February 28, 2007

On surface this game has little meaning as Cincinnati (1-13) hosts Seton Hall (4-10), howver for the Pirates, this game could mean their season. Seton Hall needs to win their last two conference games (Cincinnati and Louisville) and hope that Providence can beat St. John’s for SHU to qualify for the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden next week. for a team that was in the NCAA Tournament last season, that is quite a drop, but they still have something to play for.

Here are the pregame stories and previews found on the internet:

UC’s McGowan Exiting Proudly (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Gentry Plays With Bum Ankle (Cincinnati Post)
Seton Hall vs Cincinnati Preview (Star-Ledger)
Seton Hall-Cincinnati Scouting Report (Courier News)

Seton Hall snapped an 8-game Big East losing streak when they beat South Florida over the weekend. The Pirates were off to a surprising start at 3-2 in the Big East, but once the meat of their schedule got started, the losses piled up. The Pirates are very guard-oriented and are not one of the best shooting teams. They rely on pressuring the ball and pushing the tempo with their perimeter players attacking the basket and hoping that Jamar Nutter is on from the perimeter. In the Big East, not having much of a threat inside is a tough way to live.

Cincinnati continues to limp home down the stretch. The storie program is mired in its longest losing streak in more than 80 years. With only two seniors to honor tonight, it is unlikely that the senior night festivities will really bump up the emotional level as the fans bid farewell to Cedric McGowan and Ronald Allen, both have been here for just two seasons.

Cincinnati is a slight (-2) home favorite tonight and the Pirates have yet to win away from home in conference play. It is the law of averages, look for the Bearcats to put an inspired effort, if just for one night, and use their athletic ability to match-up with the Pirates and scratch out a win. It will be a tight game and I like this Pirate group. Both coaches will have their players playing hard, but th ehome team has just a little more lift tonight.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Cincinnati 67 Seton Hall 64

February 28, 2007

Providence heads south to meet the South Florida Bulls on Wednesday night in a Big East Conference match-up. The Friars need to rebound from a tough home loss to Syracuse on Saturday that has put their NCAA Tournament chances in grave condition. Road wins to finish the conference schedule against South Florida and St. John’s will not necessarily put them in any better position, but it will give them some hope as they head to Madison Square Garden for the Big East Tournament next week.

At South Florida, they are winding down their second season in the Big East without hope for the post-season. The Bulls have already been eliminated from qualifying for the Big East Tournament and are wrapping up their season.

Here is the lone pregame article currently found on the internet:

Friars Need to be Driven in Last Two Road Tests (Providence Journal)

Providence is a 3.5-pt road favorite tonight as they look to earn their 8th conference win against the 3-11 (Big East) Bulls. Neither team is very deep, but the Friars have more talent. They are led by their excellent inside-out duo of Sharaud Curry and Herbert Hill. Curry, in Big East games, averaged 15.2 PPG which ranks 8th in the conference. Hill averages a league-best 18.9 PPG in conference action and is 2nd in the league averaging 9.6 rebounds and his 57.8% shooting percentage ranks 3rd in the Big East. Rugged sophomore forward Geoff McDermott is in the top 5 in both rebounding and assists in league play and sophomore guard Weyinmi Efejuku is among the top 30 scorers in league play with just over 12 PPG. So, the Friars definitely have some productive players.

South Florida has a big man in the middle themselves in Kentrell Gransberry who averages 15 PPG and a league-leading 10.6 rebounds in conference action. His girth against Hill’s length and athletic ability will be a match-up to watch. The Friars like to push the tempo, so Gransberry will have to avoid picking up fouls trying to prevent Hill from beating him downt he floor for easy baskets. Gransberry is also aided by the presence of Chris Howard who is finally healhty and leading the Big East in assists (5.83/game) since returning from a knee injury that kept him out of action for his first year and a half as a Bull. Seniors Melvin Buckley (14.1 PPG) and McHugh Mattis (13.6 PPG) also ranks among the top 20 in scoring during Big East games and Mattis adds 7 rebounds and 3.3 blocks a contest as well.

Neither team expects to get much from the rest of their line-up, but the Friars are deeper with Brian McKenzie and Jonathan Kale having some good games of late. The Bulls still do not quite seem ready to put things together, but they are deeper than at anytime this season. Unfortunately, they just do not seem to be playing up to their level of talent. That could be because of all the players going in and out of their line-up, but they continue to be out of sync on most nights.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Providence 68 South Florida 62

February 27, 2007

Syracuse put a stamp on their NCAA Tournament resume as they are starting to gel as we gear up for the Big East Tournament next week at Madison Square Garden. The Orange won their 5th straight last night as the ended Georgetown’s 11-game winning streak, sending seniors Terrence Roberts, Darryl Watkins, Matt Gorman and Demetris Nichols off as winers in their Carrier Dome finale.

Pittsburgh will look to do the same tonight for seniors Aaron Gray, Antonio Graves, Levon Kendall and Doyle Hudson in their home finale while West Virginia will look to make a statement on their tournament resume. Pittsburgh has lost their last two home finales.

Around the league, Connecticut is still looking to play a complete game, whether it is when they get some offensive life or when their defense is dominating, something tends to come up short. As Rick Pitino is fully aware, that is life with a young team that has expectations set too high by early and unreasonable rankings. Louisville has shown Caracter as freshman Derrick Caracter has come ‘Myles’ wih hard work. Cincinnati is limping him, Marvin Gentry moreso than others. UC senior hopes to have more than a dollar with his dream. Marquette looks to right their ship. Jamar Nutter contemplates his future and a new future home looks to be imminent for Seton Hall.

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

Last Night’s Game:

Syracuse 72 Georgetown 58
After 11 cosecutive wins, the Hoyas’ Streak comes to an End (Washington Times) as It’s Carrier Doom for Georgetown (Washington Post) in their 72-58 loss at Syracuse.

It was a Big Dance Step (Syracuse Post-Standard) for Syracuse who pulled away in the last 8 minutes of the game behind a timely barrage of 3-pters from Demetris Nichols (22 points) and Andy Rautins (13 pts) and a basket by Darryl Watkins (9 pts, 8 rebounds) in a 14-0 run to stretch a 47-46 lead into a 61-46 advantage. Eric Devendorf added 11 pts and 11 assists and Paul Harris added 11 points off the bench. Senior Terrence Roberts battled through an injury to post 6 pts and 6 rebounds and Roberts Was Emotional in Dome Finale (Syracuse Post-Standard) as he soaked up the atmopshere after the game as a throng of Syracuse fans stormed the court to celebrate the victory and NCAA clinching win with fellow seniors (Roberts) Nichols, Watkins and Matt Gorman.

With it being senior night at the Dome and Georgetown coming off a similar emotional taxing victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday, it was a perfect set-up to see the 11-game Hoyas win streak end. Kudos to Syracuse for making the plays to take advantage of their opportunity and punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

TONIGHT’S GAME:
Like Syracuse, West Virginia is in desperate mode for a big win. However, the Mountaineers need it worse and will face a tougher task as they need to get the win on the road, at Pittsburgh. It will be senior night at the Peterson Events Center and the Panther faithful will be sending off Aaron Gray, Antonio Graves, Levon Kendall and Doyle Hudson. There is some uncertainty surrounding Gray’s status for the game, but for all the links to the pregame stories and previews, as well as our brief preview and a prediction from the NBE Blogger, please visit either our West Virginia Team Page or our Pittsburgh Team Page.

AROUND THE LEAGUE:
Their 76-69 loss to Louisville on Sunday had a Familiar Refrain for the UConn Huskies (New Haven Register). However, some positives have evolved of late, like Jerome Dyson becoming a consistent scoring threat and the Huskies received more of a complete offensive effort on Sunday, but as soon as the offense seemed to hit a stride, the defense broke down and Louisville scored on every key possession down the stretch…ahhhhh…youth…

Adam Zagoria has an item on his blog where Louisville Shows Caracter, led by the resurgence of Fanwood, NJ native Derrick Caracter. He also links an excellent article from earlier this month in the Louisville Courier-Journal where Caracter talks about his relationship with UL basketball strength coach Ellis Myles and how Caracter is Better by Myles.

Jerry Carino of the Courier News caught up with Jamar Nutter of Seton Hall and learned that Nutter is Undecided About Returning Next Season. Nutter sat out his freshman season due to academic concerns, but is on target to get that season back as he is 21 credits shy of graduation. He is listed as a junior, but has been at SHU for four years. Nutter also gives his thoughts on Seton Hall’s impending move from Continental Airlines Arena to the Prudential Center in downtown Newark.

For more on the possibility of a move by Seton Hall out of Continental Airlines Arena, see Tom Luicci’s article from Saturday: Seton Hall Planning Continental Airlines Departure (Star-Ledger).

Keith Sargeant of the Courier News hands out his Big East player awards for the season in his Big East notebook as Pittsburgh’s Gray, Georgetown’s Green, Hibbert Vie for Big East MVP. I think a case can certainly be made for Demetris Nichols as well, but that is my opinion.

The Cincinnati Bearcats season will come to an end this weekend and Marvin Gentry will undergo surgery next week to fix a bone spur in his right foot. Gentry is Playign Through Pain (Cincinnati Enquirer) and can hardly practice.

As he prepares for his last home game at Cincinnati, Ronald Allen still has a dream as the seldon-used center believes in himself and his chance at a professional career. Allen’s NBA dream Still Alive (Cincinnati Enquirer) despite playing just seven minutes in the last 11 games for the worst team in the conference.

Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel offers his Weekly Golden Eagles Report for slumping Marquette.

Rick Pitino and his young Louisville Cardinals have hit their stride. However, Pitino knows it is not that easy and seeing the struggles at Connecticut are familiar to him and Pitino Knows it is a Class Struggle for UConn (Hartford Courant) and their early rankings definitely made things tougher.

February 27, 2007

The NBE Blogger got the outright winner last night as he called it right on the Syracuse upset over Georgetown. The game was a perfect set-up for the Orange and to their credit, they took full advantage and hit the big shots late in the game.

Tonight, Pittsburgh and West Virginia meet in a big game for each team. West Virginia could be fighting for the NCAA Tournament lives. Pittsburgh is in the NCAA Tournament, now they are playign for seeding and with the Georgetown loss last night, they control their own fate for at least a share of the regular season Big East Championship.

For all the links to the pregame stories and previews, as well as our brief preview and a prediction from the NBE Blogger, please check out either our West Virginia or Pittsburgh Team Page.

If you have ESPNU, enjoy the game…

February 27, 2007

The Backyard Brawl between Pittsburgh and West Virginia meets for Act II on the hardwood tonight when the Mountaineers travel north to take on the Panthers. Pittsburgh won their earlier meeting this season at Morgantown, 60-47, when Sam Young scored a career-high 21 pts off the bench. Tonight, the Pittsburgh fans will converge on the Peterson Events Center one last time to send-off seniors Aaron Gray, Antonio Graves, Levon Kendall and Doyle Hudson. West Virginia will hope to dampen the party by making it rain threes.

Here are the pregame stories and previews found on the internet this morning:

Anatomy of Gray’s Climb from Obscurity (Charleston Gazette)
Well-Rested Mountaineers Seek Revenge at Pittsburgh (Register-Herald)
A Tough Task for Pete’s Sake (Charleston Gazette)
Pitt Keeping Title Hopes Alive (Tribune-Democrat)
Panthers Learn Lesson (Beaver County Times)
Match-up: West Virginia @ Pitt (Tribune-Review)
Pitt Seniors Bid Farewell to Peterson Events Center (Tribune-Review)
Panthers Try to Solve Shooting, Defensive Problems (Post-Gazette).

Pittsburgh, a 9-pt favorite tonight, saw their chances to share the Big East Regular Season title greatly enhanced on Monday night with Syracuse knocking off Georgetown. However, they need to take care of business against their rivals from West Virginia tonight in what will be an emotionally charged Peterson Events Center. When West Virginia comes to town, the Pittsburgh fans will be ready, and tonight, they will be saying farewell to seniors Aaron Gray, Antonio Graves, Levon Kendall and Doyle Hudson, a senior class with 100 wins in their four years.

West Virginia has seen their hopes for a return to the NCAA Tournament put in limbo with their inability to win away from home and lack of quality wins. They only have one win against a Big East team (DePaul) with a current winning record in the conference. Their lone marquee out of conference win was impressive, beating UCLA at home earlier this month, but the Bruins were without their starting point guard. So, after a week off after a loss to Providence, where the Mountaineers shot 9-41 on three-pointers in a 64-61 loss, the Mountaineers will be a desperate bunch playing for their March lives when they come to Pittsburgh tonight.

The Panthers have shown some vulnerability of late, losing two of their last four, including a home loss to Louisville. The Panthers have also not won by more than six points since their win at West Virginia 20 days ago. Pittsburgh’s offense has been inconsistent, at best, of late as their one-time league leading 3-pt shooting percentage in league play has dropped to 38%, which still leads the league, yet is down from the 43% that it was a few weeks ago. The Panthers are also slowed by the severly sprained ankle of their big man, Aaron Gray. The 7-footer gutted through 21 minutes of play in their 61-53 loss at Georgetown on Saturday, scoring 10 pts, but he was obviosuly not close to 100%. It is doubtful that he will be 100% tonight, and is questionable if he will play. Battling the WVU 1-3-1 zone, having that big body to anchor inside is a huge advantage for the Panthers. They have also found good luck with Sam Young on the baseline using his athleticism to score over the 1-3-1 defense.

West Virginia will need to shoot the 3-ball effecively and slow Pitt inside to have a chance to night. Coming off a 9-41 effort beyond the arc at Providence is not encouraging, but the Mountaineers have had a week off to regroup and get their touch back. Darris Nichols will look to run the show and get Frank Young and Alex Ruoff the ball in position to light it up from beyond the arc. Joe Alexander and Da’Sean Butler will try to slash to the basket and keep defenses honest with their ability to hit from beyond the arc, but if they are not hitting a high percentage, Pitt will just grind out the game and pull away late.

Pittsburgh is not playing their best and with Gray definitely limited, if playing, this game might be a tad closer than expected. Pitt should still get the win, but the dangerous shooting of the Mountaineers will likely make it closer at times with a few flurries of 3’s, but overall, too much Pitt.

NBE Blogger Preview: Pittsburgh 68 West Virginia 61