Cassie Kowaleski analyzes this year’s Big East competition.
Note: JUCO = Junior College Cincinnati Bearcats
Coach: Mick Cronin: 1st season…Cincy alum…24-6 last year with Murray State…named Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year
Returning Starters:
• Cedric McGowan (6-6, SR, F)…averaged 13.3 pts and 8.0 rebounds in three NIT games last year
New Players:
o Tim Crowell (6-2, JR, PG)…JUCO transfer…was 1st team All-Conference and led the league with 7.5 ast last year.
o Marvin Gentry (6-3, JR, SG)… JUCO transfer…North Texas Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2006
o Herrol Hall (6-10, JR, C)…JUCO transfer…from Costa Rica, plays on their national team
o Abdul Herrera (6-10, SO, C)…didn’t play last year because he was ruled ineligible
o Adam Hrycaniuk (6-10, JR, C)…JUCO transfer…played amateur ball in Poland
o Marcus Sikes (6-8, JR, F)…JUCO transfer…played at Georgia his freshman year
o Deonta Vaughn (6-1, FR, G)…two-time All-State selection in Indiana
o Jamual Warren (6-2, JR, G)…JUCO transfer…2nd team JUCO All-American
o John Williamson (6-6, JR, F)…JUCO transfer…1st team JUCO All-American
Outlook: With a new coach and nine new players, the Bearcats will have an up-and-down season. Look for them to upset a ranked team or two, but also suffer tough losses finishing around .500.
Connecticut Huskies
Coach: Jim Calhoun: 21st season…Naismith Hall of Famer…two National championships (’99, ’04)
Returning Starters: None
New Players:
o A.J. Price (6-2, SO, G)…sat out last season due to violations of university’s student code of conduct
o Ben Eaves (6-7, FR, F/G)…from England where he plays on their U18 National team
o Doug Wiggins (6-1, FR,G)…Connecticut High School Gatorade Player of the Year
o Jerome Dyson (6-3, FR, G)…averaged 26 pts, 8 rebs and 6 ast as a senior in HS
o Stanley Robinson (6-9, FR, F)…most highly touted…plays on U18 U.S. National team
o Jonathon Mandeldove (6-11, FR, C)…Honorable Mention McDonald’s All-American
o Gavin Edwards (6-9, FR, F/C)…holds his high school’s career blocks record
o Hasheem Thabeet (7-3, FR, C)…from Tanzania…moved to Houston where he was 2nd Team All-City
o Curtis Kelly (6-9, FR, F)…New York Post and Daily News Player of the Year
Outlook: Lost top six scorers from last season, but are bringing in eight impact freshmen. They will not be the best team in the league, but they will be in the top five.
DePaul Blue Demons
Coach: Jerry Wainwright: 2nd season…2005-06 finished 12-15 with a big win over then No. 16 Wake Forest…assistant of U18 U.S. National team this past summer
Returning Starters:
• Sammy Mejia (6-6, SR, G)…has already scored over 1,000 career points
• Wilson Chandler (6-8, SO, F)…unanimous selection for Big East All-Rookie Team
• Karron Clarke (6-6, JR, F)…led team in FG and 3-PT shooting percentage last season
• Jabari Currie (6-4, SO, G)…led team in assists last season
New Players:
o Thijin Moses (6-8, FR, F)…from the Sudan, came to U.S. in 2004…MVP at five-star camp…ranked 93rd best senior by www.scout.com
o Will Walker (6-0, FR, G)…ranked 13th best PG by scout.com and rivals.com…78th best player by rivals.com
Outlook: Sporting News named them as a team that could surprise people in a good way in their “Don’t Say You Weren’t Warned” section. This is a team that could finish in the top half of the Big East, which might mean a trip to the “Big Dance.”
Georgetown Hoyas
Coach: John Thompson III: 3rd season…son of legendary Hoyas coach John Thompson…handed Duke its first loss last season
Returning Starters:
• Jeff Green (6-9, JR, F)…2nd Team All Big-East
• Roy Hibbert (7-2, JR, C)…2nd Team All Big-East
• Jonathan Wallace (6-1, JR, G)…4th in Big East in assist/turnover ratio
New Players:
o Patrick Ewing Jr. (6-8, JR, F)…transfer from Indiana…son of THE Patrick Ewing
o Vernon Macklin (6-9, FR, F)…McDonald’s and Parade All-American
o Jeremiah Rivers (6-4, FR, G)…son of former MU great, “Doc” Rivers
o DaJuan Summers (6-8, FR, F)…Maryland’s 2006 Gatorade Player of the Year
Outlook: With an outstanding freshman class, a formidable backcourt and a PG who can distribute and take care of the ball, Georgetown will contend for the Big East title and more.
Louisville Cardinals
Coach: Rick Pitino: 7th season…8th best winning percentage among active coaches…only coach to take three different schools to Final Four (L’ville in 2005)
Returning Starters:
• Brandon Jenkins (6-3, SR, G)…led team in steals last season
• David Padgett (6-11, JR, C)…top scorer returning from last year
• Juan Palacios (6-8, JR, F)…led team in rebounding last season
• Terrence Williams (6-6, SO, F)…started 21 games as a freshman
New Players:
o Derrick Caracter (6-9, FR, F)…named No. 6 prospect in country by Hoop Scoop
o Earl Clark (6-8, FR, G)…McDonald’s and Parade All-American
o Will Scott (6-3, SO, G)…transfer from Cornell…walk-on
o Jerry Smith (6-3, FR, G)…Wisconsin state Player of the Year…3-time All-State selection
o Edgar Sosa (6-2, FR, G)…Co-player of the Year in New York
Outlook: After an 11th place finish in their first Big East season, Pitino should have this team’s attention. Bolstered by an outstanding freshman class, Louisville will finish in the top half of conference play this year.
Marquette Golden Eagles
Coach: Tom Crean: 8th season…took team to Final Four in 2003
Returning Starters:
•Ousmane Barro (6-10, JR, F)…got better throughout the season last year, fan favorite
• Dominic James (5-11, SO, G)…Big East Rookie of the Year
• Jerel McNeal (6-3, SO, G)…Big East All-Rookie team
New Players:
o Maurice Acker (5-8, SO, G)…transfer from Ball State…will sit out this year
o Lawrence Blackledge (6-8, JR, G)…JUCO transfer…Honorable Mention All-American
o David Cubillan (6-0, FR, G)…originally from Venezuela…All-State in New Jersey
o Lazar Hayward (6-6, FR, F)…rated among top 25 wing players by scout.com
Outlook: Marquette has three top-notch perimeter players in James, Matthews and McNeal. If Barro can perform adequately in the post and Dan Fitzgerald or Hayward solidifies the four-spot, this team can play with anyone.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Coach: Mike Brey: 6th season…49-31 record at Notre Dame…took them to Sweet 16 in 2003
Returning Starters:
• Russell Carter (6-4, SR, G)…ND Web site says he will be Big East’s most improved player
• Collin Falls (6-5, SR, G)…canned 102 3-pointers last season
• Rob Kurz (6-9, JR, F)…6.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg last season
New Players:
o Luke Harangody (6-8, FR, F)…two-time All-State selection from Indiana
o Joe Harden (6-7, FR, F)…All-State selection from California
o Tory Jackson (5-10, FR, G)…two-time Michigan Class C Player of the Year
o Jonathon Peoples (6-3, FR, G)…All-State selection from Illinois
Outlook: Lost their two best players from a 12th place team. This season will be another long one for the Irish.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Coach: Jamie Dixon: 4th season…76-22 record in first three years ranks him tied for 4th among all-time best coaching starts
Returning Starters:
• Aaron Gray (7-0, SR, C)…Big East Most Improved Player…one of the best centers in the country
• Ronald Ramon (6-1, JR, G)…led Big East in 3-point FG percentage
• Levon Kendall (6-9, SR, F)…second leading rebounder on team
New Players:
o Gilbert Brown (6-6, FR, G/F)…rated No. 19 shooting guard by scout.com…38” vertical leap
o Austin Wallace (6-9, FR, C)…2nd Team All-State selection from New York
Outlook: Many have tabbed them as the favorite to win the Big East. While they are a tough team, they face a tough schedule and will finish 3rd in the Big East.
Providence Friars
Coach: Tim Welsh: 9th season…197-136 record at PU places him as the 4th winningest coach in school history
Returning Starters:
• Herbert Hill (6-10, SR, F/C)…earned team’s Defensive Player award
• Sharaud Curry (5-10, SO, G)…Big East All-Rookie Team
• Geoff McDermott (6-7, SO, F/G)…Big East All-Rookie Team
• Randall Hanke (6-11, JR, C)…led nation in FG percentage at 67.7%
New Players:
o Jamal Barney (6-3, FR, G)…set school record in HS with 58 points in a game
o Brian McKenzie (6-4, FR, G)…1st team All City in New York
o Ray Hall (6-11, FR, G)…runner-up for Colorado Player of the Year
Outlook: Providence has a young team that continues to improve, but this still will not be their year.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Coach: Fred Hill: 1st season…associate head coach last season…prior to that, was at Villanova where he was credited with bringing in their 2002 and 2003 recruiting classes
Returning Starters:
• Marquis Webb (6-5, SR, G/F)…won team’s Best Defensive Player award
• JR Inman (6-9, SO, F)…Big East All-Rookie Team
• Anthony Farmer (6-1, SO, G)…Big East All-Rookie Team
• Byron Joynes (6-9, SR, G)…led team with 5.5 rpg
Outlook: This young team has some talent, but loss of last year’s leading scorer and team MVP, Quincy Douby, will be too much to overcome. This team again finishes in the bottom half of the Big East.
St. John’s Red Storm
Coach: Norm Roberts: 2nd season…beat two ranked opponents last season
Returning Starters:
• Lamont Hamilton (6-10, SR, F)…Honorable Mention All-Big East
• Daryll Hill (6-0, SR, G)…led Big East in scoring in 2004-05 season
• Eugene Lawrence (6-1, JR, G)…led team with 4.9 assists per game
• Anthony Mason Jr. (6-7, SO, F)…son of former NBA player, Anthony Mason
• Aaron Spears (6-10, SR, F)…led team with .567 FG %
New Players:
o Qa’rraan Calhoun (6-8, FR, F)…led HS team to state championship in Maine
o Larry Wright (6-2, FR, F)…finalist for Mr. Basketball in Michigan
o Derwin Kitchen (6-3, FR, G)…runner-up for Mr. Basketball in Florida
o Avery Patterson (6-4, JR, G)…JUCO transfer…2ndTeam JUCO All-American
o Rob Thomas (6-6, FR, F)…rated as a top 25 small forward by several publications
Outlook: With all five starters returning and a decent recruiting class, this will be an improved St. John’s team that finishes in the middle of the pack in the Big East. Do not be surprised when they beat some highly ranked teams.
Seton Hall Pirates
Coach: Bobby Gonzalez: 1st season…head coach at Manhattan College the past seven seasons
Returning Starters:
• Jamar Nutter (6-2, JR, G)…averaged 14.6 ppg in conference play last season
• Stan Gaines (6-7, SR, F)…one of league’s top post defenders
• Brian Laing (6-5, JR, G/F)…averaged 5.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg last season
New Players:
o Kashif Pratt (6-4, FR, G)…played HS ball with Louisville-commit Edgar Sosa and UConn-commit Curtis Kelly
o Eugene Harvey (6-0, FR, G)…expected to start at PG, if eligible
o Larry Davis (6-4, FR, G)…committed to NC State, until Herb Sendek left for Arizona State
Outlook: Do not expect them to repeat last year’s surprise run to the NCAA tourney. With no reliable big man, they will finish in the bottom half of the conference.
South Florida Bulls
Coach: Robert McCullum: 4th season…surprised then No. 25 Georgetown in last game of season last year
Returning Starters:
• McHugh Mattis (6-6, SR, F)…5th in Big East in blocks with 2.1 per game
• Melvin Buckley (6-7, SR, F)…Big East Academic All-Star
• Chris Capko (6-1, SR, G)…7th in Big East in assists with 4.1 per game
New Players:
o Kentrell Gransberry (6-9, JR, C)…transfer from LSU…eligible in mid-December
o Jared Rubens (6-5, FR, G/F)…walk-on
o Dante Curry (6-4, FR, G)…county player of the year from Florida
o Adamu Saaka (6-6, FR, G/F)…McDonald’s All-American nominee
o Solomon Bozeman (6-0, FR, G)…All-State selection from Arkansas
o Jesus Verdego (6-4, SO, G)…transfer from Arizona…eligible in mid-December
o Aris Williams (6-9, SO, F)…transfer from Valparaiso…sat out last season
o Zaronn Cann (6-6, FR, F)…red-shirted with knee injury last year
Outlook: In a deep league, somebody has to take last.
Syracuse Orangemen
Coach: Jim Boeheim: 30th season…inducted into Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame…won national championship in 2003
Returning Starters:
• Demetrius Nichols (6-8, JR, F)…improved scoring average from 3.9 in 04-05 to 13.3 last season
• Terrence Roberts (6-9, SR, F)…led team in rebounding with 7.6 per game
• Darryl Watkins (6-11, SR, C)…already 9th all-time at SU in career blocks
• Eric Devendorf (6-4, SO, G)…Big East All-Rookie Team
New Players:
o Devin Brennan-McBride (6-9, FR, C)…ranked 31st among centers by scouthoops.com
o Paul Harris (6-5, FR, G)…ranked 7th prospect overall by collegehoops.net
o Mike Jones (6-8, FR, F)…rivals.com rated him the 40th prospect overall
Outlook: With experienced big men and some talented freshmen, the Orangemen should make a push for the Big East title.
Villanova Wildcats
Coach: Jay Wright: 6th season…led team to Elite 8 last season…has 104-59 record at school
Returning Starters:
• Mike Nardi (6-2, SR, G)…2nd Team All-Philadelphia selection
• Will Sheridan (6-8, SR, F)…led team in blocked shots with 46
New Players:
o Casien Drummond (6-10, FR, F/C)…played in Jordan Classic Regional All-American game
o Andrew Ott (6-9, FR, F)…reputed as a big man with excellent shooting touch beyond the 3-point line
o Antonio Penn (6-6, FR, F)…played HS ball with Sebastian Telfair (Boston Celtics PG)
o Reggie Redding (6-4, FR, G)…1st Team All-Philadelphia Catholic League
o Scottie Reynolds (6-0, FR, G)…McDonald’s All-American
o Curtis Sumpter (6-7, SR, F)…2nd Team All-Big East as a junior…sat out last season with ACL tear
Outlook: Villanova lost three guys to the NBA, but is still one of the top teams in the league. The season rides on Sumpter’s ability to bounce back from his knee injury.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Coach: John Beilein: 6th season…has 77-51 record at school, 524-323 overall…led team to Sweet 16 and Elite 8 the past two seasons, respectively.
Returning Starters:
• Frank Young (6-5, SR, F)…averaged 7.6 pts and 3.5 rebs last season
New Players:
o Devan Bawinkel (6-5, FR, G)…three-time All-State selection from Illinois
o Da’sean Butler (6-7, FR, F)…played in Jordan Classic Regional All-American game
o Dennis Gagai (6-2, FR, G)…walk-on
o Jacob Green (6-9, FR, F)…2nd Team All-Metro from Washington, D.C.
o Joe Mazzulla (6-2, FR, G)…Two-time Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year
o Jamie Smalligan (7-0, JR, C)…transfer from Butler…sat out season per NCAA rules
o Wellington Smith (6-7, FR, F)…All-State selection from New Jersey
o Cam Thoroughman (6-7, FR, G)…coming off torn meniscus
o Jonnie West (6-3, FR, G)…son of Mountaineer and NBA legend Jerry West
Outlook: With nine new players, this will be a year to forget for West Virginia fans.
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