2007-2008 Preview

2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 7) VILLANOVA

October 12, 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.

At one time earlier this summer, Wright referred to this season as a bit of a rebuilding task. They have seen a lot of talent move on over the last two years, but the Wildcats, although young, are definitely talented and ready to scratch and claw their way into the mix of another bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2007-2008.

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THE 2006-2007 SEASON:

Life after Lowry, Ray and Foye was not the easiest at times last season. Facing a brutal opening stretch in the Big East, a Big Monday home loss to Pittsburgh had the Wildcats sitting at 3-5 in the Big East at the halfway mark. In fact, they got out of the gates losing three of their first four and their only win was an improbably 56-52 upset of Georgetown on the road.

The Wildcats regrouped as Scottie Reynolds became one of the elite scorers in the conference, even pumping in 40 in a road win over UConn and Curtis Sumpter was a steady force on both ends of the floor. Villanova won six of their last eight conference games to rebound to a 9-7 record and earn a chance to dance in the NCAA Tournament.

Their dance ticket expired pretty quickly as they fell to the Wildcats from Kentucky 67-58 in round one. Sumpter and Reynolds combined for 42 of their 58 points and all too often in big games, nobody else was able to step up and provide the Wildcats some offensive support. This season Sumpter is gone and takes his 17 PPG scoring average with him. Also, third leading scorer Mike Nardi (11 PPG) and the glue, Will Sheridan, also have graduated, meaning Villanova must replace three starters this season.

THE BACKCOURT:

Once again, Jay Wright showed his ability to recruit with the best of them. After landing Scottie Reynolds late in the process the spring before, Wright signed Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes out of New Jersey as well as NYC native Malcolm Grant. Reynolds was one of the biggest stories in the Big East last year as the freshman exploded to average over 18 PPG in 16 conference games. He also added over 3 rebounds and 4 assists a game in league play and shot an impressive 43% from beyond the arc and nearly 85% from the line. He has a tendency to push his own offense too much at times (41.5% shooting from the field and 60 turnovers in 16 league games), but a year wiser can do wonders for college players.

Reynolds will be helped greatly by the presence of Fisher, a 6’1, 185 lb PG who played at prep power St. Patrick in New Jersey last season. Another NYC native recruiting by Wright, Fisher has all the flair and calmness of a blacktop NYC product. He is tremendous with the ball, creating offense for others or himself. He also has immediate chemistry with incoming McDonald’s All-American Corey Stokes. Although they played on rival prep programs (Stokes played at St. Benedict’s), the pair have been longtime friend. Stokes is a deadly long range shooter that has the ability to be a very good well-rounded player if he can find the aggressiveness in his mentality to attack off the dribble a little more. At 6’5, 195 lbs, expect him to be the deadly stationary shooter benefiting from all the one-on-one dribble penetration by Reynolds and Fisher.

The talented corps of guards is rounded out by sophomore Reggie Redding and freshman Malcolm Grant. Redding is an old-school throwback that is the type of player that winning teams have. He will handle the ball, pass, defend and rebound above average from his guard position. With other offensive-minded teammates, he is the perfect compliment. Grant is NYC tough and has that NYC flair. He will remind onlookers of Kyle Lowry with his take anyone to the rim mentality. He will have to play a little more under control consistently as he is not quite the finisher that Lowry was, but his confidence to compete will allow him to be successful more than not.

THE FRONTCOURT:

Still an area that needs to be improved for the Wildcats to reach their peak potential. Dante Cunningham return for the Wildcats with the most experience in the group. Both are very solid players, however, they are asked to play out of position in Wright’s guard-heavy attack. It is on the defensive end of the floor that I have my biggest concerns with the duo in Big East play. Cunningham and Clark can defend very well against similar players, but asking Cunningham to defend a center and Clark to defend a power forward in this league night in and night out will bring some very tough match-ups for the ‘Cats.

The newcomer to watch is redshirt freshman Antonio Pena, a 6’8 forward originally from NYC. Pena was highly touted coming out of high school and word is his game has continued to eveolve as a true combo forward. He has size and strength to play a power forward position at this level and his skills away from the basket are said to be improving steadily. Cunningham, Pena and Clark form a very solid trio of forwards that will cause match-up problems of their own agains the bigger, slower front lines in the conference. However, they will have to be consistently playing at a high level on the boards and on the defensive end of the floor for Villanova to improve upon last season’s record. I expect them to improve as the year goes on, but some early stumbles could result.

Dwayne Anderson also returns as a small forward, but his playing time really decreased as last season went on and his opportunity for playing time this season is limited as well. Rounding out the frontcourt is Caseim Drummond, Frank Tchuisi and Andrew Ott. Drummond has loads of potential in his 6’10, 280 lb frame and when the Wildcats are forced to go big and with a traditional line-up, he should come in use. I would like to see them use him more and put Cunninghah, Clark and Pena at their more natural positions as I think they can be successful there too. Ott and Tchuisi are going to find minutes hard to come by again this season.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

The Wildcats definitely have a talented group to work with. It is likely you could see a lot of a three guard line-up and maybe even some of a four-guard look again. However, that group that previously excelled in that type of line-up were juniors and seniors for the most part, something that this current team is lacking in the backcourt. The frontcourt has some very nice pieces to work with and is an underrated group that gets under-appreciated because of the system they are playing in. It will be interesting to see if coach Wright goes a little more towards a traditional set-up and takes advantage of the experience of Clark and Cunningham as opposed to the young backcourt, however, it is tough to do so because of the talent and potential in the backcourt.

Look for another tough start in the early part for Villanova when conference play arrives. However, they should be able to hit their stride once again in the second half and be a better team down the stretch. Depending too much on the young guards will cause some inconsistency, but on some nights, expect this team to look like world-beaters…but on others, a reminder that they are young. The program is strong and should continue to be very good, but this season will have its ups and downs because of that youthful exuberance.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 10-8

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 8) PROVIDENCE

October 12, 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.

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This season already seems to have gotten off on the wrong ‘foot’ as leading returning scorer and point guard Sharaud Curry broke his foot in the preseason and might miss several of their early season games this November, including a trip to San Juan for the Puerto Rico Tip-off Classic where they open with Temple. However, one bit of good news, the Friars enter the season with a full collection of players and Welsh has his deepest backcourt since taking over at PC to at least temporarily cover for the loss of Curry. This remains an important season as PC needs to prove they can meet higher expectations and Welsh could use that momentum to score on his initial targets on the recruiting trail. The Friars have had good luck with identifying players under the recruiting radar, but that does not always work in this ultra-competitive Big East. This might be the season that defines and determines the Tim Welsh legacy at Providence College.

THE 2006-2007 SEASON:

The Friars will likely remember the 06-07 season as one that met the minimum of expectations, going 8-8 in the Big East and getting an invite to the NIT. However, the Friars never really seemed to do anything unexpected. A home win over Marquette was a nice start to the conference schedule and a win at Connecticut is always cherished by the Friar faithful, but letting winnable games at St. John’s, Seton Hall and Notre Dame as well as a home game with Syracuse slip away, many near the end of the schedule, again kept the Friars out of NCAA consideration.

The season also had its bad luck and subplots as Randall Hanke was injured in the preseason and then left school for the first semester. Freshman Jamal Barney disappeared from the bench in the first half of the season and left school, joining Gerald Brown, DeSean White, Dwight Brewington, Rob Sanders, etc of recent teams to also move on before eligibility expired. Then, just prior to the Big East season, Sharaud Curry was suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules. Curry would be back after four games, with PC winning three of them, but it was another distraction to overcome.

The Friars started conference play looking very good, beating Marquette and romping back Seton Hall. Of course, in all too typical PC fashion, 11 days after crushing the Pirates 91-69, the Friars fell at SHU 69-68 and were back to 2-2 in the Big East. The rest of the way the Friars were never able to get more than a game over .500 in the league or fall more than a game under .500. Each time they had a chance to make a move or a statement, they came up short. The rest of the way, the only team PC beat in the league that had a winning conference record was WVU (9-7) and that came on their home floor.

In the post-season, nothing too surprising, the Friars lost their opening game in the Big East Tournament (92-79 to WVU) and in the NIT (OT at Bradley). That marked the fourth straight season PC had not one a game in the post-season, a streak that MUST end this year.

Providence only loses one contributor from last year’s squad. However, the graduation of Herbert Hill leaves some very big shoes to fill. Hill was an all-league performer last year, amassing 19.9 PPG and 9.8 rebounds a contest in Big East play. Those numbers represented 28% of PC’s offense and 26% of their scoring. Can Randall Hanke consistently provide the post presence that Hill gave the team last year?

THE BACKCOURT:

Practice just officially began and Providence already has their first bad ‘break’ as Sharaud Curry is out with a broken foot for up to six weeks. Curry averaged 15 PPG and a 3.8 assists a contest for Tim Welsh’s crew last year. Without Hill and Curry, that is nearly 50% of their conference scoring from last year. The good news is that Curry should be back by mid-November with plenty of time to get into shape before the Big East. Curry is a scoring lead guard, but he still needs to show he can make his teammates better and distribute the ball on time. At times last year, it seemed the Frairs had a better offensive flow when the offense ran through Geoff McDermott, who lead PC with over 5 assists a game. However, injuries slowed McDermott down once again and Curry showed how valuable his scoring ability was, especially with his last minute heroics in a stirring last-second win over Cincinnati.

The PC backcourt also features high-flying junior Weyinmi Efejuku, who added 12 PPG and 4 rebounds a contest in conference play last season. One popular saying around PC was as Weyinmi goes, so does PC. In their eight league losses last year, Efejuku managed to score just 6.9 PPG and shoot a weak 29% from the floor. That means, in their eight wins, he averaged 17 PPG. See a pattern?

Also returning are sophomores Dwain Williams and Brian McKenzie. Williams filled in at point guard when Curry was suspended and did a more than adequate job. He battled some personal issues last year that seemed to have him ticketed out of town as the latest PC transfer, but he has stuck it out and shown some newfound dedication to his craft. He gives the backcourt very solid depth as he can both score and create from the lead guard position. McKenzie is an excellent shooter. Like most freshmen, that was not always evident as he learned he had to be able to be ready to capitalize on limited opportunities. Look for him to improve upon his 30% 3-pt shooting this season and be a weapon off the bench.

McKenzie will not be the lone perimeter scoring threat as Manhattan transfer and former Rhode Island High School star Jeff Xaiver is eligible after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Xaiver averaged over 16 PPG as a sophomore for the Jaspers and scored a career-high 31 at Maryland in a 1st round NIT win. Xavier hit 35% on 219 3-pt attempts and will try and give the Friars a steady hand from beyond the arc. Freshman Marshan Brooks, 6’5, 190 lbs, also gives the Friars depth in the backcourt and will gain valuable experience early on playing for Curry.

THE FRONTCOURT:

This is the area that will likely determine the level of success that Providence achieves this season. Herbert Hill was a surprise all-league performer last season, using his quickness and athleticism to score, rebound and defend in the post. Heading into the season, he was expected to share the post duties with Randal Hanke. However, Hanke broke a bone in his thumb in the preseason and then never returned to school until after the 1st semester and took a redshirt season. Hanke is a very interesting player this season. At times he shows flashes of brilliance, shooting a high percentage from the floor and running the floor for easy buckets. As a sophomore he averaged 13 PPG and shot 67.7% from the field. However, in Big East play that dropped to 10.9 PPG and he grabbed just 4.4 rebounds a contest. In fact, Hanke found himself on the bench often because of his lack of ability (or willingness) to play physical on the boards and defensively in the paint. He shot a high percentage (63%), but against teams that would put a body on him, his opportunities diminished because he was unable to establish or hold his position inside. Hopefully, a year away has allowed Hanke to mature physically and be ready to become a complete player in the paint for the Friars.

One of my favorite players in the Big East remains PC forward Geoff McDermott. The 6’7, 235 lb monster is one of the most versatile players in the conference. McDermott is a candidate to lead the league in both rebounding and assists. The likelihood of that happening would increase if he can stay healthy. The former football quarterback sometimes plays basketball likes he is on the gridiron, throwing his body around. As a frosh, he averaged 8.9 PPG, 9 rebounds and 2.6 assists. His scoring dipped in conference play to just 6.8 and he also lead the team in steals. A similar story as a sophomore as he averaged 9.5 PPG, 9.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists and the season and he led the team in steals once again. McDermott could team inside with junior Jonathan Kale to give the Friars a pair of bruising forwards to make-up for Hanke’s lack of physical performance. Kale averaged 7 PPG and 4.5 rebounds in conference play last year after moving into the starting line-up. Kale is a blue collar big man that knows his strengths and limitations and was the Friars best performer on a summer trip to Italy against top competition. He could be a break-out candidate this season. I have always liked his game and this could be the year he steps up his production and gives the Friars the toughness that they have lacked the last few seasons at times.

Rounding out the depth in the frontcourt is 6’7 small forward Charles Burch, the line scholarship senior on the squad. Burch battled back spasms last season, but he adds some experience to the mix off the bench. 7’0 Ray Hall is a big body to come off the bench and had some good moments as a freshman. He should also be improved and add to their depth as a sophomore. A pair of freshmen forwards are also in the mix: Alex Kellogg and Jamine Peterson. Kellogg is the son of Clark Kellogg, the former star that now works for CBS as a basketball analyst. Peterson could be the freshman most ready to contribute for the Friars. He is a tremendous athlete that will attack the rim any chance he gets. At 6’6, his perimeter skills still need a lot of work, but Peterson has no fear of attacking the basket on anyone. If they can harness some of his raw ability, he has a chance to make an immediate impact for PC this year.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

There is no doubt in my mind that the Friars could and should finish better than 8th in the conference. However, they have to prove they can beat better competition and be consistent. Their experience and maturation from underclassmen to upperclassmen of their talented junior class should help this cause. However, something always seems to hinder their advancement in recent years. One can not help but think that Curry’s injury is just another stick in the spokes derailing the Friar progress.

There are plenty of positives for the Friars with a deep backcourt and a frontcourt that has the chance to be pretty good. They will need to find an identity this year and stick to it…either utilizing a deep backcourt, going a little smaller with three guards and the rugged forward duo of McDermott and Kale, or go with a bigger line-up with the skilled Hanke flanked by McDermott on the wing and Kale on the block. Finding the right combination will be key for their consistency this season.

I still want Tim Welsh and this crew to prove they are for real first. They definitely have the pieces, but past misses leave me a little leery of predicting a slam dunk for the Friars this year.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 10-8

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 9) NOTRE DAME

October 8, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 8, 2007

NOTRE DAME ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Notre Dame Basketball

2007-2008 Official Notre Dame Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Mike Brey

Edmund P. Joyce Center

2007-2008 Notre Dame Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Mike Brey gets ready to enter his 8th season as the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and expectations are high after a surprising run in 2006-2007 to the NCAA Tournament. In the 16-team Big East conference, it is hard to believe that only Jim Calhoun, Jim Boeheim, Tim Welsh and Tom Crean are longer tenured in their current positions on Big East sidelines. Brey led the Irish to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in his tenure last season, breaking a string of missing the Big Dane for three consecutive seasons.

There might have been a little bit of heat on the Irish coach heading into the 2006-2007 season, but you would never know it as the classy Brey continued to be positive and his team responded by coming together and greatly exceeding expectation. The Irish return a solid core of players as they try to return to the NCAA Tournament in back to back seasons which has only been done in the 2001-2002-2003 seasons and 1989-1990 in recent history.

Brey is the definition of a players coach and the relationship he enjoys with his players is clear. Sometimes, nice guys do not always win in this cutthroat profession, so it was nice to see the Irish surprise many, including myself, with a strong season last year which included a 1st round bye in the Big East Tournament. With a football team struggling this fall, the attention on the basketball team will be intense with expectations of continued success.

To read the rest ouf our ND preview, please visit our Notre Dame Team Page.

Thanks for visiting!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 9) NOTRE DAME

October 8, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 8, 2007

NOTRE DAME ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of Notre Dame Basketball

2007-2008 Official Notre Dame Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Mike Brey

Edmund P. Joyce Center

2007-2008 Notre Dame Basketball Schedule

OVERVIEW:

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THE 2006-2007 SEASON:

After three seasons of disappointments, the Irish raced up the Big East standings by posting an 11-5 conference record which included five straight Big East wins to close out conference play and secure a 1st round bye in the conference tournament. Wins over Maryland and Alabama in their out of conference portion of their schedule spring boarded the Irish to their success in the Big East.

Of course, there were some questions on how good the Irish were. While other Big East bye teams like Pittsburgh and Georgetown were playing each other twice as well as Marquette, Louisville, etc. The Irish had home and home series with USF, DePaul and Villanova and did not even have Pitt on their schedule. However, there is no such thing as a light Big East schedule and the Irish got things down, especially down the stretch.

Their trip to the NCAA Tournament was not as successful, however, as Notre Dame fell in the 1st round for the first time under Brey as they were upset 74-64 by Winthrop. The Irish trailed big early and made a stunning rally, only to watch Winthrop dominate down the stretch and finish their season.

To duplicate the success of last season, the Irish will have to find a way to replace their two leading scorers, Colin Falls and Russell Carter. The senior duo accounted for 40% of the Irish offense and will be difficult to replace. One possible source added production could be junior guard Kyle McAlarney who was suspended for the last 20 games of the season. He has been reinstated and will look to pick up a large portion of the slack for the Irish on the perimeter.

THE BACKCOURT:

When the news hit that Kyle McAlarney had been suspended from Notre Dame in December, a huge question mark was attached to the Irish. McAlarney was the only experienced ball handler on the Irish squad and freshman Tory Jackson was thrust into the pressure cooker as the Irish lead guard. Jackson responded magnificently with a very impressive freshman season leading the Irish through Big East play. His pass-first mentality seemed to bring everything together for the Irish that had been missing the previous three seasons. He was lightning quick with the ball and a nuisance on the defensive end. He distributed the ball amongst the best in the league and showed some toughness that the Irish had lacked previously. With the added experience he received, it makes this season even more promising as he can now combine with Kyle McAlarney in the Irish backcourt. The Staten Island native plays with a spunky confidence that makes him a tough competitor in this conference. Not afraid to mix it up, McAlarney also has that trademark Irish touch from beyond the arc and should fit in well. The Irish backcourt is a little thin, but back-up guard Jonathan Peoples showed promise last season as the back-up point guard as he also was pushed into a more prominent role when McAlarney was suspended. Freshman Ty Proffitt addes a little depth to the position. The Irish are really small in the backcourt, so that is an area to keep an eye on this season.

At the wing, the Irish have the biggest question mark. Junior Ryan Ayers will get a long look at the position. The 6’7 Ayers, son of NBA coach Randy Ayers, is a silky-smooth perimeter shooter, but still lacks strength and experience, as he has been used very sparingly in his first two years. He is definitely the player under the microscope for the Irish who really are not deep enough to go with three guards. The other combo forwards are still much more comfortable playing more inside than outside, so the Irish need Ayers to be effective on both ends of the floor on the wing.

THE FRONTCOURT:

The strength of this Irish squad should definitely land in their frontcourt. Senior Rob Kurz and sophomore Luke Harangody return to anchor the frontline while back-ups Zach Hillesland and Like Zeller have also shown to be capable Big East players. Kurz is a solid performer who can handle, pass, shoot and rebound at the ‘4’ position. He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and plays within in limitations. Harangody might not be the biggest post player, but he is more athletic than you would believe, plus he has the best footwork of any post player in the conference. Harangody can score going to his left or right in the post and his physical stature makes him difficult to guard. Others might have more athleticism or length, but Harangody can operate with fundamental precision in the post.

Zeller came to Notre Dame with a big reputation, but he has yet to realize the promise that was heaped upon him during his recruitment. A finesse 6’11 big man, Zeller has never really found the comfort zone shooting the ball from the perimeter, where he spends most of his time. If the Irish can get Zeller to find a comfort zone, their frontcourt could excel. Hillesland is Mr. Hustle, running up and down the court, setting picks, diving for loose balls and doing the little things on both ends of the floor that wins games. He will bring the effort every night and show some impressive skills when forgotten about by the opposition.

Three freshman also join the mix this season: Tyrone Nash, Carleton Scott and Tim Abromaitis. Nash is probably the most Big East-ready to go as a freshman. He is a combo forward who is developing more skills away from the basket, but still has the strength and ability to play inside. Scott is one of the most athletic to enter the Irish program in a while, but he has a ways to go physically to be ready to make a pronounced impact in the Big East. Abromaitis is a skilled forward who adds depth and could develop into a serviceable forward similar to Hillesland.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

Notre Dame is a very tough team to put a firm finger on going into this season. They have some pieces I am very excited about, like Tory Jackson and Kyle McAlarney in the backcourt and Rob Kurz and Luke Harangody up front. However, it is the depth that I wonder about. They have the numbers, especially in the frontcourt, but only two of them are likely to play at a time and the increasing direction of college is towards a perimeter, guard-oriented game. On the surface, they return quite a bit from their 11-5 team from a year ago, however, I think some of the competition will improve a little quicker this year than the Irish. They have some solid newcomers, but lack the impact newcomer to help cover the loss of Falls and Carter. The shooting threat of Falls helped open up the floor for the athletic Carter, I just do not feel that Ayers and McAlarney will give the Irish the same impact. This is a solid team, all around, but I think the potential to ratchet up their game might come a little short this year. I expect them to beat everyone they should beat, home and away, but the deeper Big East and tougher conference schedule this season with two games against Marquette, Connecticut and DePaul will make it tough for the Irish to match last season’s conference win total.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 10-8

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 10) WEST VIRGINIA

October 7, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 7, 2007

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEER ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the West Virginia Mountaineers

Official 2007-2008 West Virginia Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Bob Huggins

The WVU Coliseum

2007-2008 West Virginia Mountaineers Schedule

OVERVIEW:

‘Country Roads Take Me Home’, has even more meaning this season around West Virginia as native son Bob Huggins returns home to coach the West Virginia Mountaineers. Huggins returns to his alma mater after compiling a 590-211 (.737) record in his 25 seasons as a head coach, which includes stints at Walsh College (1980-83), Akron (1984-1989), Cincinnati (1989-2005) and Kansas State (2006-07). Last season, Huggins led Kansas State to 23 victories, the Wildcats’ most wins in 19 years. Kansas State broke an eight-year postseason drought when Huggins led the Wildcats to the NIT second round.

Huggins made his name while leading the Cincinnati Bearcat program for 16 seasons, the last 14 of which ended with bids to the NCAA Tournament. Coach Huggins’ first trip to the ‘Big Dance’ at Cincinnati (1991-92) finished with a run to the Final Four.

To read the rest of our WVU preview, visit our West Virginia Team Page.

Thanks for visiting!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 10) WEST VIRGINIA

October 7, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 7, 2007

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEER ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the West Virginia Mountaineers

Official 2007-2008 West Virginia Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Bob Huggins

The WVU Coliseum

2007-2008 West Virginia Mountaineers Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Read the rest of our WVU previw, click ‘Read More’ Below!!!

Of course, Bob Huggins does not travel without controversy. His much publicized DUI arrest (and police video), targeted graduation rate statistics and multiple players in trouble with the law while at Cincinnati led to a messy divorce from the program. Bob Huggins was a very popular figure among UC boosters and very accessible to the fans. He has a loyal following and he certainly knows how to coach basketball. His style of play might take some time to mesh with the current roster he inherits at WVU, but make no mistake, in the near future, he will craft the roster with the type of player that excels in his style and the competitive nature that has always made Bob Huggins successful in basketball will have him determined to be a winner in the Big East.

John Beilein bolted just days after leading the Mountaineers to the NIT Tournament Title last year for the University of Michigan. Beilein had led WVU to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances the previous two seasons, but had nearly turned over his entire roster from his Elite 8 squad from 2004-2005. Beilein’s system and style called for a type of player much different than then players used in Huggins’ teams of the past. It will be an interesting beginning to Bob Huggins’ WVU coaching career in seeing how he utilizes the existing personnel.

THE 2006-2007 SEASON:

Coming off a pair of highly successful seasons, West Virginia was faced with life after Kevin Pittsnogle, Mike Gansey, JD Collins, Joe Herber and Patrick Beilein. Only Frank Young and Darris Nichols returned after seeing consistent playing time in the rotation the prior season. Picked to finish in the lower third of the conference, the Mountaineers got off to a good start against a weak out of conference schedule and took advantage of a three game home stand to open Big East play. Suddenly, WVU was 13-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big East. Another three-game conference win streak go the Mountaineers to 7-3 in the Big East, but stumbling down the stretch, losing four of six, had WVU finishing 9-7 in the Big East and off to the NIT.

After three home wins in the NIT, the Mountaineers returned to Madison Square Garden and completed their run through the NIT field by beating Mississippi State and Clemson to claim the NIT title. Frank Young led WVU in scoring last year (13.4 in Big East action) and his loss will be felt going forward. The other graduate was starting center Rob Summers, although he averaged just 4 points and rebounds a game in league play.

THE BACKCOURT:

Bob Huggins will have the luxury of one of the league’s steadiest point guards at his disposal with senior Darris Nichols. In Big East action last year, Nichols had an Assist to Turnover ration of 3.35:1 and was the catalyst of WVU’s fluid offense that exchanged rebounding for ball control. Nichols also showed as a capable scorer, averaging over 11 PPG in conference play and hitting nearly 41% from the arc. He also showed the ability in the NIT to hit clutch shots. Nichols should be a player that finds a successful transition to the new system at WVU.

His starting backcourt mate, Alex Ruoff, might find the transition a little more difficult. Ruoff is neither strong nor athletic for a wing player, which is the type Bob Huggins craves. Ruoff is a steady ball-handler that makes solid decisions and finds open shots. However, in conference play last year Ruoff struggled with his shooting (only 28% from 3-pt land). He did lead the team with nearly 5 assists a game and had a strong 2:1 ast:to ration. However, if he is not hitting shots this time, look for Huggins to give a real long look at sophomore Joe Mazzulla and incoming freshman Will Thomas. Mazzulla excels in a more open floor game and he is a tough guard, one that Huggins loves on his team. Thomas is a recruit that not much is known about as injuries limited his exposure in high school. He comes from Huggins’ Ohio connections and he definitely passes the look test of a guard in Huggins’ system with his long and athletic 6’5 frame. Rounding out the backcourt is another familiar name in the laurels of WVU basketball history, Jonnie West, some of legendary Jerry West, is a 6’3 redshirt freshman on the roster.

At the small forward position, the Mountaineers look to be in very good hands with Da’Sean Butler. The 6’7 Butler had an outstanding freshman campaign, averaging 10 PPG in league action. Butler is a very well-rounded player that is unselfish and will give up the personal stats for the better of the team. His ability to rebound, pass and defend should earn him priority status with coach Huggins.

THE FRONTCOURT:

It will be very interesting to see how the frontcourt plays out under Huggins, who always had a roster of physically imposing and intimidating interior defenders. Whether it was Kenyon Martin, Art Long, Danny Fortson, Corie Blount, Jason Maxiell, Eric Hicks, etc., Huggins always had someone pounding away at you inside. The roster he inherits is completely void of that type of personality, a Huggins trademark. The projected starters in the frontcourt, Jamie Smalligan and Joe Alexander, both would rather be on the perimeter than inside defending or posting up. Of Smalligan’s 51 field goal attempts in conference action, 53% cam from 3-pt range. Alexander averaged 11.5 PPG in the Big East and led WVU with 4.6 rebounds a contest, but he definitely lost his effectiveness against some of the more physical teams in the conference. He is an excellent athlete with nice size, but he has yet to show that he can be a physical force in this conference.

This shortcoming with the Mountaineers could open the door for sophomore Wellington Smith to earn significant playing time this season. He was seldom used last year in Beilein’s fluid offensive system, but the 6’7 forward is a multi-dimensional player that will go inside to battle for boards and bring some shot blocking ability to the forward position. Another player that could also be utilized more often in a Huggins’ style attack is redshirt freshman Jacob Green. A wiry and athletic 6’9 big man, he still needs to add a lot of strength to his frame to be a typical Huggins enforcer in the paint, but he does do his damage inside and can be a defensive deterrent to the opposition.

Incoming freshman John Flowers is an intriguing combo forward that could also find his way into the rotation because of his athletic ability. He also has the mentality to get after it a bit in the paint, but he will also need to add strength to his frame to be most effective in the Big East. Rounding out the roster upfront is redshirt frosh Cam Thoroughman, a skilled 6’7 forward that was a good fit in the previous system and will have to work hard to find a spot going forward.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

It is a very interesting situation with the Mountaineers this season. The fanbase is definitely jazzed with Bob Huggins on board prowling the sidelines at the Coliseum, however, this is far from a typical Huggins’ team. There are a few pieces that will transfer over somewhat seamlessly to the new regime, but most have been recruited solely based on the system that was run under coach John Beilein, which is like night and day compared to what we have come to expect from a Bob Huggins coached team. The schedule will be a little tougher this year in the conference and they start off with a demanding first couple weeks in Big East action. Last year they took advantage of a favorable early conference schedule, this year could be much different.

While my confidence in the Mountaineers is not overly optimistic this season, I do know Bob Huggins is determined to win in the Big East at his alma mater. Look for him to pull out all the stops to bring in the talent that fits his style and use this season to determine which players will be long-term fits in that plan. Along the way, you know they will play hard as the intense Huggins will not let it be any other way. There is talent and they have experience in winning in this conference, but they will have to fight for every win and their finish to last season, in conference play (6-7, losing four of last six), is more likely what you will see this season against the tougher slate. However, do not get used to this, Bob Huggins will have his pieces in place soon enough!

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 8-10

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 11) SETON HALL

October 6, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 6, 2007

SETON HALL PIRATE ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the Seton Hall Pirates

Official 2007-2008 Seton Hall Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Bobby Gonzalez

The Prudential Center: The New Home of Seton Hall Men’s Basketball

2007-2008 Seton Hall Pirates Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Bobby Gonzalez enters his second season as head coach of the Seton Hall Pirates with some increasing expectations for his new program. After struggling with a very thin roster last season, the Pirates look to enter this season with a much deeper squad and a much better opportunity to compete with the better teams of the conference.

Bobby Gonzalez made his name as a very successful recruiter on Pete Gillen’s staffs at Xavier University, Providence College and the University of Virginia. An intense competitor and aggressive recruiter, Gonzalez possesses outstanding contacts and ties to the New York metropolitan area. He was assistant high school coach at Rice High School in the Bronx in 1992-93 and assistant at St. Nicholas of Tolentine from 1988-91.

Gonzalez, 43, came to Seton Hall after a seven-year tenure as the head coach at Manhattan College where he led the Jaspers to four 20-win seasons and two NCAA Tournaments in seven seasons. His record at Manhattan was 129-77 with his best season coming during the 2003-04 season, when he guided the Jaspers to a 25-6 overall record, 16-2 in the MAAC. Manhattan was a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament and defeated No. 5 seed Florida in the first round before losing a close game to No. 4 seed Wake Forest.

Read More…Click ‘Read More’ Below!!!

Gonzalez has already put those New York City recruiting contacts to good use as he rebuilds the Seton Hall roster. The Pirates were an NCAA team in 2005-2006 and coach Gonzalez is determined not to let the Pirates go too long without a return trip to the ‘Big Dance.’

THE 2006-2007 SEASON:

Following an appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2005-2006, the Seton Hall administration decided on a new direction for their men’s basketball program and parted ways with Louis Orr. With the support of many of the school’s boosters, the Pirates turned to Bobby Gonzalez to take the reigns of the program and make SHU a more viable destination for some of the areas top talent. Being located so close to the fertile recruiting grounds of New York City and the powerful prep programs of New Jersey, Seton Hall fans grew tired of the lack of success in recruiting, especially locally, of Louis Orr and his staff. Despite the success of an NCAA appearance, recruiting was disappointing and a change was made.

The Pirates fall from an NCAA Tournament team to a team missing the Big East Tournament in 2006-2007 was not unexpected. Coach Bobby Gonzalez inherited a program that was low in numbers and did not have any committed recruits in the spring he was hired. ‘Gonzo’ quickly changed that and added St. Benedict’s Prep standout Eugene Harvey, Chris the King star Larry Davis and Rice High School’s Kashief Pratt to help fill the roster. However, the team still had major holes upfront with the uncertain injury status of John Garcia and the transfers of David Palmer and Marcus Cousin. Losing Grant Billmeier early in the season due to injury depleted their front line even more.

An early season loss to Farleigh Dickinson illustrated how far the Pirates had to go and additional out of conference losses at the hands of Oral Roberts, BYU and Virginia Tech signaled a long season ahead in the Big East. The Pirates stumbled to a 4-12 conference mark, losing 10 of their last 11 Big East games. The Pirates showed some early life, beating Rutgers, St. John’s and Providence in their first five games, but as the schedule got a little stiffer, the Pirates’ lack of depth, size and talent was no match for the rest of the conference (seven of the 11 loses were by more than nine points).

Seton Hall did have a pair of impressive individual performers last season with Brian Laing and Eugene Harvey having big years. In conference play, the duo combined for nearly 50% of SHU’s scoring with Harvey, as a freshman, averaging 17.2 PPG and Laing adding 16.9 PPG. The Pirates never quit and Laing and Harvey continued to attack the basket until the very end. There was a lot of fight in the Pirates and this season they hope to have the depth and size to be more competitive for the entire 40 minutes in Big East action night in and night out.

THE BACKCOURT:

Led by Eugene Harvey, Seton Hall has a very promising backcourt whose best basketball is still ahead of them. As mentioned, Harvey was a dynamo in his freshman season, scoring over 17 PPG in conference play while adding 3.6 assists/game. Harvey also averaged 3.6 turnovers, but that was often the result of having to do too much with little to no help in the frontcourt. Harvey’s offensive production was definitely a surprise as he was not known as such coming out of the prep ranks. Harvey will likely have more of a chance to distribute and run the team this year with improved depth throughout the program. Harvey’s next step in establishing himself among the elite point guards is to show he can manage a team and make the players around him better and lead a winning team. He should take steps toward that this season.

Joining Harvey in the backcourt is senior Jamar Nutter, a streak shooting 2-guard. Nutter struggled last season, shooting under 33% from the floor and 31.7% from 3-pt range. He still managed to average 12.2 PPG in league action, but Nutter was a pleasant surprise in SHU’s run to the NCAA Tournament the year before, but last season he was more of an enigma. He will be pushed hard by returning guards Paul Gause and Larry Davis this season. Gause is the energizer bunny coming off the bench. Originally known as instant offense, the small, but tough, Gause has turned into one of the most disruptive defensive players in the conference, fitting perfectly into Bobby Gonzalez’s high-energy, chaotic system. Davis is a player that could take a major leap forward in his sophomore season. He does a little bit of everything quite well for a wing guard and he showed his potential for big performances a couple times last season.

At the wing the Pirates return all-league candidate Brian Laing who should find a comfort zone playing less inside and more on the perimeter. With the lack of bodies upfront, Laing was forced to play a power forward role in the line-up last season. Laing put up big numbers last season and will hope to see that production translate into more wins this season. A newcomer to keep an eye on is dead-eye shooter Jeremy Hazell. Originally headed to Oral Roberts, Hazell instead opted for a season of prep basketball at the Patterson School in North Carolina and turned an excellent season into a free ride to the Big East. You can never fully know what to expect from a shooter as a frosh, but Hazell will certainly push Nutter for the designated shooter role and if he finds his niche this year, he will be a valuable weapon. The backcourt and wing positions are pretty crowded, so getting consistent time to find his shooting rhythm could be his biggest challenge.

THE FRONTCOURT:

The biggest question mark with the Seton Hall program will still remain in the frontcourt, however at least Bobby Gonzalez has options this season with four new faces and one oft-injured returnee in the mix. John Garcia returns after missing his freshman year and most of his redshirt frosh season because of recurring problems with his knee. Garcia is a strong and fundamentally big man that knows what his strengths are and plays within himself. The Gonzo style of play may not be the most conducive for him to put up big numbers, but he will rebound and defend on one end and take advantage of the opportunities as they present themselves on the other end.

As for the newcomers, the much-traveled Mike Davis will finally make his Big East debut this season. The New York City product has taken a long road to the college game and the Pirates were more than happy to add him to their squad. There has never been a question on the court for Davis, it was if he could get everything in his life in order of the court to play in college. He will have to shake off some rust from a lack of big-time game action, but the 21 ½ year old freshman is already a man on the floor.

The Glover name has been around Big East basketball before as Anthony Glover was a productive player at St. John’s several seasons ago. Now, younger brother Michael comes to the Big East as a freshman forward for the Pirates. Glover is a high-effort, yet undersized, forward that will battle on the boards and never give up an inch. Players of his ilk are always overlooked, but end up being very productive. JUCO transfer Augustine Okosun is a 6’11, 240 lb center who played last season at Harcum College in Philadelphia. Okosun is a physical specimen who should be able to provide help on the boards and on defense this season. He is athletic enough to run the floor in Gonzalez’s fast past style, too. The final newcomer to the mix is freshman Brandon Walters, another New York city product. Walters is a player with some exciting potential as he has skills and athletic ability which make him a player to watch in the future. Look for the Pirates to bring him on a little slower as they will work to add strength to his frame. He is a definite player to watch in the future.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

Looking at Seton Hall this year, I see a similarity to a successful Big East program of the last several years that they might be following a similar path to success: Pittsburgh. The Panthers began building their program with some tough and overlooked talent from NYC and New Jersey, players who might have been a bit undersized, but were at a maturity level that was beyond the typical freshmen they were playing against. They have the tough-willed point guard in Harvey, the long and athletic guard in Davis, the defensive dynamo in Paul Gause. They even have several freshmen entering college basketball over 21 (Hazell, Davis) and are not afraid to add some help via JUCO or prep school. Bobby Gonzalez has left no stone unturned in his quest to improve the talent at Seton Hall. This year is still going to be tough as the Pirates work to find their footing in this conference. The schedule is daunting, but watch out for this team by the second half of the season. I really wanted to place them a little higher, but they had a few more questions than some others and it is still tough to overlook last year’s 4-12 mark in the Big East.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 7-11

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 11) SETON HALL

October 5, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

October 6, 2007

SETON HALL PIRATE ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the Seton Hall Pirates

Official 2007-2008 Seton Hall Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Bobby Gonzalez

The Prudential Center: The New Home of Seton Hall Men’s Basketball

2007-2008 Seton Hall Pirates Schedule

OVERVIEW:

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

Thank you for visiting!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 12) DEPAUL

September 30, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

Septmeber 30, 2007

DEPAUL BLUE DEMON ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the DePaul Blue Demons

Official 2007-2008 DePaul DePaul Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Jerry Wainwrigth

Allstate Arena

2007-2008 DePaul Blue Demon Schedule

OVERVIEW:

When Dave Leitao left DePaul for Virginia and the ACC, Jerry Wainwright embraced the call to return to his roots as suburban Berwyn native Jerry Wainwright returned to Chicago and became DePaul’s 11th head men’s basketball coach on April 28, 2005. With the acceptance of the position, Wainwright was in charge of bringing DePaul basketball into a new era as a member of the Big East Conference.

The transition has not been the easiest to make. In their first campaign, the Blue Demons were not one of the 12 teams to qualify for the Big East Tournament in Madison Square Garden following the 2005-2006 campaign. Despite that disappointment, a solid returning core had several pundits pointing towards the Blue Demons as a dark horse in the conference race last season. Despite improving to 9-7 in conference play last season, you never got the sense that DePaul was able to put things together to be able to make that charge.

Over the last two seasons, consistency has been a major stumbling issue for the Blue Demons. On one night, DePaul can look like world beaters and has beaten ranked opponents in surprising fashion in both 2005 (Wake Forest) and 2006 (Kansas) only to turnaround and lose to Old Dominion by 44 (in 2005) and a short time later to weak UAB team (in 2006). The lack of consistency knew no bounds as it spread from their point guard play to their post players and even their stars like Sammy Mejia and Wilson Chandler could disappear at any time for long periods.

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

Thanks for visiting.

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 13) CINCINNATI

September 29, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

September 29, 2007

CINCINNATI BEARCAT ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the Cincinnati Bearcats

Official 2007-2008 Cincinnati Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Mick Cronin

Fifth Third Arena

2007-2008 Cincinnati Bearcats Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Mick Cronin enters his second season as head coach of his hometown Cincinnati Bearcats, the school he graduated from in 1997 and where he launched his coaching career under Bob Huggins as an assistant coach. For the second consecutive year it will take some time learning about his club as they will have eight new faces on the floor, but they still return a very high percentage of their scoring and rebounding from last year’s club.

Cronin is a high-energy coach on the sidelines that spent time learning his craft under both Huggins and Louisville head coach Rick Pitino. Regarded as one of the nation’s top young recruiters, Cronin showed he could run a program successfully by compiling a 69-24 record during his three seasons as head coach at Murray State, directing the Racers to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances as one of the nation’s youngest coaches. Now Cronin must show he can rebuild a program in the ultra-competitive and mammoth Big East.

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

Thank you for visiting!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 12) DEPAUL

September 28, 2007 by NBE Blogger · 1 Comment

Septmeber 30, 2007

DEPAUL BLUE DEMON ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the DePaul Blue Demons

Official 2007-2008 DePaul DePaul Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Jerry Wainwrigth

Allstate Arena

2007-2008 DePaul Blue Demon Schedule

OVERVIEW:

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READ MORE….Click Below!!

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Now, DePaul heads into their third season in the Big East with a highly regarded recruiting class. These talented newcomers are going to be under the microscope out of the gates as the Blue Demons must replace 57% of their scoring and 59% of their rebounding from last season. They have been hit the hardest from the perspective of loss of production through graduation and Chandler’s decision to enter the NBA Draft.

2006-2007 SEASON:

The disappointment started quickly for DePaul last season as the Blue Demons got out of the gate losing their first two by double digits to in-state rivals Bradley and Northwestern. Things began looking dimmer when the Blue Demons dropped two of three in the Maui Invitational (Kentucky and Purdue) and returned home for a date with nationally ranked Kansas. True to their form of not knowing what to expect from them, the Blue Demons rebounded from a 17-point 1st half performance to stun Kansas. The up and down nature continued into the Big East as they opened with an anemic performance in a loss at St. John’s only to bounce right back and surprise Villanova on their campus. Later, they lose three straight barely breaking 50-pts each game and then a 3-game win streak with impressive showings against Notre Dame and Marquette. Can anyone figure these guys out?

The Blue Demons won five of their last six conference games (and six of their last to salvage their season with a 9-7 conference mark and earn a trip to the NIT. Of course, they took advantage of their softer late season schedule with two wins over USF and a win over Cincinnati, but at least some consistency had developed. Although inconsistent at times, Sammy Mejia and Wilson Chandler were the constant performers for the Blue Demons throughout the season. However, when Draelon Burns established himself as a legit third option offensively, the Blue Demons became a better club. In those last eight games, Burns averaged over 15 PPG, well above his 11.6 season average. Will Burns keep up that production this season as a possible go-to scorer?

THE BACKCOURT:

The biggest thorn in the side of the Blue Demons since their entrance into the Big East has been finding someone, anyone to take the reigns as the program’s point guard. Two years ago, it looked like a safe bet that Cliff Clinkscales could assume the role. Clinkscales complete inability to be a threat offensively and his wide open style of play never has meshed with Wainwright’s intricate system. Last season, it was hoped that Will Walker would assume the reigns of the offense once the highly touted freshman got his feet wet in the Big East. Again, inconsistent play never allowed that to happen. Both seasons, Jabari Currie was forced to handle the majority of the time at the point and the offense ran through Sammy Mejia. Last year the trio of Currie, Walker and Clinkscales averaged 37 minutes a game and 8.4 PPG and 6.2 assists against 3.6 turnovers a game. Not horrible numbers, unless you factor in their 30% 3-pt shooting number, but the point guard by committee seemed to prevent anyone on the team from finding a rhythm for any prolonged period of time. This season, another player adds to the mix as Munster (IN) native Mike Bizoukas joins the mix. Bizoukas IS a true point guard who excels in the role as a savvy distributor and coach on the floor. The best situation for the Blue Demons is for the sophomore Walker to mature into the player getting the bulk of the time with Bizoukas logging minutes as his back-up with Clinkscales as a change of pace. Having Currie work into the mix at the off-guard with Burns and in a three-guard look might be a source of improvement this team needs to help with their consistency.

Towards the end of last season DePaul found the missing third offensive option to complement Chandler and Mejia in Burns. This year, Burns will be asked to be much more than a third option, and until their touted incoming class gets their feet under them, the junior guard might be the #1 option. That is a role I am not comfortable with for Burns. He will need both wing players, senior Karron Clarke and freshman Dar Tucker, to be consistent threats to score the basketball. Both players are elite-level athletes, unfortunately for Clarke, not a 5th-year senior, he has yet to augment that supreme athletic ability with a skill level to excel in the Big East. The 6’6 NYC native averaged just 6.6 PPG last season, a significant drop from the 10.0 he averaged the previous season. Tucker is one to watch this season, he has the strength and athletic ability to make an impact right away as one of the most physical wing players in the conference. As he improves his perimeter skills, he becomes more dangerous and an elite player in this conference. How quickly will he do this? DePaul fans will hope it is MUCH quicker than Clarke has in his three season on the floor since transferring from Miami.

Another freshman, Mario Stula, rounds out the DePaul backcourt. An exceptional shooter that hails from Croatia, the 6’7 Stula is still adapting to the American game and the physical demands of it. Shooting is an area the Blue Demons are very suspect with, so he fills a definite need on the club, however, it might not be of much of an impact this season.

THE FRONTCOURT:

The only returning member of the Blue Demons frontcourt that received any meaningful time last season is senior Wesley Green. At times, Green shows some enormous potential from his 6’9, 300 lb frame. Other times, he looks out of shape and dis-interested. Injuries have also seemed to slow Green down just as he begins to realize some of his potential. So, again, now as a senior, what will you get from Green? In reality, nobody knows as every year it seems to be about 10-15 minutes a game with 3-5 PPG and a handful of rebounds. Some games of 14 pts and a few of none.

Joining Green in the frontcourt are two recruits that will be asked to do a lot in their first action at the Division 1-A level. Freshman Nyal ‘Mac’ Koshwal and JUCO transfer Matija Poscic could find themselves as the starting combination from the get-to. Koshwal is not your average freshman as he will be celebrating his 21st birthday around the time DePaul opens their season with Creighton. Powerfully built and with the athletic ability to get up and down the floor, Koshwal has the maturity to understand the importance of positioning when battling for post position on both ends of the floor. Poscic also brings size and maturity after averaging 10.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game as a sophomore and 9.7 points and 7.9 rebounds as a freshman at Highland CC (IL). Another native of Croatia, Poscic brings a game that might resemble that of Wilson Chandler’s and could step in and be nearly as productive for the Blue Demons. However, having Koshwal producing as expected will help Poscic’s production more than anything.

Rounding out the frontcourt are two more members of Depaul’s ‘United Nations’ in African imports Thijin Moses and Kene Obi. Moses is still a rail-thin forward (6’8 and 175 lbs) who obviously needs to add strength in order to utilize his versatile skills. Obi is 7’2 and 260 lbs and needs to improve his conditioning and skill level, but a prospect that size is always worth taking a chance on.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

The two major questions that need to be answered before you can expect DePaul to move up the ladder this year in the standings are: Who will assume the role of point guard and will the talented newcomers excel in the Big East from day one? Those are tough questions to answer because you can never full get a grip in the preseason on how these things will play out until the real action starts. Big men always seem to take longer to adjust to the new level of competition and DePaul’s season might hinge on Koshwal and Poscic being able to not just hold their own, but establish themselves in the post as top players in this conference. Over time, I see this team improving quite a bit, but they will need to be ready early in the Big East season as they start off with a three game stretch in five days, all at home, against Villanova, Providence and Georgetown which will tell us a lot about the Blue Demons. I expect them to be on the bubble for the Big East Tournament throughout the season, getting off to a good start with those three home games could make or break their chances.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 6-12

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 13) CINCINNATI

September 28, 2007 by NBE Blogger · 1 Comment

September 29, 2007

CINCINNATI BEARCAT ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the Cincinnati Bearcats

Official 2007-2008 Cincinnati Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Mick Cronin

Fifth Third Arena

2007-2008 Cincinnati Bearcats Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Read the rest of our 2007-2008 Cincinnati Preview…Click ‘Read Rest of Article’ Below!!!

2006-2007 SEASON:

With six new faces hitting the floor for new coach Mick Cronin, including five junior college transfers, among their eight scholarship players, the Bearcats found it tough going last season. Finishing with an 11-19 record, that included home losses to Woffard and UAB as well as a neutral floor loss to Ohio at US Bank Arena in Cincinnati, it was a tough initiation for Cronin as a high-major coach. Being completely destroyed (88-55) at the hands of Memphis on national TV and finding themselves down, again on national TV, 42-14 at the half against Ohio State, certainly illustrated the challenges that the Bearcats faced. They went into the season deprived of depth and size and those shortcomings were exposed often, even before conference play began.

There were some highlights last season, again, mostly coming prior to conference play, with wins over Temple, Xavier and North Carolina State in December. However, it was more of the same once conference play started as they lost at home to Rutgers, 54-42 and then followed that off with a 15-pt loss on the road at South Florida.

In their six conference games against NCAA opponents, UC lost all six, being outscored by an average of 72-58. With four of those six contests being on their home floor, it only illustrates how much distance was between them and the teams challenging near the top of the conference. Cincinnati became VERY close to going 0-16 as both wins (WVU, SHU) came in overtime. However, the Bearcats did not help themselves either by letting possible wins slip by at Syracuse and Providence. The PC loss was especially frustrating as the Bearcats blew an 8-pt lead with 1:41 remaining in the contest.

The Bearcats do have some impressive returning numbers as Deonta Vaughn averaged 14.8 PPG in conference play last season. The freshman guard evoked memories of past Bearcat star and fan favorite Steve Logan with his build and ability to score points. John Williamson was an athletic forward who contributed 12.5 PPG and nearly 7 rebounds in conference play and before his season was slowed by injury, Marvin Gentry showed the ability to score as well, putting up 32 in their win over West Virginia and 22 in a loss to Louisville.

However, the Bearcats will be best remembered as a group who could not shoot straight, hitting just 39% from the floor and 32% from beyond the arc in conference play. This is a problem that could continue into 2007-2008, although, there is more depth and scoring ability up and down the roster.

THE BACKCOURT:

As mentioned, sophomore Deonta Vaughn returns as one of the exciting young players in the Big East conference. As a freshman, Vaughn averaged 14.5 PPG which included a 33-pt outburst against Wofford and 25 points in their win over NC St and 24 in the win over Xavier, making him an early fan favorite. Vaughn had his struggled, too, going 8-34 in a four-game stretch in which he tried to shoot his way out of in a loss to USF, going 7-22 from the floor and 3-16 from the arc. From there on, Vaughn became a high volume shooter and spent a good portion of his time on the floor with the ball in his hands.

Providing support in the backcourt is a pair of returning JUCO transfers, now in their senior seasons. Much was expected from Jamual Warren, a tough and mature point guard that had bounced around the prep and JUCO ranks before landing in the Big East with UC. The Bearcats tried to fit Warren into the point guard role, but it was not which much success as Warren is not a true playmaker as a lead guard, he is more of a scorer. His assist to turnover ratio did improve during conference play, but for the Bearcats to gain some consistency, someone needs to assume the role of distributor first and scorer second. Marvin Gentry also returns as a senior and post-season surgery should return the 6’3 wing to full health. After a slow start last season, Gentry showed the ability to put up some points in the open floor and the Bearcats definitely need some offense. Cronin was recruiting Gentry to Murray State and continued to recruit him when he landed at UC.

Larry Davis is an incoming freshman that fits the mold of a Bearcat recruit with athleticism and the ability to play both ends of the floor. The Houston (TX) native will push for early playing time in the backcourt and should emerge throughout the season as a valuable part of their future.

On the wings UC adds a pair of exciting athletes in Rashad Bishop from Newark (NJ) and Alvin Mitchell from Ft. Lauderdale (FL). Both players are exciting athletes in the 6’5 range that excel at getting to the basket and scoring points. Once they learn to complement their exciting athletic ability with experience and the nuances of the team game, they both have the potential to thrive in Cronin’s system.

THE FRONTCOURT:

The area that caused Cincinnati to be the league’s punching bag last season was their thin frontcourt. Using John Williamson and Marcus Sikes as their ‘post’ players gave most opposing big men free reign inside against the Bearcats. The frontcourt gets immediate help with Texas-transfer Mike Williams and Polish JUCO Adam Hrycaniuk becoming eligible. Williams was a McDonalds All-American out of Wilcox Central HS in Camden (AL) before signing a LOI with Texas. The powerful 6’7, 240 lb forward is built for the Big East, but needs to play with that power mentality consistently. As a sophomore at Texas, Williams averaged 2.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 13.6 minutes of playing time following a solid freshman campaign of 3.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15.0 minutes of action. He will be asked to possibly carry the load at power forward for the Bearcats this season, moving John Williamson to his more natural position on the wing.

Hryanciuk was ruled ineligible by the NCAA last season for participation in leagues in Europe prior to enrolling at Cincinnati. At 6’10 and 230 lbs he adds the needed size in the post that UC desperately could have used last season. As a JUCO sophomore, Hryanciuk averaged 11.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks at Trinity Valley Community College. As a freshman he played at Barton Community College.

Along with Williamson, Marcus Sikes is the other returning player in the frontcourt. Sikes played one season at Georgia as a freshman and one season of JUCO ball at Jan Jacinto where he averaged 13.1 points per game as a sophomore and was the third-leading junior college rebounder in the state of California with his 11.3 average. Last season in the Big East, the 6’8 Sikes found a liking to playing around the 3-pt arc and he went 31-69 from the arc (45%). To illustrate how much time he spent at the arc, the 230 lb forward attempted just 34 free throws (19 made) and averaged only 4.4 rebounds a contest in conference play.

In an attempt to add Big East-level size and talent to the frontcourt, Cronin hit a recruiting coup with the addition of 6’11 Anthony McClain from National Christian Academy. McClain, a New Jersey native, has great upside and potential with his ability to get up and down the floor for a player his size. McClain is likely to see significant time as a freshman and that was a main consideration in his selection of the Bearcats in the recruiting process. He still needs to develop offensively and gain strength to battle underneath in the Big East, but he represents the hope of the UC future. Also coming on board this season are freshmen Kenny Belton and Darnell Wilks. Belton is a physical inside player that is ready, physically, for the Big East, but needs time to develop the skills to produce consistently. Wilks is ultra long and thin and arrives at UC a year ahead of schedule. A redshirt season is not out of the question and could help him add strength and weight to his frame.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

It is pretty much the same story for the Bearcats as last season with up to eight newcomers trying to work their way into the mix. This is a MAJOR step-up in competition for many of them, however, they do have the benefit of five players returning that accounted for the vast majority of their production last season. Unfortunately, all that production managed was two conference wins, but their biggest weakness of front court depth is improved greatly through recruiting with the addition of McClain and the eligibility of Williams and Hrycaniuk. Their deeper frontcourt gives them the edge over the other teams ranked below them, but they will still need to find someone to consistently distribute the ball as well as finding some improved perimeter shooting, however, those issues can be said for other teams as well. Once the newcomers begin to adjust to the competition, look for UC to give some teams fits towards the end of the season, but there is still a long ways to go.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 5-13

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 14) ST. JOHN’S

September 23, 2007 by NBE Blogger · 8 Comments

September 23, 2007

ST. JOHN’S ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the St. John’s Redstorm

Official 2007-2008 St. John’s Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Norm Roberts

Carnesecca Arena and Madison Square Garden: The Homes of the Redstorm.

2007-2008 St. John’s Redstorm Schedule

OVERVIEW:

Norm Roberts enters his fourth season at St. John’s still in search of returning the Redstorm to their past glory in the Big East conference. Strides were made in the 2006-2007 season in which Roberts guided the ‘Storm to their first Big East Tournament appearance in four seasons, however, a post-season appearance in the NIT or NCAA Tournament still alludes St. John’s under Roberts and getting that to change in the 2007-2008 season might be a tall order.

Due to graduation and a continuous revolving door of players leaving the program, the Redstorm are forced to ‘rebuild’ already under Roberts. However, due to their previous lack of success, it is unclear exactly what they are trying to ‘rebuild’ when in reality, it looks as though they are starting over with seven incoming freshman joining just four returning players with Big East experience. St. John’s will be looking for contributions from up to eight players who have never competed at the Division 1-A level, not exactly the formula for success in this conference (see Connecticut and Cincinnati circa 2006-2007, as examples.

It has not been all bad for that long, in 2002-2003 St. John’s was the NIT Champions, following an NCAA appearance in 2001-2002, a 2-seed in 1999-2000 and a run to the Elite 8 in 1998-1999 under Mike Jarvis. However, his lack of recruiting and some off the court issues quickly led to the bottom falling out with a disastrous season in 2003-2004 which led to Jarvis losing his job and Roberts coming into the picture for the 2004-2005 season. Brought in with a reputation as a strong recruiter with discipline, he looked like a good fit for a school in need of a lift in both areas, especially in the local circles.

To read the rest of our 2007-2008 preview of the Redstorm, please visit our St. John’s Team Page.

Thank you for stopping by!

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 15) Rutgers

September 22, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

September 22, 2007

THE RUTGERS ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Official 2007-2008 Rutgers Roster and Bios

Meet Coach Fred Hill

Louis Brown Athletic Center: aka ‘The RAC’

2007-2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights’ Schedule

OVERVIEW:

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are set to begin the second season of the Fred Hill era and will hope to improve upon last season’s 3-13 conference mark which forced RU to miss the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden last March.

Fred Hill has long been touted as one of the best college basketball recruiters of New Jersey talent. He was very successful as the lead recruiter at both Seton Hall and Villanova as they brought in some of the best talent the Garden State had to offer while he was on staff. Now, he not only gets to recruit the talent, but he is responsible for molding them into a winner, something that has not happened much at all for Rutgers since they joined the Big East.

Fred Hill has been aggressively recruiting for Rutgers since his appointment as head coach, replacing Gary Waters after the 2005-2006 season, but the roster is still thin heading into this season and it could be a struggle for Rutgers to improve much on last year’s record.

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Read More…Click ‘Read More’ Below!!!

2006-2007 SEASON:

Last year the Scarlet Knights struggled scoring the basketball, averaging a conference worst 59.8 PPG on the season and just 58.2 in Big East action. Rutgers were also a league worst in field goal percentage (37.5% in league play) and 15th out of 16 teams in 3-pt shooting percentage (30.1%). In all, the Scarlet Knights were very inept in trying to replace 2006 NBA 1st round pick Quincy Douby and the scoring pop he provided. To make things even more worrisome for 2007-2008, Rutgers graduated two of their top three scorers from last year’s team (Marquis Webb and Adrian Hill).

To illustrate how tough it was for the Scarlet Knights to score last year, the scored 55 points or less 15 times in a game last season. JR Inman was their leading scorer at 12 PPG, but he struggled trying to become their go-to scorer as he hit just 40% from the floor. Marquis Webb was their leading 3-pt shooter at 34%, but the rest of the team manager a meager 28.7% shooting accuracy from the arc.

In addition to losing Webb and Adrian Hill due to graduation, the Scarlet Knights also saw Ollie Bailey leave the program this past summer and move to an NAIA school in Oklahoma. The Knights did not have the services last season of 6’9, 265 lb senior C Byron Joynes, who returns this season from injury and should help their painful lack of size in the paint.

THE BACKCOURT:

Fred Hill worked for several years under Jay Wright and Villanova and helped on the recruiting front for ‘Guard U’, so coach Hill knows the importance of building a program around top-level guards. Last season, Anthony Farmer and Courtney Nelson both struggled mightily shooting the ball. Nelson was shaking off the rust after transferring in from Rutgers and sitting out the 2005-2006 season per NCAA transfer rules. Farmer battled nagging arm/wrist injuries during the season and never found any consistency in his offensive game. They return with experience, but they will be pushed hard from a promising group of newcomers in the Rutgers backcourt.

The most anticipated new arrival is Corey Chandler, a 6’2 guard from East Side High School in Newark, NJ. Fred Hill locked up a commitment from the talented scorer early in the recruiting game. Chandler vowed to act as another recruiter for the Scarlet Knights, but his efforts will be better served with some successful time on the court to attract other locals to follow his lead. Chandler will provide an immediate lift to the meager Rutgers offense, but the freshman will need some help. He should be one of the most productive freshmen in the conference this year.

Three more guards also join the mix this season, led by Mount Vernon product Mike Coburn, a 6-foot point guard. Coburn was part of a very successful high school program under coach Bob Cimmino and will look to bring his winning experience to the Rutgers program. Versatile frontcourt player Earl Pettis, originally from Philadelphia, and sweet-shooting Justin Sofman also are part of the mix. This group has a lot of promise, but with any group of freshmen, especially in this conference, it is going to take them time to mature and get comfortable against this level of competition night in and night out.

Maybe the biggest key is the development of wing Jaron Griffin, a 6’6 junior G/F from Manchester, NJ. Griffin has size and athletic ability, along with 3-pt range to be a very productive wing in the league, maybe a poor man’s Demetris Nichols. However, like Nichols early on at Syracuse, Griffin’s lack of consistent production is frustrating the staff. Last season, playing a vital role in the system, Griffin bombed out averaging just 8 PPG and shooting an anemic 32% from the floor and 27% from 3-pt range. Griffin has too much talent to put up numbers like that again this season. If he can find his niche in the offense and Chandler can provide the boost he is capable of, the Rutgers offense should improve greatly.

THE FRONTCOURT:

This is easily the thinnest unit in the conference and it will be tough to be competitive night in and night out with their lack of numbers in the paint. As it stands right now, the Scarlet Knights have just three available bodies on scholarship in their frontcourt: JR Inman, Hamady N’Diaye and Byron Joynes. OUCH!

The leader of this group is clearly the multi-talented Inman. At 6’9, 220 lbs, Inman is built for success at the Big East level playing inside and out at the forward position. However, with a team desperately in need of help in the paint, do not expect the Scarlet Knights to be able to take advantage of his diverse talents because of their need for him to play like a power forward more than not. Inman managed to average 12 PPG last season and he can stuff the stat sheet with rebounds (7.3 led the team) and toss in some steals and blocks. If Inman can get some help up front, he could be a player that expands his game as much as anyone this season.

With just Joynes and N’Diaye to team with, do not expect much help. Joynes is a 5th year senior that is most effective taking up space in the middle. He knows how to throw his boy around, but he is not that productive on the offensive end nor as a big time rebounder. He takes up space. N’Diaye is a different story, still very raw, especially on the offensive end, N’Diaye does have a high amount of upside because of his size (6’11, 235) and athletic ability. Despite playing just 13 minutes a game last season, N’Diaye led the team in blocked shots. For Rutgers to improve, he must average nearly double that amount of time and be productive during that time.

Rutgers still seems to be involved with ultra-thin 6’6 Canadian import Marvel Waithe at this time. However, do not expect Waithe to turn up at Rutgers until at least the second semester as NCAA Clearinghouse issues continue to derail his career.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

With their lack of depth, especially upfront, and their lack of proven scorers, it is tough to be high on the hopes of Rutgers this coming season. Individually, I like some of the pieces, but it remains to be seen if anyone is willing to take the leap and become a top-level Big East performer. JR Inman potentially could be that type of player, but he will need Corey Chandler and/or Jaron Griffin to be a consistent perimeter scoring threat every night and for Hamady N’Diaye to ramp up his progression as a top big man in the conference. If those ‘ifs’ develop positively, the Scarlet Knights could steal some wins when your not looking. However, those pieces must fall perfectly into place otherwise their lack of scoring and depth will continue to hold the Scarlet Knights back. Even their improved backcourt depth, while encouraging, will not be the answer if they are forced to go to a 4-guard line-up. Maybe in a few years, but expect another rough season at the RAC in 2007-2008.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 4-14

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 15) RUTGERS

September 22, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

September 22, 2007

THE RUTGERS ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Official 2007-2008 Rutgers Roster and Bios

Meet Coach Fred Hill

Louis Brown Athletic Center: aka ‘The RAC’

2007-2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights’ Schedule

OVERVIEW:

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

Thank you for visiting!
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BIG EAST 2007-2008 PREVIEW: 14) ST. JOHN’S

September 21, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

September 23, 2007

ST. JOHN’S ESSENTIALS:

Official Website of the St. John’s Redstorm

Official 2007-2008 St. John’s Roster & Bios

Meet Coach Norm Roberts

Carnesecca Arena and Madison Square Garden: The Homes of the Redstorm.

2007-2008 St. John’s Redstorm Schedule

OVERVIEW:

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Read More…Click ‘Read More’ Below!!!

However, while John Beilein was able to take West Virginia from a similar situation after a 1-15 conference record in the 2001-2002 Big East campaign to the Elite 8 in 2004-2005 West Virginia also saw a coach leave in-season and had another leave quickly after being hired after the season because of a lack of institutional control and pending NCAA penalties, Roberts has not seen such success and, after losing over 60% of their scoring and 53% of their rebounding in Big East action from last season, matching their seven win conference total of a season ago, even with two additional conference games, is a tall order,

2006-2007 SEASON:

For the first time in four seasons the Redstorm qualified for the Big East Tournament, which is played on their home court at Madison Square Garden. They did so by posting a 7-9 conference mark, which was highlighted by two-game home sweep of Syracuse and Notre Dame in a 48-hour period in January. They also started Big East play with a nice win over DePaul and finished the season with a win over Providence. In between St. John’s managed wins over Cincinnati, South Florida and Rutgers.

The Redstorm were never able to develop any consistency. Following up their stirring wins over the Orange and Irish, St. John’s bombed in their next two, losing by 26 at Pitt and by 24 at home against Georgetown. They also suffered a 27-pt loss at West Virginia and a 24-point loss at Louisville, being completely outclassed in those contests.

From that 2006-2007 squad, Lamont Hamilton, the team’s leading scorer and rebounding on the season has graduated. Also, Aaron Spears and Daryll Hill (plagued again by injuries) have used up their eligibility. However, the biggest blow to their ‘Storm’s chances this season was the transfers of Avery Patterson, Qa’rraan Calhoun and Ricky Torres, forcing the Redstorm to be very inexperienced this coming season. Eugene Lawrence and Anthony Mason are returning starters and Mason has the potential to have a very big year, however, he can not do it all alone for St. John’s.

THE BACKCOURT:

Two players return for 2007-2008 with experience in the St. John’s backcourt, senior Eugene Lawrence and sophomore Larry Wright. Lawrence was one of the top assist men in the Big East last year, averaging 5.6 on the season. However, with Lawrence, you also get a lot of turnovers, four per game, from the physical point guard. Lawrence doesn’t score a lot (about 7 PPG), but will have to assume more of an offensive mindset with the lack of experience around him.

Larry Wright showed some nice promise as a freshman, but averaged just 3.8 PPG in under 13 minutes of action in conference play last season. Wright did hit 46% (12-26) from 3-pt range in Big East play and he has exciting athletic ability which makes him a break-out candidate in his sophomore season. One thing is for certain, St. John’s is going to give him plant of chances to score and perform this year.

The Redstorm also add three newcomers to the backcourt in Malik Boothe, Paris Horne and DJ Kennedy. Boothe is a true point guard who will take care and deliver the basketball with great care. He is also a tenacious defender, although just standing 5’8. Boothe is a local NYC product and should be a very good point guard in the future. Horne is a 6’3 wing guard out of Delaware who prepped last season Bridgton Academy. Horne will be asked to provide some scoring pop from the outside. DJ Kennedy also joins the squad out of Pittsburgh’s Schenley High School. The multi-dimensional 6’5 G/F handles the ball very well and is an excellent passer for his size. He has excellent athletic ability, but needs to sharpen his skills to be highly successful in the Big East. He is ready to compete athletically and should see time early on.

THE FRONTCOURT:

St. John’s top returning player is junior forward Anthony Mason. The 6’7 small forward could be one of the most exciting players in the Big East and began to take his game to another level down the stretch which included improved consistency, averaging over 16 PPG in the last six Big East contests. Mason also led SJU in rebounding during league play. He combines great size and athletic ability with an inside/out game on the wing, hopefully the lack of bodies at SJU will not force him to play more of a ‘4’ position.

The only other returning player from last season is Tomas Jasiulionis, who averaged just 1.6 PPG in 8 minutes of action in league play. He will be pushed for time inside by freshmen Ayodele Coker and Justin Burrell. Both newcomers have exciting upside, but are still working on developing their basketball skills as there are still relatively new to the game. Coker is 6’10 and is already strong enough to play in the Big East. He is not afraid to mix it up in the post. He will help out on defense and rebounding, but expect him to pick up fouls quickly early on. Burrell is an exciting physical specimen that will try to dunk everything he can. To be as successful as he can be, he will have to improve his hands and learn more offensive moves to score inside against the bigger players in the conference. As Coker and Burrell develop, they should be a fine duo in the post for SJU in the future, but expect their baptism by fire to be rocky this season.

Adding depth in the frontcourt will be freshman Mike Cavataio on the wing and Sean Evans at forward. In most instances, both would be likely redshirt candidates, but SJU needs players now and both could be pressed into action. Cavataio could use a year to get stronger and Evans will be in his first year concentrating on basketball as the former football prospect has decided to pursue a career on the hardwood.

The final member of the St. John’s roster is forward Rob Thomas, who was forced to sit out last season to shore up his academics and then suffered a knee injury last spring. Thomas was not expected to be eligible until the second semester this season but now he will have to rehab even harder to get in shape, something that plagued him towards the end of his prep career. When in shape and on his game, Thomas is a dynamic offensive weapon inside and out, but it is to be determined how long it will take him to get backup to speed or if he can.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

Last season, Connecticut welcomed in a recruiting class of seven highly touted freshmen and had a couple players with returning with Big East experience. St. John’s is in a similar situation this season, although their incoming players are not as highly regarded in recruiting circles and UConn was coming off an Elite 8 in the NCAA Tournament and St. John’s did not even make it to the Elite 8 of the Big East Tournament. The Husky situation showed how tough it is to win with youth and inexperience dominating your roster in this league. I like some of the pieced that St. John’s has in place for two or three years down the road, however, player retention has not been strong in the program of late. Expect this team to struggle night in and night out, however they will also play hard and could steal a few games on the defensive end at home. It would be a minor surprise to see them qualify for the Big East Tournament, although that should be their goal. Anything more would be gravy.

BIG EAST PREDICTION: 5-13

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: 16) SOUTH FLORIDA

September 16, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

September 16, 2007

THE SOUTH FLORIDA ESSENTIALS:

Official Web Site of the USF Bulls

Official 2007-2008 USF Roster & Bios

Meet Stan Heath

The Sun Dome, Home of the Bulls

2007-2008 USF Bulls Schedule

USF OVERVIEW:

The South Florida Bulls completed their second campaign in the Big East in 2006-2007 and showed signs of improvement. However, the steps forward were minimal and after a 12-18 season, which included a 3-13 conference record, the South Florida administration decided to move in another direction.

Stan Heath was named the new head men’s basketball coach at the University of South Florida on April 4, 2007, replacing Robert McCullum. Heath, 42, arrives at USF after serving as head coach at the University of Arkansas for the previous five seasons. At Arkansas, Heath guided Razorbacks to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances (2006, 2007) and an overall record of 82-71. Arkansas posted 20-win campaigns in each of the previous two seasons and 2006-07 was highlighted by a run to the championship game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament and subsequent participation in the NCAA’s.

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Read Rest of our preview on South Florida…click “READ MORE” below!!

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Heath was an excellent hire for the Bulls as he brings recruiting experience to a program that desperately needs an infusion of talent to compete in the Big East. Heath landed some highly coveted players while the head coach at Arkansas and will put those connections to work while trying to rebuild the USF program.
Heath also was head coach for one season at Kent State and guided the program to a 30-win season and a berth in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite 8. Prior to that, Heath served as an assistant to Tom Izzo on the Michigan State staff that went to the NIT, Sweet 16, Final Four twice, and won a National Championship in his five years on staff.

Heath now turns his efforts towards a program that has not qualified for a Big East Tournament appearance in its two years in the league, winning just four of 32 conference contests.

2006-2007 SEASON:

The Bulls started off 7-1 in their out of conference schedule and there looked to be some optimism as Jesus Verdejo (Arizona) and Kentrell Gransberry (LSU) were set to join the active roster after sitting out the first semester per NCAA transfer rules as mid-year transfers from the season before. However, the Bulls won only five times in their last 22 contests, which spelled the end to Coach McCullum’s tenure at USF.

The Bulls showed some life late in January with an easy win over Rutgers at home and finished a three game home stand with a win over Notre Dame, who was ranked #21 in the nation at the time. In between those games, the Bulls lost a heartbreaker to Marquette as they lost a 64-60 lead down the stretch when Jerel McNeal stole the ball and scored on a floater as time expired to give the Golden Eagles a 70-68 win. USF did show some resiliency to recover and beat Notre Dame, but then a close loss on the road to St. John’s seemed to sink their season as the Bulls finished with six more consecutive losses, only coming within thirteen points of their opponents one time in those final six games.

One bright spot for the Bulls was the play of Kentrell Gransberry who averaged nearly 16 PPG and over 11 rebounds in 23 contests after becoming eligible after the first semester. Unfortunately, the only other two consistent contributors for the Bulls from last season, Melvin Buckley (14.8 PPG) and McHugh Mattis (13 PPG and 7 rebounds) have graduated, leaving the Bulls to rebuild once again.
Another Bulls bright spot from last season was a healthy (finally) Chris Howard assuming control of the point guard position, a position of tremendous uncertainty for the Bulls since coming into the Big East. Howard, who did not play basketball as a 5th year prep senior, missed the entire 2005-2006 season with a knee injury and he re-injured the knee prior to the 2006-2007 season which kept him out of action until mid-January. Playing the last 14 games, starting 13, Howard averaged just 5.6 PPG, but he added a steady hand as the point guard, averaging nearly 6 assists a contest, which led the league in conference play.

THE BACKCOURT:

Howard will return with a half season under his belt and another off-season to get even healthier. He looks to have solidified himself as the Bulls point guard, but the talent in the backcourt for the Bulls quietly could surprise some people if they are all healthy. Solomon Bozeman was pressed into action as a freshman with the injury problems of Howard and fellow frosh Dante Curry and had a solid season, scoring 9.6 PPG while playing in all 30 games, starting 23. Bozeman showed great ability at getting to the free throw line (team high 147 attempts) and connected on 88% of his charity attempts. He should continue to provide excellent depth for the Bulls at both guard spots, if not as a starter.

The area that the Bulls could show the most improvement is on the wing. Big things were expected last season from in-coming freshman Dante Curry, however a preseason injury forced him out of action for the year. Curry, from Kissimmee (FL) is a talented scorer with excellent size (6’3+) that is the kind of player that can help make the Bulls better. His injury and the disappointing season from Jesus Verdejo, who became eligible in the 2nd semester after transferring from Arizona, stunted the growth of the Bulls. Verdejo struggled offensively, averaging just 7 PPG, shooting only 42% from the floor, 29% from the arc and 58% from the line with a poor assist:turnover ratio and just 1.5 rebounds a game in 23 minutes a game for the 6’4 wing. Verdejo will need to improve those numbers to avoid being passed by a couple promising newcomers.

The Bulls will once again look towards 2nd semester when yet another transfer comes eligible. This time it is Aaron Holmes, a 6’4+ G/F who came to USF from Florida State early in his freshman season. Holmes was a prolific scorer in the local high school leagues at St. Petersburg Catholic and will look to give the Bulls a much needed scoring infusion. Freshman Dominique Jones of Lake Wales HS also joins the backcourt. Jones is a scorer first and will need to improve other areas of his game to make an impact this year for the Bulls. However, when they need some points, he could be called on.

THE FRONTCOURT:

The front line pretty much begins and ends with Kentrell Gransberry, the 6’9, 270 lbs senior that surprised many with his production last season. After being inactive from live game action for a year and a half, it took Gransberry some time to get into game shape, but he was a force in the paint the entire time, using his body to create scoring chances and grab rebounds. Not a great athlete inside, Gransberry uses his body to effectively against opponents to score and rebound.
The only other returnees in the frontcourt that saw action last season are Aris Williams and Adamu Saaka, however Williams was limited to 10 games because of injuries and Saaka was thrown into action because of the rash of injuries suffered by Bulls players. Both would be a source of depth in most situations in a major conference, but the Bulls have no choice but to use them extensively, maybe even needing one to start.

Coach Heath hit the recruiting trail very hard in the spring trying desperately to add some size and depth to the Bulls line-up. He was able to secure commitments from Mobalaji Ajayi and Orane Chin in that time frame. Chin, a 6-7, 195-pound Miramar High School graduate, captured first team all-state accolades last season after averaging 25.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 3.0 assists per game. Ajayi, a 6-9, 225-pounder, competed for Palm Beach Community College in 2006-07, where he was a 1st Team All-Region VIII selection after averaging 8.9 points and 7.5 rebounds (18th in the region) per game while shooting 54.9 percent (16th in the region) from the field. The Bulls have also added 6’10 walk-on Mohamed Esseghir to the roster. Esseghir recently attended IPFW where he was recruited out of Hillsborough (FL) Community College by coach Dane Fife. However, injuries and illness have kept Esseghir off the floor and he enrolled at USF as a student and now will attempt to play basketball as a walk-on. There is no doubt the Bulls need the help up front.

2007-2008 PREDICTION:

Expect another tough year for the South Florida Bulls as their talent level still lags behind the rest of the conference. They do seem to be making progress slowly in the backcourt, but frontcourt depth is likely to eat this team up night in and night out in the conference. Everyone has good guards and the USF guards are not good enough to overcome their question marks at the wing and forward positions and their lack of depth behind Gransberry. Look for Gransberry to put up big numbers again as an all-conference performer, but the rest of the team will go through another learning curve. Coach Heath should be able to increase the talent level going forward as he is a proven recruiter and coach at the high-major level. This season should have the goal of making Howard, Bozeman and Curry into a good backcourt and continued recruiting for the frontcourt is a must.

BIG EAST CONFERENCE PREDICTION: 3-15

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: TOP FRONTCOURTS OF THE BIG EAST

September 15, 2007 by NBE Blogger · 3 Comments

September 15, 2007

Earlier this month we took a look at the individual players that make up the Big East frontcourts, beginning with the Wing Players and the Power Forwards and finishing with the Centers.

Those article were a look at the individual players as we tried to fit each one into a position, although that is hard because different systems use different types of players, and to make sure there was added conversation, we put that little number in front of players to rank them!

Today, let’s take a look, as a whole, where the frontcourts of the Big East rank. Now, the tricky part is that several teams use a three guard system, some just two, so the teams that are more apt to play three guards are likely to have less depth, which decrease their chances of being ranked higher. Let us take a look at how they stack up:

1) Louisville: This frontcourt has it all: explosive wing player, skilled post players, strong interior finishers and impresive depth. A likely starting line-up includes junior Terrence Williams at small forward, senior Juan Palacios at power forward and 5th-year senior David Padgett at Center. That is, easily, the most experienced frontcourt in the Big East. However, the most impressive aspect of this unit is a possible second team that could include Earl Clark at small forward, Derrick Caracter at power forward and Terrance Farley at Center. This does not even touch freshmen George Goode and Clarence Holloway, although neither is expected to see much time this season behind all that talent.

The hardest part for Rick Pitino might be finding the right combination of players as they will be pushing each other day in and day out. Williams is the explosive player on the wing that led Louisville in many statistical categories last year. Palacios has been slowed by injuries the last couple seasons, so there is a sense of urgency for him as a senior to make up for lost time. However, holding off Clark and Caracter for playing time might be very difficult. Several NBA draft sites indicate both Clark and Caracter could be 1st round draft picks next year. Padgett is a tremendous passer from the post and an excellent shot blocker. He is not a physical player, but is extremely smart. Injuries have also slowed him in his two years at UL, so a healthy Padgett might show other fans around the league a much-improved player that many are overlooking. Farley could be the starting Center on MANY Big East teams, here, he might be third in line for playing time. This might be the most impressive unit in the country, especially when you factor in the experience with the talent. A perfect blend of upside potential as good as anyone and the veteran experience to play for Rick Pitino.

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Read Rest of Big East Frontcourts Analysis…click “READ REST OF ARTICLE” below!!

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2) Georgetown: Despite the loss of Big East Player of the Year Jeff Green to the NBA, this frontcourt is still among the best in the conference, as well as the nation. The Hoyas return 7’2 Center Roy Hibbert in the middle. Hibbert, now a senior, keeps improving year in and year out and turned down the likely chance to be a NBA lottery pick in the 2007 NBA Draft to return for another season. The likely replacement in the role played by Green previously could be DaJuan Summers. The sophomore forward excelled in a supporting role and look for him to be one of the players making the biggest leap in the conference this year. He is multi-talented and can play inside and out and he should thrive this season. The Hoyas also have sophomore Vernon Macklin in the mix to back-up Hibbert and play some power forward. Macklin was brought along slowly as a frosh and should see additional time this season. Patrick Ewing Jr also returns and could be a starter at power forward for the Hoyas. Ewing is a bundle of energy and athleticism and if he can harness some of that into more effecient production (less fouls), he could also be a surprise player in the conference. Freshmen Omar Wattad and Nikita Mesheriakou add depth, but are unlikely to make much of an impact this season.

3) Connecticut: This is a pick on upside and potential, because last season, this unit was a dissappointment as the Huskies slumped to a sub-.500 conference mark and were not chosen for either the NCAA or NIT post-season tournaments. The Huskies are still young, with Jeff Adrien the only upperclassman in the mix, but he remains one of the most productive power forwards in the conference that will bang and compete with anyone in the conference. You can chalk him up for a double-double nearly every night, but he desperately needs players around him to develop. If those players include 6’9 sophomore Stanley Robinson on the wing and 7’4 Hasheem Thabeet in the middle, this team will take MAJOR steps forward. It IS a BIG if, however. Thabeet was among the nation’s leaders in blocked shots, but his adjustment to the physical Big East was a bit slow. Jim Calhoun will need more rebounding from him and the ability to be an offensive threat in a more diversified way. Much like most of the young Huskies, developing a better feel for the game is a must. Robinson had a couple big games last season and maybe thought those efforts would shoot him forward, including a 21-pt effort on national TV against Indiana. However, he managed just a meager 8 points in the last 13 contests and disappeared. He might hold the biggest key for this team to reach unexpected heights, but skill development still is the question mark. The Huskies also have depth and Curtis Kelly is another player with a bundle of untapped upside that could make a huge move this season. Gavin Edwards and Jonathan Mandeldove are still developing, but Edwards showed some signs at times last year of being a contributor. This group is intriguing, we will see how they come together. They could flop, or help seperate the Huskies from the middle of the pack.

Those are our top three frontcourts heading in the 2007-2008 Big East season.

High Honorable mention (in no specific order):

Notre Dame: This might be their deepest pool of talent in the frontcourt since Mike Brey took over the Irish program. Rob Kurz is a senior and is a do-it-all Big East forward. Fundamentally sound, but also willing to hit the boards and mix it up on the defensive end, he is a team leader that the other players will follow. Luke Harangody might have the best footwork of any big man in the conference with an array of moves. Harangody has reportedly come back this season in great shape. The Irish are still waiting for Luke Zeller to find his comfort zone, but the key to this group is if small forward Ryan Ayers can take over the position and provide the shooting touch they need. Zach Hillesland and frosh Tyrone Nash also look to make contributions off the bench.

Providence: The starting trio of Geoff McDermott, Jonathan Kale and Randall Hanke could be very good, depending on Hanke rounding back into playing shape after missing all of last season. Hanke does have a tendency to shy away from being a factor on the boards on on defense, but McDermott and Kale are more than willing to do the dirty work with maximum effort. They might be forced to go a little small with a McDermott and Kale frontcourt if Hanke doesn’t progress this season as hoped. Charles Burch gives some experience on the wing and Ray Hall should provide a solid back-up in the middle. Freshman wing Jamine Peterson will impact the game from an athletic standpoint on the wing, but his skills to play on the perimeter need development. Alex Kellogg is a long-term prospect that might need a redshirt season is also in the mix.

Pittsburgh: I am not 100% sure what to expect from this new-look frontcourt, however, they also have a solid group on the floor. Small forward Mike Cook returns and we are still waiting for Sam Young’s breakout, however, the time is likely now or never for the uber-athletic Young to raise his game, a tradition that previous Panthers have done in their junior seasons. With the graduation of Aaron Gray and Levon Kendall, Young and fellow junior Tyrell Biggs should get first crack to star on the Panther frontline. They will be pushed by hotshot frosh DeJuan Blair and JUCO big man Cassin Diggs as well as true frosh Gary McGhee. The Panthers always prefer defense and rebounding over the flashier offensive players and that is the concern I have with Biggs and Young, but they do have depth in the newcomers and redshirt frosh Austin Wallace to provide options.

Villanova: The Wildcats have quickly established the reputation as ‘Guard U’ among basketball circles, but looking at things this season, they have a pretty solid group of frontcourt players that will contribute to their success. I am not sure if Jay Wright will resist the urge to go to a 4-guard look at times, but if he can, he could have a very solid traditional line-up with the likes of Shane Clark and Dante Cunningham as his forwards and Casseim Drummond and Andrew Ott in the post. One player that can not be discounted is redshirt freshman Antonio Pena who should also be in the mix right away at the forward spots. Frank Tchuisi also returns and Dwayne Anderson also has experience in the system.

Honorable Mention (in no specific order):

Marquette: Everyone points to this group as the weakness of the Golden Eagles. While they are definitely an overlooked unit, they have a solid group with good depth that might surprise some people when called upon. When Jerel McNeil went down late last season, Dan Fitzgerald really stepped up his game. Although it did not produce many wins, his confidence should be at a high point coming into this season. One player ready to make a big leap this year is Lazar Hayward as well. Hayward got a late start and played a new position, but he could become the perfect ’4′ in the Marquette guard-dominated system. In fact, Fitzgerald and Hayward should play that role well. In th emiddle Ousmane Barro continues to improve and evolve into a solid Big East contributor and as a senior he should produce no less. If freshman Trevor Mbakwe can be fully cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse, he adds another piece to ther frontcourt that makes it stronger. Trend Blackledge, Dwight Burke and Partrick Hazel all provide depth that will be called on at times.

Too New to Tell

The next group of tams have a lot of new faces, which is always a big dangerous in the Big East, so they are all going to have a wait and see approach from us:

Syracuse: The Orange lost their entire frontcourt of contributors last year with the graduation of Demetris Nichols, Terrence Roberts, Darryl Watkins and Mike Gorman. This year, Paul Harris moves to the more natural position of small forward and new faces such as McDonald’s All-American Dante Green, Rick Jackson, Sean Williams and Kristof Ongenaet join the mix. The most important piece could be sophomore center Arinze Onuaku who missed last year because of a knee injury. He adds strength and good hands to the middle and should be a very good rebounder in this confernece.

Seton Hall: The Pirates return Brian Laing, one of the most productive players in the conference and he will be playing small forward this coming season as the Pirates will finally give him some help in the middle. John Garcia is an excellent post prospect who hopes to be past three years of injury filled seasons. Like Onuaku, he provides good, solid post play as he knows what he is and plays to his strengths. Out of the group of Michael Glover, Mike Davis, Austin Okuson and Brandon Walters, the Pirates have several options and play a few different types of styles. This group reminds me a lot of the ealry Pitt frontcourts in the Howland/Dixon tenure that really prospered as they used their strengths to win in the Big East.

DePaul: We continue to wait for Karron Clarke to take his game up a notch, and as a senior, the time is now or never. The same can be said of Wesley Green, so until they do, this group will remain a question mark, however, two newcomers provide a good amount of hope with Nyal Koshwal and Matija Poscic (JUCO). Thijin Moses also returns for a group that is not very deep.

St. John’s: Anthony Mason returns as one of the league’s most versatile wings and could have a huge year in terms of production. However, the rest of the frontcourt is a major unknown as DJ Kennedy (wing), Justin Burrell and Ayodele Coker are likely to be thrown into the fire immediately. Rob Thomas continues to rehab a knee injury and could see action this year.

Cincinnati: Here is a group that goes from no depth last year to a group strong in numbers. They add wing forwards such as Alvin Mitchell and Rashad Bishop as frosh. Forwards John Williamson and Marcus Sikes return and transfers Mike Williams (Texas) and Adam Hrycaniuk are both eligible this year after sitting out last season. In the middle, they landed big recruit Anthony McClain and Kenny Belton is a Big East body that adds some beef. How will it all come together? Nobody really can tell yet.

Other Notes:

Rutgers and South Florida have very little depth in terms of numbers in their frontcourts this year. USF might have the most productive player in Kentrell Gransberry, but nobody else will strike fear into their opponents. Rutgers gets the services of Byron Joynes and JR Inman could blossom this season, but their numbers have dwindled.

If John Beilein was still the head coach at West Virginia I might feel pretty good about their frontcourt, however, they did not rebound or defend the post at all last year. Bob Huggins will demand that from this group and I wonder who can do it on their team? I like De’Sean Butler and I think Wellington Smith will make strides playing under Huggins, but the rest might have a tough adjustment to the new regine and the style of play.

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: BIG EAST TV SCHEDULE

September 6, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

Who needs the ‘Big 10 Network’ when you have ESPN! If you turn on any one of ESPN’s several platforms during the college basketball season, it’s quite likely you’ll be watching a game involving a men’s basketball team from the BIG EAST Conference. Each and every BIG EAST men’s basketball intra-conference game will be produced and televised by ESPN, Inc. or CBS for the next six years. That’s 144 games – and all will be distributed on one of ESPN’s platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Regional, ESPNClassic, ESPNU, ESPN360) or CBS Sports.

Here is the Big East Conference’s Official Media release regarding the TV Schedule: Big East Men’s Basketball Schedule Includes Every League Game on Television.

You can see the entire national TV schedule, by clicking READ MORE below!

Click on ‘Read More’ below to view the National TV Schedule of 2007-2008 for the Big East.

NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE

CBS

Sat. 15-Dec LOUISVILLE vs Purdue 3:30 (Wooden Tradition)
Sat. 5-Jan LOUISVILLE at Kentucky 4:00
Sat. 26-Jan CONNECTICUT at Indiana 1:00
Sat. 2-Feb PITTSBURGH at CONNECTICUT 1:00
Sat. 23-Feb ST. JOHN’S at Duke 4:00
Sun. 24-Feb SYRACUSE at NOTRE DAME 2:00
Sat. 1-Mar GEORGETOWN at MARQUETTE 2:00
Sun. 2-Mar VILLANOVA at LOUISVILLE 4:00
Sat. 8-Mar LOUISVILLE at GEORGETOWN 12:00

ESPN NETWORKS

Mon. 19-Nov MARQUETTE vs Chaminade 2:30 ESPN2 (Maui Invitational)
Thu. 22-Nov VILLANOVA vs Central Florida 7:00 ESPN2 (Old Spice Classic)
Sat. 1-Dec CONNECTICUT vs Gonzaga 3:30 ESPN (Hall of Classic)
Tue. 4-Dec NOTRE DAME vs Kansas State 7:00 ESPN (Jimmy V Classic)
Wed. 5-Dec SYRACUSE at Virginia 7:30 ESPN2
Wed. 5-Dec WEST VIRGINIA vs Auburn 9:30 ESPN2 (BIG EAST/SEC Invitational)
Wed. 5-Dec GEORGETOWN vs Alabama 7:00 ESPN (BIG EAST/SEC Invitational)
Thu. 6-Dec PROVIDENCE vs South Carolina 7:00 ESPN2 (BIG EAST/SEC Invitational)
Thu. 6-Dec VILLANOVA vs LSU 9:30 ESPN (BIG EAST/SEC Invitational)
Sat. 8-Dec Dayton at LOUISVILLE 2:00 ESPN2
Sat. 8-Dec MARQUETTE at Wisconsin 6:00 ESPN2
Sat. 8-Dec DEPAUL at Kansas 2:00 ESPN
Wed. 12-Dec CINCINNATI at Xavier 7:00 ESPN2
Sat. 15-Dec Oklahoma State at PITTSBURGH 12:00 ESPN
Sun. 16-Dec North Carolina at RUTGERS 8:00 ESPN
Wed. 19-Dec Memphis at CINCINNATI 7:00 ESPN2
Thu. 20-Dec PITTSBURGH vs Duke 7:00 ESPN (All-America Classic)

Sat. 22-Dec GEORGETOWN at Memphis 12:00 ESPN
Sat. 29-Dec Oklahoma at WEST VIRGINIA 4:00 ESPN2
Sat. 29-Dec PITTSBURGH at Dayton 8:00 ESPN2
Tue. 1-Jan CINCINNATI at LOUISVILLE 2:30 ESPN
Wed. 2-Jan RUTGERS at USF 7:00 ESPN2
Thu. 3-Jan WEST VIRGINIA at NOTRE DAME 7:00 ESPN/ESPN2
Thu. 3-Jan VILLANOVA at DEPAUL 9:00 ESPN/ESPN2
Sat. 5-Jan MARQUETTE at WEST VIRGINIA 3:30 ESPN2
Sat. 5-Jan CONNECTICUT at NOTRE DAME 9:00 ESPN
Wed. 9-Jan PITTSBURGH at USF 7:00 ESPN2
Thu. 10-Jan WEST VIRGINIA at LOUISVILLE 7:00 ESPN/ESPN2
Sat. 12-Jan CONNECTICUT at GEORGETOWN 2:00 ESPN
Mon. 14-Jan GEORGETOWN at PITTSBURGH 7:00 ESPN
Thu. 17-Jan MARQUETTE at LOUISVILLE 7:00 ESPN/ESPN2
Sat. 19-Jan VILLANOVA at SYRACUSE 12:00 ESPN
Mon. 21-Jan SYRACUSE at GEORGETOWN 7:00 ESPN
Thu. 24-Jan SETON HALL at PROVIDENCE 7:00 ESPN/ESPN2
Sat. 26-Jan GEORGETOWN at WEST VIRGINIA 7:00 ESPN
Mon. 28-Jan LOUISVILLE at CONNECTICUT 7:00 ESPN
Wed. 30-Jan VILLANOVA at PITTSBURGH 7:00 ESPN/ESPN2
Sat. 2-Feb SYRACUSE at VILLANOVA 12:00 ESPN
Mon. 4-Feb LOUISVILLE at MARQUETTE 7:00 ESPN
Wed. 6-Feb CONNECTICUT at SYRACUSE 7:00 ESPN
Thu. 7-Feb WEST VIRGINIA at PITTSBURGH 7:00 ESPN/ESPN2
Sat. 9-Feb MARQUETTE at NOTRE DAME 12:00 ESPN
Sat. 9-Feb Georgia Tech at CONNECTICUT 4:00 ESPN
Sat. 9-Feb GEORGETOWN at LOUISVILLE 9:00 ESPN
Mon. 11-Feb VILLANOVA at GEORGETOWN 7:00 ESPN
Wed. 13-Feb NOTRE DAME at CONNECTICUT 7:00 ESPN2
Thu. 14-Feb RUTGERS at WEST VIRGINIA 7:00 ESPN/ESPN2
Fri. 15-Feb PITTSBURGH at MARQUETTE 9:00 ESPN
Sat. 16-Feb GEORGETOWN at SYRACUSE 12:00 ESPN
Sat. 16-Feb LOUISVILLE at PROVIDENCE 2:00 ESPN
Mon. 18-Feb GEORGETOWN at PROVIDENCE 2:00 ESPN
Mon. 18-Feb. SYRACUSE at LOUISVILLE 7:00 ESPN
Wed. 20-Feb MARQUETTE at ST. JOHN’S 7:00 ESPN2
Thu. 21-Feb PITTSBURGH at NOTRE DAME 7:00 ESPN/ESPN2
Sat. 23-Feb CONNECTICUT at VILLANOVA 12:00 ESPN
Mon. 25-Feb MARQUETTE at VILLANOVA 7:00 ESPN
Wed. 27-Feb WEST VIRGINIA at DEPAUL 9:00 ESPN2
Thu. 28-Feb NOTRE DAME at LOUISVILLE 7:00 ESPN/ESPN2
Sat. 1-Mar PITTSBURGH at SYRACUSE 12:00 ESPN
Mon. 3-Mar PITTSBURGH at WEST VIRGINIA 7:00 ESPN
Wed. 5-Mar SYRACUSE at SETON HALL 7:00 ESPN2
Thu. 6-Mar CONNECTICUT at PROVIDENCE 7:00 ESPN/ESPN2
Sat. 8-Mar MARQUETTE at SYRACUSE 2:00 ESPN

Note: Times and networks are subject to change. A complete schedule with confirmed dates, times, and networks will be announced at a later date.

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2007-2008 BIG EAST PREVIEW: HISTORICAL BIG EAST TOURNAMENT RECORDS

September 4, 2007 by NBE Blogger · Leave a Comment

August 19, 2007
Madison Square Garden is known as the Mecca of college basketball. Home to the Big East Conference Tournament for the more than the last two decades, the Big East Tournament has always been a great event filled with long lasting memories. Nothing beats a Friday night doubleheader in the Garden with the Big East ‘Final Four’ takes the floor. Remembering Dwayne ‘Pearl’ Washington crossing over and banking it off the glass, Ron Rowan and Ray Allen hitting buzzer-beaters, Brandin Knight hobbling onto the court and nearly making it from half-court, etc. Memories that stick with you…
Let’s take a look at how the team’s have fared in the Big East Tournament over the years:

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Read Rest of Big East Tournament History Article…click “MORE” below!!

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Read more

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