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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/18/2010)

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Here is a quick run through of some Big East related news and notes for this Friday afternoon. UConn adds a new commitment and a late addition to the 2010 class in Niels Giffey, an important from Germany. Eric Murdock is returning to the Big East and college basketball while Walter McCarty is heading back to the NBA. ESPN’s Dickie V runs through his top 40 teams for the 2010-2011 season and the conference is denying a TV report from Orlando that the Big East is inviting Central Florida and Memphis to join next week.

Read on below for all of the latest News & Notes around the Big East basketball conference. Sports fans should also visit StubHub.com - The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you this spring.

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Connecticut got a commitment from Niels Giffey of Germany, according to Dave Borges of the New Haven Register. The 6-foot-7, 205-pound Giffey is a versatile perimeter G/F and played under former North Carolina player Henrik Rodl for Alba Berlin’s youth team.

Griffey Commits to UConn over Louisville, Michigan, Gonzaga and UCLA.
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Eric Murdock was looking to get involved in college basketball and new Rutgers head coach Mike Rice, according to Jerry Carino, was looking for a former pro to mentor his players. it looks like a match and the Bridgewater (NJ) native is getting into college basketball as RU Hires Murdock in a Player Development Role (HoopsHaven).

Murdock, 42, will be hired as director of player development, a mentoring post that will focus on attitude and life skills. Murdock had a celebrated career in college with Providence and is a member of the NBE All-Time Big East Top 50 Players at a href=”http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/big-east-all-time-top-50/30-eric-murdock/”>#30. After his career at PC, Murdock was a 1st round pick (#21 overall) of the Utah Jazz in 1991 and played nine seasons in the NBA.
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While RU is gaining one assistant, Louisville is losing one as Walter McCarty Joins the Pacers as an Assistant (Courier Press) coach. After retiring as a 10-year NBA player, McCarty joined Rick Pitino’s staff at UL where he has been the last three seasons. McCarty also played for Pitino at Kentucky and again with the Boston Celtics in the NBA when current Pacer head coach Jim O’Brien was an assistant.
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Dickie V shows some love towards Big East schools as the Syracuse Post-Standard gave readers Dick Vitale’s Early College Basketball Rankings. The Early Preseason Top 40 (ESPN.com) was led by Duke at #1, Michigan State #2, Purdue #3 and Ohio State #4. Villanova checked in at #5 and other Big East teams that followed included Syracuse (#7), Pittsburgh (#12), Georgetown (#21), Louisville (#30), West Virginia (#32) and St. John’s (#39), coached by recent ESPN College Basketball colleague Steve Lavin.
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WKMG-TV in Orlando reported earlier this week that the Big East conference was set to invite Memphis and Central Florida to become members of the conference. Not so fast as the Big East Denies Expansion Report (NY Post).
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