Big East Conference 2005-06 Preview
by Jesse Ullmann and Zach Van Hart
A new frontier of Big East basketball will begin amidst some controversy. 16 teams? Won’t there be conflicting schedules? Is it really a good idea to not end up playing all your conference foes? Can they allow more than 7 teams from one conference into the NCAA Tournament? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Big East basketball ushers in a new era with the subtraction of Boston College and the addition of Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and South Florida. And from now on, night in and night out you get the best level of basketball in the country. 15 of the 16 members have been to at least one Final Four. From the following as you’ll see, in the midst of what will be known as the transitional year, there will be plenty of entertainment.
All-Big East
Gerry McNamara, Sr. G, Syracuse
Taquan Dean, Sr. G, Louisville
Rudy Gay, So. F, UConn
Carl Krauser, Sr. G, Pittsburgh
Allan Ray, Sr. G, Villanova
Player of the Year
Rudy Gay, Connecticut
Rookie of the Year
Eric Devendorf, Syracuse
1. Villanova Wildcats (24-8, 11-5 4th Place)
Projected Starting Five:
Jr. G Mike Nardi
Sr. G Randy Foye
Sr. G Allan Ray
Sr. F Curtis Sumpter
Sr. F Jason Fraser
Notes: The loss of assistant coach Fred Hill to Rutgers is going to be an adjustment. The target has already been placed on the back of the uniforms after receiving a generous Power Ranking of No. 4. Again the Wildcats are deep in the backcourt, but Curtis Sumpter’s health taken into question yet again could pose some problems. An extremely tough schedule including road trips to UConn, Louisville, Notre Dame and then Syracuse does not help either.
Mark your calendar: Dec 3 vs. Oklahoma, Jan. 14 @ Texas, Feb. 11 @ DePaul
2. Connecticut Huskies (23-8, 13-3 2nd Place)
Projected Starting Five:
Fr. G Craig Austrie
Sr. G Rashad Anderson
So. F Rudy Gay
Jr. F Josh Boone
Sr. F-C Hilton Armstrong
Notes: In perhaps the toughest off-season UConn has ever faced, many obstacles are abounding. The loss of Charlie Villanueva and Andrew Bynum are no small blow. Marcus Williams was barred from playing until January while A.J. Price will be out for the year (and may very well transfer). Freshman guards Craig Austrie and Rob Garrison will be asked by coach Jim Calhoun to do more than they’ll be able to handle. UConn may still have the best frontcourt in the country.
Mark your calendar: Nov 22 @ Maui Invitational (Zona/Kansas), Feb. 13 @ Villanova, March 4 vs. Louisville
3. Louisville Cardinals (33-5, 1st Place in C-USA)
Projected Starting Five:
Sr. G Taquan Dean
Jr. G Brandon Jenkins
So. F Juan Palacios
Fr. F Brian Johnson
Fr. G Andre McGee
Notes: The Cardinals sustained heavy losses from last year’s Final Four team, as Francisco Garcia, Ellis Myles and Larry O’Bannon departed. Further handicapping them early on, Juan Palacios is out until mid-November with an extreme ankle sprain, while David Padgett will be out until at least December with a knee injury. Freshman Andre McGee will likely start the season at point guard and classmate Terrence Williams will also see significant time. Taquan Dean will be the leader of this team, but Palacios will likely develop as the team’s best player.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 17 @ Kentucky, Jan. 5 vs. Villanova, Feb. 25 @ West Virginia
4. Syracuse Orange (27-7, 11-5, 3rd Place)
Projected Starting Five:
Sr. G Gerry McNamara
Jr. G Lou McCroskey
Jr. F Demetris Nichols
Jr. F Terrence Roberts
Jr. C Darryl Watkins
Notes: He’s back. Gerry McNamara can change the outcome of the game as everyone witnessed in March 2003. McNamara this year faces a new challenge and that will be the absence of Hakim Warrick, who graduated and is in the NBA. Craig Forth and Josh Pace are also gone. Freshman Arinze Onuaku adds size at 6’9″ 255 and PG Eric Devendorf, whom many believe will be this year’s rookie of the year, adds depth behind Mac. Coach Jim Boeheim, inducted this summer into the Naismith Hall of Fame, has a very fast team and they will run a lot this year. Can they keep up though with this new-look Big East?
Mark you calendar: Jan. 21 @ Villanova, Feb. 18 vs. Louisville
5. West Virginia Mountaineers (24-11, 8-8, 7th Place)
Projected Starting Five:
Sr. G J.D. Collins
Sr. G-F Johannes Herber
Sr. G Mike Gansey
Sr. C Kevin Pittsnogle
Jr. F Frank Young
Notes: The Mountaineers return four of five starters from last year’s Elite Eight team including NCAA Tournament star Kevin Pittsnogle, who flirted with entering the NBA draft before returning for his senior year. Forward Tyrone Sally is the lone key loss for WVU. Aside from the starters and sixth man Patrick Beilein the Mountaineers are young, littered with sophomores and freshmen. With so many parts of last year’s team returning it’s curious why West Virginia is only picked fifth in the conference.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 22 @ Oklahoma, Jan. 8 @ Villanova, Feb. 18 vs. Connecticut
6. Georgetown Hoyas (19-13, 8-8, 7th Place)
Projected Starting Five:
Sr. F Brandon Bowman
So. F Jeff Green
Sr. G Ashanti Cook
So. C Roy Hibbert
Sr. F Darrel Owens
Notes: The Hoyas return all five starters and six of their top scorers from last season, led by forward Brandon Bowman and his 15.1 points per game. Coach John Thompson III has a year under his belt at his father’s old school and is likely to be in much more of a comfort zone. Georgetown was close to erasing its nearly decade-long slump last year and this could be a breakout season for the storied program.
Mark your calendar: Jan. 14 @ Connecticut, Jan. 21 vs. Duke, Feb. 19 @ Villanova
7. Pittsburgh Panthers (20-9, 10-6, 5th Place)
Projected Starting Five:
So. G Ron Ramon
Sr. G Carl Krauser
Jr. G Antonio Graves
Jr. F Levon Kendall
Jr. C Aaron Gray
Notes: Three Panther starters have departed, including Chevy Troutman and Chris Taft. Carl Krauser tossed the idea around, but decided to come back for his senior year (which, by the way, crushes the development of Brooklyn’s Levance Fields). The Bronx bomber will team with Ron Ramon in a very formidable backcourt. Five new names will grace Pitt’s roster this season, including 6’8″ freshman Ty Biggs and classmate Fields. The Panthers had a disappointing season in the Big East last year, especially at the Pete, and this year may be tougher with the addition of Louisville, DePaul, Marquette and Cincinnati to their schedule.
Mark your calendar: Feb. 9 vs. WV, Feb. 12 vs. Cincinnati, Feb. 18 @ Marquette
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (17-12, 9-7, 6th Place)
Projected Starting Five:
Jr. G Chris Quinn
Sr. C Torin Francis
Sr. F Rick Cornett
Jr. G Colin Falls
Jr. G Russell Carter
Notes: After being at ND for seemingly forever, point guard Chris Thomas graduated after last year. In his place, seniors Chris Quinn and Torin Francis will emerge as team leaders. The Irish saw its tournament bubble burst last season with too many non-conference losses, so a lighter schedule (prior to the beast of conference play) should not be an issue this year. Freshman Luke Zeller has potential to be a starter by season’s end.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 7 @ Alabama, Jan. 28 vs. Villanova, Feb. 4 @ Louisville
9. Cincinnati Bearcats (25-8, 12-4, 2nd Place in C-USA)
Projected Starting Five:
Sr. F Eric Hicks
Sr. F Armein Kirkland
Sr. F James White
Sr. G Jihad Muhammad
Fr. G Devan Downey
Notes: After a tumultuous off-season, the Bearcats enter the Big East with interim head coach Andy Kennedy and not Bob Huggins. Cincinnati returns four of five starters and will be led by forward Eric Hicks. Armein Kirkland has yet to live up to expectations at small forward; his development is key for the Bearcats. As expected in Cincinnati, it will depend on production from its freshmen and junior college transfers.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 3 vs. Memphis, Jan. 25 & Feb. 6 vs. Louisville, Feb. 23 vs. Villanova
10. St. John’s Red Storm (9-18, 3-13, 11th Place)
Projected Starting Five:
So. G Eugene Lawrence
Jr. G Daryll Hill
So. G Cedric Jackson
So. F Dexter Gray
Jr. F Lamont Hamilton
Notes: It will take a couple years for the residue from the sex scandal to go away, but there’s no question coach Norm Roberts has his team heading in the right direction. With a beautiful new practice facility and an impressive freshman class, the Red Storm again will remain competitive despite what will probably be a deceptive record. Anthony Mason Jr. has worked very hard the past 16 months to get to where he is now physically, and he actually resembles his father a little, the former NY Knicks star. Freshman Ricky Torres and veteran Daryll Hill are two purists when it comes to shooting and will be fun to watch. 6’10”, 240-pound Lamont Hamilton is back and creates a problem for scorers down low with teams such as West Virginia and UConn.
Mark your calendar: Jan. 4th @ Seton Hall, Jan. 25 @ UConn
11. DePaul Blue Demons (20-11, 10-6, 4th in C-USA)
Projected Starting Five:
Jr. G Sammy Meija
Fr. F Wilson Chandler
Jr. F Lorenzo Thompson
Sr. F-C Marlon Brumfield
So. G Cliff Cinkscales
Notes: Dave Leitao departed as head coach to take the head position at Virginia. Jerry Wainwright, previously the coach of the Richmond Spiders for the past 11 years, inherited the resurgent program. DePaul suffered heavy losses with the graduation of Quemont Greer, Drake Diener and LeVar Seals. Sammy Meija will move permanently to shooting guard, while Marlon Brumfield could break out as the Blue Demons latest star power forward.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 13 @ Wake Forest, March 2 vs. Syracuse, March 4 @ Notre Dame
12. Marquette Golden Eagles (19-12, 7-9, 9th in C-USA)
Projected Starting Five:
Sr. F Steve Novak
Sr. G Joe Chapman
So. F Ryan Amorso
Sr. C Chris Grimm
Fr. F Jerel McNeal
Notes: Mr. Everything Travis Diener graduated, leaving a large void for Marquette. Perhaps a bigger loss, though, was the transfer of swingman Dameon Mason to LSU, as he was expected to become the team’s top scorer. Steve Novak must take leadership of this team, a role he was reluctant to embrace during Diener’s tenure. Ryan Amorso and Chris Grimm are hard workers underneath, making up for a lack of talent.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 10 @ Wisconsin, Jan. 17 & 25 vs. DePaul, March 1 @ Louisville
13. Providence Friars (14-17, 4-12, 9th Place)
Projected Starting Five:
Sr. G Donnie McGrath
So. F DeSean White
Jr. G Dwight Brewington
Jr. F Herbert Hill
So. C Randall Hanke
Notes: Donnie McGrath needs just four three-pointers to break the school’s all-time record for makes, which will take one game. With Gomes gone, McGrath becomes the Friars’ centerpiece, while Dwight Brewington will team with him in scoring. Remember Brewington had an impressive 23 points against Wake Forest and another 23 against Michigan last season.
Four newcomers, however, will be expected to make an immediate contribution. With an extra scholarship available after the departure of Rob McKiver, an okay freshman class morphed into a very good one. The group features Weyinmi Efejuku (New York (NY) Rice HS), Jonathan Kale (6’8″, 240) and Geoff McDermott (6’7″, 230).
Mark your calendar: Dec. 6 vs. Florida, Jan. 7 @ Louisville, Feb. 17 @ Cincinnati
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (10-19, 2-14, Last Place)
Projected Starting Five:
So. F Ollie Bailey
Jr. G Quincy Douby
Jr. F Adrian Hill
Jr. G Marquis Webb
Jr. F Byron Joynes
Notes: Fred Hill was snatched up from Villanova for a reason: school President voiced his displeasure with coach Gary Waters last year. If winning does not become more prevalent this year, Waters is gone. But Rutgers will win, at least more than last year.
The Scarlet Knights will have 10 players listed at 6’7″ or taller and arguably their best recruiting class on the banks to date. Adrian Hill will make his grand return after missing nearly two years due to a knee injury. Ollie Bailey will score inside while Quincy Douby knocks them down from outside. A freshman class featuring Michigan’s Gatorade Player of the Year (Zack Gibson), a top 100 recruit and former Jordan Classic All-Star (J.R. Inman) and the New Jersey moneymaker (Anthony Farmer), makes the Rutgers season exciting again.
Mark your calendar: Jan. 28 vs. Louisville, March 5 @ St. John’s
15. Seton Hall Pirates (12-16, 4-12, 10th Place)
Projected Starting Five:
Sr. G Donald Copeland
Jr. C Grant Billmeier
So. F-C Marcus Cousin
Jr. G Jamar Nutter
Sr. F Kelly Whitney
Notes: Three freshman and two transfers will hopefully fill the voids of Andre Sweet, Justin Cerasoli and JR Morris. The Pirates are lucky to have gotten freshman John Garcia, who will most likely anchor the freshman class. 6’7″ Minnesota transfer Stan Gaines and 6’8″ Cincinnati transfer Mike Pilgrim (eligible 2nd semester) add much-needed size and depth. SHU returns a pair of veterans in Donald Copeland, who will start in place of Cerasoli at the point, and Kelly Whitney, the Pirates’ leading scorer last season. Louis Orr needs to prove this year he can win in East Rutherford.
Mark your calendar: Jan. 11 vs. Marquette, Feb 21 @ St. John’s, Feb. 28 vs. Cincinnati
16. USF Bulls (14-16, 5-11, 11th Place in C-USA)
Projected Starting Five:
Sr. G James Holmes
So. G Collin Dennis
Jr. G Chris Capko
Jr. F Melvin Buckley
Sr. C Solomon Jones
Notes: The Bulls are playing this season for Bradley Mosley, the 23-year-old USF player who passed away Oct. 29 after a year-long battle with cancer. Freshman Chris Howard, who was slated to take over the point guard duties left by graduated Brian Swift, blew out his knee in the fall and will miss the season. Coupled with graduations of Terrance Leather and Marlyn Bryant, USF appears to have a long season ahead of them. Transfers Chris Capko and Melvin Buckley must step up immediately.
Mark your calendar: Dec. 22 vs. Iowa State, Dec. 30 vs. UAB, March 1 vs. Connecticut
