Big East Conference Notebook
by Jesse Ullmann and Pat DiSalvo
1. Connecticut Huskies (0-0 Big East, 11-0 Overall)
Up Next: Saturday @ West Virginia at 2 p.m. (ESPN 2), Saturday @ LSU at 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Despite a rather lax non-conference schedule so far (Indiana, LSU, Georgia Tech still loom), Jim Calhoun and his Huskies seem to be shaping into form. Jerome Dyson is the lone standout in the freshman class. In an 84-41 victory over Coppin State, six players scored in double digits with Dyson contributing 10 points, and 7’3″ freshman center Hasheem Thabeet added 11. In perhaps his best performance yet Curtis Kelly showed flashes coming off the bench, shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor for 14 points and grabbing five rebounds in 14 minutes of action. Regarding Thabeet, once Connecticut starts playing games on national television the NBA scouts will eat him up and he will be a one-and-done.
2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-0, 11-1)
Up Next: Saturday vs. Stony Brook at 4 p.m. (MSG)
For the second time this season, senior standout Russell Carter was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll. In wins over Portland and Army, Carter averaged 20 points and leads the team with a season average of 17.6 per night. Carter has now led the Fighting Irish in scoring in five of its 11 contests. Though Carter and his starting mates Rob Kurz and Colin Falls have paved the way for Notre Dame to get into the Top 25 polls (19, 24), the Irish are averaging nearly 30 bench points per game. Leading the way is 6’8″, 250-pound freshman Luke Harangody’s 11.9 per game, including 18 points and 10 rebounds versus Rider. Without question, Notre Dame has been the nice surprise during the first half of the Big East season, predicating everything they do off of their perimeter shooting.
Staten Island native and Irish starting guard Kyle McAlarney, who hit seven three-pointers in a 101-51 victory over Rider, has been arrested for possession of drugs and suspended indefinitely.
3. West Virginia Mountaineers (0-0, 10-1)
Up Next: Saturday vs. Connecticut at 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
The jury is still out on whether the Mountaineers will be able to make a run with an extremely young and inexperienced team. The team will drop games in the Big East, but based upon good wins at Western Michigan and against NC State, it shouldn’t be the league’s doormat. Coach John Beilein is getting the most out of his players. Senior Frank Young is leading the youthful Mountaineers with 12.8 points per game, tied with surprising sophomore Joe Alexander. Young has scored in double digits in seven straight games. West Virginia hasn’t faced much of a test so far. The Mountaineers will find out how good they really are when they face Connecticut on December 30th.
4. Marquette Golden Eagles (0-0, 12-2)
Up Next: Savannah State (12/30), at Providence (1/4)
The talented Golden Eagles have been up and down in the beginning of the 2006-07 season. Early in the year Marquette beat Duke, only to fall to North Dakota State three games later. In early December, the Eagles suffered a tough loss to in-state foe Wisconsin, but have recovered with two solid victories. Although without injured 7-foot center Mike Kinsella, the Golden Eagles are playing well and could be one of, if not the best team in the Big East if they find more consistency and inside play. The three guards – Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews – are pulling their weight, but the lack of an inside presence could prevent this Marquette squad from being one of the nation’s best.
The Eagles are coming off a 20-point win over Morgan State and in the midst of playing eight straight games at home. The Golden Eagles open the conference schedule at Providence on Thursday. Since being cleared to play Lazar Hayward is one of three players off the bench averaging nearly 15 minutes per game. And even with James leading the Golden Eagles (and the entire league) in scoring (17.4), he is getting his teammates involved. James dished out a career-high nine assists in an 18-point win over Oakland. His sophomore classmate McNeal has a Big East-best 46 steals and he’s the second-best scoring threat at 14.4 points per game.
5. Pittsburgh Panthers (0-0, 11-2)
Up Next: Florida A&M (12/30), at Syracuse (1/4)
The Panthers have lost two straight games after rising to the No. 2 ranking in the country. First, Pittsburgh lost to Wisconsin on Dec. 16 in a discouraging game as the Badgers never let Pitt pull close. Then on Dec. 21, the Panthers were dropped in double OT by Oklahoma State. Pittsburgh may have been a little overrated at No. 2, evidenced by their two straight losses. They also haven’t been overly impressive in victories, eking out a win at Buffalo and struggling against lower-level squads. But losing to two highly-ranked teams should only help the Panthers when Big East play begins. With Aaron Gray averaging 17.4 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, and a strong Pittsburgh defense, the Panthers will right the ship for the Big East season.
6. Villanova Wildcats (0-0, 9-2)
Up Next: Temple (12/30), at West Virginia (1/3)
The Wildcats have suffered a few tough losses, including falling to Drexel on Dec. 9. Still the team has played well, highlighted by walloping Oklahoma on the Sooners’ home floor. Curtis Sumpter has come back from knee surgery to average a tremendous 19.9 points per game. He’s logging 30 minutes a game but needs to help out on the glass some more. Point guard Mike Nardi is also playing well, averaging nearly 15 points and 5 assists per game. Still, the role players after the two big men will need to step up for the Wildcats to be successful in the Big East.
After losing as much as the Wildcats did since last year, the team is starting off on the right foot. Although Villanova hasn’t faced any powers yet, the Wildcats have enough quality wins to prove they should be close to the bubble come March.
7. Syracuse Orange (0-0, 10-3)
Up Next: St. Bonaventure (12/30), Pittsburgh (1/4)
The Orange is having a bit of trouble jelling together as the Big East schedule approaches. The team has lost to two ranked opponents, Wichita State and Oklahoma State, both at Syracuse-friendly sites. Add a loss to Drexel on Dec. 19, and SU has lost three games before Big East play for the first time since the 1998-99 season. The team has missed sophomore guard Eric Devendorf, who played limited minutes in both losses with what was reported as a stomach virus. Devendorf was heard apologizing to his teammates at a recent practice, although Jim Boeheim refused to answer questions on the subject and threatened to close practice to the media. Without Devendorf the team has a great deal of trouble handling the ball and working through its half court offense.
There have been bright signs, though, as senior Demetris Nichols has been off the charts recently, tallying 26, 26, 28 and 31 points in his last four games. Freshman Paul Harris has put up decent numbers for the Orange, but for him to truly succeed on offense, the team needs to run and gun a bit more. Syracuse will need to find some consistency in the next few weeks to compete for a top spot in the Big East.
8. Cincinnati Bearcats (0-0, 9-3)
Up Next: Thursday @ Memphis at 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Head coach Mick Cronin is gradually seeing his team come together and he himself is beginning to understand all of the pieces of his puzzle. Reigning Big East Rookie of the Week Deonta Vaughn is improving; however he was limited to just six points in a 60-52 loss to Miami (Ohio). Vaughn has led his team in scoring five of their 12 contests thus far. Springfield, Mass. native Jamuel Warren continues to be a solid figure in the backcourt for the Bearcats, adding 15 points versus Miami (Ohio). Wing man Marcus Sikes had a double-double with 15 points and10 rebounds in the winning cause against the Red Hawks.
9. Georgetown Hoyas (0-0, 9-3)
Up Next: At Michigan (12/30), Notre Dame (1/6)
In an early season surprise, the Georgetown Hoyas have nearly fallen off the map. The team suffered losses at home to both Old Dominion and Oregon, with the other loss coming at the hands of Duke. Stars Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green have both underachieved to this point. If they can get it going and the backcourt continues to improve the Hoyas will be on the right track. They haven’t had many tests early, so the losses might fuel the Hoyas going into Big East play. But if Green and Hibbert continue to struggle, so too will Georgetown.
10. Providence Friars (0-0, 9-3)
Up Next: Friday @ Florida State at 9:30 p.m., Thursday vs. Marquette at 7:30 p.m.
The Friars took a hit this week in losing Sharaud Curry to a suspension that will last for at least one game. Despite this news, the Friars have strung together three straight wins and have won eight of their last nine. Losing the team’s leader in scoring in Curry (17.3) means other bench players will now have to step up and fill the void. Freshman guard Dwain Williams out of Murrieta, California is penciled in to start in Curry’s place. Watching the expectations of Weyinmi Efejuku come to fruition this season has been exciting, as he has flourished in Tim Welsh’s system and he’ll need to continue in his development. As of now Efejuku is the Friars best three-point shooter dialing in at a 48% clip and now without Curry is the team’s leading scorer (16.4).
11. Seton Hall Pirates (0-0, 8-3)
Up Next: Friday vs. Liberty (BYU Holiday Classic) at 7 p.m.
Two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining in regulation were the decisive factor in a tough 76-74 loss to Oral Roberts at the BYU Classic in Provo Thursday night. Three technical fouls did not help their cause. Last week, freshmen Larry Davis and Eugene Harvey helped the Pirates split a pair of games. In the Aeropostale Classic at MSG, Virginia Tech defeated the Pirates 80-61, but the Hall rebounded with a 94-85 victory over Penn. After garnering two consecutive Big East Rookie of the Week accolades, Harvey appears to be a key cog in the future for Seton Hall basketball. Harvey currently leads the team in scoring (15.7) and assists (57) and should absolutely turn into a better point man than predecessor Donald Copeland. Brian Laing and Jamar Nutter scored 18 points apiece in a well-rounded offensive output by the Pirates in the win over the Quakers, the third 90-point outing of the season for SHU.
For one reason or another a good portion of time recently has been spent by the local NY/NJ newspapers questioning Continental Airlines Arena and why the Hall continue to play games there. You can be assured of one thing, though: a packed house when Big East conference play opens up for the Hall hosting cross-state rival Rutgers.
12. Louisville Cardinals (0-0, 9-4)
Up Next: North Carolina-Asheville (12/30)
The Cardinals have gotten off to a very slow start, losing to Dayton and UMass. The team is struggling to find a real offensive identity. Juan Palacios leads the team in scoring at 12 points per game, while David Padgett is seeing limited minutes as he is still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. The eight points, five rebounds per game are not David Padgett numbers and Louisville needs him healthy to be considered a threat in the Big East. Right now it’s not looking too positive for the Cardinals. In a loss to Kentucky, Louisville shot 27 percent. The offense, along with a porous defense, needs to improve before conference play.
Rick Pitino sent Derrick Caracter home indefinitely, according to various reports, but he has reportedly returned to campus. How soon he returns to playing is unknown.
13. St. John’s Red Storm (0-0, 9-4)
Up Next: Saturday vs. BU at 7 p.m. (MSG), Wednesday vs. DePaul at 7:30 p.m. (MSG)
St. John’s try for a third straight MSG Holiday Festival fell short in a loss to Hofstra. To get to the final, the Storm nearly handed Boston University the game after missing critical free throws that would have sealed the victory. Instead, Lamont Hamilton missed the two free throws in regulation, sending the game into overtime. There, Hamilton redeemed himself by hitting one of two at the line which turned out to be the game winner in a way too close 45-44 win over the Terriers.
After losing Derwin Kitchen, the Storm is now without Aaron Spears, who has been suspended indefinitely by Norm Roberts for a violation of team rules. Wing man Ricky Torres’ supposedly illustrious college career has dwindled into an 8.5 minutes per game clip.
14. South Florida Bulls (0-0, 8-4)
Up Next: Friday vs. Wake Forest at 7 p.m. (ESPN2), Tuesday @ Connecticut at 7 p.m.
South Florida only had a four-day layoff for holiday breaks sandwiched by games versus Missouri State and UAB, both losses. USF has now dropped four in a row heading into tonight’s contest versus Wake Forest. As is the case with many other schools with skeptical fans, there is reason to cheer as now eligible to play are Kentrell Gransberry and Jesus Verdejo, two highly touted transfers. In their debut the tandem combined for 44 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Norfolk State. Gransberry has recorded double figures in rebounds four out of the five games he’s played in including 17 versus UNLV.
The Bulls were able to lure Wake Forest to Tampa to play in what will be a good opportunity for a Big East school in USF versus an ACC foe in the Demon Deacons. The game will be played at the St. Pete Times Forum, host of the 2007 ACC Tournament for the first time ever.
15. DePaul Blue Demons (0-0, 7-5)
Up Next: @ St. John’s (1/3)
The Blue Demons came out of nowhere to shock then No. 5 Kansas in early December. Although the squad struggled before that game, it is starting to piece things together. Led by Sammy Mejia and sophomore Wilson Chandler, the Blue Demons have won five of six since the Kansas game, with the only loss coming at the hands of UAB 58-57. DePaul will not be at the top of the Big East, but the team has enough talent to beat a lot of upper-echelon teams like Kansas when the Big East schedule rolls along. Look for the Demons to make some noise.
16. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0-0, 6-6)
Up Next: Wednesday @ Seton Hall at 7:30 p.m.
Though the Scarlet Knights are in last place in the Big East Fred Hill’s crew strung together five straight wins before falling at North Carolina 87-48. The Knights were without J.R. Inman and Anthony Farmer, who were serving a one-game suspension for an academic violation. Rutgers shot just 1-13 from downtown versus the Tar Heels and notched just 19 first half points.
Within the five-game win streak the Knights pulled out victories over Nebraska, handing the Cornhuskers their first loss of the season. A 23-point win over Temple and then a road win at state rival Princeton gives Hill and his players a much-needed confidence lift.
