Big East Conference Notebook
Thomas and Krauser Nominated
Senior guard Chris Thomas of Notre Dame and Pittsburgh’s Carl Krauser have each been nominated as finalists for the Bob Cousy College Point Guard of the Year Award. Thomas, who was nominated last year for the award, is currently averaging 14.2 points per game and 5 assists per game. Krauser has averages of 13.6 ppg and 5.6 rebounds per game while leading the league in assists (6.8 apg). St. Joseph’s Jameer Nelson won the award last season.
College Gameday
It’s always fun during college football season (or “that other sport”) to tune into ESPN College Game Day on Saturday. An all-day event live from a different featured campus every other week, the show is always chaotic and fans holding up signs usually drown out the broadcast.
The college hoops version of Game Day debuted last week live from Storrs, Conn. The show led up to the UConn versus Pitt game at 9 p.m. A massive snowstorm shut down most of Connecticut’s roadways so ESPN was forced to act on the fly. The show was done from inside Gampel Pavilion where students were invited inside to participate. The turnout was strong, especially from students, who received more than 2,000 donated tickets from season ticket holders who watched from home during the storm.
Player of the Week
Jared Dudley, Boston College
The sophomore forward averaged 27.5 ppg in wins over Villanova and at St. John’s. The 6’7″ California native sealed the victory over the Wildcats Wednesday with free throws for the Eagles’ 15th consecutive win and Dudley finished with 36 points. In a 79-73 win Saturday at St. John’s, Dudley scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds as BC moved to 16-0 on the season and cracked the AP Top Ten.
Rookie of the Week
Roy Hibbert, Georgetown Hoyas
The freshman center had a big week, outshining classmate Jeff Green. The 7’2″ Maryland native scored 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds in the Hoyas’ 55-54 upset win against Notre Dame. His dunk at the buzzer to win the game sent the crowd at the MCI Center into frenzy. Earlier in the week Hibbert had 12 points and 14 rebounds in a 78-73 overtime loss to Syracuse. Hibbert managed to get ‘Cuse center Craig Forth to foul out while holding him to just 10 points.
1. Syracuse Orange (7-0 Big East, 20-1 overall)
Next Up: Saturday at Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Syracuse trailed by 18 points at Rutgers and then unleashed the hounds. In a rare move, the ‘Cuse went to man-to-man defense to start the second half and scored nine points in nearly 50 seconds, which eventually led to a resounding 96-84 victory over the Scarlet Knights. Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara scored 21 points each for No. 4 Syracuse.
2. Boston College Eagles (5-0, 16-0)
Next Up: Wednesday at Providence at 7:30 p.m., Saturday vs. Georgetown at 7:30 p.m.
Jared Dudley continued to provoke the crowd at Carnesecca Arena. His comments were anything but subtle and his game made him the king of Queens on Saturday as BC manufactured a 79-73 win at St. John’s. Six players finished with nine or more points for the Eagles, who cracked the AP Top Ten at No. 8.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-2, 12-4)
Next Up: Wednesday at Villanova at 8 p.m. (ESPN2), Sunday vs. Connecticut at 3:45 p.m. (CBS)
The Irish suffered a blow, losing as time expired to Georgetown by 55-54. Colin Falls and Chris Quinn scored 13 points while Chris Thomas added 10 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists. Earlier in the week, Notre Dame managed a 70-57 victory over West Virginia. Falls, a sophomore guard from Illinois, continued his hot shooting knocking down five three-pointers for 19 points in the win.
4. Georgetown Hoyas (4-2, 21-5)
Next Up: Tuesday vs. St. John’s at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at Boston College at 7:30 p.m.
Obviously the Hoyas did not read the headlines: they were not supposed to be this good. But that is why the games are played and when Roy Hibbert’s dunk ignited the crowd as time expired, Georgetown had won by 55-54 over Notre Dame. Preceding this game was a visit to Syracuse where the Hoyas kept it close losing by 78-73 in overtime.
5. Pittsburgh Panthers (3-2, 13-3)
Next Up: Saturday vs. Syracuse at 7 p.m. (ESPN), Monday vs. Providence at 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
Senior forward Chevon Troutman scored 25 of his career high 29 points in the second half en route to a 76-66 victory at UConn. Troutman led his team back from a 17-point deficit. Earlier in the week Pitt fell to St. John’s 65-62 despite 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting from Carl Krauser.
6. Connecticut Huskies (3-2, 11-4)
Next Up: Tuesday at West Virginia at 7 p.m., Sunday at Notre Dame at 3:45 p.m. (CBS)
There are two ways for UConn to take last week’s loss to Pittsburgh: (a) this will benefit the Huskies. They will lose to Pittsburgh again in February and most likely face Pitt in the Big East tournament, with vengeance in mind, when it really counts, or (b) this was a brutal loss, worse than that of last weekend’s winter storm, a loss to a young, meandering team trying to deal with the title of being the defending national champions.
7. Villanova Wildcats (2-3, 10-4)
Next Up: Wednesday vs. Notre Dame at 8 p.m. (ESPN2), Saturday at Rutgers at Noon
With exception to Digger Phelps, the nation was shocked when Villanova completely dismantled No. 2 Kansas on national television this past Saturday, 83-62 at the Wachovia Center. At one point leading by more than 30 points the Wildcats were unconscious from downtown, hitting 12-of-19 three-point attempts. Curtis Sumpter, back from injury, scored 25 points while junior guard Allan Ray had a game-high 27.
8. West Virginia Mountaineers (1-4, 11-5)
Next Up: Tuesday vs. Connecticut at 7 p.m., Saturday at Providence at 7:30 p.m.
In the midst of a tough swing against the top Big East teams, West Virginia has dropped four straight and five of six. Losses to Syracuse and Notre Dame this past week have left coach John Beilein wondering whether the great start to the season was smoking mirrors. D’or Fischer and Pat Beilein have both struggled offensively as no player reached double figures in Wednesday’s 70-57 loss to Notre Dame.
9. Seton Hall Pirates (1-4, 9-7)
Next Up: Saturday at St. John’s at 2 p.m.
In-state rival Rutgers visited Continental Arena Saturday as the Pirates won handily 74-58. Junior center Kelly Whitney scored 19 points while grabbing seven rebounds. Whitney has played very well and showed up reigning Big East Rookie of the Year Chris Taft of Pittsburgh two weeks ago. On Monday, the Hall kept it close hosting UConn but fell 77-68 despite 22 points and eight rebounds from Andre Sweet.
10. St. John’s Red Storm (1-4, 7-8)
Next Up: Tuesday at Georgetown at 7:30 p.m., Saturday vs. Seton Hall at 2 p.m.
New York City kids have constantly flocked to schools outside the metropolitan area; most recently Pittsburgh has been the trendy place to go. So in what was another crucial stepping stone on their way to a full recovery, the Johnnies defeated Pittsburgh 65-62 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. Daryll Hill scored 25 points and Lamont Hamilton added 18. After the big win, it was tough for St. John’s to shake off Jared Dudley and Craig Smith. The undefeated BC Eagles came in to take a 79-73 win over the Red Storm Saturday.
11. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-5, 7-9)
Next Up: Saturday vs. Villanova at Noon
Ricky Shields and Quincy Douby are the appropriate ingredients for success at Rutgers. However the recipe when Syracuse visited Monday night did not quite turn out as originally planned. Douby’s shot rattled for what seemed like an eternity through the basket and then popped out as the Scarlet Knights were burned for an 86-84 loss. Rutgers led by as many as 18 points but Warrick and McNamara were just too much to handle. Filled with NBA-caliber runs, Rutgers went on a 26-6 run in the first half for a 54-36 halftime lead. Despite foul trouble, freshman Ollie Bailey scored 18 points while Shield’s 20 points and 11 rebounds led Rutgers.
12. Providence Friars (0-4, 9-8)
Next Up: Saturday vs. West Virginia at 7:30 p.m., Monday at Pittsburgh at 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
As the unselfish Ryan Gomes continues to struggle so does Providence, now claiming the rights to last place in the Big East and with it a four game losing streak. Point guard Donnie McGrath was held from the starting lineup against Rutgers for the first time this season, not a good sign from coach Tim Welsh. The Friars lost 72-67 to Rutgers. Dwight Brewington again led the way in scoring, with 18 points in the loss.
