TCU Two-Steps Mountain West For Big East

Despite being a football school primarily, Gary Patterson and TCU moving to Big East helps the basketball program too. (Photo courtesy of New York Daily News)After a summer making headlines with the rumored addition of Memphis, Big East expansion is again taking center stage in the sports world. Only the Southern arrival...

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First Impressions

We're very hard pressed to find anyone that thought Kemba Walker would drive past the competition this early into the season. (Photo courtesy of New York Post)Back at it off the Thanksgiving hiatus, and since there wasn't a Preseason NIT "Postgame Shootaround," I'll try to compensate for everything that happened over...

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Postgame Shootaround: Maui Invitational

So last night in Maui turned out completely unlike what I predicted in this space 24 hours ago, as UConn and Kentucky managed to win and provide us a Cal vs. Cal championship game, with Michigan State and Washington playing the consolation game for third place. Without further ado, my musings on the Hawaii hysteria:If you don't know, now you know.Kemba...

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Postgame Shootaround: 2-3 Zone Edition

We'll take a different approach this time around with a "2-3 zone" edition of our traditional recap. For those unsure about how 2-3 zone will be applied here, it means we'll recap two games and preview three that will take place tonight.Marquette still doesn't know just how good it is.Buzz Williams's squad played their hearts out in an 82-77 loss...

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Hazell, Pirates Catch Bad Break

Seton Hall now faces more adversity as leading scorer Jeremy Hazell will miss next 4-6 weeks with broken left wrist. (Photo courtesy of New York Daily News)If you know anything about Seton Hall basketball, you can tell someone right away that a large part of the Pirates' success under first-year coach Kevin Willard depends...

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Postgame Shootaround: Tournament Edition

As the in-season tournaments heat up, we'll share some insights from the 2K Sports Classic and Puerto Rico Tip-Off as we prepare for the next round highlighted by the Great Alaska Shootout and Maui Invitational.The Big East already has a rookie of the year frontrunner.The name at the top of that list is Pitt forward Talib Zanna. In our recap of the...

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Postgame Shootaround: St. John's vs. St. Mary's

The Steve Lavin era finally reached its much-anticipated debut, and unfortunately for the Johnnies, it was not a winning one; as St. Mary's rode the sharp shooting of junior Clint Steindl to a 76-71 victory. Even in a game loaded with moments that would have WFAN's Joe Benigno going on a rant for the ages if he were a Red Storm fan, there are many...

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Postgame Shootaround: Seton Hall

After about a week away, it's time to continue our "Postgame Shootaround" with the now 1-1 Seton Hall Pirates. Despite opening with a loss to Temple this past Friday, the Pirates righted the ship with a thoroughly convincing drubbing of reigning Ivy League champ Cornell. Below are some of the things you can take from each game, starting with the...

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Postgame Shootaround: Pitt vs. Rhode Island

This is the debut of a new feature, one where we'll recap a game and what you can take from it going forward through the season. First impressions are huge in college basketball, and last night's matchup between No. 4 Pittsburgh and Rhode Island went a long way in determining not just what to watch for, but what both teams are made of. In last night's...

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Champagne Super 'Nova

Despite losing his best player, Jay Wright has reloaded Villanova enough to the point where Wildcats remain Big East favorites. (Photo courtesy of Boston Globe)After being a top 10 team for most of the season, Villanova's sensational run came to a startling halt at the hands of St. Mary's in the second round of the NCAA...

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Boeheim Gets Some Orange Aid

Now a sophomore, Syracuse guard Brandon Triche is one of biggest keys of the season for Jim Boeheim and the Orange. (Photo courtesy of ESPN)At Big East media day two weeks ago, Syracuse was not surprisingly picked to finish near the top of the conference. What was surprising was when I noticed the poll at Madison Square...

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Oakland Zoo Opens Its Doors Again

Picked No. 1 in Big East preseason poll, Jamie Dixon and Pitt now face daunting task of living up to the hype. (Photo courtesy of ESPN)They have all the veterans, a necessary ingredient for success in the rugged Big East. For a team that was picked ninth last year and somehow finished second, there really isn't much...

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Mr. Jones And Me...

Kevin Jones steps into the role of the big star at West Virginia following departures of DaSean Butler and Devin Ebanks. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)When you look at West Virginia, the Mountaineers are not the same bunch that knocked off Kentucky on their way to the Final Four. The reigning Big East champions...

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By George, They're Back!

If preseason hype is any indication, senior Austin Freeman will be one to watch this season as Georgetown looks to remain dominant in Big East. (Photo courtesy of New York Daily News)Not very often does a team that loses its best players retool so well to the point where they are just as good, or even better than they...

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The Perfect Storm Rages On

Steve Lavin finally gets to put his work on full display when St. John's opens season against St. Mary's on November 16. (Photo courtesy of New York Post)St. John’s finally takes the court for the first time in the 2010-11 season thirteen days from now when they tip off against St. Mary’s to officially commence the Steve...

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Blue Man Group Returns To Jersey

Herb Pope is back, and so too are three other Seton Hall starters that look to send Pirates to NCAA Tournament for first time since 2004. (Photo courtesy of SportsNet New York)Last year, they were the kings of the New York area with wins over local rivals St. John's and Rutgers before they were thoroughly humbled against...

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Golden Eagles Flying Under Radar

People may be counting Marquette out, but Buzz Williams' team could be this year's sleeping giant in Big East. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)Marquette basketball has used a three-guard lineup consistently for years at a time, going back to the days of Travis Diener, Steve Novak, and of course one of the NBA's...

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