Big East Conference Notebook
Gomes, Boone Mid-season Wooden Award Selections
Ryan Gomes has made the cut. Gomes, a 6-foot-8 senior forward from Providence was selected to the 2004-05 Mid-Season Wooden Award and All-American list. Gomes was a candidate for the preseason Wooden Award and was named preseason Big East Player of the Year by the coaches and the media. Gomes currently leads the Big East in scoring at 21.6 points per game and ranks No. 9 nationally. Joining him on the Wooden list is UConn sophomore Josh Boone. Boone, a 6-foot-10 sophomore from Maryland, is fifth in the country in blocked shots (3.2), 15th in the country in field goal percentage (.615), and heads a frontcourt that has been in the top 10 in the country in field goal percentage defense over the last two seasons.
Celebrating its 29th year, the Wooden Award is bestowed upon the nation’s most outstanding player. Those who have received the award include Michael Jordan (’84), Larry Bird (’79) and last year’s winner, St. Joseph’s point guard Jameer Nelson, who beat out UConn’s Emeka Okafor.
On March 29th, the top 10 players selected to the Wooden Award All-American Team will be announced.
Player of the Week
Charlie Villanueva, Connecticut Huskies
UConn’s Charlie Villanueva scored 22, 21 and 25 in wins at Providence, at Rutgers and home versus Notre Dame respectively. The 6-foot-10 sophomore forward blocked four shots and scored a game-high 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor against the Irish. Inconsistency had plagued Villanueva, a Brooklyn native, for a large portion of the season until recently. He ranks second (over 10 games played) on the team in scoring (12.8 ppg), rebounding (7.7 rebounds per game) and field goal percentage (.509).
Rookie of the Week
Rudy Gay, Connecticut Huskies
UConn swept the Big East weekly awards with Rudy Gay’s stellar performance in a 94-89, double-overtime victory at Providence. The Maryland product scored 15 points in 37 minutes, nailing 3-of-4 from three-point range, and added four rebounds and four assists. The 6-foot-9 freshman, who heavily considered jumping straight to the NBA instead of UConn, has been a factor in the Huskies’ successes this season. Since he was inserted into the starting lineup midway through the season and with Rashad Anderson out due to an infection, Gay is UConn’s third leading scorer at 11.0 ppg, has blocked 44 shots, is averaging 6 rpg and shoots better than 48 percent from outside.
1. Boston College Eagles (11-1 Big East, 22-1 overall)
Next Up: Wednesday at Villanova at 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
If BC defeats Villanova tonight they will virtually lock up the top seed in the Big East Tournament. No one could have predicted the kind of run that the Eagles are making, but with Craig Smith, Jared Dudley and Sean Marshall, No.3 BC will be hard to stop. Hosting Syracuse for a Saturday evening contest, BC, in perhaps its most convincing win of the season, dropped the Orange 65-60. Smith and Nate Doornekamp pushed around Hakim Warrick and never allowed him to get into rhythm. Senior guard Jermaine Watson was one of three Eagles to score in double figures, finishing with 11 points. BC turned a positive into a negative midway through the second half. With 13:37 left and a questionable foul called against BC, starting guard Louis Hinnant, already with four fouls, was called for a technical, his fifth and final out. With nearly 14 minutes left in the game, it seemed inevitable Syracuse would make a run. But backup guard Steve Hailey replaced Hinnant quite nicely and although the Orange would threaten in the waning minutes, BC maintained composure.
2. Connecticut Huskies (10-3, 18-6)
Next Up: Saturday at Pittsburgh at 3:45 p.m. (CBS)
With three very important games left on the schedule, UConn finds itself trailing BC by one and a half games and is just a game ahead of No. 3 Syracuse. The team’s leading scorer, Rashad Anderson, is still out but is expected to return to practice shortly. Marcus Williams continues to pass with incredible efficiency and has developed into a threat on offense. He nearly put up a triple-double against Notre Dame on Monday scoring 17 points, dishing out 12 assists and grabbing nine rebounds. Sophomore Charlie Villanueva is coming around after three consecutive 20-point performances, and Denham Brown, recently inserted into the starting lineup and forced to take on a larger role with Anderson’s absence, is averaging 16 ppg in the last five games.
3. Syracuse Orange (9-4, 22-5)
Next Up: Wednesday vs. St. John’s at 7 p.m., Saturday vs. Providence at noon (ESPN2)
After a 7-0 start in conference play, things have taken a turn for the worse for the Orange. Syracuse, following a 65-60 loss at BC, has lost four of six and has fallen from No. 6 to No. 9 last week to No. 15 this week in the national polls. On Saturday, Syracuse looked like it might be able to escape with a win at Boston College. Lou McCroskey’s three-pointer with 1:07 left to play pulled the Orange to within three at 58-55. But Gerry McNamara shot two air balls and BC hit its free throws. Hakim Warrick saw a new game plan from the opposition to start the game: it was called “beat him up.” Warrick was thrown all over the place and was immediately made uncomfortable, taking him out of his usual elements. The Orange may have two wins coming with St. John’s and Providence on tap but they finish up with what could be a very big post-season implication game, at Storrs.
4. Pittsburgh Panthers (8-4, 18-5)
Next Up: Wednesday vs. West Virginia at 7 p.m., Saturday vs. Connecticut at 3:45 p.m. (CBS)
Pittsburgh is in a tough spot right now as the current No. 4 team in the Big East. If the Panthers finished the season No. 4, yes they would still receive a bye, but they would have to play in the afternoon quarterfinal game against the No. 5 seed, the game most conceivable for a team at the top to get upset. Georgetown is currently No. 5, but with the Hoyas’ tough remaining schedule, Villanova is very likely to replace them, which would be an incredibly tough first-round matchup for Pittsburgh. The Panthers have critical games remaining at BC and Notre Dame plus a tough home contest versus UConn where the Huskies will look for revenge following an embarrassing defeat on ESPN’s College Game Day debut.
5. Georgetown Hoyas (8-5, 16-8)
Next Up: Sunday vs. Villanova at noon
Just as the Big East prepared itself for the possibility of sending seven teams to the big dance, Georgetown probably just eliminated any possibility of an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Hoyas suffered a crucial 76-67 loss to St. John’s on Sunday and unless they can pull of an upset in the Big East Tournament in the early rounds, the surprisingly successful rookie season for John Thompson III will end. No worry though, because these Georgetown Hoyas proved critics wrong by staying away from last place in the conference regular season and Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert will eventually get to dance in March.
6. Villanova Wildcats (7-5, 17-6)
Next Up: Wednesday vs. BC at 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
Again, Villanova, on paper, is top 4 in the Big East. The well-balanced arsenal fully came to fruition on Sunday hosting in-state rival Pittsburgh. The Wildcats led the entire way and never let up beating Pitt 80-72. The teams leading scorer Allan Ray finished with 23 points, 21 coming after intermission. Curtis Sumpter finished with 18 points and is now averaging 18 points after three straight wins. Randy Foye added 15 points while the speedy point guard Mike Nardi finished with 13 points connecting on 3-of-5 from three-point range.
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-6, 16-7)
Next Up: Sunday vs. UCLA at 2pm (CBS)
So just go ahead and blame it on Digger Phelps. During the season last year while Dennis Latimore sat out after transferring from Arizona, Phelps kept harping on how the 6-foot-8 forward is going to be the best player in the Big East come next year. Well, next year has arrived and all of the expectations that resonated in South Bend from Phelps’ prediction have grown quiet. Latimore played just five minutes and scored five points on Saturday as Notre Dame escaped with a 62-61 victory at Providence. With Latimore as well as Torin Francis struggling on offense, the hot outside shooting for the Irish continued. It was Chris Quinn’s 17 points leading the way. Rick Cornett had his best outing of the season with 14 points to go along with 14 rebounds.
“I know we can see (Providence) again,” said head coach Mike Brey hinting at a possible rematch in the Big East tourney. Brey added that this win had more value adding, “a winning away record puts us as an NCAA (tournament) team.”
Only 24 hours after the win over Providence, the Irish traveled to the Hartford Civic Center. Following an 88-74 loss, UConn coach Calhoun noted that it would not have mattered who he played that night because the Huskies were just firing on all cylinders. Colin Falls led four players in double figures scoring 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting from downtown.
8. West Virginia Mountaineers (6-7, 16-8)
Next Up: Wednesday at Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m., Saturday vs. Rutgers at 2 p.m.
West Virginia hosted Seton Hall on Sunday, and Ty Sally was the difference. The 6-foot-7 senior forward scored a game-high 25 points, and the Mountaineers finished with a season-high 96 points in a 96-86 victory over the Pirates. D’ or Fischer played just 14 minutes and is seeing his role with the team diminish. Mike Gansey shot 7-of-13 from the outside and finished with 19 points while guard Joe Herber added 10 points to go along with eight assists.
9. Seton Hall Pirates (3-9, 11-12)
Next Up: Wednesday vs. Providence at 7 p.m. (ESPN2), Saturday at BC at noon
The Pirates are getting restless after losing five of six. Six-foot-seven junior J.R. Morris was suspended for last Thursday’s game against Villanova to focus on academics and his status from now on will be a game-by-game decision. While Morris is third on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg), Kelly Whitney, the team’s leading scorer (12.5 ppg), was benched for the St. John’s game because of a late arrival to practice. Seton Hall was clearly affected by the leftover residue from the outside distractions last week as the Pirates fell at home versus Villanova by 66-52 and at West Virginia by 96-86. A downright sloppy performance by SHU against Villanova resulted in 16 first-half turnovers.
10. Saint John’s Red Storm (3-10, 9-14)
Next Up: Wednesday at Syracuse at 7 p.m., Saturday vs. Duke at 1 p.m. (ABC)
Perhaps St. John’s is trying to prove something to us all. Perhaps coach Norm Roberts feels that maybe his players still do have something to prove after all is said and done. The Red Storm, with a self-inflicted post-season ban and no chance of playing in the NCAA tournament, is winning. Six players scored in double figures Sunday as the Red Storm beat a rejuvenated Georgetown by 76-67. Senior forward Phil Missere put up a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds and freshman guard Dexter Gray, now averaging 6.7 ppg and 5.0 rpg, added 12 points. There were no expectations placed on St. John’s this year and Daryll Hill, the Big East’s second leading scorer (20.0 ppg), is just enjoying the season. But Hill and his teammates will face J.J. Redick, Daniel Ewing and Duke on Saturday preceded by Gerry McNamara and his Syracuse Orange on Wednesday night. The Duke game, which will take place at Madison Square Garden and will be televised by ABC, is now approaching and has been an annoying blip on the radar screen all season.
11. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-11, 8-15)
Next Up: Wednesday vs. Arkansas-Monticello at 7:30 p.m.
So what happens if Rutgers loses to the Boll Weevils of Arkansas-Monticello on Wednesday night? The Boll Weevils fell out of the Div. II top 25 last week after a crushing 52-50 loss to Central Arkansas. National Player of the Year candidate Billy McDaniel is leading the way averaging 16.3 ppg and 8.9 rpg.
A Rutgers loss to the Boll Weevils is not likely but it would cap a disappointing season for the Scarlet Knights. Coach Gary Waters and his crew lost 85-63 to Connecticut on Monday. At one point, the Huskies led 37-13. Since Ricky Shields’ falling-out two weeks ago with the university chancellor, he has been taken out of the starting lineup.
12. Providence Friars (1-11, 11-15)
Next Up: Wednesday at Seton Hall at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN), Saturday at Syracuse at noon (ESPN2)
The Friars had crawled all the way back into the game. Notre Dame, after opening up a 14-point lead, turned the ball over underneath the Friars basket with 4 seconds left. PC would have a chance to win with an inbounds pass. The play drawn up was designed for Ryan Gomes, who backed his way into the paint for a turnaround jump shot that just barely grazed the rim. The loss was the first in three games for Providence and three games remain including UCLA and Pittsburgh. Providence falls to 1-6 at home in conference play.
Perhaps the most telling comments from any player on any team after any game this season came from DeSean White following Saturday’s one-point loss.
“My job is to set screens, bring energy for the team,” said the 6-foot-7 freshman in a somber tone slouched over in his foldaway chair. “But it’s very frustrating. Us young guys don’t really know how to win. Or what it’s like to win.” At least Providence is competing in the losses. The Friars have now lost 10 games by nine points or less.
