February 2010

NBE PREP CORNER - UNDERCLASSMEN UPDATE (PART II)

BY PAT STEVENS — As mentioned in Part I of the Prep Corner’s Underclassman Updates, the group of young talent in the NEPSAC this season is pretty unprecedented when comparing to recent years.

The 2011 class has a pair of point guards who are among the best in the country at their position in Shabazz Napier (Lawrence Academy) and Naadir Tharpe (Brewster Academy). Two more have already given verbal commitments to Big East schools in Michael Carter-Williams (St. Andrew’s) to Syracuse and DaShaun Wiggins (Bridgton Academy) to Seton Hall.

Evaluating the 2012 class is still in the early stages but Andre Drummond (St. Thomas More) started at center to lead the USA U16 team to a Gold Medal this past summer at the FIBA Americas Games and Khem Birch (Winchendon School) will be one of the select few underclassmen who will play at this June’s annual NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp. Ricardo Ledo (St. Andrew’s) and Alex Murphy (St. Mark’s) have high-major offers from teams across the nation.

Expect the Big East to be in for another loaded year if the top talent elects to stay home.

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WVU FANS SHOW THEY ARE LIKE SCHOOL ON SUNDAY: NO CLASS

by RAY MERNAGH

First, they got “clever” with a chant. “Suck My Dixon,” the scholars in the WVU student section yelled, presumably at Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon.

Then they threw things on the floor. In response to that, West Virginia coach Bob Huggins basically told them they were “stupid” which, in true Huggins fashion, was right on the mark. Unfortunately they didn’t listen to Huggs.

With a little over five minutes left in the game they threw something again and this time it hit Pitt assistant Tom Herrion under the eye.

When I was younger the schools in a couple of Michigan cities played their high school games at 3:30 in front of only parents. The reason was violence. It was determined that the players, coaches and parents weren’t safe unless the gyms were empty.

If I was in charge I would have pulled Pitt’s team and staff off the Coliseum floor because the moment Herrion got hit they were no longer safe. Tom Herrion has a wife and children. Whatever that flying object was it could have blinded him. Not sure if anyone, besides Herrion and Pitt assistant Brandin Knight, was aware of what exactly happened at the time. Knight looked ready to go across the floor and find the person that threw the object.

If I’m in charge of any program scheduled to play at that Coliseum the rest of the season I’ve got some serious questions that need answered before I put my players and staff out there.

It was disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful.

West Virginia’s basketball team won the game tonight.

But West Virginia University?

It lost so much more than that.

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It might be two months 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
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GOTTLIEB MIGHT BE WRONG ON SOUTH FLORIDA

by RAY MERNAGH

Heard ESPN’s Doug Gottlieb say that South Florida “isn’t an NCAA Tournament” team the other day. Gottlieb is paid to have an opinion, like a lot of us, and when he said it he was in the middle of saying some really nice things about USF’s recent uptick.

The Bulls just won their fourth in a row by beating Georgetown on the road behind another excellent night — 29 points — by star junior guard ‘Nique Jones.

Somebody get Gottlieb on the phone. He might have a different opinion. I know I do.

USF is now 15-7 and 5-5.

Their remaining schedule is as follows: at Notre Dame, at Marquette, Cincinnati, St. John’s, at Villanova, Providence, at DePaul, UConn.

Anyone NOT think the Bulls are capable of going 6-2 down the stretch? Okay, 5-3?

Remeber, the return of Augustus Gilchrist to the Bulls line-up could be happening sooner rather than later as well, giving Jones a legitimate offensive counterpart for the USF attack.

21-9 and 11-7 or 20-10 and 10-8 heading into MSG.

South Florida fans, how’s it feel to legitimately be on the bubble?

Welcome!

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

==================================================================
It might be two months 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
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DANNY LAWHORN UPDATE?

Trying to get to the bottom of the Danny Lawhorn story.

At this point in time, we will definitely side with David Borges of the New Haven Register that No Lawhorn verbal commitment has been made to UConn or any other school.

We believed we exchanged e-mail messages with Danny Lawhorn last night, as we have done often after meeting him on the prep circuit in the past. However, this time it is possibly that someone has pulled a fast one with his account.

We will see Danny in person this weekend with his South Kent teammates at the National Prep School Invitational and another of our staffers are expected to be in touch with the South Kent staff today as well. When we here directly from Danny or his coach we will update the story…

OMAR CALHOUN PICKING UP ELITE RECRUITING INTEREST

2012 NYC prospect seeing UK, UNC, UCLA, ‘Zona, etc joing Big East schools on his trail

by MATT WHITFIELD

The 2010 Newark Invitational at the Prudential Center drew some of the top teams from Jersey and destinations far and near. One team that traveled from over the river to compete in Newark (NJ) was Christ the King of NYC. CTK was matched up against Jersey City (NJ) power St. Peter’s Prep and the game lived up to expectations as the boys from New York City came away with a 75-72 overtime victory.

Also living up to expectations was Christ the King sophomore forward Omar Calhoun. The 6-foot-4 sophomore guard put on a show in his match-up against highly regarded St. Peter’s Prep junior (2011) guard Myles Davis, both showing why they have bright futures on the basketball court.

For his part, Calhoun finished with 23 points, displaying a high basketball IQ for a young player and showed off an accurante and picture-esque jump shot, extending out past the three-point arc where he was four of eight on the afternoon. Calhoun has a solid size and a good frame to add more weight before getting to college. His lack of strength and weight made some of his opportunities in the lane more difficult to finish in this contest.

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MERNAGH’S BELLY OF THE BE-AST

by RAY MERNAGH

Dominique Jones

USF’s star is on a roll right now — obviously — and that in itself isn’t surprising because Jones has been an upper-tier Big East guard since he stepped on the court for his first game.

One of the things that jumps out at me regarding Jones are the jump in his numbers since starting Big East play — for the entire season ‘Nique is averaging 22 points 6 rebounds and right around 4 assists. In nine Big East games Jones has put up 26.8 points, 6.6 boards and 3.6 assists. Jones led the entire country in scoring for the month of January and the reason the country is now starting to recognize his talents is because he finally has some talent around him.

It will be mighty interesting to see two things: How South Florida plays at Georgetown and how they respond once Gus Gilchrist returns (maybe another reason for Jones’ spike in numbers was Gilchrist going out with injury).

USF needs Gilchrist to do serious damage because they’re kind of weak inside without him — physically weak I mean. Jarrid Famous has played pretty well but he can be pushed around and Toarlyn Fitzpatrick is rebounding well but is still a freshman and the perfect situation has him backing up Gilchrist and Famous. Gilchrist will give them a big body plus skill.

South Florida is 14-7 and 4-5 in the Big East with a daunting three game road trip staring them right in the face. Tonight the Bulls are at Georgetown, followed by games at Notre Dame and at Marquette. For his part Jones sounds focused on continuing the run of success: “We just have to keep getting better,” said Jones, “we also have to understand the scouting report, our game plan and keep playing hard.”

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (2/3/2010)

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A busy couple nights in the Big East with three games last night, all decided by double-digits, and three games on the schedule for tonight.

On Tuesday we saw Syracuse and Villanova to continue to set the pace in the conference by picking up home wins of Providence and Seton Hall, respectively. The Orange survived a close first half and a scary fall from star Wes Johnson, but a sophomore reserve shows they are in good hands behind Johnson, too. Villanova pulled away late against SHU as Jeremy Hazell saw his night end early and on the bench as part of a teaching moment from his head coach. The other game saw Rutgers deal a staggering blow to St. John’s season of hopes (and now, more like dreams) with an 84-72 punch to the gut that left Red Storm players reeling afterwards.

Tonight, the Backyard Brawl between Pitt and WVU hits the hardwood and marks the debut of Deniz Kilicli for the Mountaineers. Marquette looks for revenge against DePaul and South Florida hopes to continue their winning ways and catch Georgetown coming down off a high after their win over Duke.

Also, it might be another month and a half 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

Read on below for all of today’s News & Notes…

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MIKE SHAW RECRUITING UPDATE

More Big East schools join Louisville on the list of talented junior big man from Illinois

by MATT WHITFIELD

Chicago (IL) De La Salle High School came East last weekend to participate in the Newark Invitational at the Prudential Center in Newark (NJ). It was a showcase game pitting the Grey Bees of St. Benedict’s in Newark against the highly touted De La Salle squad that is led by one of the top prospects in the class of 2011 nationally, Mike Shaw.

The 6-foot-8 F/C had a productive game, using his long and athletic body to accrue 19 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals in the contest. Shaw has the look of an athlete and a body that should allow him to make an early impact at the college level.

Once thought of as a package deal with Mac Irvin Fire AAU teammate and 2011 Louisville-commit Wayne Blackshear, Shaw is keeping his options open and expanding his list, looking at additional schools from the Big East in the process.

“I really don’t care where I play [at the next level],” said Shaw when asked if conference affiliation will play a role in his decision. “I’m just taking my time with it and seeing what’s out there.”

Louisville remains a school on his list and Shaw also mentioned interest in Texas, Florida, USC, Providence, Xavier, Connecticut and Villanova when talking with NBE on Saturday.

Shaw has been to Texas, Illinois, Southern Illinois amd Louisville for unofficial visits.

Shaw will be back on the AAU circuit this spring with Mac Irvin Fire and NBE will be certain to catch up with him again in the future to see how his recruiting is progressing.

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PITT’S MCGHEE NEEDS MORE RESPECT

by RAY MERNAGH

Put the paper in front of any Pitt fan, player or coach (except maybe Jamie Dixon) on November 1st and they’d all sign off on it. The paper, make that a contract, would read the following: On February 1st you will be coming off a loss at South Florida and heading into a road game with the West Virginia Mountaineers who will be 17-3 overall and 6-2 in the Big East.

This is where all the Pitt folks — again, probably except for Jamie Dixon — take a big breath.

Now back to the contract.

You, the Pitt Panthers, will be 16-5 overall and 6-3 in the Big East. You have exactly 30 seconds to sign this paper for it to come true, otherwise the season will play out as it normally would.

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

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Lots of good stuff to get to today. Big Monday action last night had two teams with much need for a win and Louisville held serve and defeated a slumping UConn, 82-69. Tonight features Villanova (against Seton Hall) and Syracuse (against Providence) in action on their home courts looking to defend their lofty national rankings. Rutgers looks to build momentum following their first Big East win of the season from over the weekend and deal a damaging blow to St. John’s season tonight at the RAC.

In other Big East news, speculation on Pitt moving to the Big 10 looks to be WAY TOO premature. Right now, the Panthers are looking to stay positive and shake themselves out of a rut that has led to three losses in four games, but things get tougher with WVU on the schedule next. Notre Dame looks to be in a slide that is very familiar to Irish followers of a year before.

In recruiting, Pitt and Providence are involved with a young Chicago prospect, Anthony Wroten Jr updates his top five schools and Justin Coleman also lists his favorites. Adam Zagoria also has a very nice story on Rice HS junior guard Jermaine Sanders and his handling of a personal tragedy from last fall.

Also, it might be another month and a half 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

Read on below for all of today’s News & Notes…

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NBE BIG EAST POWER POLL (2/1/2010)

The top four in the conference seem to be getting clearer and cleared while the bottom three have come into focus, the other nine teams continue to jockey for position and fight for the final handful of NCAA Tournament bids that will hopefully come from the Big East this season.

Once again, NBE writers and contributors took the time to submit their votes for this week’s Big East Power poll, as well as vote for a Player of the Week and a Freshman of the Week in the conference based on last week’s performances. Below is the results of the voting, with first place votes in parenthesis:

1) Villanova (8): 173 points.
2) Syracuse (3): 168 points.
3) West Virginia: 149 points.
4) Georgetown: 148 points.
5) Pittsburgh: 129 points.
6) Cincinnati: 113 points.
7) Louisville: 112 points.
8} Marquette: 98 points.
9) South Florida: 82 points.
10) Connecticut: 78 points.
11) Notre Dame: 73 points.
12) Seton Hall: 54 points.
13) Providence: 51 points.
14) St. John’s: 35 points.
15) DePaul: 18 points.
16) Rutgers: 15 points.

NBE’s Big East Player of the Week: Dominique Jones, South Florida

NBE’s Big East Freshman of the Week: Cashmere Wright, Cincinnati

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

==================================================================
It might be two months 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
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NBE PREP CORNER - UNDERCLASSMEN UPDATES (PART I)

BY PAT STEVENS — This year’s New England prep schools are especially loaded with talent among its underclassmen, more so than past years.

Still, a number of top Big East players spent not just their post-grad or senior years in the prep ranks but multiple years, most recently being the likes of Antonio Pena (Villanova/St. Thomas More), Jerome Dyson (Connecticut/Proctor Academy), Rob Thomas (St. John’s/South Kent and St. Thomas More), Gilbert Brown (Pittsburgh/South Kent), Lazar Hayward (Marquette/Notre Dame Prep) and Devin Ebanks (West Virginia/St. Thomas More), along with current freshmen James Southerland (Syracuse/Notre Dame Prep), Mike Marra (Louisville/Northfield Mount Herman), Alex Oriakhi (Connecticut/Tilton and Winchendon) and Jamal Coombs-McDaniel (Connecticut/Tilton and Winchendon).

In this first installment, four teams with a pair of future Division I players are highlighted…

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