Big East Basketball Preview
By Kevin Wall
16 teams and an unbalanced league schedule will make for a very interesting season in the Big East. There is a potential for a record 10 NCAA bids from the conference. UConn and Louisville are the top dogs, but there is not much separating the 3rd to 9th place squads. All this adds up to an exciting season and plenty of opportunities for Bill Raftery to yell “Onions!!”
1. Connecticut (23-8, '04-'05 record)
Need to Know: Can the most talented team in the Big East overcome the off-season laptop scandal? The Huskies are deep in the frontcourt with Josh Boone, Hilton Armstrong and former ACC Newcomer of the Year Ed Nelson. All three players are solid defenders and strong rebounders. Rudy Gay might be the top pick in next year’s NBA draft and I haven’t even mentioned Denham Brown and Rashard Anderson who would be the top players on a number of teams in the conference. Hall of Fame Coach Jim Calhoun has won two NCAA titles and he’s got the talent to bring home a 3rd.
Achilles’ Heel: Unproven at point guard until Marcus Williams returns in January. Early season losses may hurt NCAA seeding. Will Rudy Gay step up and take the tough shots for this team?
Difference Maker: Denham Brown- people forget that he (not Steve Nash) led Team Canada in scoring back in the 2004 Olympic qualifying. He hasn’t performed up to expectations in Storrs, so maybe the Huskies should sew a maple leaf to his uniform.
NCAA Hopes: Final Four Material, but can they keep focus?
2. Louisville (33-5)
Need to Know: Rick Pitino returns to the Big East at the right time. Pitino’s Cardinals come off a Final Four showing with one of the country’s best guards in Taquan Dean. A threat from the three-point line, Dean will be the focal point of the Louisville offense. Joining him will be Kansas transfer David Padgett and forward Juan Palacios. Slick Rick likes to force the tempo and he has a deep enough bench to push the usually slower-paced Big East squads.
Achilles’ Heel: The unbalanced conference schedule does not help the Cardinals as they play Connecticut, Villanova and Cincinnati twice. Pitino’s team is deep, but young, especially in the frontcourt, which could hurt in conference play.
Difference Maker: Padgett- if he recovers from his preseason injury, he gives the Cardinals an athletic forward who can score in transition.
NCAA Hopes: Final Four Material
3. Villanova (24-8)
Need to Know: A close battle against UNC in last year’s Tournament gives the team confidence that it can succeed without injured star Curtis Sumpter, but it won’t be easy in this conference. Luckily for Coach Jay Wright, Nova features the Big East’s top group of guards, led by shooters Allen Ray and Randy Foye. Ray should be at the top of the league in 3-point shooting. Point guards Mike Nardi and Kyle Lowry are responsible for getting the ball to them and to Jason Fraser down low. Will Sheridan gives Fraser some help on the boards and usually draws the other team’s top post player on defense.
Achilles’ Heel: Loss of Sumpter is a huge dash to Nova’s title hopes. It’s hard to replace one of the top players in the conference and it puts more pressure on Fraser to stay healthy- something he has been unable to do. Nova also draws the toughest conference schedule playing Louisville, UConn, and Syracuse twice. It remains to be seen how Jay Wright handles the pressure of the meeting the team's high expectations.
Difference Maker: Kyle Lowry- the sophomore point guard almost brought Nova back against the Tar Heels. He is tough and hard to stop when he goes to the basket and that could lead to open looks for Ray and Foye.
NCAA Hopes: Sweet Sixteen
4. Georgetown (19-13)
Need to Know: Get to know Jeff Green because he is about to explode. This do-it-all forward isn’t flashy, but he does a little bit of everything and appears ready to become one of the elite players in the Big East. He combines with Brandon Bowman to give the Hoyas a potent duo. Coach John Thompson III keeps the Hoyas in games and their Princeton-style offense can cause problems for undisciplined defenders. The conference schedule sets up nicely for the Hoyas to leap to the top tier of the Big East.
Achilles’ Heel: The Hoyas have a solid frontcourt, but they need their guards to step up.
Difference Maker: Roy Hibbert- at 7’2” he can change the complexion of the game, but he needs to be able to play 25 minutes. If Hibbert improves he could make the Hoyas a tough matchup for anyone in the country.
NCAA Hopes: 2nd Round
5. Syracuse (27-7)
Need to Know: Losing Hakim Warrick makes the Orange very vulnerable each night. Gerry MacNamara will be the focus of every opponent, but the most hated man in the conference has a knack for making clutch shots. Forward Terrence Roberts surprised many by making the US U-21 team over Jared Dudley and he will be counted on to pick up some of the scoring slack. Jim Boeheim has an athletic team, anchored by shot-blocker Daryl Watkins so you might see less of his patented 2-3 zone as the Orange look to create offense from their defense. Watch out for freshman Eric Devendorf, but don’t expect him to lead the Orange to a title in his 1st year like fellow Oak Hill alum Carmelo Anthony did.
Achilles’ Heel: Lack of an outside threat besides MacNamara and a group of talented, but unproven juniors will mean an up and down season for SU. Expect some struggles for this team as it tries to find its identity.
Difference Maker: Demetrius Nichols- a strong defender, but he must improve on his 3 point shooting to take some pressure off of MacNamara.
NCAA Hopes: Sweet Sixteen
6. Pittsburgh (20-9)
Need to Know: Never count out a team led by Carl Krauser. The Bronx native made the wise move to stay for his senior season and he gives Coach Jamie Dixon reason to believe that Pitt can remain as one of the Big East’s top teams. Levon Kendall is being counted on to replace Chevy Troutman and Panthers fans hope this Levy isn’t dry.
Achilles’ Heel: Jamie Dixon is a good recruiter, but his in-game strategy leaves a lot to be desired. He’s going to need to out-coach his counterparts on occasion this year if Pitt wants to return to the 20-win plateau.
Difference Maker: Ronald Ramon- a solid shooter and tough defender, Ramon needs to provide help for Krauser if Pitt wants to stay in the top half of the conference.
NCAA Hopes: 1st Round
7. West Virginia (24-11)
Need to Know: Last year’s Cinderella won’t be able to sneak up on anyone. Kevin Pittsnogle and Mike Gansey became overnight sensations with their play in March and now they must keep it going over a whole season. The Mountaineers live and die by the outside shot and Pittsnogle, Gansey and Patrick Beilin shoot as well as any trio in the conference. Coach John Beilin has a knack for getting the most out of his teams and his coaching moves have helped West Virginia defeat more talented opponents.
Achilles’ Heel: This team lacks a true post presence and point guard JD Collins needs to improve his shooting. A tougher conference schedule will cause the Mountaineers to slide lower than their preseason ranking.
Difference Maker: Gansey- the St. Bonaventure transfer is scrappy on both ends of the court. He came up huge against Wake Forest and if he continues to play well, WVU will be back in the Big Dance.
NCAA Hopes: 2nd Round
8. Notre Dame (17-12)
Need to Know: The loss of Chris Thomas might not hurt the Irish as much as people think. A healthy Torrin Francis will mean open looks for outside threats Chris Quinn and Collin Falls. Mike Brey’s squad catches a huge schedule break as they draw Providence, Marquette and DePaul twice. This break should allow ND to win enough games to draw NCAA consideration.
Achilles’ Heel: Quinn and Falls are not the fastest guards, so defense will be an issue for this team just like their football counterparts.
Difference Maker: Francis- a talented player, who needs to stay healthy for this team to have a chance. His low-post skills allow him to score against anyone in the conference.
NCAA Hopes: Bubble team
9. Cincinnati (25-8)
Need to Know: Bob Huggins is gone, but the Bearcats will continue to play a physical brand of basketball under Interim Coach Andy Kennedy. Returning four seniors that averaged double-digits in points last year will help the transition. Eric Hicks will enjoy the physical play in the Big East.
Achilles’ Heel: The Huggins’ situation will linger over this squad all season. They are small in the backcourt and a short bench will hurt Nick Lachey’s boys as they have drawn a difficult schedule in their new home.
Difference Maker: James White- the senior forward is being counted on to increase his scoring while also matching up against the opponents’ top scorer.
NCAA Hopes: Bubble team
10. St Johns (9-18)
Need to Know: Darryl Hill is the best guard that no one knows about. He averaged 20 points a game last year and combines with Lamont Hamilton to give the Red Storm something to build upon. Coach Norm Roberts is making strides as he tries to restore the program.
Achilles’ Heel: A small frontcourt and lack of a third scorer will keep St. Johns from a huge jump forward. Freshman Anthony Mason, Jr. is athletic, but lacks his father’s stylish hair cuts.
Difference Maker: Hamilton- needs to battle each night against bigger and deeper frontlines. Must raise free throw percentage to give St. John’s a chance to rise in the Big East standings.
NCAA Hopes: NIT Bound
11. Marquette (19-12)
Need to Know: Bad time to join the conference, but Steve Novak can deliver from behind the arc. Tom Crean has a solid freshman class, but this team will suffer a lot of close losses this year.
Achilles’ Heel: Loss of top scorer and playmaker Travis Deiner leaves the team looking for new players to step up. Not deep enough to hang with the top teams in the conference.
Difference Maker: Dan Fitzgerald- the transfer from Tulane is being counted on to provide some scoring help as the starting small forward.
NCAA Hopes: NIT Bound
12. DePaul (20-11)
Need to Know: Jerry Wainwright can coach and he will keep the Blue Demons in many games. A big frontcourt and deep bench will help in the physical Big East.
Achilles’ Heel: Young squad-only one senior. Not a very good outside shooting team. Also lost a Deiner, but not the good one.
Difference Maker: Sammy Mejia- a slasher who must improve his shooting and take on the scoring burden.
NCAA Hopes: Watching from home
13. Providence (14-17)
Need to Know: Donnie McGrath grew his hair like Steve Nash and that’s where the comparison ends. Randall Hanke was strong down the stretch last year and he teams with DeSean White to give the Friars a solid frontcourt.
Achilles’ Heel: The uncertain status of Dwight Brewington hurts the Friars’ scoring. McGrath must become a consistent shooter.
Difference Maker: Hanke- reminds me of Raef LaFrentz. Came out of nowhere last year to shoot 72% from the field and looks to be a star in the making.
NCAA Hopes: Watching from home
14. Rutgers (10-19)
Need to Know: The RAC gives the Scarlet Knights a solid home-court advantage. Quincy Douby could average 20 points a game if he improves his shooting.
Achilles’ Heel: Terrible defense last year- opponents shot over 46% from the field.
Difference Maker: Ollie Bailey- sophomore moves to the wing and needs to increase his production to take pressure off of the guards.
NCAA Hopes: Watching from home
15. Seton Hall (12-16)
Need to Know: Kelly Whitney returns for his eighth year (well it seems like it) for Coach Louis Orr’s squad. The senior forward will have to shine to keep the Pirates from missing out on the Big East Tournament
Achilles’ Heel: Thin in the backcourt. The pressure is on Orr to rebound from last year’s poor performance.
Difference Maker: Donald Copeland- the senior point guard must provide Whitney with some help.
NCAA Hopes: Watching from home
16. South Florida (14-16)
Need to Know: The conference newcomers are not expected to do much, but neither was their football squad this year.
Achilles’ Heel: Weak backcourt and inexperienced players is not a formula for success.
Difference Maker: Melvin Buckley- the Purdue transfer will be counted on to be the Bulls’ top player.
NCAA Hopes: Watching from home.