The College Basketball Post

[messiahchild]

A more in-depth perspective......

Connecticut Chosen To Capture BIG EAST Crown


[font=verdana,geneva]NEW YORK -- Connecticut has been tabbed as the favorite to win the 2008-09 BIG EAST regular-season title in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Huskies received nine first-place votes and a total of 214 points in the poll. The coaches did not place their own teams on their respective ballots.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Four teams received first-place votes. Those four squads ? UConn, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame -- were bunched at the top of the poll. Louisville and Pitt, which had three first-place votes each, finished with 205 and 200 points, respectively. Notre Dame received one first-place vote and was fourth with 195 points.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Connecticut compiled a 24-9 record last season, including a 13-5 mark in BIG EAST play. The Huskies, led by Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun, have won or shared a regular-season league crown in four of the last seven seasons. This year, the Huskies' hopes revolve around the trio of center Hasheem Thabeet, guard A.J. Price and forward Jeff Adrien.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Louisville advanced the farthest of all BIG EAST teams in last year's NCAA Championship, reaching the East Regional finals. This year, coach Rick Pitino welcomes back four starters, including senior forward Terrence Williams, from a team that finished 28-6 and was 15-3 in BIG EAST play.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Pittsburgh is the defending BIG EAST Championship titlist. Last year, as the tourney's seventh seed, the Panthers took a memorable path to the crown at Madison Square Garden by winning four games in four days. Pitt made it to the second round of the NCAAs and finished 27-10 overall.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Notre Dame will welcome back the reigning BIG EAST Player of the Year, forward Luke Harangody, and expects to contend for the league crown. Last year, coach Mike Brey, the BIG EAST Coach of the Year for a second straight season, directed the Irish to a 25-8 overall mark and a 14-4 BIG EAST record.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]The next four teams in the poll -- fifth place through eighth place -- also were bunched closely together. Villanova was fifth with 153 points, followed by Marquette 146), Georgetown (141) and Syracuse (139).[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Villanova was 22-13 last year and advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Championship. Marquette finished 25-10 and played in the second round of the NCAAs. Georgetown also was an NCAA second-round participant after a 28-6 campaign that included a second consecutive BIG EAST regular-season championship. Syracuse made it to the quarterfinals of the NIT en route to a 21-14 record.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]West Virginia, also an NCAA Sweet 16 team a season ago, was picked ninth with 121 points. Providence edged Cincinnati for 10th place, 99 points to 91 points.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]The coaches believe Rutgers will finish 12th followed by Seton Hall, St. John's, DePaul and USF.

Preseason Coaches' Poll
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School	Points
1. Connecticut (9)	214
2. Louisville (3)	205
3. Pittsburgh (3)	200
4. Notre Dame (1)	195
5. Villanova	153
6. Marquette	146
7. Georgetown	141
8. Syracuse	139
9. West Virginia	121
10. Providence	99
11. Cincinnati	91
12. Rutgers	53
13. Seton Hall	50
14. St. John's	44
15. DePaul	43
16. USF	26

[font=verdana,geneva]
First-place votes in parentheses.


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Notre Dame's Harangody Named Preseason Player of the Year

[font=verdana,geneva][font=verdana,geneva]

NEW YORK[/font] -- Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, the 2007-08 BIG EAST Player of the Year, has been named 2008-09 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year by a vote of the league's head coaches. Georgetown's Greg Monroe and Louisville's Samardo Samuels, a pair of freshman forwards, were selected BIG EAST Co-Rookies of the Year. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.

A 6-8 forward, Harangody was the BIG EAST's scoring and rebounding champion in league games last season. He averaged 23.3 points and 11.3 rebounds, statistics that were even better than his overall averages of 20.4 points and 10.6 rebounds. A native of Schererville, Ind., Harangody is the first reigning BIG EAST Player of the Year to forego an immediate professional basketball career since Pittsburgh's Brandin Knight shared Player of the Year honors with Connecticut's Caron Butler in 2001-02 and came back to play in '02-03.

Harangody's teammate, Kyle McAlarney, was chosen for the 2008-09 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. A 6-0 senior guard, McAlarney averaged 15.1 points per game last season while helping the Irish to a 25-8 overall record and a 14-4 BIG EAST mark. He led all league players with 108 3-pointers and ranked second in 3-point percentage, making 44.1 percent.

Three other individual award winners from last year are Preseason All-BIG EAST selections. Sam Young, Pittsburgh's 6-6 junior forward, was a unanimous pick. Young was last season's BIG EAST Most Improved Player who also won the Dave Gavitt Trophy as the Most Outstanding Player at The BIG EAST Championship. He averaged 18.1 points and 6.3 rebounds for the season.

Connecticut junior Hasheem Thabeet, who was the 2007-08 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, set a league record with 94 blocked shots in conference play. For the season, the 7-3 center averaged 10.5 points, 7.9 boards and 4.5 blocks.

[/font]
[font=verdana,geneva][font=verdana,geneva]Jonny Flynn, Syracuse's speedy point guard, shared BIG EAST Rookie of the Year honors last season with Pitt's DeJuan Blair after averaging 15.7 points and 5.3 assists. His assist mark was third in the BIG EAST.

Cincinnati's Deonta Vaughn is the league's top returning scorer at guard. The 6-1 junior averaged 17.3 points last season, while garnering All-BIG EAST First Team honors.

Connecticut's A.J. Price, the Husky senior point guard, also earned All-BIG EAST First Team recognition when he averaged 14.5 points and 5.8 assists. His assist average was second in the BIG EAST.

Forward DaJuan Summers has been a key contributor in Georgetown's recent success. The 6-8 junior averaged 11.1 points and 5.4 rebounds last year for the Hoyas, who were the BIG EAST regular-season champions and finished with a 28-6 overall record.

Louisville's Terrence Williams has been an all-around contributor. The 6-6 senior forward averaged 11.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists last year. The Cardinals advanced to the East Regional finals of the NCAA Championship.

Marquette senior guard Jerel McNeal added offensive prowess last year to his stellar defensive reputation. Last year, he averaged 14.9 points and 3.5 assists. two seasons ago, McNeal was the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year.

Villanova guard Scottie Reynolds was the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year two years ago. Last season, the 6-2 guard averaged 15.9 points, 3.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds, while directing the Wildcats to the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals.

Georgetown's Monroe and Louisville's Samuels were McDonald's All-Americans and first team Parade All-Americans as high school seniors. Monroe is a 6-10 native of Gretna, La. He attended Helen Cox H.S. Samuels is a native of Trelawny, Jamaica, who attended St. Benedict's Prep in New Jersey. Samuels was named 2008 USA Today Player of the Year.[/font][/font]

[font=verdana,geneva][font=verdana,geneva]2008-09 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame[/font][/font]

[font=verdana,geneva][font=verdana,geneva]2008-09 BIG EAST Preseason Co-Rookies of the Year
Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Samardo Samuels, Louisville[/font][/font]

[font=verdana,geneva][font=verdana,geneva]2008-09 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
*Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (Player of the Year), F, Jr., 6-8, Schererville, Ind.
Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, Jr., 6-1, 195, Indianapolis, Ind.
A.J. Price, Connecticut, G, Sr., 6-2, 181, Amityville, N.Y.
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, C, Jr., 7-3, 263, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
DaJuan Summers, Georgetown, F, Jr., 6-8, 241, Baltimore, Md.
Terrence Williams, Louisville, F, Sr., 6-6, 210, Seattle, Wash.
Jerel McNeal, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-3, 200, Country Club Hills, Ill.
Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame, G, Sr., 6-0, 196, Staten Island, N.Y.
*Sam Young, Pittsburgh, F, Jr., 6-6, 215, Clinton, Md.
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, G, So., 6-0, 185, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.[/font][/font]

[font=verdana,geneva][font=verdana,geneva]*unanimous selection[/font][/font]

[font=verdana,geneva][font=verdana,geneva]2008-09 Preseason BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, Sr., 6-7, 243, Brookline, Mass.
Earl Clark, Louisville, G/F, Jr., 6-8, 220, Rahway, N.J.
Dominic James, Marquette, G, Sr., 5-11, 185, Richmond, Ind.
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Here is the LINK for every team in the BIG EAST COMPOSITE SCHEDULE with their television coverage as well....I was thinking bout posting it, butthat just too many dates....

http://www.bigeast.org/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=19400&KEY=&SPID=11228&SPSID=92547&TV=YEShttp://www.bigeast.org/Sp...mp;SPSID=92547&TV=YES

 

[the wizard]

Originally Posted by allen3xis

Really Austin isn't 240...I don't see it....more like 225/230...I think those rumors of him being 240 from this summer got dispelled by the staff anyway, If I remember correctly.

Listings are always off...cause Monroe is no way 250 at this point.

But yeah..if he wants stick on the next level he has to get more lean, since he'll be at the 2.

he's 240 on the hoya website. thats where i got it from. & schools normally lie in the favor of their players.

 

[allen3xis]

Yeah, Nikita was listed on their at 240 last year...

when he was probably 210...they seem to inflate some, for whatever reason.

..
Earl not first team..ok...

...everything is pretty much as I expectedtho

..

[font=verdana,geneva]Big Monday - All eight BIG EAST teams that earned berths in theNCAA Tournament last year will make appearances. The first Monday appearance is Georgetown at Connecticut on Dec. 29. Notre Dame plays at Louisville on Jan.12. The Big Monday series concludes with Villanova at Notre Dame on March 2. No other conference appears on Mondays on ESPN more than the BIG EAST. The BigMonday package also includes Louisville at Georgetown on Feb. 23. That game will be a rematch of last season's regular-season finale won by Georgetownthat decided the league's regular-season champion. Louisville advanced the farthest in the NCAA tourney, reaching the EliteEight.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Wednesdays -- ESPN or ESPN2 will show nine games involving BIGEAST teams during the 10-week conference season. The weekly Wednesday schedule includes one of the BIG EAST's most storied rivalries, Syracuse atGeorgetown on Jan. 14. [/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Thursdays -- ESPN or ESPN2 will televise nine games that willinclude 11 BIG EAST squads. The weekly Thursday night package begins with Connecticut at St. John's on Jan. 15. [/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Saturdays -- Fifteen games will include BIG EAST teams during theconference season on ESPN or ESPN2. Also, the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week package continues, mostly at noon, Eastern time. The Game of the Week packagereaches over one-third of the nation and is the largest syndicated college basketball package in the nation. [/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]CBS Sports -- The 10-game schedule on CBS Sports, which includesfour league contests, will showcase nine BIG EAST teams. The CBS Sports slate starts with Georgetown hosting Memphis on Dec. 13. The first league game on CBSSports will be Villanova at Syracuse on Feb. 22. The BIG EAST/CBS Sports schedule concludes with Connecticut at Pittsburgh on March 7. The BIG EAST and CBSSports have been formal television partners since 1985, the longest relationship of any conference and national network.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]ESPN College GameDay - ESPN will take its signature CollegeGameDay production to the BIG EAST twice, the only conference that will have two campus appearances. Notre Dame hosts Connecticut on Jan. 24 and West Virginiahosts Louisville on March 7.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]ESPN Rivalry Week - No conference will appear more times than theBIG EAST. A league team will appear every night between Feb. 9 and Feb. 16, which will encompass eight league games. On Feb. 9, West Virginia travels toPittsburgh. The week concludes with Pittsburgh at Connecticut on Feb. 16. [/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Holiday Week - The BIG EAST league schedule begins in lateDecember with Georgetown traveling to Connecticut Dec. 29. On New Year's Eve, DePaul hosts Notre Dame. On New Year's Day, it is Villanova atMarquette. Each game will be carried on ESPN or ESPN2.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Jimmy V Classic - The BIG EAST will participate in both games ofthe doubleheader at the Jimmy V Classic, Dec. 9 at Madison Square Garden. ESPN will show West Virginia vs. Davidson at 7 p.m. followed by Villanova vs.Texas.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]SEC/BIG EAST Invitational - The second annual meeting between thetwo conferences will be carried by ESPN and ESPN2. On Dec. 16 in Nashville, USF plays Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. followed by Marquette versus Tennessee. On Dec. 18in Cincinnati, Louisville battles Mississippi at 7 p.m. followed by Cincinnati against Mississippi State.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]NBA All-Star Weekend Game - Again, the BIG EAST will be featuredon the Friday of the NBA All-Star Weekend when Villanova visits West Virginia in a battle of NCAA Sweet 16 teams from last year, on Feb. 13 at 9p.m.[/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]Saturday, January 17 - A prime example of a day loaded with BIGEAST action. Notre Dame at Syracuse on ESPN at noon. USF at West Virginia will be the BIG EAST Game of the Week, also at noon. Georgetown at Duke on CBSSports at 1:30 p.m. In the evening, Pittsburgh at Louisville at 6 p.m. on ESPN and Marquette at Providence at 9 p.m. on ESPN2. [/font]

[font=verdana,geneva]ESPNU - The ESPNU nonconference schedule includes a pair ofattractive games that are likely to involve nationally ranked teams. On Saturday, Dec. 6, Notre Dame meets Ohio State and Marquette hostsWisconsin.[/font]

 

[dukehead]

And even scarier is who that 2001 team beat in Arizona - Richard Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas, Luke Walton, Jason Gardner, Loren Woods, Michael Wright

Completely forgot who was on that squad.

he's 240 on the hoya website. thats where i got it from. & schools normally lie in the favor of their players.

I'm thinkin' he pushin' a deuce and a half

IMO, Louisville wins at least one of the Big East crowns (regular season/Tourney). If not them winning the tourney then UConn wins it. AJ should be backto pristine form by then and Kemba will have transititioned perfectly at that time.

 

[shannonscrooks]

UK shorts came in last night. Would like to thank Debbie at the UK team shop for her follow up with me letting me know there would be a delay on the shipping. Very nice lady. Love you Deb. Threw in a couple of other shorts I have accumlated through my travels/associations:

 

[allen3xis]

I think Louisville struggles early on offense...everything on O revolved around Padgett in the high post last year. And young big men don't transitioneasily under Pitino. I think George Goode is gona have a nice impact tho

 

[the lowa]

The Big East is going to get nine maybe ten teams in the dance this year.
UConn, Louisville, Pitt, Notre Dame, Villanova, Marquette, Georgetown, Syracuse, West Virginia, Cincinnati

The way I see it I think that UConn will win the big east regular season but Louisville will win the tournment this year but then how can you not go for Pittin the Garden

 

[the wizard]

St. John's is going dancing this year too. Watch.

 

[allen3xis]

how you gona have those 2 sitting together shannon

...I always liked those blue ones.

That's this summer....he can be 240 if he's in shape

 

[allen3xis]

I think Providence gets in the dance..

My ten would be
Uconn
Louisville
Pitt
Marquette
Notre Dame
Villanova
Georgetown
Syracuse
Providence
West Virginia

CBE Invitational
Sun, Nov 16	Syracuse		LeMoyne College		Syracuse, N.Y.	6:30 p.m.	ESPNU
Tue, Nov 18	Syracuse		Richmond		Syracuse, N.Y.	6:00 p.m.	ESPN
Mon, Nov 17	Connecticut		Hartford		Hartford, Conn.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
Philly Classic
Wed, Nov 19	Niagara		Villanova		Villanova, Pa.	7:30 p.m.	ESPNU
Puerto Rico Tip-Off
Thu, Nov 20	Southern California		Seton Hall		San Juan, P.R.	8:00 p.m.	ESPNU
Fri, Nov 21	TBA		Seton Hall		San Juan, P.R.	TBA	ESPNU
Paradise Jam
Fri, Nov 21	La Salle		Connecticut		St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands	6:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
Maui Invitational
Mon, Nov 24	Indiana		Notre Dame		Honolulu, Hawaii	5:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Old Spice Classic
Thu, Nov 27	Wichita St.		Georgetown		Kissimmee, Fla.	2:00 p.m.	ESPN2
76 Classic
Thu, Nov 27	Baylor		Providence		Anaheim, Calif.	11:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Sat, Nov 29	Connecticut		Bryant		Hartford, Conn.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
Mon, Dec 01	Connecticut		Delaware St.		Storrs, Conn.	7:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
Thu, Dec 04	Buffalo		Connecticut		Buffalo, N.Y.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
Fri, Dec 05	Connecticut		Stony Brook		Hartford, Conn.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
Sat, Dec 06	Northwestern		DePaul		Evanston, Ill.	2:00 p.m.	Big Ten Network
Hall of Fame Showcase
Sat, Dec 06	Ohio State		Notre Dame		Indianapolis, Ind.	4:00 p.m.	ESPNU
Sat, Dec 06	Marquette		Wisconsin		Milwaukee, Wis.	9:30 p.m.	ESPNU
Jimmy V Classic
Tue, Dec 09	Davidson		West Virginia		New York, N.Y.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
Tue, Dec 09	Texas		Villanova		New York, N.Y.	9:00 p.m.	ESPN
Sat, Dec 13	Georgetown		Memphis		Washington, D.C.	2:00 p.m.	CBS
Sat, Dec 13	Cincinnati		Xavier		Cincinnati, Ohio	8:00 p.m.	ESPN2
SEC/BIG EAST Invitational
Tue, Dec 16	Tennessee		Marquette		Nashville, Tenn.	TBA	ESPN
Tue, Dec 16	Vanderbilt		USF		Nashville, Tenn.	TBA	ESPN/ESPN2
Thu, Dec 18	Ole Miss		Louisville		Cincinnati, Ohio	TBA	ESPN
Thu, Dec 18	Mississippi State		Cincinnati		Cincinnati, Ohio	TBA	ESPN2
Wed, Dec 17	Pittsburgh		Siena		Pittsburgh, Pa.	9:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Sat, Dec 20	Minnesota		Louisville		Phoenix, Ariz.	2:00 p.m.	FSN
Sat, Dec 20	Memphis		Syracuse		Memphis, Tenn.	6:00 p.m.	ESPN
Sun, Dec 21	Florida St.		Pittsburgh		Tallahassee, Fla.	5:30 p.m.	FSN
Mon, Dec 22	North Carolina State		Marquette		Raleigh, N.C.	7:00 p.m.	ESPNU
Fri, Dec 26	Connecticut		Fairfield		Hartford, Conn.	7:00 p.m.	ESPNU
Sat, Dec 27	Ohio State		West Virginia		Columbus, Ohio	4:00 p.m.	CBS
Sat, Dec 27	Louisville		UAB		Louisville, Ky.	4:00 p.m.	ESPN2
Sun, Dec 28	North Carolina		Rutgers		Chapel Hill, N.C.	7:45 p.m.	FSN
* Mon, Dec 29	Connecticut		Georgetown		Hartford, Conn.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN2
Mon, Dec 29	Memphis		Cincinnati		Memphis, Tenn.	9:00 p.m.	ESPN2
* Tue, Dec 30	Syracuse		Seton Hall		Syracuse, N.Y.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Dec 31	Rutgers		Pittsburgh		Piscataway, N.J.	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Dec 31	Providence		St. John's		Providence, R.I.	4:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
Wed, Dec 31	Louisville		UNLV		Louisville, Ky.	6:00 p.m.	ESPN2
* Wed, Dec 31	DePaul		Notre Dame		Rosemont, Ill.	8:00 p.m.	ESPN2
* Thu, Jan 01	Marquette		Villanova		Milwaukee, Wis.	2:30 p.m.	ESPN
* Fri, Jan 02	USF		Syracuse		Tampa, Fla.	8:30 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Jan 03	Georgetown		Pittsburgh		Washington, D.C.	12:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Jan 03	St. John's		Notre Dame		New York, N.Y.	2:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Sat, Jan 03	Seton Hall		West Virginia		Newark, N.J.	4:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Jan 03	Connecticut		Rutgers		Storrs, Conn.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Jan 03	Providence		DePaul		Providence, R.I.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sun, Jan 04	Marquette		Cincinnati		Milwaukee, Wis.	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
Sun, Jan 04	Louisville		Kentucky		Louisville, Ky.	4:30 p.m.	CBS
* Mon, Jan 05	Notre Dame		Georgetown		Notre Dame, Ind.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Tue, Jan 06	Seton Hall		Villanova		Newark, N.J.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Tue, Jan 06	West Virginia		Connecticut		Morgantown, W.Va.	7:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Wed, Jan 07	USF		Louisville		Tampa, Fla.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN2
* Wed, Jan 07	Syracuse		DePaul		Syracuse, N.Y.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Jan 07	Cincinnati		Providence		Cincinnati, Ohio	7:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Wed, Jan 07	Rutgers		Marquette		Piscataway, N.J.	7:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Jan 10	Marquette		West Virginia		Milwaukee, Wis.	12:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
* Sat, Jan 10	Villanova		Louisville		Philadelphia, Pa.	12:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Jan 10	DePaul		USF		Rosemont, Ill.	2:00 p.m.	ESPN 360
* Sat, Jan 10	Notre Dame		Seton Hall		Notre Dame, Ind.	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Jan 10	Georgetown		Providence		Washington, D.C.	2:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Sat, Jan 10	Cincinnati		Connecticut		Cincinnati, Ohio	4:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Jan 10	Rutgers		Syracuse		Piscataway, N.J.	7:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sun, Jan 11	Pittsburgh		St. John's		Pittsburgh, Pa.	12:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
* Mon, Jan 12	Louisville		Notre Dame		Louisville, Ky.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Wed, Jan 14	Pittsburgh		USF		Pittsburgh, Pa.	7:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Wed, Jan 14	Georgetown		Syracuse		Washington, D.C.	7:30 p.m.	ESPN2
* Wed, Jan 14	Cincinnati		Rutgers		Cincinnati, Ohio	7:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Thu, Jan 15	St. John's		Connecticut		New York, N.Y.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN2
* Sat, Jan 17	Syracuse		Notre Dame		Syracuse, N.Y.	12:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Jan 17	West Virginia		USF		Morgantown, W.Va.	12:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
Sat, Jan 17	Duke		Georgetown		Durham, N.C.	1:30 p.m.	CBS
* Sat, Jan 17	DePaul		Cincinnati		Rosemont, Ill.	2:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Sat, Jan 17	Louisville		Pittsburgh		Louisville, Ky.	6:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Jan 17	Providence		Marquette		Providence, R.I.	9:00 p.m.	ESPN2
* Sun, Jan 18	Connecticut		Seton Hall		Hartford, Conn.	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sun, Jan 18	Villanova		St. John's		Villanova, Pa.	4:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Mon, Jan 19	Pittsburgh		Syracuse		Pittsburgh, Pa.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Mon, Jan 19	Providence		Cincinnati		Providence, R.I.	8:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Tue, Jan 20	USF		DePaul		Tampa, Fla.	9:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Wed, Jan 21	Connecticut		Villanova		Hartford, Conn.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Wed, Jan 21	Rutgers		Louisville		Piscataway, N.J.	7:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Thu, Jan 22	Georgetown		West Virginia		Washington, D.C.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN2
* Thu, Jan 22	Seton Hall		Providence		Newark, N.J.	7:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Thu, Jan 22	St. John's		Cincinnati		Queens, N.Y.	9:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Sat, Jan 24	USF		Villanova		Tampa, Fla.	12:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
* Sat, Jan 24	Marquette		DePaul		Milwaukee, Wis.	2:00 p.m.	ESPN2
* Sat, Jan 24	Notre Dame		Connecticut		Notre Dame, Ind.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Jan 24	St. John's		Rutgers		New York, N.Y.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sun, Jan 25	Syracuse		Louisville		Syracuse, N.Y.	12:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
* Sun, Jan 25	Seton Hall		Georgetown		Newark, N.J.	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sun, Jan 25	West Virginia		Pittsburgh		Morgantown, W.Va.	4:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Mon, Jan 26	Notre Dame		Marquette		Notre Dame, Ind.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Wed, Jan 28	Louisville		USF		Louisville, Ky.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Jan 28	Providence		Syracuse		Providence, R.I.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Jan 28	West Virginia		St. John's		Morgantown, W.Va.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Jan 28	Villanova		Pittsburgh		Philadelphia, Pa.	7:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Wed, Jan 28	Cincinnati		Georgetown		Cincinnati, Ohio	7:30 p.m.	ESPN 360
* Wed, Jan 28	DePaul		Connecticut		Rosemont, Ill.	9:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Thu, Jan 29	Seton Hall		Rutgers		Newark, N.J.	9:00 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN2
* Sat, Jan 31	Pittsburgh		Notre Dame		Pittsburgh, Pa.	12:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Jan 31	Louisville		West Virginia		Louisville, Ky.	12:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
* Sat, Jan 31	Marquette		Georgetown		Milwaukee, Wis.	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Jan 31	Connecticut		Providence		Storrs, Conn.	4:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Jan 31	Rutgers		DePaul		Piscataway, N.J.	7:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Sun, Feb 01	Villanova		Cincinnati		Villanova, Pa.	12:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
* Sun, Feb 01	St. John's		USF		Queens, N.Y.	2:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Mon, Feb 02	Louisville		Connecticut		Louisville, Ky.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Tue, Feb 03	Georgetown		Rutgers		Washington, D.C.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Tue, Feb 03	DePaul		Marquette		Rosemont, Ill.	8:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Feb 04	Syracuse		West Virginia		Syracuse, N.Y.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Wed, Feb 04	Cincinnati		Notre Dame		Cincinnati, Ohio	7:30 p.m.	ESPN 360
* Wed, Feb 04	Providence		Villanova		Providence, R.I.	8:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Thu, Feb 05	Seton Hall		St. John's		Newark, N.J.	9:00 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN2
* Fri, Feb 06	USF		Marquette		Tampa, Fla.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Feb 07	Georgetown		Cincinnati		Washington, D.C.	12:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
* Sat, Feb 07	Villanova		Syracuse		Philadelphia, Pa.	12:00 p.m.	ESPN
Sat, Feb 07	UCLA		Notre Dame		Los Angeles, Calif.	1:00 p.m.	CBS
* Sat, Feb 07	DePaul		Pittsburgh		Rosemont, Ill.	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Feb 07	West Virginia		Providence		Morgantown, W.Va.	4:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
Sat, Feb 07	Connecticut		Michigan		Storrs, Conn.	6:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sun, Feb 08	Rutgers		Seton Hall		Piscataway, N.J.	12:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Sun, Feb 08	St. John's		Louisville		New York, N.Y.	1:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Mon, Feb 09	Pittsburgh		West Virginia		Pittsburgh, Pa.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Tue, Feb 10	USF		Providence		Tampa, Fla.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN 360
* Tue, Feb 10	Villanova		Marquette		Villanova, Pa.	7:30 p.m.	ESPN2
* Tue, Feb 10	DePaul		Seton Hall		Rosemont, Ill.	9:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Wed, Feb 11	Connecticut		Syracuse		Storrs, Conn.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Wed, Feb 11	Cincinnati		St. John's		Cincinnati, Ohio	7:30 p.m.	ESPN 360
* Thu, Feb 12	Notre Dame		Louisville		Notre Dame, Ind.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN2
* Fri, Feb 13	West Virginia		Villanova		Morgantown, W.Va.	9:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Feb 14	Syracuse		Georgetown		Syracuse, N.Y.	12:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Feb 14	Seton Hall		Connecticut		Newark, N.J.	12:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
* Sat, Feb 14	Pittsburgh		Cincinnati		Pittsburgh, Pa.	4:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Feb 14	Providence		Rutgers		Providence, R.I.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Feb 14	Marquette		St. John's		Milwaukee, Wis.	9:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sun, Feb 15	Notre Dame		USF		Notre Dame, Ind.	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sun, Feb 15	Louisville		DePaul		Louisville, Ky.	4:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Mon, Feb 16	Connecticut		Pittsburgh		Hartford, Conn.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Tue, Feb 17	Marquette		Seton Hall		Milwaukee, Wis.	8:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Feb 18	USF		Georgetown		Tampa, Fla.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Feb 18	West Virginia		Notre Dame		Morgantown, W.Va.	7:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Feb 18	Louisville		Providence		Louisville, Ky.	7:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Thu, Feb 19	St. John's		Duke		New York, N.Y.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN2
* Thu, Feb 19	Villanova		Rutgers		Villanova, Pa.	9:00 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN2
* Sat, Feb 21	Providence		Notre Dame		Providence, R.I.	12:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
* Sat, Feb 21	Cincinnati		Louisville		Cincinnati, Ohio	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Feb 21	Connecticut		USF		Hartford, Conn.	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Feb 21	Georgetown		Marquette		Washington, D.C.	2:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Feb 21	Pittsburgh		DePaul		Pittsburgh, Pa.	7:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sun, Feb 22	Syracuse		Villanova		Syracuse, N.Y.	1:00 p.m.	CBS
* Sun, Feb 22	Rutgers		West Virginia		Piscataway, N.J.	3:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sun, Feb 22	St. John's		Seton Hall		Queens, N.Y.	5:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Mon, Feb 23	Georgetown		Louisville		Washington, D.C.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Tue, Feb 24	Providence		Pittsburgh		Providence, R.I.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Tue, Feb 24	St. John's		Syracuse		New York, N.Y.	7:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Feb 25	Marquette		Connecticut		Milwaukee, Wis.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Wed, Feb 25	Seton Hall		USF		Newark, N.J.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Feb 25	DePaul		Villanova		Rosemont, Ill.	8:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Feb 25	Notre Dame		Rutgers		Notre Dame, Ind.	9:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Thu, Feb 26	Cincinnati		West Virginia		Cincinnati, Ohio	7:00 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN2
* Sat, Feb 28	Villanova		Georgetown		Philadelphia, Pa.	12:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Sat, Feb 28	DePaul		St. John's		Rosemont, Ill.	12:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
* Sat, Feb 28	Connecticut		Notre Dame		Notre Dame, Ind.	2:00 p.m.	CBS
* Sat, Feb 28	Seton Hall		Pittsburgh		Newark, N.J.	8:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sun, Mar 01	Louisville		Marquette		Louisville, Ky.	12:00 p.m.	CBS
* Sun, Mar 01	Syracuse		Cincinnati		Syracuse, N.Y.	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sun, Mar 01	Rutgers		Providence		Piscataway, N.J.	2:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Sun, Mar 01	USF		West Virginia		Tampa, Fla.	4:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Mon, Mar 02	Notre Dame		Villanova		Notre Dame, Ind.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN
* Tue, Mar 03	Syracuse		Rutgers		Syracuse, N.Y.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN 360
* Tue, Mar 03	USF		Cincinnati		Tampa, Fla.	7:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Tue, Mar 03	St. John's		Georgetown		New York, N.Y.	7:30 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Mar 04	West Virginia		DePaul		Morgantown, W.Va.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Mar 04	Louisville		Seton Hall		Louisville, Ky.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Wed, Mar 04	Pittsburgh		Marquette		Pittsburgh, Pa.	7:30 p.m.	ESPN2
* Thu, Mar 05	Villanova		Providence		Villanova, Pa.	7:00 p.m.	ESPN/ESPN2
* Fri, Mar 06	Notre Dame		St. John's		Notre Dame, Ind.	7:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network Local
* Sat, Mar 07	Pittsburgh		Connecticut		Pittsburgh, Pa.	12:00 p.m.	CBS
* Sat, Mar 07	Marquette		Syracuse		Milwaukee, Wis.	2:00 p.m.	BIG EAST Network
* Sat, Mar 07	Rutgers		USF		Piscataway, N.J.	2:00 p.m.	ESPN 360
* Sat, Mar 07	Cincinnati		Seton Hall		Cincinnati, Ohio	4:00 p.m.	ESPN 360
* Sat, Mar 07	Georgetown		DePaul		Washington, D.C.	5:00 p.m.	ESPNU
* Sat, Mar 07	West Virginia		Louisville		Morgantown, W.Va.	9:00 p.m.	ESPN

 

[the lowa]

allen3xis wrote:

---

I think Louisville struggles early on offense...everything on O revolved around Padgett in the high post last year. And young big men don't transition easily under Pitino. I think George Goode is gona have a nice impact tho


Yeah I can see how you can say that but it is a long season and we have some many weapons on offense that talent hold us down until the young players get agood understanding of what they have to do. On a side not Smith is going to have his best season this year. I think he has the best jumper in the big east. Heplays hard and can score in the paint. I feel like he always gets over looked an this year teams better keep an eye out.

 

[allen3xis]

Yeah..they'll develop.

I do like their D...that won't have a problem from the jump. They'll be better with out Padgett, and get a chance to extend pressure.

 

[shannonscrooks]

how you gona have those 2 sitting together shannon

Growing up in the northeast I will always be a Big East hoops fan 1st and foremost. Also, one brother went to G'Town other went to 'Cuse.

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

Where's the Duke shorts, Shannon???

 

[allen3xis]

I thought Oklahoma State always had some of the most

uni's...butnot at all a fan of these.

Eastbay has all the new jerseys and shorts up..

 

[craftsy21]

The Big East is going to get nine maybe ten teams in the dance this year.

you damn BE bball fans are getting as bad as SECfootball fans on here.

Why don't we just crown the BE champ National champs from now on?

You do realize that, without actually sitting down to do the math, it's nearly impossible for 10 teams in a 16 team league to have good conference recordsand therefore deserve to get in the dance right? They are playing for about 8 spots every year, it's just the nature of conference play - it makes nosense for a league to get that many bids, if they can't differentiate themselves over the course of a conference season, chances are the tournament isbetter off without them anyways.

Can we get some other conference talk going now? i'm tired of the BE already

nah - seriously though.. I'm getting caught up this week, and here's where i'm at with the BE.. it's Uconn, Pitt, and L-Ville's league tolose this year... I'm never sold on a Brey coached team anymore, Georgetown will be solid, Nova and Marquette are hit and miss with me - no real long-termpotential though as far as i'm concerned unless they really look different this year - still not buying Prov, Cinci, or St Johns as legit players, andSyracuse

is just a joke - doing less with more year in, year out. Time to retire the 2-3 jimmy.

Speaking of which - any talk of the new 3-pt line affecting early practices/strats yet? maybe this is the year the 2-3 actually becomes effective again.

 

[the lowa]

Biue and Epps to Maryland can be a problem for all teams in the ACC

For Bishop Maginn HS (NY) combo guard Taran Buie, the process continues. Buie continues on a semi-whirlwind tour of college campuses, while rehabbing hisinjured ankle.

TT caught up with the talented scorer yesterday to update his recruitment and the status of his injury, fresh off his Maryland Madness visit last weekend.

"The ankle is coming along," said Buie. "I am probably about two weeks away from getting back on the court. We actually start practice onNovember 3, so I hope to be ready by then. It's a good thing that the injury happened when it did. I am anxious to get back on the court. We (BishopMaginn) have a very strong team this year. I think we can win a state title . We have seven guys on our roster who have D-1 potential. I'm eager to getstarted."

Buie, who appears to be 6-1 tops, was seen shooting around on the Comcast Center floor prior to Maryland Madness with potential 2010 recruits Isaiah Epps andRoscoe Smith, in a scene which no doubt had Terp fans salivating.

"I know Roscoe is a really good player and is very highly rated," said Buie. "Isaiah and I were playing in the IS8 Tournament in New York untilI got hurt. I have known him for a good while, and we get along great. He's my boy. There is just something about him and I playing together, we just havea feel for one another. I think in a sense, we are the same player. By that I mean, we both can shoot and both can handle. One guy does not have to get stuckwith all the ballhandling responsibilities. Both of us have a scorer's mentality, but I still think we complement each other well. I know Isaiah is reallyhigh on Maryland."

Buie has done a good job paring down his long list of schools into a one which is more manageable.

"This is my second trip down here to Maryland, and the plan now is to go to Georgia Tech next weekend (10/24) and then to Notre Dame the followingweekend. I had to postpone my first trip to South Bend when I hurt my ankle. Those three schools are probably the ones pushing the hardest right now,"said Buie. "My brother (Taylor Battle) goes to Penn State and they are in there, too. Taylor is a starting point guard there and of course, he wants methere. I would say Rutgers, Virginia Tech and a few others are still in the mix somewhat."

Buie has been paying attention to who the Terps are recruiting in 2009.

"I have seen a lot of James Padgett (6-8 NY, who committed to UM in September). He is not a big time scorer but he is a warrior. James is the kind of kidyou like to play with. What he does is battle, he will get the ball off the glass, and get it to the guards. He will be a defender and rebounder and he is avery good athlete. I have not seen Jordan (Williams) play, but I hear he is a good low post scorer. The coaches told me that they are trying to shore up theinside game with the '09 class, and then really concentrate on getting some perimeter players in '10. I guess that is where Isaiah and I wouldfit," said Buie.

Buie was accompanied on his trip to Maryland by his mother and his high school coach, Rich Hurley. Hurley was impressed by the Comcast Center and the trip ingeneral.

"It was a tiring trip," said Hurley. "We got up around 5 Friday morning and flew down. We toured the campus, met with some academic people, andalso the strength coach. It was all very impressive. They had a real nice crowd for Maryland Madness and obviously there is some strong fan support atMaryland.
"We plan on getting in two more trips (Ga Tech and Notre Dame) before practice starts and then will concentrate on our team. Taran is narrowing thingsdown, but I don't expect a decision until the spring. That is the way it looks now, but sometimes kids get a certain feel for a school and go ahead andcommit. We will know more after the next two visits. I know he likes Maryland a lot....that is why we came down for this event and stayed for the footballgame."

Gary Williams has been up to see Buie at Maginn, and was also there for a coaching clinic in which he was one of the featured speakers. Assistants ChuckDriesell and Robert Ehsan have also made several stops in Albany to show the love.

Though there is no "official" final list, at the moment at least, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, and the Terps appear to be the main contenders. We haveheard that there may be some family sentiment towards the Irish, but in the end, Taran himself will make the call.
According to Coach Hurley, Maryland has done a great job recruiting Buie, getting on him early and staying in constant touch with him. Buie's relationshipwith Epps is certainly a plus, and the idea of them playing together in college appears to intrigue both players. But neither prospect seems likely to pledgeanytime soon, so the beat goes on.

Buie, who TT has compared to a more bouncy version of Juan Dixon, has a knack for scoring, combining a dynamite mid range game, with solid outside shooting,excellent hops, and a terrific competitive spirit. The '4 star' prospect obviously enjoyed his visit to Maryland, and now all Terp fans can do is waitand see what happens with his GT and ND visits.

Buie is an excellent student with a 90 average at Bishop Maginn, and qualifying will not be an issue.

 

[allen3xis]

You're right, there won't be a 10 team league bid...but, I think 11 teams are going to be NCAA quality. No doubt. The record's just won'treflect cause of beating each other.

Speaking of which - any talk of the new 3-pt line affecting early practices/strats yet? maybe this is the year the 2-3 actually becomes effective again.

One annoying part of this..
Women's line did not change....so every gym that hosts women's and men's games (almost all) will have both lines within in a foot of each other.

Just a little annoyance...and certainly could cause a few missed calls.

2-3 zone could be a little more effective....the good shooters will always be able to shoot....but how some of those 4's have gone out to the 3 line...theycould face the impact.

...
If Gary lands Buie and/or Roscoe...

He's handing out big time money from Boosters or somebody. PERIOD.

 

[craftsy21]

"My brother (Taylor Battle) goes to Penn State and they are in there, too. Taylor is a starting point guard there and of course, he wants me there.

C'mon man - you gotta get the brother-brother combo working here - best backcourt since the Crispins

 

[allen3xis]

He's better than Talor....by quite a bit.

And I like Talor's game.

 

[allen3xis]

Bobby Gonzo is such a jerk..

Callin one of his rotation players a border line Big East player

and..


ON THE EXTENSIONS GIVEN TO FRED HILL AND NORM ROBERTS.

I could sit here and say there's a couple of guys in the metropolitan area who don't have winning records who got extensions - I'm not knockingthem. I'm just comparing. I could say there are guys who haven't proved themselves by having no postseason wins.

...him and Fred Hill gona scrap this year, I swear.

 

[jamesonnt]

eugene harvey is a beast!

but rutgers is gonna be $@%!+!%' on seton hall in a few years ...

 

[allen3xis]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Gary Parrish
[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]
[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Yes, it's that time of the year again.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]All together now: Player rankings![/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]You love them, I love them and is there any way we won't end up arguing about them? Obviously, the answer isNo. It's unavoidable (and kind of fun). But to try to minimize the senseless debates I have posted a somewhat thorough explanation of the player rankings in the blog, and I would encourage you --or even beg you -- to read it before going any further. It could help cut down on the Parrish-is-an-idiot e-mails, and that's a goalworth having.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Anyway, here's the deal:[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]First I'll rank 40 point guards and combo guards.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Then 30 wings.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]Then 30 big men.[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]So when we're all done what we'll have is a list of 100 college basketball players, i.e., the names of theguys who will dictate how this season unfolds. Again, to better understand how I ranked the players and why I grouped them a certain way, I would implore youto click this link and read the explanation in the blog. I think it pretty much coverseverything. And after you do that and return, you'll find that Davidson's Stephen Curry headlines CBSSports.com's 2008-09 Preseason CollegeBasketball Player Rankings because he is the best point or combo in the nation, best I can tell.[/font]
[h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]1. StephenCurry (Davidson)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

Why he's here: Curry averaged 25.9 points last season and became the smiling face of college basketball thanks to a run to the EliteEight. Consequently, any doubts about whether he could dominate power programs were buried forever, and the rest of the nation must now accept that thesport's best guard resides in the Southern Conference.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]2. DarrenCollison (UCLA)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

Why he's here: Collison is a playmaking, defensive-minded point guard who has been to three Final Fours. He averaged 14.5 points per gamelast season, and if he's good this season he could lead UCLA to the Final Four again.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]3. Ty Lawson(North Carolina)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

Why he's here: Lawson isn't a great shooter, but his speed and ability to get to the rim make that a non-issue. He's the sparkplugthat makes the nation's best team run, and when they run they run really, really fast.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]4. PatrickMills (Saint Mary's)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

Why he's here: Mills helped his reputation this summer playing for the Australian national team. He scored 13points against Team USA and should put at least twice that much on more than one WCC opponent this season.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]5. Jrue Holiday (UCLA)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

Why he's here: Holiday is the reason UCLA won't miss Russell Westbrook all that much. The former McDonald's All-American will bean impact player from Day 1 and help Darren Collison form one of the best backcourts in America.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]6. Tyreke Evans (Memphis)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

Why he's here: Evans' game is suited for John Calipari's dribble-drive motion offense, and he's likely to be the Tigers'leading scorer. After that, he'll enter the NBA Draft and presumably go in the lottery.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]7. Jonny Flynn(Syracuse)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

Why he's here: Far as pure point guards go, Flynn might be the best. He has most of the natural instincts needed for the position, and nowhe just needs to take the Orange back to the NCAA tournament and snap this two-year drought.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]8. A.J. Price(Connecticut)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

Why he's here: Price was full of problems early in his career; brain surgery cost him one year and the theft of laptops another. Still, hehas recovered better than expected, evidence being how the UConn point guard averaged 14.5 points and 5.8 assists last season before tearing his ACL in theNCAA tournament.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]9. SherronCollins (Kansas)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

Why he's here: The nation will get to see how good Collins really is now that Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers are out of the way. Theguess here is that he's pretty damn good, and more minutes will equal bigger numbers.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]10. JeremyPargo (Gonzaga)[/font][/h4]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

Why he's here: Pargo has established himself as a dominant, get-to-the-rim point guard and helped the Zags solidify their status amongelite programs. He averaged 12.1 points and 6.0 assists last season to earn WCC Player of the Year honors.[/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica]

[/font][h4][font=Arial, Helvetica]The next 30[/font][/h4]

11. Tyrese Rice (Boston College)	21. Devan Downey (South Carolina)	31. Deonta Vaughn (Cincinnati)
12. Nick Calathes (Florida)	22. A.J. Abrams (Texas)	32. Marcus Thornton (LSU)
13. Jack McClinton (Miami)	23. Kyle McAlarney (Notre Dame)	33. Kemba Walker (Connecticut)
14. Jerel McNeal (Marquette)	24. Levance Fields (Pittsburgh)	34. Dominic James (Marquette)
15. Lester Hudson (UT-Martin)	25. Kenny Hasbrouck (Siena)	35. Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech)
16. Scottie Reynolds (Villanova)	26. Willie Warren (Oklahoma)	36. Ron Steele (Alabama)
17. Eric Maynor (Virginia Commonwealth)	27. Antonio Anderson (Memphis)	37. Eric Devendorf (Syracuse)
18. Kalin Lucas (Michigan State)	28. Manny Harris (Michigan)	38. Matt Bouldin (Gonzaga)
19. Stefon Jackson (UTEP)	29. Greivis Vasquez (Maryland)	39. Armon Johnson (Nevada)
20. Curtis Jerrells (Baylor)	30. Chris Warren (Ole Miss)	40. Trevon Hughes (Wisconsin)

 

[allen3xis]

RIEK PASSES FIRST TEST

Cincinnati coach Mick Cronin wasn't allowed to comment, but sources told FOXSports.com that freshman big man John Riek passed the SAT and now just needsthe necessary score on the TOEFL test (a test for English as a foreign language) and he'll be able to play for the Bearcats in the second semester.

This would be huge for Cronin & Co., who have a healthy Mike Williams and freshman Yancy Gates up front already.

Williams hasn't played a game in nearly two years when he was a reserve forward at Texas. He sat out last season due to a ruptured Achilles.

``I'm fine. I'm better now than I was two years ago," Williams said. ``I'm stronger."

NOVA'S CLARK HEALTHY

No one really knew what was wrong with Shane Clark last season. His numbers basically remained the same and the Villanova forward struggled in conference play.

``I just hit a wall," Clark said. "I was exhausted."

``In the fourth game of the Big East schedule, I was done," he added.

Clark said he's eating better and proclaimed himself in the "best shape of his life."

Clark has gained 15 pounds and will play at around 215 this season.

SUMMERS OF LOVE

With Roy Hibbert and Jonathan Wallace history, DeJuan Summers realizes he has no choice but to step up.

``I have to become a leader," Summers said. "I've watched those guys do it and I think I'm ready."

Summers is the leading returning scorer at 11.1 points per game, but he should have a quality supporting cast with veterans Jessie Sapp, sophomores ChrisWright and Austin Freeman and freshman Greg Monroe.

``He definitely does everything," Summers said of Monroe. ``He's not very vocal, but he's so skilled, mature and has the best basketball IQI've seen of any freshman."

FRIARS WILL RUN

The difference between Providence then and now: The Friars will get out and push it.

``We're going to always be looking to run," Friars senior guard Jeff Xavier said.

New coach remembered speaking to one media member two years ago when he filled in for his father, Tom, at Missouri Valley Conference media day.

It was me.

``Last year I had about four or five people talking to me," Davis laughed. "We were picked ninth."

Well, Davis is actually picked 10th in the Big East.

``In this conference, the 10th-place team could be in the Top 25," he said.

Davis also said that point guard Sharaud Curry, who missed nearly all of last season with a foot injury, is practicing without much problem.

``He's doing everything, but isn't necessarily going through every practice until the end," Davis said.

``He's going to have some rust, but we're not very deep at the point guard spot," he added. "His health will help us. That's anunderstatement."

BURRELL KNOWS ROLE

St. John's sophomore big man Justin Burrell admits he didn't understand his role last season.

That's changed.

``I know what I need to do now," Burrell said. "I'm excited about the season. People are writing us off, but people don't understand we werefreshmen."

Burrell, a native New Yorker, said the toughest part of last season was not having an upperclassman to go to for advice.

``I had no senior leadership at my position," he said. "I had nobody to go to and that's a big difference in college basketball."

RANDOM NOTES: Former UConn freshman Nate Miles has landed at the College of Southern Idaho, according to numerous sources. … Georgia Southernpicked up a commitment from forward Toarlyn Fitzpatrick out of King High in Tampa. ... Providence senior Geoff McDermott, who struggled with knee problems ayear ago, said he's as healthy as he's ever been to start a season. McDermott on new coach Keno Davis: ``Even when he gets mad, he'slaid-back."

According to sources close to the situation, Georgia Tech senior wing De'Andre Bell will miss the entire season due to spinal stenosis, the same spinalcord injury that forced NBA point guard T.J. Ford to miss the entire 2004-05 campaign.

Bell started 22 games last season, averaged 6.6 points and has been the team's top perimeter defender, but the Yellow Jackets don't have much depththis season.

Now look for Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt to use Zach Peacock more at small forward.

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

Has anybody in the country raised their stock more than Patty Mills????

Jeez.....