2007-2008 Preview

BIG EAST BLOGGERS PRE-SEASON ALL-BIG EAST AWARDS

November 9, 2007 by NBE Blogger · 3 Comments

November 9, 2007

Every Monday during the season we will release a weekly power poll with everyone’s votes as well as our awards for Big East player of the week and Big East freshman of the week. We also have a notebook section of the weekly report where we look back at the week that was and ahead for the week in the Big East conference.

For the preseason, I requested that our pollsters submit their preseason picks for All-Big East and the All-Freshmen teams for the conference. Each participant voted for one preseason player of the year in the Big East and then another 15 players as all-league, with 5 on a 1st team, 5 more on a 2nd team and another 5 on a third team, 16 players overall. We did the same for the all-freshmen teams, except we did not vote on a 3rd team for the frosh.

Here are the contributors on today’s poll and the websites they publish:

Big East Basketball Report Blog
Marquette Basketball Cracked Sidewalks
The Big EZ Show
Card Chronicle
HoyaSaxa.com
Black & Green ND Basketball Blog
HoyaHoops.com
CourtVisions College Hoops Blog
March Madness All Season Blog
HoyaProspectus
Villanova by the Numbers
Let’s Go Nova
RAC ‘Em up
BigEastCountry.com
The Bracket Blog @ Bracketography
SPK, frequent contributor to the Seton Hall Rivals and Scout sites
Chris Dokish, contributor to Big East Basketball Report and Pittsburgh Sports Report
Freshjive, founder of BlueDemonNation

As always, if you have a site related to college basketball or the Big East, send us an e-mail ([email protected]) with a link and you will be added to the list of contributors to the polls in the future.

Click below to see the poll results!

Click on ‘Read More’ below to view the rest of the article.

BIG EAST BLOGGERS PRE-SEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Roy Hibbert, Georgetown

BIG EAST BLOGGERS PRE-SEASON ALL-BIG EAST 1st TEAM
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
Dominic James, Marquette
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut
Terrence Williams, Louisville
Kentrell Gransbery, South Florida

BIG EAST BLOGGERS PRE-SEASON ALL-BIG EAST 2nd TEAM
Jerel McNeal, Marquette
Jonathan Wallace, Georgetown
David Padgett, Louisville
Geoff McDermott, Providence
Eric Devendorf, Syracuse

BIG EAST BLOGGERS PRE-SEASON ALL-BIG EAST 3rd TEAM
Edgar Sosa, Louisville
Levance Fields, Pittsburgh
DaJuan Summers, Georgetown
Eugene Harvey, Seton Hall
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame

BIG EAST BLOGGERS PRE-SEASON ALL-BIG EAST 4th TEAM
Jerome Dyson, Connecticut
Brian Laing, Seton Hall
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
Wesley Mathews, Marquette
Derrick Caracter, Louisville

High Honorable Mention:
Dante Greene (SU), Paul Harris (SU), Dante Cunningham (Nova)

Honorable Mention:
Draelon Burns (DePaul), Darris Nichols (WVU), Rob Kurz (ND), Sharaud Curry (PC)

BIG EAST BLOGGERS PRE-SEASON BIG EAST FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:
Dante Greene, Syracuse

BIG EAST BLOGGERS PRE-SEASON ALL-BIG EAST FRESHMEN 1st TEAM
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
Austin Freeman, Georgetown
Corey Fisher, Villanova
Nyal Koshwal, DePaul
Corey Stokes, Villanova

BIG EAST BLOGGERS PRE-SEASON ALL-BIG EAST FRESHMAN 2nd TEAM
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
Dar Tucker, DePaul
Corey Chandler, Rutgers
Chris Wright, Georgetown
Justin Burrell, St. John’s

BIG EAST BLOGGERS PRE-SEASON ALL-BIG EAST 3rd TEAM
Anthony McClain, Cincinnati
Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall
Mike Davis, Seton Hall
Rick Jackson, Syracuse
Donell Beverly, Connecticut

Honorable Mentions:
Scott Christopherson (MU), Alvin Mitchell (UC), Brad Wanamaker (Pitt), Jamine Peterson (PC)

Thank you to all those that participated in the last week!

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BIG EAST BLOGGERS PRE-SEASON POWER POLL

November 8, 2007 by NBE Blogger · 2 Comments

November 8, 2007

Back for our third season is the Big East Bloggers Weekly Power Poll. Today we unveil the pre-season version of the poll, ranking the Big East teams 1-16. Votes were all collectied prior to the season tipping off last night with Connecticut meeting Morgan State. Contributors cast their ballots ranking the teams 1-16 and we tally up the votes. We had participation from 18 bloggers, web site publishers and contributors.

Tomorrow we will release our Pre-season all-Big East teams as well, voted by the same 18 contributors.

Every Monday during the season we will release a weekly power poll with everyone’s votes as well as our awards for Big East player of the week and Big East freshman of the week. We also have a new expanded notebook section of the weekly report where we look back at the week that was and ahead for the week in the Big East conference.

Here are the contributors on today’s poll:

Click below to see the poll results!

Click on ‘Read More’ below to view the rest of the article.

2007-2008 Big East Pre-season Poll (first place votes in parenthesis):

1) Georgetown (13): 282 pts. Hi: 1st. Low: 3rd.
2) Louisville (5): 274 pts. Hi: 1st. Low: 3rd.
3) Marquette: 243 pts. Hi: 3rd. Low: 5th.
4) Syracuse: 206 pts. Hi: 3rd. Low: 8th.
5) Pittsburgh (tie): 200 pts. Hi: 3rd. Low: 10th.
5) Villanova (tie): 200 pts. Hi: 2nd. Low: 8th.
7) Connecticut: 195 pts. Hi: 3rd. Low: 10th.
8) Providence: 165 pts. Hi: 4th. Low: 10th.
9) Notre Dame: 154 pts. Hi: 5th. Low: 12th
10) West Virginia: 142 pts. Hi: 4th. Low: 11th.
11) Seton Hall: 98 pts. Hi: 9th. Low: 14th.
12) DePaul: 84 pts. Hi: 9th. Low: 16th.
13) Cincinnati: 82 pts. Hi: 10th. Low: 15th.
14) St. John’s: 57 pts. Hi: 10th. Low: 16th.
15) South Florida: 35 pts. Hi: 13th. Low: 16th.
16) Rutgers: 31 pts. Hi: 14th. Low: 16th.

This post will also be added to our 2007-2008 NBE Blog Big East Preview edition.

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2007-2008 BIG EAST CONFERENCE PREVIEW EDITION

November 8, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

November 7, 2007

Here are all our 2007-2008 Big East Preview Articles in one easy place for rererence.

Enjoy the season!!

Big East Conference Team Previews:
16) South Florida
15) Rutgers
14) St. John’s
13) Cincinnati
12) DePaul
11) Seton Hall
10) West Virginia
9) Notre Dame
8) Providence College
7) Villanova
6) Connecticut
5) Pittsburgh
4) Syracuse
3) Marquette
2) Louisville
1) Georgetown

2007-2008 Big East Bloggers Preseason Power Poll

Big East Media Day Stories:
Jeff Borzello’s Big East Media Day Notebook
Jef Borzello’s Article on Reaction to 18-Game Conference Schedule
Big East Coach’s Poll Results & Misc. News and Notes from Media Day

Big East 2007-2008 Preview Articles:
Big East Top Frontcourts
Big East Top Backcourts
Big East Top Centers
Big East Top Power Forwards
Big East Top Wing Players
Big East Top Shooting Guards
Big East Top Point Guards

Conference Schedule Analysis
Big East TV Schedule

Big East Freshmen of Influence
Big East Top Breakout Performer Candidates

Big East Historical Conference Records
Big East Historical Conference Tournament Records

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 1) GEORGETOWN

November 4, 2007 by NBE Blogger · 1 Comment

November 4, 2007

GEORGETOWN ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Georgetown Basketball

2007-2008 Official Georgetown Roster & Bios

Meet Coach John Thompson III

Verizon Center

2007-2008 Georgetown Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

The revival of Georgetown basketball has taken John Thompson III three years to complete. The son of legendary coach John Thomson Jr., JTIII, as he is known, took over for Craig Esherick and led the Hoyas back to the Final Four to cap off three years of quick and steady improvement. The 2007 NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) Coach of the Year saw his Hoyas win the BIG EAST Regular Season Championship, the BIG EAST Tournament Championship as well as the NCAA East Regional Championship while compiling a 30-7 record.

To read the rest of our 2007-2008 preview on the Georgetown Hoyas, please visit our Georgetown Team Page.

Thank you for visiting!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 2) LOUISVILLE

November 3, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

November 3, 2007

LOUISVILLE ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Louisville Basketball

2007-2008 Official Louisville Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Rick Pitino

Freedom Hall and the practice home of Cardinal basketball, the Yum! Center

2007-2008 Louisville Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Rick Pitino is entering his 8th season as head coach of the Louisville Cardinal program. Pitino’s up-tempo style, pressure defense, strong work ethic and family atmosphere quickly returned the Cardinals to national prominence. The Cardinals visit to the 2005 Final Four was Louisville’s first trip in 19 years. It was also the third school that Pitino led to the NCAA Championships Final Four.

With a strong close to the 2006-2007 season, expectations of another run to the Final Four have been placed on the Louisville club this season. Coach Pitino continues to be one of the best recruiters in the game and has a team high on experience and potential in place to make this a season to remember for Cardinal fans.

To read the rest of our preview on the Louisville Cardinals, please visit our Louisville Team Page.

Thank you for visiting!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 1) GEORGETOWN

November 2, 2007 by NBE Blogger · 1 Comment

November 4, 2007

GEORGETOWN ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Georgetown Basketball

2007-2008 Official Georgetown Roster & Bios

Meet Coach John Thompson III

Verizon Center

2007-2008 Georgetown Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Read More…Click ‘Read More’ Below!!!

Prior to coaching at Georgetown, Thompson guided Princeton to three Ivy League Championships, two NCAA tournaments and an NIT appearance over his four years as head coach. He amassed a 68-42 record as Princeton’s head coach after serving as an assistant coach at Princeton from 1995- 2000. Thompson also played at Princeton under legendary Pete Carril and many of the basketball philosophies Carril is famous for are very evident in the style Georgetown plays the game. Being a son of one coaching legend and having another as his mentor gives coach Thompson such a unique perspective of the game. He is able to recruit high level players and work them into a system that many of these elite recruits tend to shy away from.

One of Thompson’s first initiatives as head coach was to get involved with the local recruiting scene. Too many talented players from the talent-saturated region of the Mid-Atlantic had been leaving the area, or ignoring Georgetown in recent years. Luckily, he had a good start inheriting local recruits Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green from Esherick and his staff, however, since then, JTIII has hit the local region hard and this season his roster will be stocked with players from the region including Vernon Macklin, DaJuan Summers, Chris Wright, Nikita Mescheriakov, Austin Freeman, Tyler Crawford and Hibbert. Also, a link the Georgetown’s rich tradition with Patrick Ewing Jr. on their roster. Could another Thompson-Ewing tandem bring the Hoyas another national title?

THE 2006-2007 SEASON:

Entering the 2006-2007 season, Georgetown and Pittsburgh were considered the pre-season favorites in the Big East. Led by Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green and incoming elite recruits in Vernon Macklin and DaJuan Summers, everyone was talking about the Hoya frontline and questioning their backcourt. Not expecting their backcourt to be weak, but questioning if that backcourt was good enough to be an elite team in college basketball.

After a slow start, which included the backcourt being victimized in a 56-52 home loss to Villanova and a subsequent loss on the road to Pittsburgh, Georgetown found themselves out of the top 25, 1-2 in the Big East conference and sitting at 11-5 with losses to Old Dominion (home), Oregon (home) and Duke out of conference. Not exactly the start many envisioned prior to the season.

However, Georgetown never lost focus of who they were. The continued to efficiently run their Princeton-style offensive attack and gradually worked their way back up the rankings by methodically winning their next 11 games, all Big east contests. Ten of those wins were by eight points or more, only a narrow road win over Villanova was much of a challenge (although a tough battle over Pittsburgh was also included). Their average margin of victory in that span was 15 points!

After a mis-step on the road against Syracuse, Georgetown closed out the regular season with a win over UConn and then stormed through the Big East Tournament, led by Big East Player of the Year Jeff Green, culminating the effort with a 65-42 dismantling of Pittsburgh in the Finals.

Georgetown went into the NCAA Tournament with a high seed and high hopes. After surviving a tough match-up with Boston College in round 2 and escaping Vanderbilt’s upset bid in the Sweet 16, Georgetown came up with the clutch baskets to upset North Carolina in the East Regional Finals to earn a trip to the Final Four. It was in this game where the Georgetown guards showed they were every bit of the reason the frontcourt was for their team’s success. Jonathan Wallace and Jesse Sapp completely outplayed the highly touted duo of Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington, outscoring them 34-10, and combining for 15 assists against just 3 turnovers compared to just six assists and six turnovers by the UNC duo.

In the offseason, Georgetown fans were at the edge of their seats as Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert went through the NBA draft process. Both players flirted with leaving and returning, in the end, Green entered the draft and was selected 5th overall and Hibbert opted to return to Georgetown, much to the delight of the Hoya faithful.

THE BACKCOURT:

Senior Jonathan Wallace and junior Jesse Sapp return to anchor the Georgetown backcourt. Wallace is the perfect fit to direct the Princeton-style attack. The Louisiana native was originally headed to Princeton to play for JTIII, but when Thompson accepted the Hoya coaching position, Wallace quickly followed. Wallace might not put up gaudy numbers, in the Georgetown system, it is the offensive scheme that sets up scoring opportunities, not one single player. Wallace knows the system inside and out and is one of the best spot-up 3-pt shooters in the country that now has a big-shot resume from last year’s tournament action.

Sapp is a NYC native that makes up the other half of the Georgetown ‘odd-couple’ backcourt. Nearly a polar opposite in style and resume, Sapp was a street ball and AAU staple from NYC that has more of the open floor ability. It is those differing styles and skills that made their roles fit perfectly together. Senior Tyler Crawford and junior Jeremiah Rivers also return to the mix. Rivers is the son of former NBA star and head coach Glenn ‘Doc’ Rivers. He plays like a coach’s son and is an important cog in the Hoya mix. Crawford is a good shooter, but has yet to find a spot in the regular rotation at Georgetown.

This year, the Hoyas’ backcourt is one of the hottest topics in the game with the addition of a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans, Austin Freeman and Chris Wright. Freeman is a 6’4 scorer deluxe from famed DeMatha High School. Freeman should be one of the freshmen ready to make his mark the quickest in the Big East as he has a varied offensive game that should fit very well on the wing in the Hoya attack. Wright will not make as big of an early impact, first, he will miss all of the preseason team practices due to a broken foot suffered playing pick-up ball this fall. Secondly, the Princeton-style offense is a very intricate system and with Jonathan Wallace firmly entrenched as the started and Rivers an experienced back-up, Wright might have to find most of his time off the ball. There Jesse Sapp and Austin Freeman are ahead of him on the wings as well. Georgetown certainly has the option of going to a smaller line-up this season, moving DaJuan Summers to a ‘4’ position and playing three guards, with this amount of depth and talent at the guard positions, it might be something done quite often.

THE FRONTCOURT:

Even with the loss of Jeff Green to the NBA draft, Georgetown still has a frontcourt that will be regarded among the best in the country. They are led by 7’2 senior center Roy Hibbert, who turned down the opportunity of being a lottery pick in last year’s June draft to return for his senior season. Hibbert is a true rarity in the college game today, he is 7’2 and through improvement each and every season, he comes back for his senior year and turns down the NBA. Hibbert will show more improvement this year after a summer of playing against excellent competition. He continues to get stronger and more fluid on the offensive end and being 7’2, his defensive presence is obvious.

Hibbert will be joined by the athletic Patrick Ewing Jr. and the extremely talented DaJuan Summers. Ewing Jr played his first year with Georgetown last season and the 6’8, 238 lb power forward was always a quick burst of energy off the bench for the Hoyas. Playing behind Hibbert and Green did not leave a lot of opportunity to play for Ewing, he got nearly 15 minutes a game and averaged about 4.5 PPG, similar numbers to what he had in two seasons at Indiana prior to transferring to Georgetown. Summers is a player that could take a large step forward this season. As a freshman he averaged 9.5 PPG in conference action and had a big game in their Eastern Regional Final win over North Carolina, scoring 20 points in the win. Look for Summers to step forward as one of the league’s better players this season.

Another sophomore who came to Georgetown very highly regarded was 6’9 Vernon Macklin. It was a tough first year with the Hoyas as Macklin’s skills were not always compatible to the offensive style of Georgetown. Players spend a lot f time moving and on the perimeter in Georgetown’s offense so ball-handling and passing, even for a big man is a must. Macklin is a physical talent and as his skills catch up to his raw abilities, he will get more chances to produce.

The Hoyas also have a couple later period recruiting additions, Omar Wattad and Nikita Mescheriakov that are on the roster and will provide depth. Do not expect much playing time from either as frosh.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

Well, the Hoyas have been through this before and with how they are recruiting, do not expect them to fall too far from near the top of the league. The have loads of experience and an exciting new case of contributors, led by McDonald’s All-Americans Chris Wright and Austin Freeman. Seniors Roy Hibbert and Jonathan Wallace will lead the way and this team will be concistently good from start to finish. The play of DaJuan Summers might determine just how good this team can be as he has the potential to bust out and lead this team towards the heights they accomplished last season. It sure is good to be a Georgetown fan again!

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 15-3

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 2) LOUISVILLE

November 2, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

November 3, 2007

LOUISVILLE ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Louisville Basketball

2007-2008 Official Louisville Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Rick Pitino

Freedom Hall and the practice home of Cardinal basketball, the Yum! Center

2007-2008 Louisville Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Read More…Click ‘Read More’ Below!!!

A 2006 inductee to the New York City Hall of Fame, Pitino has embraced the storied tradition of Louisville Basketball and made a commitment to producing a vibrant program that could challenge for a national title this year.
Pitino is no stranger to the Big East and it’s programs. He served two seasons as an assistant at Syracuse under Jim Boeheim from 1976-78. He was head coach at Providence College for two seasons (1985-87), producing a 42-23 record there. He guided the Friars to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1986 and a trip to the NCAA Final Four in 1987, winning the regional championship in Freedom Hall.
Pitino has coached at the highest levels of the college game and has also been in the NBA, serving as an assistant under Hubie Brown with the Knicks and after his stint at Providence, he was head coach of the Knicks. After a successful run at Kentucky, coach Pitino returned to the NBA and had a 3 ½ year stint as president and head coach of the NBA’s Boston Celtics. However, Pitino realized that his coaching methods and philosophy fit much better in the college game. On March 21, 2001, just over 2 months after resigning from the Celtics, Rick Pitino was named as head coach of the Louisville program, replacing legend Denny Crum. A move that has worked out very well and with the Cardinal’s move to the Big East, the Louisville athletic program has never been in better shape!

THE 2006-2007 SEASON:

Coming off a struggling 2005-2006 season, Louisville looked to rebound under Rick Pitino. The early portion of the season, which included losses to Dayton (in Cincinnati), home against Massachusetts in the Billy Minardi Classic, a 49-point effort in a home loss to Kentucky and a 16-pt loss in their Big East opener at Notre Dame, did not give the Louisville faithful much optimism for a successful return to the NCAA Tournament. The natives were definitely getting restless and coach Pitino was coming under some fire for an under-achieving recruiting class and a revolving door in the program that saw several recruits never make it to campus and others leave quickly.

After a mid-January loss to Marquette, Louisville found themselves at 12-6 overall and 2-2 in the Big East. To date, their signature win might have been against a mediocre Providence club. With the difficult portion of their schedule ahead, things changed quickly for the Cardinals.

The Cards rebounded to win 10 of their last 12 Big East conference games, including their last six to earn the 2nd seed in the Big East Tournament. With their strong freshman class of Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith, Derrick Caracter and Earl Clark learning the ropes of the college game, and even more importantly, learning what Rick Pitino expected of them on and off the court, the Cards began to fly. Sophomore Terrence Williams also began to play within himself more consistently and the oft-injured David Padgett got stronger and worked himself into better shape as the season went on.

In the post-season, Louisville suffered tough losses in the Big East Tournament to Pittsburgh and in the NCAA Tournament’s 2nd round to Texas A&M. The A&M game had the rest of the nation take notice of Edgar Sosa who was sensational, scoring 31 points. However, Derrick Caracter showed why he was inconsistent, fouling out in just 7 minutes, but scored 8 pts in that limited time.

A record of 12-4 in the conference and 24-10 overall was a solid season for the Cardinals. With only senior Brandon Jenkins (5.2 PPG) moving on from their rotation, Louisville is expected to build upon that season in 2007-2008.

THE BACKCOURT:

Louisville’s backcourt is definitely a case of quality, but might be a little thin on quantity heading into the season. Sophomores Edgar Sosa and Jerry Smith return and junior Andre McGee looks to rebound from injuries to take a more prominent role in the rotation. That trip should receive the large majority of minutes at the guard positions.

Sosa is a fiery and emotional lead guard who is still trying to find that balance between scorer and distributor. Coach Pitino wants to see more defense and less emotion out of his general, but as far as guards go in the Big East, Sosa’s talent ranks up there with any of them. He can score in a variety of ways and he has the typical NYC toughness that most guards develop playing against some of the best talent available while developing. His weaknesses are mostly items that can be cured by maturity, so look for a more consistent sophomore season.

Smith was a pleasant surprise last year, hitting 48% of his three-point attempts on the season. We knew he could play, but the shooting touch from the arc was a pleasant surprise and fit in perfectly with the Louisville style of play. Smith is a powerful guard that should develop quickly into one of the better all-around guards in the conference. McGee struggled with injuries in his sophomore year and was unable to get his legs under him all season. Shooting a dismal 23% from the floor, McGee has worked very hard this season on his shooting and getting in better physical condition. He will be a very vital cog in the rotation this year with the graduation of Brandon Jenkins.

Rounding out the guard position is non-scholarship shooting guard Will Scott, freshman Preston Knowles and walk-ons Stuart Miller and Lee Steidan. Scott transferred to Louisville from Cornell and walked-on the basketball team. He is an excellent shooter from the arc and has a high-level of basketball intelligence. Rick Pitino is not afraid to throw Scott into any game. Knowles has surprised the staff early on this season and is further along than anticipated. If injuries continue to hamper the Cards, Knowles could be pressed into duty.

THE FRONTCOURT:

One can make the argument that the Louisville front line is one the THE best in college basketball this season. The first member of the group is d-everything forward Terrence Williams. T-Will as he is known led Louisville last season in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals and was second in blocks. He has had a tremendous summer and a quick start in the exhibition games this week. He has always been a phenomenal athlete and his basketball IQ and skill-level has improved impressively since the middle of last season. Rick Pitino finds Williams so important to his team that he might use him as a power forward if they need to go to a smaller line-up. Williams may even find some time at shooting guard when the Cards go to a bigger line-up. The one thing that is certain, Williams will be in the line-up!

The rest of the frontcourt picture is a little muddled, but that is mostly because of the tremendous talent available to coach Pitino. Senior David Padgett is FINALLY healthy and is also having a strong preseason. Padgett is a hybrid big man, not to strongest player in the post, but he has a variety of skills and an offense can almost be run through him because of his excellent post-passing skills. Padgett is an opportunistic rebounder and shot-blocker that produces by being in the right place at the right time. I’d like to see him finish inside more consistently against stronger players, but if there is one player that many people are overlooking in the conference this season, I think it might be Padgett.

Padgett might not have to put up big numbers or play more than 25 minutes, because the sophomore duo of Derrick Caracter and Earl Clark have as much potential for greatness as anyone in the Big East. The character story is very familiar and Pitino is still onhim about keeping the weight down. Caracter learned some hard lessons last season and only appeared in eight Big East games. The Louisville record in those eight games? 6-2. He played in each of their six wins to close out the Big East schedule, averaging 13.2 ppg and 5.2 rebounds in just 17.8 minutes a game. The average of 13 points per game would have led Louisville on the season, and he did that in less than 18 minutes a game. If Caracter can cut down his fouling by improving his defense, he could be a major difference maker this year.

Fellow New Jersey native Earl Clark is a versatile 6’9 forward that NBA scouts are drooling over because of his versatile game. Clark got off to a slow start last year, but once he settled into the rotation he began to flash the potential that had made him a coveted recruit. He averaged 8.1 points and 5.2 rebounds over the last 16 games with 17 pts and 9 rebounds in the Big East Tournament win against West Virginia.

Rounding out the frontcourt is Terrence Farley, a 6’10 senior who is an athletic shot blocker. Many teams in the conference could use Farley in a much more prominent role, but he will get very limited time, but play an important role behind Padgett and Caracter, for the Cards. Even with all that talent, we have not even mentioned senior Juan Palacios. Another player cursed with injuries, Palacios has shown flashes of brilliance at times in his career but has been unable to sustain those moments for ling stretches. Now, his senior year is on hold as he recovers from a preseason knee injury that could keep him out for an extended period of time. A pair of freshmen added for depth are also questionable this season and beyond. 6’8 forward George Goode, at last report, is still awaiting NCAA Clearance on his eligibility and 7’0 center Clarence Holloway, who also has NCAA Clearinghouse issues that needed to be addressed, is out for the season due to surgery to correct a heart defect.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

With all the talent and potential of this club it is VERY hard not to make them the preseason #1 team. The feeling with this team is they are going to be very good throughout the season, but they might be even better come February and March. I see them sorting through some things early on and might drop a game or two they should not as coach Pitino works through the rotation and tries to keep players sharp and on their toes. There is a lot of talent to play and a lot of combinations to try out from time to time. Injuries also seem to pop up more with this team than anyone else in the league and a wary eye will be cast towards players like Padgett, Sosa, McGee and Caracter, along with Palacios, to see if they can play through an entire season. Do not expect coach Pitino to risk the postseason chances on someone’s health in the regular season, therefore, like I felt with Georgetown last season, they are right there with the league favorite, but they could have the potential to be the best team in the end.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 14-4

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: MEDIA DAY NOTEBOOK

November 1, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

November 1, 2007

You can read Jeff’s Big East Media day Notebook by clicking READ MORE below!

Yesterday, Brian Crownover provided us with his Eddie Griffin Memorial Challenge Player Evaluations on many Big East commitments and targets. We also had a jam-packed Big East News and Notes for 10/31/2007 and Jeff Borzello also had an article on the Big East Coaches Reactions to 18-Game League Slate from media day as well.

Click on ‘Read More’ below to view the rest of the article.

by Jeff Borzello

HIBBERT RETURNS FOR MORE

Georgetown center Roy Hibbert was closer to leaving for the NBA than everyone thought. Luckily for Hoya fans, he stuck with his gut and returned to school.

“I said 70/30, but it was more like 50/50,” Hibbert said at the Big East Media Day in New York City on October 24. “The NBA will hopefully still be there next year, so I’m going to have fun this year. I want to win a national championship and also be better prepared to go into the rigors of 82 games.”

Hibbert was named the Big East Preseason Player of the Year by the league’s head coaches, and was one of only two unanimous selections to the Big East’s ten-man all-conference team. Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds was the other.

However, the 7-2 senior said being recognized the coaches felt good, but he would rather win something else.

“It’s nice, but if I could trade that in for a Big East championship and national championship, I would do that,” Hibbert said.

A likely lottery pick in next year’s NBA Draft, Hibbert averaged 12.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, and also led the Big East in field-goal percentage at 67.1%. During the offseason, Hibbert worked out against players from Maryland and George Mason, and played in Brazil against a variety of solid big guys. As a result, he is in the best shape of his life.

“I’ve just been working out a lot,” he said. “I’ve been doing a lot of stuff off the court like running and jogging, and that has obviously played a big part.”

Hibbert said he is looking forward to returning to New York City for the conference tournament and hopefully a Big East Championship.

“It’s a great city,” he said. “MSG is the mecca of basketball; obviously it’s a great place to play. I can’t wait to come back here for the Big East Tournament—it’s my favorite place to play.”

Most of all, though, Hibbert just wants to end his career on a high note.

“This is my senior year, so I’m going to love it,” he said. “I can’t imagine playing my senior year with any other guys, so we’re going to have a fun time this year.”

NEXT HUSKY STAR?

There has been a long lineage of outstanding Connecticut wings, from Ray Allen to Richard Hamilton to Ben Gordon. The next one in line could be Husky sophomore Jerome Dyson.

“I’m shooting the ball a lot better,” Dyson said. “My mid-range game is better.”
When asked if he was ready to assume the role of a go-to-guy offensively, Dyson didn’t hesitate. “I feel like I was getting into that towards the end of last year when I was putting up big numbers,” he said. “I just hope I can get out there and continue to pick up where I left off last year.”

Dyson averaged 13.8 points per game last season, but boosted that to 19.9 per contest in his last seven games of the year.

SLEEPER ALERT IN RHODE ISLAND

The talk of the Media Day, in terms of teams looking to move up in the standings, was Providence. The Friars return four starters, and coaches around the league constantly mentioned PC as a team to watch.

“I think they’re very skilled and experienced, which are two good places to start, and they’re well-coached,” Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon said. “I think they’re going to be an NCAA Tournament team.”

Friars senior forward Charles Burch said he liked the idea of being a sleeper in the conference.

“I think it’s good for us,” Burch said. “When you’re a sleeper, you can sneak up on teams. We’re definitely going to be competitive.”

He also discussed the return of center Randall Hanke, who missed last year due to personal reasons, but averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds two seasons ago.

“Randall is definitely going to help us,” Burch said. “He gives us a big guy that can run the floor, so on those fast breaks, he can get those tip-ins, put-backs for extra points.”

One area that could be a problem early is at the point with returning starter Sharaud Curry out with an injury. However, Burch sees it as a blessing in disguise.

“I think it’s going to hurt us initially,” he said. “It also can help us, because it will allow us to see what else we have. It’s going to test us.”

IRISH DISRESPECT

The last time we saw Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish were falling in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament to Winthrop, and subsequently lost their top two scorers to graduation in Colin Falls and Russell Carter.

Coach Mike Brey is not worried about offense, though. “We will be fun to watch again,” he said. “We’re going to play faster and we can score the ball.”

He discussed the return of Kyle McAlarney from suspension, and how the combo of he and Tory Jackson won’t miss a beat despite the fact that it’s almost a two-point guard system in the backcourt. “What people forget is that when this team found itself against Maryland and Alabama in December, they played together 25 minutes,” Brey said. “We’ve already done this.”

The Irish return three starters, including Luke Harangody, who will likely be able to play on opening day despite initial reports that he was out for six games with an injured thumb.

“I think we have a chance to be better because we have eight veterans back that have won together,” he said. “Our group played together and won together, and feels like there is some unfinished business.”

Brey also said the returning players have a chip on their shoulder after the preseason rankings and all-league teams were announced. “We’re picked ninth, we’re not a sexy pick, and I don’t see any of my guys on the preseason teams. I love what I saw on that board, it still keeps the motor running out in South Bend.”

REMEMBER THE ORANGE

Despite the fact that it happened almost eight months ago, the talk among Big East coaches is still Syracuse not making the NCAA Tournament.

Of course Orange head coach Jim Boheim didn’t forget it, with reporters constantly referencing the sadness of Selection Sunday. “The Big East got only 37 percent of their teams in the tournament but it’s over 50 percent for those other two leagues,” Boeheim said, discussing the Big Ten and Pac-10. “I’m not saying we’re better than them, but I would say we’re equal. So if we’re getting 37 percent of our teams in and they’re getting 55 percent of their teams in, there’s something wrong.”

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon said because there are 16 teams in the league makes it tougher to get teams in the Tournament.

“I think we lost the last two teams because of the size of the league,” Dixon said, referencing Cincinnati from two seasons ago and Syracuse from last year. “I think it needs to be addressed. We need to look at that, and it needs to be talked about. We shouldn’t lose a team because we are so big.”

Commissioner Mike Tranghese also expressed his emotions about the NCAA Tournament and Syracuse. “I can’t tell you how disappointed I was last year in Syracuse not getting in,” Tranghese said. “I’ve studied it, I’ve tried to be objective, and I still can’t understand it. “I’m anxious to see what occurs, and if it re-occurs, I think we’ve got a big problem on our hands.”

MAIN LINE MADNESS

Successful teams usually make goals that they want to reach during the season, whether it is to win a conference championship or to even just beat a certain team. However, Dante Cunningham and Villanova are going the opposite way.

“We don’t set goals,” Cunningham said. “We don’t have any goals at all. It sounds kind of odd, but we look at every game as our next goal. At the end of the year, we look back and see if we won the Big East Championship, or if we won the Big Five, and if we made the NCAA Tournament. At the beginning of the year, though, you can’t set goals like that.”

I guess that’s one way of avoiding disappointment.

BUILDING CARACTER

Louisville was named one of the co-favorites to win the Big East regular-season title by the conference coaches, along with Georgetown.

One of the keys to fulfilling that preseason honor, though, will be sophomore big man Derrick Caracter, who had an up-and-down freshman season filled with suspensions, fluctuating playing time, and outstanding play.

“DC learned how to work hard,” Cardinals coach Rick Pitino said. “He gave me 100 percent maybe 25 percent of the time last year. It was very difficult on all of us. But we wouldn’t have made it that far without DC.”

Senior center Terrance Farley echoed those statements, saying that Caracter was one of the two players—along with Earl Clark—who stood out the most in the early practices. “He’s matured so much,” Farley said. “It’s like night and day.”

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You can catch more of Jeff’s thoughts on college basketball at his March Madness All Season blog at CollegeHoopsNet.com. Jeff will also be a more common contributor to Big East Basketball Report as we move forward.
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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: BIG EAST MEDIA DAY ON 18-GAME SCHEDULE

October 31, 2007 by NBE Blogger · 2 Comments

October 31, 2007

Last Wednesday, Jeff Borzello got the opportunity to make the short trek to New York City and take part in the Big East conference’s annual media day gathering at Madison Square Garden. Jeff put together a couple interesting stories from the event for us and one hot topic being discussed among each coach was the Big East’s move from a 16-game league schedule back to an 18-game league schedule. This move definitely had the coaches talking last week.

You can read Jeff’s story about the reaction from the league’s head coaches to the schedule change by clicking READ MORE below!

Earlier today, Brian Crownover provided us with his Eddie Griffin Memorial Challenge Player Evaluations on many Big East commitments and targets. We also had a jam packed Big East News and Notes for 10/31/2007.

Click on ‘Read More’ below to view the rest of the article.

by Jeff Borzello

There are plenty of ideas and rule-changes in college basketball that feature both strong opposition and agreement. Get ready to add another polarizing subject to the Big East world—and we are not talking about Bob Huggins’ move to West Virginia.

It’s the move to an 18-game conference schedule from the 16 games the conference has featured for the past eight seasons.

This past summer, the Big East Conference announced that it would be adding two games to each team’s schedule, meaning its teams will be playing 18 conference games for the first time since 1989.

At the conference’s Media Day on October 24, Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese addressed the decision in his opening remarks. “When you have a 16-team league, there’s a lot of inequity with the scheduling,” Tranghese said. “It isn’t perfect and it certainly isn’t fair, and I’m the first to tell you that.”

He also discussed how there are only two other conferences besides the Big East that play 18 game conference schedules. “The Big East along with the Big Ten and the Pac-10 are now the three conferences currently playing 18 games,” Tranghese said. “There’s no way around it, that conference games tend to have an intensity that goes far beyond anything else. The fact that our three leagues versus many of the other leagues are playing 18 games makes it even more difficult.”

With 16 coaches in the league, there were certainly differing opinions on the addition of two games. “It didn’t work nine years ago,” Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon said. “Usually things that don’t work once don’t work again. With that being said, we are not going to have as unbalanced of a schedule, so that won’t be a factor. With everybody playing everybody once, it won’t be as unbalanced.”

Marquette head coach Tom Crean said it will make it tougher on the top teams in the league, but he hopes the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee takes into account the additional games. “The move to 18 league games is going to make it that much more difficult, Crean said. “The Big East is getting their share and then some. “We hope to get credit for choosing to play 2 games in the conference. But we all know what we signed up for; there shouldn’t be a true advantage in league scheduling.”

Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun was more direct with his take on the two additional games. “I don’t like the 18-game schedule,” he said. “I’ll embrace it because we have it, but I don’t like it.”

Each team will play every other team in the conference once and three teams twice.

Villanova head coach Jay Wright said the outside perception will likely be that Big East teams do not have as impressive of a collective profile as some other major-conference teams, mainly because of the fact that they will be beating up on each other within the league. “No one’s going to change their thinking unless someone brings it up and shows the numbers and say, ‘Look, our RPIs aren’t going to be as high because we’re playing each other,’” Wright said. “That’s what you’re telling us to do. You’re telling us to play a tough schedule.”

One coach, Notre Dame’s Mike Brey, was adamant about the 18-game schedule and how he thought it was good for the conference. “Eighteen league games is good because, at least, over 18 games, we can get a truer picture of who deserves the byes here in New York City and who deserves the bids,” Brey said. “I don’t think it can ever be clean across the board, but 18 games helps us. Since I’ve been on that bad end of the stick, I like the 18 games.”

He also said the constant modifications in numbers of teams and conference games make it an ongoing changing process for coaches in the Big East. “You’re just trying to adjust on the fly,” Brey said.

You can catch more of Jeff’s thoughts on college basketball at his March Madness All Season blog at CollegeHoopsNet.com. Jeff will also be a more common contributor to Big East Basketball Report as we move forward.

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 3) MARQUETTE

October 28, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 28, 2007

MARQUETTE ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Marquette Basketball

2007-2008 Official Marquette Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Tom Crean

Bradley Center

2007-2008 Marquette Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Tom Crean enters his 9th season at Marquette, which places him among the longest tenured and highest paid coaches in the Big East. Crean guided the Golden Eagles to the Final Four in 2003 and has a 65.7% winning percentage since taking the reigns of the Marquette program.

Previously serving as the Associate Head Coach at Michigan State for Tom Izzo’s highly successful and respected program, it did not take Crean long to get the Marquette program turned around. After a couple .500 seasons, led by prized recruit Dwyane Wade, Marquette made the NCAA Tournament in his third season and reached the Final Four in his fourth season at the Milwaukee school. The appearance in the Final Four was the third in school history, but the first since Al McGuire coached the ‘Warriors’ to the Final Four in 1977.

To read the rest of our Marquette preview, please visit our Marquette Team Page.

Thank you!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 4) SYRACUSE

October 27, 2007 by NBE Blogger · 2 Comments

October 27, 2007

SYRACUSE ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Syracuse Basketball

2007-2008 Official Syracuse Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Jim Boeheim

Carrier Dome

2007-2008 Syracuse Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Jim Boehiem, Syracuse Class of 1966, has truly had a remarkable run in his 31 seasons as head coach of his alma mater. The Basketball Hall of Fame inductee has taken the Orange to 25 NCAA Tournaments in his tenure, which has included three trips to the NCAA Final Four (1987, 1996 and 2003) and his career accomplishments as the Syracuse head coach hit the top of the College Basketball World with Syracuse’s National Championship following the 2002-2003 season.

To read the rest of our 2007-2008 Syracuse Preview, please visit our Syracuse Team Page.

Thanks for visiting!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 3) MARQUETTE

October 26, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 28, 2007

MARQUETTE ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Marquette Basketball

2007-2008 Official Marquette Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Tom Crean

Bradley Center

2007-2008 Marquette Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

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Coach Crean has always worked hard at linking today’s Marquette program to the great teams that were led by Coach McGuire. This season, the Golden Eagles look to make their mark as another great team, led by the highly touted guard trio of juniors Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Mathews, Marquette is determined to put a couple disappointing finishes the last couple years behind them and return to the days of post-season success.

With a loyal and vocal fan base filling the Bradley Center in Milwaukee on a nightly basis, Marquette has hit the ground running since their transition from Conference USA to the Big East. The program will look to take the next step and find similar success in the postseason beginning this year as they return the majority of their production from last year’s successful squad.

THE 2006-2007 SEASON:

After surprising the Big East the year prior, the Golden Eagles had high expectations for the 2006-2007 campaign and things got off to a fast start, which included a Guardian’s Classic championship win over Duke, 73-62. That seemed to be the high point of their season which included a shocking home loss to North Dakota State, 64-60 in the finals of their own tournament. Losses to Providence and Syracuse got the Golden Eagles pointed in the wrong direction in the Big East, at 0-2, but an eight game win streak in the conference put Marquette back in position to challenge for the Big East title, which was expected in the preseason.

Marquette then lost four of their next five to eliminate themselves from Big East title contention as Dominic James struggled to shoot from the outside and teams countered Marquette’s perimeter quickness by packing their defense inside to neutralize the Golden Eagles attack and force them to shoot it from the perimeter. The season took another blow when Jerel McNeal injured a thumb in practice and was lost for the rest of the season. Marquette was done early (round one win over St. John’s) in the Big East Tournament and was thoroughly beaten by coach Crean’s mentor, Tom Izzo and his Michigan State club, in round one of the NCAA Tournament.

Marquette was led all season by the guard trio of James, McNeal and Wes Mathews as they combined to average over 42 ppg (59% of team’s total). However, James struggled from the floor, shooting just 38% on the season and 27% from 3-pt range. The trio averaged nearly nine turnovers a game between them as well. With the terrific trio struggling on the perimeter, the lack of inside production offensively and on the boards defensively prevented any consistent play from developing, ending Marquette’s season on a down note, again. The sour taste has not left for many as Marquette has been talked about cautiously by many fans, but media sources will continue to rank them high. With nearly their entire team returning intact, it should be a very good season in Milwaukee for these Golden Eagles.

THE BACKCOURT:

College basketball continues to shift more and more to a guard’s game. Nobody in the conference has a better guard corps than Tom Crean’s Marquette Golden Eagles. Led by 5’10 Dominic James, 6’3 Jerel McNeal and 6’4 Wesley Mathews, this trio of juniors has the athletic ability and experience to make life tough on any other backcourt in the Big East. The past two seasons, James had been relied on to play a lot of minutes, nearly all with the ball in his hands. The Big East is physical and the style of play has definitely taken a toll on him. This year he gets some help with Maurice Acker, a 5’8 sophomore point guard, as an eligible transfer from Ball State. Acker was brought in as the likely starter at the point this year if James ended up leaving for the NBA draft. Heading into last season, James was regarded as a likely lottery pick based on his freshman season, where he took the conference by storm packing a lot of athletic bunch in his small frame. James’ season went sour as a sophomore as he began pressing due to a prolonged shooting slump as whispers of his NBA potential slipping began to grow louder. James also showed some signs of poor decision making and was all out of sorts as a point guard by the end of the season. Now, James will look to rebound his personal stock, but the Golden Eagles will help him with a true point guard to spell him and play alongside him at times.

McNeal returns and is one of the nest perimeter defenders in the college game. The strongly built guard was a high school teammate of Acker’s. He does play out of control at times when driving into the lane and his lack of outside shot can play into the hands of a defense in forcing him to turn the ball over. However, he remains a dangerous threat as one of the league’s best rebounding guards and is always capable of turning his defense in offense with a steal and finish. Probably their best all-around guard is swing Wesley Mathews. Mathews is the best of the group at shooting the ball, although he doesn’t look for his shot too often from the perimeter, but he has a high basketball IQ, plays both ends of the floor very well and knows how to draw fouls and converts from the foul line.

Also returning to the backcourt is sophomore David Cubillan, a sharp-shooter who hit some big shots late in the season and displayed that east coach coolness on the floor in pressure situations. Incoming freshman Scott Christopherson also will add depth to the impressive backcourt.

THE FRONTCOURT:

The area of weakness for Marquette last year was the frontcourt. Tom Crean and staff have taken strides to improve the depth and talent at the positions this season, but they will still likely play the majority of their games with three guards, a small forward and a center on the floor. At the forward position, Dan Fitzgerald and Lazar Hayward both return to the mix this season. They are likely to share the position again this year and both could also play in a more traditional line-up with two guards on the floor, but the strength of this team remains with their guards.

Eventually, Hayward should be the one to control the minutes at the forward spot. Getting a very late clearance from the NCAA last season set him back and trying to play a new position also set him well behind the learning curve last season. Hayward came out of the prep ranks with a reputation as a scorer, especially proficient from beyond the 3-pt arc and seemed like a candidate to replace the perimeter threat of the graduated Steve Novak. Having the perimeter threat at the forward position is a big key in the Marquette system that wants to spread the floor and let their guards attack the defense. Having a pure shooter to spotting out is a key in being able to spread the floor. Hayward only hit 10-48 from the arc last year, very uncharacteristic. Look for him to be better prepared to pick his spots and find the seams this year.

Fitzgerald did hit 42% from the arc, but he seems to be either on or off. He will never be a high volume shooter from the arc, but is probably better suited for a role of a guy that gives minutes hustling and spotting up as a shooter. If he hits his first one, ride him for a while. He brings experience to the mix as a 5th-year player, but if Marquette is truly going to rise above expectations, other players need to step-up and force Fitzgerald into a role-player position. Marquette can still be good with Fitzgerald playing a big role, but higher upside among Hayward and incoming freshman Trevor Mbakwe means they could be even better with contributions from them more regularly.

Mbakwe had to sweat out the NCAA Clearinghouse process this season, but the 6’7 athletic power forward with the long wingspan is ready to go. He is a natural athlete in the post, better suited to a power forward position, but could also share time with senior Ousmane Barro in the post. Barro is one of the most improved big men in the Big East and had a solid year last season. He still struggles in physical match-ups in the Big East, but he has come a long way and is beginning to become more of a threat on both ends of the floor.

Marquette also has more depth in the frontcourt and every now and then coach Crean will turn to players like Dwight Burke, Lawrence Blackledge or freshman Patrick Hazel and look for them to bring a unique impact to the game. However, with the attack remaining very guard oriented, do not look for a lot of production from the group.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

As mentioned yesterday with Syracuse, Marquette is another school in the midst of a NCAA Tournament winning drought. This is the 5th season since Dwyane Wade left for the NBA and Marquette has not won a meaningful post-season game since (not counting NIT or Wednesday night Big East Tournament game). That streak HAS to end this year for Tom Crean, Dominic James and the rest of the Golden Eagle program. Marquette fans can take solace in the comparison to Billy Donovan and his program at Florida. Early in his tenure with the Gators, Billy the Kid landed in the Final Four. However, following that season, even with some high profile recruits, Florida stumbled, losing to higher seeds in five straight NCAA appearances. As soon as the questions began to mount on Donovan’s chances to succeed, despite the high salary and long tenure, Florida wins back to back national titles and he is the biggest name in the college coaching ranks. I will not predict a national championship this year for Marquette, maybe even a Final Four is a stretch, however, this is still a very talented squad poised for post-season success, not they have to put it together.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 13-5

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 4) SYRACUSE

October 26, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 27, 2007

SYRACUSE ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Syracuse Basketball

2007-2008 Official Syracuse Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Jim Boeheim

Carrier Dome

2007-2008 Syracuse Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Read More…Click ‘Read More’ Below to see the rest of our Syracuse 2007-2008 Preview!!

After a brief professional career following graduation from Syracuse, Boehiem returned to Syracuse as a Graduate Assistant under Roy Danforth and was a full-time assistant on the Syracuse staff that helped the Orange to their first Final Four appearance in school history in 1975. A year later, James Arthur Boeheim was named head coach at Syracuse and 750 wins (21st all-time) later, ‘Jim’ is still going strong leading the Orange, armed with a tremendous recruiting class, into the 2007-2008 season.

Syracuse has been a model program of consistency over the years in the Big East. Only two times in the history of the Big East have the Orange had a losing record in conference play. What is more incredible is that both times that it happened, the Orange ended up winning the Big East Conference Tournament (1981 and 2006) that season. No matter what happens year in and year out, you can count on the Orange being a serious factor in the Big East conference.

THE 2006-2007 SEASON:

Expectations for the recruiting class of Demetris Nichols, Terrence Roberts and Darryl Watkins had always been high, but the trio had not lived up to those expectations their first three seasons wearing Orange. Their last chance for redemption was the 2006-2007, but in a surprising omission Syracuse was left out of the NCAA Tournament and sent to the NIT.

For the first time in the history of the Big East conference (since 1980), Syracuse has gone three seasons without a win in the NCAA Tournament. After a pair of 1st round eliminations in 2005 and 2006, the Orange did not get an invitation to dance in 2007, despite a 10-6 record in the Big East. Even six months later, coach Boehiem still wonders if the 16-team Big East set-up is wise if a team does not get into the NCAA Tournament with 10 wins in the Big East conference.

Out of Conference home losses to Wichita State and Drexel, combined with their loss in New York City in their lone marquee out of conference match-up with Oklahoma State, left the Orange with very few resume building wins. However, a late-season upset over Big East champion Georgetown seemed to cement their place in the Big Dance. Yet, on Selection Sunday, the Orange did not see their names called.

Demetris Nichols turned in a big season as a senior, leading the Orange in scoring at nearly 19 PPG. However, Terrence Roberts and Darryl Watkins never seemed to improve their games by and great lengths while at Syracuse and their inconsistency continued to haunt the Orange time and again, leading to some painful losses that haunted Syracuse throughout the season. Now the Orange turn to a new group of young horses looking to get back into the NCAA Tournament and continue the Orange tradition of post-season success.

THE BACKCOURT:

The last few seasons Syracuse has been handcuffed by very inconsistent play at the point guard position. In many instances, they have been relying on scoring lead guards to run the show and the results have been very mixed. Through three seasons, Josh Wright has not shown any improvement in terms of ‘feel’ for the game. Wright is an exciting athlete but seems to play too fast and gets caught in between too often on his drives. He has never shown to be a consistent shooter and will settle for a perimeter jump shot at times that makes one scratch their head. His inability to lock down the role of point guard for extended periods of time has led to Syracuse relying on scoring guards like Gerry McNamara and Eric Devendorf to take on more ball-handling and distribution duties than they probably need. This year, Syracuse faithful hope their point guard woes will be cured by incoming McDonald’s All-American freshman Jonny Flynn. A native of Niagara Falls (NY), Flynn is also a superb athlete that can rise above the rim to finish and penetrate a defense with his lightning-quick handle. Where Flynn hopes to separate himself from Wright and other point guard candidates is his ability to run a team with his feel for the game. Knowing when to push the ball in transition and when to back off the gas pedal is a key for any point guard and Flynn has shown the ability to do this in the past.

Alongside Wright or Flynn remains junior shooting guard Eric Devendorf. The talkative and competitive Devendorf is one of the better scorers in the Big East with a knack for coming up with a creative bucket going into the lane when Syracuse needs points. Although he is right-handed, we have seen him time and time again go into the lane to his left and finish with the left hand. Devendorf can also knock down mid-range jumpers and step out to the 3-pt line more and more. As a sophomore, Devendorf averaged nearly 15 PPG and over 4 assists, while shooting 35% beyond the arc and 79% from the line.

Backing-up Devendorf is ½ of the Neumann-Goretti connection of out of Philadelphia, Antonio Jardine. With junior Any Rautins, last year’s top perimeter threat, out for the season after suffering a knee injury playing for the Canadian National Team this summer, Jardine will play a more prominent role in the rotation this season. Although definitely not the reliable shooter from the arc that Rautins was, Jardine plays the game with a Philly toughness that can be contagious and will add some more athletic ability to the Orange mix.

Rounding out the backcourt might be the key to the Orange season: Paul Harris. Coming into Syracuse last season with loads of preseason hype as a top recruit, Harris struggled finding a role last year as Demetris Nichols had a big year at the small forward position, which is Harris’ natural position. Forced to play a non-ballhandling two-guard role, Harris never found his niche in the Syracuse system or that vibe with a point guard. Now, good friend from home Jonny Flynn joins the squad and Harris will be back in his more natural point-forward position, where he is likely to handle the ball more, look for Harris to become a leader on this team, although just a sophomore. Harris is a tremendous competitor that plays hard and tough from tip to horn. With a team heavy in seniors last year, his desire to get down and dirty on the court never seemed to rub off on those set in their ways. Look for Harris to be more of an example to the younger players and the entire team to feed off his energy. His defensive abilities could also force Syracuse out of their zone more and extend pressure more often, something guards around the Big East will not be happy to see. Harris also is one of the best rebounders, not just for his size, in the conference and although just 6’4, he will hold his own on the boards on the back of the SU zone.

THE FRONTCOURT:

This is the area that Syracuse has the most question marks surrounding as they will not return anyone from last year’s team with any significant experience. The opening day starters are likely McDonald’s All-American frosh Donte’ Greene and redshirt sophomore Arinze Onuaku. Greene, a 6’10, 220 lb sophomore from Baltimore (MD) comes in with obvious comparisons to former Orange star Carmelo Anthony. Greene played at the same High School as Anthony (Towson Catholic) and for an AAU team that bared his name (Team Melo). The highly rated recruit has great size and skill level for a forward, but it remains to be seen if he has the mental edge and toughness that Anthony developed through the course of his freshman season with the Orange that helped lead SU to the national title in his lone season in Orange. Greene, no doubt, is a big-time talent that is silky smooth offensively with his 6’10 frame, however, he is more perimeter orientated for the Big East game at this point, so the expectations of the next ‘Melo could not a little mis-placed. The pre-season co-freshman of the year, along with Flynn, as voted by the Big East coaches, has a lot of pressure on him, but still should be very good right away.

Onuaku is one that many are overlooking, but the 6’9, 260 lb center might be one of the more surprising players to watch this season. Not the typical Orange center of the past, but Onuaku knows his job is to rebound, defend and convert the opportunities that come his way. He will bring the brawn next to the athletic Greene’ in the post. It is imperative that Onuaku does not throw his weight around too much and land in foul trouble, but the people who point to the center position as a Syracuse weakness might be surprised to find it manned very well by Onuaku, who missed last season due to injury.

Rounding at the frontcourt depth is JUCO transfer Kristof Ongenaet (6’8, 215 lbs), freshman Rick Jackson (6’9, 230 lbs), sophomore Devin Brennan-McBride (6’9, 250 lbs) and freshman Sean Williams (6’11, 220 lbs). Ongenaet and Jackson are most likely to get the minutes behind the starters, with Onganaet spelling Greene and Jackson playing the center position behind Onuaku. Onganaet will provide a more physical force spelling Greene and Jackson, Jardine’s high school teammate, is a more athletic option to Onuaku in the post.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

There is a lot to like with this Syracuse team, but the unknown factor lies in their youth. Observers have felt that this is one of Jim Boeheim’s most athletic squads that he has had and the demeanor of Paul Harris is rubbing off on the players more this year, leading to more intense practices on both ends of the floor. The Orange have a mix of some veteran’s returning, but also the need for these newcomers to be good really quick will give them a chance to grow quickly. Boeheim does seem to shine on the bench with a younger squad hungry to prove their talent. With the added incentive to get back into the NCAA Tournament and but an end to the streak of winless NCAA Tournament season, look for a solid bounce-back year out of Syracuse.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 12-6

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES FROM MEDIA DAY (10/25/2007)

October 25, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 25, 2007

Well, the Big East coaches recruit the players in the league and they study film over and over again on the team’s they prepare for and hope to beat. So, they should definitely be the authority on who is good and who is not. Here are their preseason voting results, released yesterday at the conference’s annual Media Day Event:

2007-08 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
T1. Georgetown (8) 217
T1. Louisville (8) 217
3. Marquette 191
4. Pittsburgh 170
5. Syracuse 153
6. Connecticut 149
7. Villanova 143
8. Providence 141
9. Notre Dame 122
10. West Virginia 112
11. DePaul 79
12. Cincinnati 62
13. Seton Hall 56
14. St. John’s 52
15. Rutgers 32
16. USF 23

2007-08 Preseason Player of the Year
Roy Hibbert, Georgetown

2007-08 Preseason Co-Rookies of the Year
Donte’ Greene, Syracuse
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse

2007-08 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
*Roy Hibbert, Georgetown (Player of the Year), C, Sr., 7-2, 278, Adelphi, Md.
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, Jr., 6-7, 238, Brookline, Mass.
Jonathan Wallace, Georgetown, G, Sr. 6-1, 188, Harvest, Ala.
David Padgett, Louisville, C, Sr., 6-11, 245, Reno, Nev.
Terrence Williams, Louisville, F, Jr., 6-6, 210, Seattle, Wash.
Dominic James, Marquette, G, Jr., 5-11, 185, Richmond, Ind.
Jerel McNeal, Marquette, G, Jr., 6-3, 200, Chicago, Ill.
Geoff McDermott, Providence, F, Jr., 6-7, 230, New Rochelle, N.Y.
Kentrell Gransberry, USF, C, Sr., 6-9, 270, Baton Rouge, La.
Eric Devendorf, Syracuse, G, Jr., 6-4, 180, Bay City, Mich.
*Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, So., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.

We also have linked many stories generated from the gathering of coaches, players and media in New York City yesterday. The hot topics seemed to center around the number of teams the conference will get into the NCAA Tournament, the number of games on the conference schedule and the new bench decorum point of emphasis the NCAA has placed on coaches.

You can read these stories and more, by clicking READ MORE below!

Click on ‘Read More’ below to view the rest of the article.

General Conference:
Coaches Worry it’s Too-Big East (Courier-Journal).
New Schedule Has its Drawbacks (Hartford Courant).
Card Chronicle Counts Down 15 Freshmen to Watch in the Big East Conference.
Big East Beefs Up Conference Schedule (Philly Inquirer).
Part III of the Top NBA Draft Prospects of Big East (NBADraftExpress.com)
Reactions Vary to New NCAA Bench Decorum Rules (Charleston Gazette).
Big East Coaches Told to Behave Themselves (NY Times)
More Notes on Media Day (Irish Insights)
Big East Media Day (Louisville Courier Journal)
ESPN, Big East pact a coup for the League (Daily Mail)
Hoyas, Cards Rank as Big East Faves (NY Post)
Observations & Opinions from Media Day (Syracuse Post-Standard)
Big East Jockeying for Better Tourney Position (Providence Journal)

Villanova:
‘Nova Adapts to Big East Changes (Evening Bulletin).
Wright All Smiles for ‘Nova (CSTV).
Cunningham, Clark Keys for Villanova (phillyburbs.com)
Prep School Regimen pays off for Pair (Daily Mail on Joe Alexander/Shane Clark)

Notre Dame:
Irish Picked Ninth by Big East Coaches.
More than Luck for These Irish (CSTV)
Irish to Turn Low rank into Motivation (Journal-Gazette).
As Usual, experts Not Too High on Irish (Chicago Tribune)

Rutgers:
Inman fit to Lift Rutgers’ Hopes (Star-Ledger)\
RU Men Hope to See Scarlet Fever

Georgetown:
Big East Takes Notice of Wallace, Hibbert (Washington Post).
Hoyas, Hibbert Get Early Honors (Washington Times)

Seton Hall:
Seton Hall Thinking Big this Season (Star-Ledger).

Connecticut:
Adrien Preseason All-Big East (Hartford Courant)
Calhoun Surprised UConn Ranked Sixth (NH Register)
Connecticut Eager to Get Back on Track (Star-Ledger)

Marquette:
Eagles Draw Few Queries on Team (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).
Marquette Dressed for Success (Chicago Tribune).

Louisville:
Cards Could Lose Trio to Pros (Kentucky.com).
Pitino Talks About His Players’ NBA Prospects (Louisville Courier-Journal).
Louisville Looks to Make Waves in Big East (Courier-News)
Young Cards Eager to Prove They Have All Grown Up (Kentucky.com)

West Virginia:
Huggins finally in Big East (Cincinnati Enquirer).
Prep School Regimen pays off for Pair (Daily Mail on Joe Alexander/Shane Clark)

Pittsburgh:
Seniors Ready to Leave Imprint on Program
Dixon’s Liking What he Sees (CSTV)

DePaul:
Offensive Upgrade Heads DePaul’s Agenda (Chicago Tribune)

South Florida:
Big East Poll Picks USF Last in Basketball (St. Pete Times)

Syracuse:
SU Snub Has Legs at Media Day (Syracuse Post-Standard)

St. John’s:
Roberts Has Big Expectations in East for Young Storm

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 5) PITTSBURGH

October 21, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 21, 2007

PITTSBURGH ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Pittsburgh Basketball

2007-2008 Official Pittsburgh Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Jamie Dixon

Peterson Events Center

2007-2008 Pitt Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Jamie Dixon enters his fifth season as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Panthers. There have not been too many coaches in the history of college basketball that have gotten off to a better start in their coaching careers than Dixon. The soon-to-be 42 year old has a 105-30 (.778) career record at Pitt and a 45-19 (.703) record in Big East regular season contests. Those numbers make coach Dixon the 4th winningest active coach in the county (by winning %) and the Big East’s All-Time winningest coach by percentage. On top of that, he has the 2nd most wins All-Time of any coach after four seasons, trailing only Everett Case of North Carolina State.

Jamie Dixon has carried over the success that Ben Howland began at Pitt in his four years. The Panthers have the longest active streak in the conference with six consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament. They have also been to the Big East Tournament Finals in six of the last seven years and four of the programs five appearances in the Sweet 16 have occurred in this timeframe. Of course, now the question becomes once again, can Jamie Dixon and Pittsburgh get past the Sweet 16 ceiling?

To read the rest of our preview on this year’s Panthers, please visit our Pittsburgh Team Page.

Thank you for visiting!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 6) CONNECTICUT

October 20, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 20, 2007

CONNECTICUT ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Connecticut Basketball

2007-2008 Official UConn Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Jim Calhoun

Connecticut Athletic Facilities

2007-2008 UConn Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Jim Calhoun is determined not to have another 2006-2007 season anytime soon. The UConn Hall of Fame coach watched his young team struggle through the Big East schedule last season and miss the post-season all together, an occurrence not too common in the last 20 years in Storrs.

As owner of two national championships (1999 & 2004), Jim Calhoun knows what it takes to win. The NBA 2006 draft also highlighted how strong his program has become as they became the first school in history to have five players drafted in the first two rounds of the draft, including four in Round One. The high paced offense, the two national titles and UConn now having had a total of 21 players drafted under head coach Jim Calhoun, 14 of those in the first round and nine lottery selections, are all testament to the remarkably strong program Jim Calhoun has built in Connecticut.

To read the rest of our UConn preview, please visit our Connecticut Team Page.

Thank you for visiting!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 5) PITTSBURGH

October 19, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 21, 2007

PITTSBURGH ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Pittsburgh Basketball

2007-2008 Official Pittsburgh Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Jamie Dixon

Peterson Events Center

2007-2008 Pitt Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

READ REST OF THE STORY…CLICK “Read More” BELOW

One thing you can count on is that Pittsburgh will take good players and have very good success with them. Last year’s departing seniors make room for the next wave of players to take their turn. Levon Kendall, Aaron Gray and Antonio Graves were not on any Top 100 recruiting lists coming out of high school, but they were the catalysts and starters on a very successful team. Now, the program has started to recruit and attract very good players and we will see if Jamie Dixon and the Panthers can take it up another notch. This year’s Panthers are a mixed bread of players with exciting upside and the same veteran flavor that we have gotten used to. It seems in the past, Pittsburgh has reached a ceiling of their abilities as others sprinted past them later in the year. This year, Pittsburgh could be a team hitting their stride later in the year, as opposed to right out of the gates.

THE 2006-2007 SEASON:

Pittsburgh was pretty much as expected last year. They started out strong, as anticipated with three seniors and a 4th-year junior in the starting line-up and were consistently a top 10 team throughout the season. Like clockwork, they went 12-4 in the Big East and advanced to the Big East Tournament Final with wins over Marquette and Louisville and the sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament. However, it never seemed like Pitt was able to kick it up a notch and put it in another gear, a common short-coming of previous Panther squads that have limited their program in getting over the perceived hump. With all their regular season success, there always seems to be another team ready to take it up a level in the Big East (Syracuse, UConn previously) and last year was no different when Georgetown handled Pitt easily in the BET championship game and went to the Final Four while Pitt fell to former boss Ben Howland and his UCLA Bruins.

The Panthers were led last year by all-league center Aaron Gray, who was selected in the 2nd round of the NBA draft last summer. The program’s first true 7-footer was slowed by a nagging ankle injury down the stretch which limited his already limited mobility even more. Gray was a trooper and always gave a maximum effort, but his physical limitations sometimes frustrated Panther fans. Another player who battled nagging injuries was Sam Young. In the preseason, many coaches around the league were talking about Young having the potential to explode during the season. However, the high-flyer never took off as painful tendonitis limited his effectiveness early on and he often looked dis-interested on the court. With his numbers dropping his sophomore year, Pitt lost that upside potential to help the solid core they had in place. Veterans Ron Ramon, Levon Kendall and Antonio Graves had solid seasons and first year starter Levance Fields showed promise as the starting point guard, following in the steps of Brandin Knight and Carl Krauser. ECU transfer Mike Cook started every game and after a mid-season slump, played well towards the end of the season, giving hope for a better 2007-2008 from him.

THE BACKCOURT:

Pittsburgh’s trademark experience will be evident in the backcourt that will feature two seniors and a junior among the four-man guard rotation and another senior starting on the wing. Junior Levance Fields will return as a 2nd-year starter at the point guard position. Fields found his career at Pittsburgh in-doubt after a September disturbance outside a Pittsburgh nightclub which he was subdued by a club security guard with a taser. Fields, assuming he does not run afoul with the law again the next nine months, will have all the charges dropped from the incident. The Panthers and Fields are working on moving on from the incident and Fields comes into this year approximately 20 pounds lighter than the weight he played at last season and has been noticeably quicker on the floor. This should be a key for him, especially on the defensive end of the floor, as he will be battling a very good point guard each night. Fields in NYC tough and has that NYC-flair that allows him to find a way to score or make the big play. Assuming he can concentrate on everything on the court and keep distractions off the court to a minimum, Fields could be poised for a big season.

Fields will get help from a pair of NYC-area seniors, Ronald Ramon and Keith Benjamin in the backcourt. Ramon is one of the most experienced combo guards in the league. He also has battled nagging injuries each year, but he combines a tremendous basketball IQ and a deadly outside shooting touch to consistently perform in the Big East. Limited a bit athletically, Ramon can struggle at times against quicker and more physical guards, but his experience and dead-eye shooting touch keeps him in the mix at both guard positions. Benjamin has impressive strength and athletic ability, along with size, for a Big East guard. However, to this point, that has not translated into consistent production. He showed signs as a sophomore with some big games, but last year he seemed to get lost in the shuffle with Graves taking over as the starter at the 2-guard and Mike Cook playing the wing. Benjamin could be poised for a surprising season as a senior with the opportunity for playing time. He will be challenged by impressive freshman Brad Wanamaker, however. Wanamaker, from Roman Catholic High in Philadelphia, was the Player of the Year in High School basketball in Philly and proved time and time again he does what it takes to win. Wanamaker is a strong guard who could develop into an impressive lead guard as he fine tunes his game, but one thing for certain with Wanamaker is he will do all the little things to help his team win.

On the wing Mike Cook returns for his second season of action with the Panthers. The senior, another Philadelphia native, transferred from East Carolina and C-USA after averaging 15 ppg for the Pirates as a sophomore. Cook started well and finished well for Pitt, but a mid-season slump had him looking out of sorts in the Pitt system and Big East at times. He has returned slimmer and with a year of experience under his belt in the Big East he could become one of the leaders on this team. Backing him up should be exciting redshirt freshman Gilbert Brown out of Harrisburg. Brown missed last year after battling injuries and sickness in the preseason and gives the Panthers a new dimension as a long, lean and ultra-athletic 6’6 wing that can play either guard or forward. Making the wing position even deeper is incoming freshman Darnell Dodson, who was one of the top players in the loaded DC-area last season. Dodson, who just turned 18, needs to add strength, and at the time we wrote this he was still going through the NCAA Clearinghouse. The Pitt staff loves his scoring talent and his range goes well beyond the 3-pt range. At 6’7, this is another dimension that Pitt has not previously had.

THE FRONTCOURT:

Normally the bread and butter of the Pittsburgh teams under Howland and Dixon has been strong, deep and experienced big men that keep coming at you over the course of a game. However, the Panthers graduate Aaron Gray and Levon Kendall from last year’s team and do not return anyone taller than 6’7 with experience. Still, this unit should remain competitive for the Panthers, although they will look much different. His breakout was expected last year, but this year the Panthers have no choice but to turn Sam Young loose. His knees appear to be healthy and the Panthers are ready to lean on his athletic 6’7 frame. The Maryland native showed glimpses of a star last year, including an impressive 21-pt performance in a win at WVU and 17 points in 19 minutes in a Big East Tournament win over Marquette. He also scored 37 points in just 66 minutes in three NCAA Tournament games. Young will have to show added presence defensively and on the boards consistently, but his athletic ability will cause him to be a match-up problem for many ‘4’-men in the conference. Joining Young at the power forward spot is fellow junior Tyrell Biggs. Each year, Biggs comes back slimmer and slimmer and looks more and more like a small forward than the 6’7, 260+ lb big man he was in high school. Biggs possesses a fluid and accurate jump shot, but has not shown much of a tendency to get after it in the paint. Maybe he want to shrink into a wing, but the Panthers might still need him as a BF/C combo. He does have a nice inside-out game that can stretch a defense.

The most exciting new piece to the Panther puzzle is 6’7, wide body and gregarious big man Dejuan Blair. The local Pittsburgh product was the state’s player of the year leading Schenley High School to a state championship. Blair has had two knee surgeries, so when he showed up at Pitt this summer over 300 lbs, there was some concern. Blair has already lost nearly 30 pounds and shows off incredible athletic ability for someone that size. He is a bear on the boards and anchoring down low will go at anyone relentlessly. He is also an excellent passer out of the post, hitting open shooters or cutters. While his size at 6’7 could be a concern, the Panthers will have other options in the post, including 6’10 JUCO transfer Cassin Diggs, 6’8 redshirt freshman Austin Wallace and 6’10 frosh Gary McGhee. None of these guys would be expected to give more than 10 minutes a game of some defense and rebounding to help with the match-ups against some of the bigger teams of the conference.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

This is a new Pittsburgh team. This group actually has some raw talent and upside that makes them very intriguing. They still have the patented toughness and Jamie Dixon always has his players prepared, playing hard and playing unselfish, but this year you might see a team rely more on their athletic abilities to create scoring opportunities rather than running a system that creates the opportunities for them. The Panther program looks to be evolving under coach Jamie Dixon, but one thing that doesn’t look to be changing much is that there is a very good team here right now. However, it could also become something more in the near future.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 11-7

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 6) CONNECTICUT

October 19, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 20, 2007

CONNECTICUT ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Connecticut Basketball

2007-2008 Official UConn Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Jim Calhoun

Connecticut Athletic Facilities

2007-2008 UConn Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 7) VILLANOVA

October 14, 2007 by NBE Blogger · 1 Comment

October 14, 2007

VILLANOVA ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Villanova Basketball

2007-2008 Official Villanova Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Jay Wright

The Pavilion

2007-2008 Villanova Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Jay Wright is one of the hottest names in college basketball and enters his seventh season as head coach of the Villanova Wildcats. Coming off three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, the Wildcats will gun for their fourth in a row. Over the last two seasons, the Wildcats have seen Randy Foye, Allan Ray, Lyle Lowry, Jason Fraser, Mike Nardi, Curtis Sumpter and Will Sheridan move on to the professional ranks. They high profile recruits built the foundation and helped launch Jay Wright into the upper echelon of coaching names with his ability to recruit and develop players for the NBA. With the addition of another high profile recruiting class, the beat looks to continue this season for the Wildcats.

In his first few season at Villanova, Jay Wright looked to be snake-bitten as his team never seemed to stay healthy and the top recruiting classes kept landing in the NIT, not the NCAA’s. Then, with a healthy squad for much of a season, the Wildcats busted into the Sweet 16 and nearly knocked off eventual champion North Carolina. However, bad luck once again hurt the Wildcats as Curtis Sumpter was injured and lost for the tournament in the 2nd round. The injuries woes continued as Sumpter had to undergo another surgery prior to the 2005-2006 season, but Wright showed his innovative side unleashing a four-guard line-up on the college basketball world that earned the Wildcats a #1 seed and a trip to the Elite 8 in 2005-2006.

To read the rest of our preview on the Wildcats, please visit our Villanova Team Page.

Thank you for visiting!!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 8) PROVIDENCE

October 13, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 13, 2007

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Providence College Basketball

2007-2008 Official Providence Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Tim Welsh

Dunkin’ Donuts Center

2007-2008 Providence College Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Tim Welsh enters his 10th season as head coach of the Providence College Friars. As one of the longest tenured coaches in the conference, this is a huge year for Welsh and his program as expectations have risen with an experienced team in place to compete for a bid to the NCAA Tournament and a spot in the upper-echelon of the powerful Big East conference. After a very disappointing season in 2004-2005, the Friars have shown slow, but steady improvement since, reaching the NIT Tournament last year after going 8-8 in the Big East. With a team possible starting line-up of five juniors and some key sophomores and freshman coming off the bench, the next two years should be even better at PC.

Before we start penciling in the Friars for a Big East Tournament bye and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, their first since a 1st round loss to Pacific in 2003-2004, the Friars must overcome the stigma of bad luck that has derailed the program at times recently. Whether it has been sudden departures by promising players or injuries to key personnel, the Friars just have not seemed to be able to put things together consistently for coach Welsh. Even the 2004 season fizzled down the stretch as the Friars lost their last two regular season games, both at home, to fumble any chance of a league title and then bowed out of the Big East Tournament and NCAA Tournament in their first games. Even with an impressive showing in the Preseason NIT the following year and returning All-American Ryan Gomes leading the way, the Friars fell apart going 4-12 in the Big East. When expectations rise, it seems like the Friars have missed the mark one too many times previously.

To read the rest of our preview on the Providence Friars, please visit our Providence Team Page.

Thank you for visiting!!

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