Big East Notebook
by Jesse Ullmann and Zach Van Hart
Moore serving suspension
Cincinnati’s Chadd Moore will miss the next three games after being suspended for the team’s first five contests because he played in a summer league without permission. The senior guard has not played since February after he left the team with chronic back problems. He becomes eligible when the Bearcats play Vanderbilt on Dec. 10.
1. Connecticut Huskies (4-0)
Next: Tuesday vs. Army at 7 p.m.
If those in charge of assembling the field of 65 and in charge of the polls questioned the vigor of the Connecticut Huskies, then you better believe that at the end of the Maui Invitational all questions were put to rest. UConn, by defeating Arkansas, Arizona, and Gonzaga in a 65-63-championship thriller, set the table for a delicious season. Seniors Denham Brown and Hilton Armstrong may very well have had their coming-out parties. Possibly the biggest surprise of all? The Huskies proved they could win big games without Rudy Gay.
2. Cincinnati (2-0)
Next: Friday vs. Holy Cross at 8 p.m.
The Bearcats were about to lose their first home opener in 40 years, before James White came to the rescue. The senior forward stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for a dunk with 5.8 seconds remaining, tying Cincinnati with Murray State at 70 and forcing overtime. The Bearcats went on to win their opener 79-75. They cruised during the second game, defeating Illinois State 76-59. Freshman Devan Downey came off the bench to score 21 points and key runs during both halves.
3. Georgetown (2-0)
Next: Saturday vs. Vanderbilt at 1 p.m.
Talk about a nice start. Sophomore center Roy Hibbert scored the Hoyas first 15 points, en route to a career-high 23 and a 73-66 Georgetown win against James Madison on Monday. Hibbert only missed one shot all night, going 7-of-8 from the field and 9-of-9 from the free-throw line. Sunday the Hoyas opened the season on the road with a 72-49 win against Navy. Hibbert again led the team with 20 points, while fellow sophomore Jeff Green contributed 13 points and senior guard Ashanti Cook dropped in 12 points.
4. Notre Dame (2-0)
Next: Saturday vs. North Carolina State at 7 p.m.
Not a bad couple of warm-ups for the Irish. Notre Dame started the season with two relatively easy wins, knocking off Lafayette 84-66 and Hofstra 69-50 in the comforts of South Bend, Ind. Depending on unproven talent to overcome the departure of point guard Chris Thomas, Notre Dame received a career-high 18 points from sophomore Rob Kurz against Lafayette, followed by Colin Falls’ 19 points and five 3-pointers against Hofstra. The Irish trailed by four at halftime against Hofstra but outscored the Flying Dutchman 40-17 during the second half.
5. Pittsburgh (2-0)
Next: Saturday vs. Maine at 7:30 p.m.
Levance Fields was 13 years old when Carl Krauser began his first season in Pittsburgh. The chemistry of the two backcourt starters will be key this season and they’re of to a good start. Through three games Krauser is averaging 15ppg and 5rpg while Fields leads the team in free throw percentage and assists. The Panthers have easy wins over St. Peters and Robert Morris while edging Maine 52-49.
6. Providence (2-0)
Next: Monday @ Fairfield at 7:30 p.m.
At the start PC thought they’d have 10 players on scholarship but Dwight Brewington quit and then there were 8 and then DeSean White got hurt (and has not played yet) and then there were 8, four of whom are freshman! One of the those youngsters, Wayinmi Efejuku, could be PC’s number one scorer one day. 6’11” sophomore Randall Hanke has a combined 40 points through two relatively easy wins over Vermont and New Hampshire.
7. Rutgers (2-0)
Next: Wednesday vs. Temple at 7:30 p.m.
12 of 16 Big East teams will make the end-of-season Tournament and the Scarlet Knights are hoping to be on of them. That may not be realistic but the Rutgers are off to an undefeated 3-0 start with Quincy Douby averaging a team best 17.3 ppg. Depth will become an issue as the season progresses for Rutgers as Gary waters has chosen to play just three guys off the bench with any significant minutes.
8. St. John’s (2-0)
Next: Tuesday vs. Hofstra at 7:30 p.m.
The NY Post and the Daily News have officially claimed that the Red Storm is back. This is a tough statement to make but it is definitely true that St. John’s has become the talk of this town. College basketball is alive and well here in NYC and in part due to a couple of Big East newcomers. Aaron Spears and Anthony Mason Jr. have been inserted into Norm Roberts starting lineup while Ricky Torres will come off the bench and shoot from outside. Daryll Hill is tops in scoring with 15 points apiece in good wins over St. Francis (Brooklyn) and Niagara.
9. Louisville (1-0)
Next: Dec. 3 vs. Prairie View A&M at 1 p.m.
Well, the Cardinals played one. It’s going to be awhile before we see them in action again. Louisville opened its season Saturday with a 78-61 win against Tennessee Martin; now it is in the midst of a two-week hiatus. Four starters reached double figures against the Skyhawks, led by sharp shooter Taquan Dean’s 18 points. Dean struggled from the field though, going 5-of-17 (3-of-13 from the 3-point line). Juan Palacios, injured all preseason, began what many critics feel will be a steady dose of double-doubles, scoring 16 and grabbing 11 rebounds.
10. South Florida (1-0)
Next: Saturday vs. Jacksonville at 7 p.m.
The Bulls continued one of their few winning traditions – taking home openers – as they knocked off Alcorn State on Saturday 69-52. Guard James Holmes scored 21 points for USF, one of four players to reach double figures. Head coach Robert McCullum doesn’t believe in having a large bench and his team’s first game reflected that, as only seven players walked on the court. Center Solomon Jones, expected to fill the big shoes left by graduated Terrance Leather, finished with 16 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks in a stellar performance. The Bulls will need a lot more of that from him this season.
11. Villanova (1-0)
Next: Wednesday @ Rider at 7:30 p.m.
With just one game in the books Jay Wright and his Wildcats have had more time to try and figure things out. One thing’s for sure this will be one of the best backcourts in the country. Randy Foye score 21 points in a 78-35 mauling of Stony Brook. Foye joins Mike Nardi and Allan Ray. None of these guys are turkeys. Will Sheridan and Jason Fraser are still awaiting word on whether or not Curtis Sumpter will return this season and join them in the post, or redshirt.
12. Marquette (2-1)
Next: Wednesday @ Nebraska at 8 p.m.
Key Wins: 82-65 over Rice
Leading Scorer: Fr. G Dominic James, 16 pts
Key Wins: 83-73 over Eastern Washington
Leading Scorer: Sr. G/F Joe Chapman, 17 pts
Key Losses: 71-64 to Winthrop
Leading Scorer: Sr. F Steve Novak, 17 pts
13. Seton Hall (2-1)
Next: Monday vs. St. Peter’s at 7:30 p.m.
Early in the season there are lots of questions that everyone wants answers to soon. Well Louis Orr should have already found an answer to whether or not Jamar Nutter is a point guard or a shooting guard. After serving his one-game suspension (93-40 loss to Duke) for being late to practice, Nutter’s role is still up in the air. The Pirates have a medley of options though with Kelly Whitney posing problems for opponents’ inside game. Sophomore forward Brian Laing has come off the bench to average nearly 28mpg and is one of only three players averaging double figures (10.1).
14. Syracuse (3-2)
Next: Wednesday vs. Manhattan at 7 p.m.
The Orange met their match in the Florida Gators during the Pre-Season NIT. At Madison Square Garden in front of what could always be described as a heavily favored crowd, Syracuse fell 75-70 to the unranked Gators. That loss may have trickled over to the next game at the Carrier Dome where the Cuse lost again, this time to a team they absolutely should have beat. With a chance to wipe the Florida loss off the their minds Syracuse fell 74-69 despite 19 points from Demetris Nichols.
15. West Virginia (2-2)
Next: Saturday vs. LSU at 4:45 p.m.
Even in defeat, the Mountaineers showed that last year’s Elite Eight run was no fluke. Playing in the Guardians Classic in Kansas City, Mo., West Virginia lost at the buzzer to No. 2 Texas 76-75 before falling a bit harder to No. 7 Kentucky 80-66. Against the highly regarded Longhorns, WVU allowed an offensive rebound and stick back by LaMarcus Aldridge with 3.6 seconds remaining. On the game’s final play, the Mountaineers worked the ball up to Mike Gansey at the block, but Aldridge rejected his layup attempt. Though the team struggled against Kentucky, tournament-legend Kevin Pittsnogle tied his career high with 27 points and added 10 rebounds. An early 20-0 Wildcat run was too much for West Virginia to overcome.
16. DePaul (0-1)
Next: Saturday vs. Northwestern at 2 p.m.
Not the start that head coach Jerry Wainwright would have wished for. DePaul never challenged as Bradley came in to All-State Arena and won convincingly on the Blue Demons’ home court 75-60. Twenty three turnovers, 14 in the first half, did in DePaul. Sophomore forward Karron Clarke was the team’s bright spot, scoring 19 points and adding five rebounds. The Miami transfer sat out last season and notched a new career high with his performance.
