the Big Nasty

12/11/08

Big East Hoops Preview
With the OOC portion of the schedule dwindling down, finally we are here. No more Morgan State, Houston Baptist or Alabama State -- its time for league play. The Big East slate this season in going to be gruesome -- there will be no place to hide. Granted there is some filler at the bottom of the league ( DePaul, St John's, Rutgers and USF) -- but even those games can at times be tests. At the top of the league, you have eight teams currently in the AP top 25 and six in the top 15. How good is the league? I have current #24 Marquette slotted to finish 10th...Here is a quick look at the teams: where they will finish, who the top scorers are (with this year's early averages), and who is going to be All Big East First Team.

  • 1) Pitt (14-4) NCAA
Sam YoungF20.86.21.9
DeJuan BlairF14.913.41.3
Levance FieldsG11.02.27.0
Lots of talent and lots of balance -- this might be Dixon's year to go to the Final Four.
  • 2) Uconn (13-5) NCAA
Jerome DysonG15.43.53.1
Hasheem ThabeetC14.512.50.5
Jeff AdrienF14.09.11.9
Will someone step and hit the three ball? if so the Huskies can also get to Detroit.
  • 3) Louisville (13-5) NCAA
Samardo SamuelsF16.35.20.8
Earl ClarkG-F12.58.23.5
Terrence WilliamsF9.09.54.3
Always loaded with talent, will Samuels live up to his billing? how do they replace Padgett?
  • 4) Notre Dame (12-6) NCAA
Luke HarangodyF23.012.01.3
Kyle McAlarneyG18.92.43.8
Ryan AyersG13.03.31.4
Gody and McAlarney are savvy vets that get the job done.
  • 5) Georgetown (11-7) NCAA
DaJuan SummersF13.73.91.1
Greg MonroeC13.35.72.0
Austin FreemanG13.14.62.9
Some nice pieces return for JTIII and Monroe looks like a beast.
  • 6) West Virginia (10-8) NCAA
Da'Sean ButlerF15.86.81.8
Alex RuoffG14.32.92.3
Darryl BryantG9.91.92.5
WVU will surprise some folks, getting Ebanks will be big.
  • 7) Syracuse (9-9) NCAA
Jonny FlynnG19.51.85.4
Paul HarrisF14.88.92.4
Eric DevendorfG14.11.13.1
Devo's days are numbered, but you have to feel that JB is going to will his team into the dance -- three years in a row in the NIT for the Orange? Impossible.
  • 8) Villanova (9-9) NIT
Dante CunninghamF17.98.41.1
Scottie ReynoldsG13.63.44.8
Corey StokesG12.73.71.1
I expect Wright's boys to have an up and down year in the rough and tough Big East, not to worry a national top 5 class is coming in next fall with a couple of bigs.
  • 9) Providence (8-10) NIT
Marshon BrooksG-F14.14.00.8
Weyinmi EfejukuG13.24.01.2
Jonathan KaleF12.45.80.4
Not a good league for on the job training as Keno Davis will soon find, but the Friars will get better as the season goes on.
  • 10) Marquette (8-10) NIT
Wesley MatthewsG20.45.92.6
Jerel McNealG18.55.03.8
Lazar HaywardF15.89.61.1
I always feel that Marquette is overrated, this year I will be right.
  • 11) Seton Hall (7-11) NIT
Jeremy HazellG23.53.41.1
Robert MitchellF15.06.82.2
Eugene HarveyG13.54.14.9
Gonzo is on the verge of either getting his team over the hump or a nervous breakdown -- recruits always bailing is not a great sign.
  • 12) Cincinnati (6-12)
Deonta VaughnG13.73.94.6
Mike WilliamsF9.95.31.3
Alvin MitchellF9.73.41.3
Cinci is a solid club, unfortunately this year -- that gets you nowhere.
  • 13) St John's (5-13)
D.J. KennedyG-F14.37.31.9
Anthony Mason Jr.F14.04.33.3
Paris HorneG-F12.73.72.
Lil' Mase going down is not going to help the always short handed Roberts' squads.
  • 14) Rutgers (4-14)
Mike RosarioG16.03.81.0
Gregory EcheniqueF10.410.00.7
Anthony FarmerG8.43.62.
Despite Rutgersal's proclamations, things are not getting much better on the floor in Piscataway. Hill can recruit, but coach...not so much.
  • 15) South Florida (3-15)
Dominique JonesG18.55.04.7
Jesus VerdejoG17.22.71.2
Chris HowardG8.82.84.2
They should beat Memphis in the St Pete's Bowl.
  • 16) DePaul (2-14)
Dar TuckerF20.37.01.6
Mac KoshwalC12.810.81.3
Will WalkerG10.32.62.4
Morgan State losses are unacceptable, especially on the heels of a 30 point loss to Northwestern.

All Big East Starting Five
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, G, So.
Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, Jr.
Sam Young, Pittsburgh, F, Jr.
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, Jr.
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, C, Jr.

0 comments:

Post a Comment