, Complete Transition fro Villain to Hero (Baltimore Sun).

This is also the weekend for much of the coaching picture around the nation to come into focus as Job Fair Bustles Within Final Four (St Pete Times). One team active has been the Big East’s South florida program as athletic director Doug Woolard has already met with former Arkansas coach Stan Heath in Atlanta. Reaction was that Heath ‘Has a Good’ Meeting With Woolard About USF Job (St. Pete Times). Greg Auman’s blog at the St. Petersburg Tribune, USF Sports Bulletin has plenty of coverage on the USF coaching search and Stan Heath’s possible interest and some recruits and Arkansas players that could be in the mix with the Bulls if this connection pays off.

Depaul has an impressive class coming to campus this fall and Dar Tucker is one of the centerpieces of that class. Tucker Looks to Impress (Chicago Tribune) fans of his future team when he arrives next week to participate in the annual Roundball Classic at the United Center. Tucker chose DePaul over Illinois and Indiana because Chicago is a media market, he is good friends with DePaul players Wilson Chandler and Jabari Currie.

Carleton Scott is not a household name in recruiting circles. The 6′8, 205 lb wing forward averaged 17 pts, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks a game helping Madison High School in San Antonio enjoy one of its finest seasons ever as ND Recruit Scott Has Career Year (South Bend Tribune). The article also offers summaries of Mike Brey’s three other recruits, Tim Abromaitis, Ty Proffitt and Ty Nash, who will join Scott on Notre Dame’s campus next season.

Todd Rosiak of the Milwuakee Journal-Sentinel has a series on his Marquette Basketball Blog about Marquette’s incoming recruits: Damian Saunders, Pat Hazel and Scott Christopherson. Trevor Mbakwe is the fourth member of the class and is expected to give immediate help in the frontcourt.

Seton Hall and Marquette are among the schools offering a scholarship to 2008 point guard prospect Jordan Theodore and the Paterson Catholic Star Has Been Invited to Steve Nash PG Academy this Summer (NorthJersey.com).

Jio Fontan, a 2008 PG Prospect from St. Anthony’s in Jersey City, has made his college decision and Fontan is Headed to Fordham (NorthJersey.com). Fontan had some interest from St. John’s and is a teammate of 2008 Pitt commit Travon Woodall and Mike Rosario who could be a Big East commit in the near future. Rosario, one of the top shooting guards in the state, has received offers from Rutgers, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Marquette and Miami.

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES

March 22, 2007

It has been a busy week around the Big East. South Florida might be moving closer to a new head coach and it could be quite a coup if they are able to land one of the hottest mid-major coaches. Four players have decided to leave their teams in the Big East and move on as transfers. One top conference freshman says he will return and not leave for the NBA.

Tonight, Pittsburgh looks to get over the Sweet 16 hump, but it willbe a tough task facing UCLA in San Jose, CA. Georgetown prepares for their Sweet 16 date in New Jersey Friday night with Vanderbilt.

The NIT field was pared to four last night and their will be just one Big East representative in Madison Square Garden next week as Syracuse and DePaul were saw their seasons’ come to an end in tough losses. West Virginia will carry the Big East banner and they are definitely using this NIT run to their advantage.

To read these articles and more, click ‘Read More!‘ below.

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BIG EAST & THE 2007 NCAA Tournament:
Levon Kendall is the only current Pittsburgh Panther that played for Ben Howland. Kendall was a redshirt freshman in Howland’s last season at Pitt and meeting the coach that recruited him (although it was Howland’s assistant Jamie Dixon that discovered Kendall for Pitt) means It’ll Be Like Old Times for Kendall (Press Telegram).

There is no denyong the similarities between Pitt and UCLA in terms of style and make-up, but In a Game of Look-alikes, a Speedy Bruin is Key Player (Post-Gazette) and how Pitt’s guards deal with UCLA sophomore Darren Collison could decide the outcome as Pitt Tries to Get Over Sweet 16 Hump Against UCLA (Post-Gazette) tonight in San Jose. Pittsburgh definitely looks and sounds like a motivated and hungry team tonight…

Georgetown has relied on a Familiar Weapon (Washington Times) in their run through the Big East Tournament and into the Sweet 16 has been built on a familiar blue-and-gray foundation: defense. On Friday night, the Hoyas hope to show the nation that Georgetown Basketball Has Been Revitalized Under John Thompson III (Nashville City Paper) when they meet Vanderbilt in a Sweet 16 match-up.

BIG EAST & THE 2007 NIT:
last night DePaul fell One Shot Short of Trip to NYC (Chicago Tribune) when Draelon Burns’ 20-foot jumper bounced off the back of the rim as the buzzer sounded and Air Force beat the Blue Demons, 52-51 in the NIT Quarterfinal match-up at Air Force. Air Force won at home for the 57th time in their last 59 games and erased a 7-pt 2nd half DePaul lead when the Falcons got a layup in traffic from forward Jacob Burtschi to take a 52-51 lead with 7.7 seconds left. Burns (18 pts) could not extend DePaul’s season with a return to New York City and the celebration at Air Force was underway as Air Force moves into their Final Four (Colorado Springs Gazette).

Down by as many as 17 and trailing 60-44 with just under six minutes left (when I tuned out), Syracuse was Gritty to the End (Post Standard) and staged a furious comeback in the quarterfinals of the NIT in front of 10,000 fans at Littlejohn Coliseum on Wednesday, but fell to Clemson 74-70. A 22-7 run pulled the Orange to within 67-66 with 1:04 left but a putback score and hitting 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch won it for the Tigers. Eric Devendorf scored 23 for Syracuse and Demetris Nichols added 20 in his final game for the Orange as they Run out of Juice in Loss (Utica Observer-Dispatch) and a game-tying 3-pter by Josh Wright missed with 10 seconds left.

With Syracuse and DePaul now out of the NIT, West Virginia will carry the Big East Banner back to Madison Square Garden and NYC. Frank Young is averaging 24.3 PPG in their three NIT (home) victories and John Beilein believes that WVU’s NIT Run is Special (Register-Herald) after their 71-66 win over NC St to earn their spot in the NIT Final Four. Young isn’t the only one shining for WVU in the NIT. Against NC St, Alex Ruoff dished out a career high 11 assists and Ruoff’s Work Goes Beyond the Numbers (Charleston Gazette) for the Mountaineers.

In what was supposed to be a Rebuilding Year? Far From It (Daily Mail) for WVU.

SOUTH FLORIDA COACHING SEARCH:
One of the hottest mid-major coaching names might be coming to the Big East as the USF Coaching Search Includes Winthrop Winthrop Coach (St. Petersburg Times) Gregg Marshall. At Winthrop, Marshall has led the Eagles to seven NCAA Tournament berths in nine seasons and has a 194-83 record at the Rock Hill, SC school. Winthrop earned their first NCAA Tournament win this March when they upset Notre Dame in the 1st round. Winthrop is not going to let their head coach go easily as they have already floated a 10-year contract his way that would reportedly double his base salary. Marshall’s success as a head coach at Winthrop definitely puts him at the top of the list along with South Alabama’s John Pelphrey. Will Marshall move From the Big South to the Big East (Greg Auman Blog at St Pete Times)? It seems as though Marshall is Mulling Bulls’ Offer (Tampa Trib). A year ago, Marshall was intriduced as the new head coach at the College of Charleston before changing his mind and heading back to Winthrop, so his ties to the Eagles are pretty strong as well as the state of South Carolina.

BIG EAST TRANSFERS
It was only a matter of time before the transfer season got underway. Freshman Ben Eaves and sophomore Robert Garrison of Connecticut got very little time for the Huskies this season and now Garrison Wants out of UConn (Niagara Gazette) as Garrison Explores His Options (Hartford Courant), which could include a return to home with Niagara and St. Bonaventure interested and he also would like to check out Arizona St, Auburn and Fordham.

A day earlier it was Ben Eaves Opts to Leave UConn (Journal Inquirer) after playing in just 11 games this season averaging 2.3 minutes a contest. Rhode Island and George Washington are a couple schools inquiring about Eaves already. The article in the Journal Inquirer also reports that Hasheem Thabeet’s mother, Rukia Manka, has been on campus the past few days after journeying visiting her son and discussing his future as the 7′3 center weighs his option of declaring for the NBA draft. With two scholarships open, UConn is expecting a visit from 6-11 Anthony McClain (National Christian Academy, Ft. Washington, Md.). The Huskies are also interested in 6-3 combo guard Marcus Thornton of Kilgore College (Texas) and have made contact with 6-3 point guard Donnell Beverly of Leuzinger High (near Los Angeles).

The transfer bug also hit St. John’s as a Pair of Guards Leaving Storm (Newsday). St. John’s head coach Norm Roberts announced yesterday that Avery Patterson and Ricky Torres have decided to leave the program. Patterson played one season with St. John’s as a 6-4 transfer from Iowa Western Community College and was their third leading scorer, however Patterson and Roberts had several “personality clashes” throughout the season (per NY Post article: St. John’s Duo Seeks Transfers) and Patterson often clashed with teammates and coaches, demanding a more prominent role in the offense. Torres, the former St. Ray’s star, never found his niche on the team, will likely look to move to the MAAC and you would think Manhattan would be given a serious look.

OTHER BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES:
Prior to the season the most likely coaches identified to be on the hot seat at their respective schools probably were Mike Brey at Notre Dame and Tim Welsh at Providence. The Irish had a strong regular season, earning a bye in the Big East Tournament and making the NCAA Tournament. Providence finished 18-13 and lost in the 1st round of the Big East Tournament and the NIT. For Providence athletic director Bob Driscoll, the Friars showed enough progress to make him content as the Providence College AD Defends Hoops Coach Welsh (Providence Journal) and urges PC supporters to give him their full support and he envisions the program being strong in the Big East not unlike Goergetown and Villanova.

The strong freshman season of Villanova guard Scottie Reynolds definitely has put some NBA talk out there in regards to his immediate future. However, a source says Villanova’s Reynolds is Staying Put (Philadelphia Inquirer). Reynolds, a 6-foot-2 guard, has been a spark and a savior for Villanova. He averaged 14.8 points a game, including a 40-pt performance against Connecticut. In Big East games, Reynolds averaged 18.4 points, making him the second-leading scorer in conference play. Villanova will not have any seniors next season, so Reynolds’ experience and developing leadership will be essential. The Wildcats have two major guards enrolling next season in Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher. Villanova head coach Jay Wright said Tuesday he thought that Reynolds at most might test the waters but retain his college eligibility.