Mick Still King In Queen City

Flanked here by former colleagues Bobby Gonzalez and Fred Hill, Cincinnati's Mick Cronin is not only last man standing in this picture, but he also has Cincinnati ready for an NCAA Tournament return. (Photo courtesy of New York Times)Most of the buzz at last week's Big East media day came from St. John's and new Red Storm...

Read More

New Arena A Yummy Appetizer For Cards

Louisville may have lost their top three players from last year, but there's still the same excitement around Rick Pitino's team thanks to the arrival of the Yum! Center. (Photo courtesy of UofLSports.com)Even if Rick Pitino wasn't the head coach at Louisville; and even if the Cardinals hadn't historically been the class...

Read More

Irish Eyes Smiling On Old Notre Dame

With Luke Harangody now in the NBA, it's up to Tim Abromaitis to lead Notre Dame back to NCAA Tournament. (Photo courtesy of New York Post)The Big East is usually the best conference in college basketball from top to bottom, and somewhere in the middle exists Notre Dame. In fact, the Fighting Irish have probably been...

Read More

Feeling The Wrath Of UConn

Despite having his share of off-court happenings, Jim Calhoun hasn't lost focus of what lies ahead with his retooled UConn team this season. (Photo courtesy of Newark Star-Ledger)When you mention the Big East and its history, one of the first names and schools that comes to mind if you're an avid fan is Jim Calhoun, the...

Read More

Bulls Return To Big East China Shop

USF coach Stan Heath has reason to smile after leading Bulls to NIT last season, but will need to effectively replace Dominique Jones to return to postseason play. (Photo courtesy of GoUSFBulls.com)At Big East media day last year, I had the pleasure of speaking with South Florida coach Stan Heath for a few minutes, and...

Read More

Rice Takes Rutgers Into Pressure Cooker

Mike Rice has hit the ground running since taking over at Rutgers, but real challenge begins this season for Scarlet Knights when they tip off against Princeton on November 12. (Photo courtesy of Newark Star-Ledger)The contrast between former Rutgers head coach Fred Hill and his successor Mike Rice is a stark one that...

Read More

In Kim We Trust

If any coach around the country defines underrated, it is surely St. John's women's basketball leader Kim Barnes Arico, who in just nine years has taken a virtually nonexistent Red Storm team and built it into a national powerhouse. (Photo courtesy of redstormsports.com)St, John's University has unfortunately been the...

Read More

Hummel Robbed Again Due To Injury

Robbie Hummel, shown here high-fiving a Purdue fan, is done for year and possibly career before this season could even begin, as the senior tore his ACL in a tragic practice accident. (Photo courtesy of ESPN)After a torn ACL ended his breakout junior season and crushed his dreams of potentially playing in the Final Four...

Read More

Another Legend Storms Into Queens

Gene Keady, long associated with Purdue, has a new home at St. John's as a special assistant to coach Steve Lavin, who was an assistant under Keady for the Boilermakers in the 1980s. (Photo courtesy of Baltimore Sun)All year, St. John's has made a name for itself since bringing Steve Lavin back to the sidelines after seven...

Read More

They're Connected Down Providence

Providence coach Keno Davis has already beaten a top-ranked team, but now his Friars have an even bigger challenge of climbing back into the top half of Big East this season. (Photo courtesy of Connecticut Post) Two years ago, Keno Davis was seemingly on top of the world after guiding Drake to a surprise top 25 ranking...

Read More

Exorcising The Demons

DePaul looks to right the ship after two consecutive subpar Big East finishes, and Blue Demons will now look to junior forward Devin Hill to pick up where Mac Koshwal left off before turning pro. (Photo courtesy of New York Times)More often than not in life, you have to start from the bottom and work your way up. I experience...

Read More