It was crushing news to Norm Roberts and his staff last month when informed that their best player, Anthony Mason Jr. would miss the entire season with a foot injury. It only got worse when Justin Burrell sustained a facial fracture after being hit by teammate Sean Evans in practice last Thursday. So with its top two players sidelined, along with freshman Malike Boothe playing with a sprained left thumb, it was no suprise that it would be a struggle vs former Big East memeber-now ACC foe Virginia Tech.
Tag: Big East
Big East Notebook – Friars’ Geoff McDermott is Still a Quarterback
During his high school days, Geoff McDermott was known as rifle-toting Geoff McDermott. Then a quick-strike 6-foot-6 quarterback, McDermott helped lead perennial power New Rochelle to back-to-back state championships. After committing to Providence, where there’s no football team, he kissed all gridiron dreams goodbye. Today, McDermott is still whipping passes.
Friars’ Flaws Are All There to See
In Saturday’s 81-76 win by Boston College over Providence, neither team gave a tremendous account of itself. But the team that had the more concerning play was, without doubt, the team on the losing end of the score. Providence’s flaws were all right there on display as a reason why they lost the game, and this hasn’t been an isolated case.
Friars And Eagles Could Use a Boost
Saturday’s game at The Heights between Providence and host Boston College has a few notable items to it. It’s a matchup of regional rivals and of former conference foes, as the two used to play each other in the Big East all the time. The schools are less than 50 miles apart and are continuing the rivalry despite Boston College’s jump to the ACC back in 2005. It’s also a homecoming of sorts for Providence head coach Keno Davis.
Big East Notebook – Blue Demons and Cardinals Streaking in Opposite Directions
The intracity rivalry between Cincinnati and Xavier had everything one could ask for, including five technical fouls. But in the end, it was Xavier coming away with the victory.
Maggie Dixon Classic Notes
Madison Square Garden has played host to many great events over the years. In the college basketball game it is home to the “final four” of the nation’s oldest post-season tournament, The NIT. Add the Pre-season NIT, Big East Tournament and Coaches vs. Cancer, to name a few and you can see why the Garden is termed the “Mecca” of basketball.
Halftime Adjustment Makes Difference For Seton Hall
For the Seton Hall women, it was a simple halftime adjustment after the Hall trailed Marshall 33-30 at the half.
Rams And Friars Give Fans a True Rivalry Game
This was what a rivalry game is supposed to be. It looked like, felt like, and was a rivalry game all the way through. You could feel it right away, with the sold-out crowd’s energy in the Dunkin’ Donuts Center even before the game started. That included the visiting team’s own student section and cheerleaders.
Big East Notebook: Orange Turn Heads, Irish Run into a Buzzsaw
Easy-Going Gavin rapidly morphed into Gung Ho Gavin last night, an aggressive individual UConn fans have rarely seen during the reserve forward’s stay with the Huskies. The kid from Gilbert, Az., finally got physical, played above the rim, and displayed a sense of urgency, en route to the reserve forward’s career-high 17 points in 16 minutes on 7-of-9 shooting.
Cunningham Leads Frontcourt Uprising on Main Line
Being from the area, Reggie Redding knows what Villanova’s reputation has been over the years. He can also see that a current senior might change that, for this year at least. “They say this is ‘Guard U’. I think it’s turning around this year to ‘Dante U’,” the junior wing said after the Wildcats won the Independence Bracket in the Philly Hoop Group Classic on Saturday night.
