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THE RED SOX ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS! A joyous end to baseball season brings what should be one of the best college basketball seasons ever.

2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #8

#8- Providence Friars

Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI.

Last season: 18-13 (8-8). Lost to Bradley in NIT 1st round.
Head coach: Tim Welsh, 10th season, 127-114.
Associate head coach: Steve DeMeo.
Assistant coaches: Vince Cautero, Allen Griffin.

New additions: Marshon Brooks (2 star SG), Alex Kellogg (2 star PF), Jamine Peterson (4 star SF), Jeff Xavier (Manhattan transfer, 2 star PG).

Losses: Herbert Hill (18.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.5 apg), Jamal Barney (2.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.8 apg).

Roster: (#, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year’s stats)

21 Chris Baudinet 6-5/210 F Jr. Watertown, CT (0.3 rpg)
2 Marshon Brooks 6-5/190 G/F Fr. Tucker, GA
33 Charles Burch 6-7/225 F Sr. Dorchester, MA (2.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.8 apg)
10 Luke Burchett 6-0/185 G So. Western Springs, IL (2.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg)
4 Sharaud Curry 5-10/170 G Jr. Gainesville, GA (15.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.4 apg) (injured until December)
13 Weyinmi Efejuku 6-5/210 G Jr. Fresh Meadows, NY (14.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.5 apg)
55 Ray Hall 6-11/265 C So. Denver, CO (2.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.2 apg)
32 Randall Hanke 6-11/240 F/C Jr. New York, NY (DNP last season)
34 Jonathan Kale 6-8/245 F Jr. Mattapan, MA (7.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.3 apg)
0 Alex Kellogg 6-7/225 F Fr. Columbus, OH
11 Geoff McDermott 6-8/235 F/G Jr. New Rochelle, NY (9.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 5.1 apg)
23 Brian McKenzie 6-4/205 G So. Brooklyn, NY (3.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.2 apg)
15 Jamine Peterson 6-6/225 F Fr. Brooklyn, NY
5 Dwain Williams 6-0/170 G So. San Diego, CA (7.5 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 1.7 apg)
1 Jeff Xavier 6-1/185 G Jr. Pawtucket, RI

Backcourt:

Providence has a very solid team this year and I think they are a major sleeper in the Big East. The Friars are very balanced in both the backcourt and frontcourt, in addition to having depth off the bench. Sharaud Curry returns for his junior season. Although injured, he should be back in time for a key non-conference game with Boston College on December 1. Curry will be the driving force behind Providence this year, as he can score as well as get others involved. He’s your prototypical point guard and one of the more underrated ones in the nation. Weyinmi Efejuku should get the start at the two. One of the more athletic players in the league, Efejuku can do it all: shoot, drive, dish, and score. Also returning in the PC backcourt are Brian McKenzie and Dwain Williams. McKenzie didn’t see much time last year but he is a dead-eye three point shooter. Williams should see more minutes as well and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him average double figures this year. Another key off the bench will be Jeff Xavier. Xavier transferred from Manhattan College when Bobby Gonzalez left for Seton Hall in April of 2006. He sat out last year per NCAA rules and should be a big time contributor off the bench for Tim Welsh.


Frontcourt:

In addition to the balance in the backcourt, the Friars have four quality players in their frontcourt. They will need to replace Herbert Hill’s 18.1 ppg total, but it shouldn’t be as hard as it seems. Geoff McDermott, Jonathan Kale, and Randall Hanke return this year, and freshman Jamine Peterson should see playing time right away. Hanke sat out last year, but he was a big contributor for Providence’s 2005-2006 team. I expect him to have a very solid year. Kale is a serviceable 6-8 forward who should put up close to 10 ppg. McDermott, a preseason first team all-Big East selection, is a do-it-all forward. He just about averaged a double-double last year (9.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg), but he also dished out 5.1 assists per game. You can look long and hard, but you won’t find many 6-8 guys with those kind of stats. He can post you up or take you outside and shoot the three ball. At times he’ll even bring the ball up the floor on the fast break. McDermott is from New Rochelle, NY and somehow slipped through Jim Calhoun’s hands. Westchester County New York is one of Calhoun’s strongholds in recruiting, as that is where he got Ben Gordon from. (Mt. Vernon, NY, which is right next to New Rochelle.) Somehow, McDermott slipped under Calhoun’s radar, just like Ryan Gomes, although he was from western Connecticut. Tim Welsh does a good job recruiting in perhaps the worst job for a coach in the entire Big East Conference. Providence is a small urban school, and Rhode Island is not exactly a hot bed for basketball talent. The knock on Welsh is he can’t win in the postseason. In nine years, he’s only won one Big East Tournament game and has never won an NCAA Tournament game in his entire coaching career. This year may be make or break for Coach Welsh.

Schedule:

11/15- vs. Temple (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
11/16- vs. College of Charleston or Arkansas (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
11/18- vs. Houston, Virginia Commonwealth, Marist, or Miami (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
11/24- vs. Harvard
11/27- vs. Maine
12/1- at Boston College (T.D. BankNorth Garden)
12/4- at Rhode Island
12/6- vs. South Carolina (Philadelphia, PA)
12/9- vs. Brown
12/19- vs. Sacred Heart
12/22- vs. Florida State
12/31- vs. St. Peter’s
1/3- at Marquette
1/5- at DePaul
1/9- vs. Rutgers
1/12- vs. South Florida
1/17- at Connecticut
1/24- vs. Seton Hall
1/27- at Syracuse
1/31- at Notre Dame
2/2- vs. West Virginia
2/5- vs. DePaul
2/9- at St. John’s
2/12- at Pittsburgh
2/16- vs. Louisville
2/18- vs. Georgetown
2/23- at West Virginia
3/2- at Cincinnati
3/6- vs. Connecticut
3/8- vs. Villanova

Projected record: 21-9 (10-8).
Postseason: NCAA Tournament.

2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #9

#9- Seton Hall Pirates

Prudential Center, Newark, NJ.

Last season: 13-16 (4-12). No postseason.
Head coach: Bobby Gonzalez, 2nd season. 13-16 at Seton Hall.
Assistant coaches: Kevin Murphy, Dermon Player, Scott Adubato.

New additions: Mike Davis (3 star C), Michael Glover (4 star PF), Jeremy Hazell (4 star SG), Augustine Okosun (JC transfer/2 star C), Brandon Walters (3 star C).

Losses: Stan Gaines (6.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Grant Billmeier (3.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Carl Marshall (1.9 ppg, 0.5 rpg), Mani Messy (1.5 ppg, 1.1 rpg), Kashif Pratt (0.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg).

Roster: (#, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year’s stats)

35 Larry Davis 6-4/185 G So. Middle Village, NY (7.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.6 apg)
13 Mike Davis 6-11/255 F/C Fr. Brooklyn, NY
31 John Garcia 6-9/265 F/C So. Brentwood, NY (4.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 0.2 apg)
22 Paul Gause 5-11/188 G Jr. Pittsgrove, NJ (8.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.7 apg)
23 Michael Glover 6-6/200 F Fr. Bronx, NY
15 Eugene Harvey 6-0/165 G So. Brooklyn, NY (16.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.2 apg)
21 Jeremy Hazell 6-5/185 G Fr. Bronx, NY
14 Brian Laing 6-5/215 G/F Sr. Bronx, NY (16.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.1 apg)
2 Jamar Nutter 6-2/205 G Sr. Bloomfield, NJ (12.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.9 apg)
25 Augustine Okosun 6-11/240 F/C Jr. Benin City, Nigeria
33 Brandon Walters 6-9/225 F Fr. Brooklyn, NY

Bobby Gonzalez’s young, first year squad, one of the smallest in Big East history last season, was remarkably competitive in so many games but could not close the deal because of their painful lack of depth and height. The 8th most unlucky team in the nation last year according to kenpom.com, Seton Hall’s actual record (13-16) was three wins less than what it should have been based on that statistic. After years of mediocrity under George Blaney, Tommy Amaker, and Louis Orr, Bobby Gonzalez came to South Orange last season with a vision. He said he wanted to change everything and he has just about done that. In addition, the Pirates are moving into a beautiful new arena, the Prudential Center (aka The Rock) in downtown Newark, NJ. This facility is state of the art and will provide Gonzalez with a tremendous advantage in recruiting. He wants to build a champion at Seton Hall and he is well on his way. One of the more polarizing coaches in America, Gonzalez gets what he wants and leave no stone unturned. He’s played to his recruiting strength by loading the roster with New York and New Jersey recruits. Look for Bobby Gonzalez to lead the Big East in technical fouls this year but at the same time lead the league in passion and intensity.

Backcourt:

Gonzalez has assembled one of the better backcourts in the conference this season, starting with Eugene Harvey. This dynamic playmaker out of Brooklyn, NY makes everything go for this Seton Hall team. Harvey averaged 16.5 ppg as a freshman last season while dishing out over four assists at the same time. For a small guy, he gets to the basket easily and finishes, in addition to being a terrific passer. Harvey’s weak point is his outside shooting. He did manage to shoot 30% from three point range last year, but that was mostly a result of wide open looks. Reports are that he has improved his shooting, but it remains to be seen by how much. He’s one of the better point guards in the conference and the nation, appearing on many top players lists (including one on this very website). Paul Gause, the Big East leader in steals, will likely earn a starting job at least early on in the season. Gause is a dynamic defender and a great rebounder for a guard, but he needs to improve his shot as well. Gause is a guy who will hustle 100% of the time and provide a spark to the other players on the floor. Senior Jamar Nutter returns, one of the leading three point shooters in the conference last year, even though it was a disappointing and inconsistent season for him. He’ll be counted on to provide senior leadership along with Brian Laing. Laing is one of the most underrated players in the entire country, averaging 16.5 ppg last season as an undersized power forward. He’ll see time at the three this year. Look for him to light it up and have a great senior season. Larry Davis and dead-eye freshman shooter Jeremy Hazell will see lots of time off the bench in this very deep backcourt for the Pirates.

Frontcourt:

Seton Hall’s biggest question mark will be the frontcourt. Only one proven Big East player returns and that is John Garcia. He has been hampered by knee problems his entire career and while not 100%, he is in the best shape of his life. He should have a good year, significantly upping his points per game average. Freshmen Mike Davis and Mike Glover will provide Garcia with much needed rest. Davis has a very strong frame and will bang with the big boys all season long. This crafty lefty should have a very good freshmen season for the Pirates. The name Glover should be familiar to Big East fans. Mike’s brother was former St. John’s standout Anthony Glover. Mike isn’t as tall or wide as his brother, but he finds ways to score in what one could describe as a “wiry” fashion. Glover will be a very solid four year player for Coach Gonzalez. Junior college transfer Augustine (Austin) Okosun will get up and down the court in Gonzalez’s up tempo pressing style of play. He’s one of the fastest 6-11 guys you will ever see. Freshman Brandon Walters does not figure to see much time this year, but scouts have said he is a pro prospect down the road. Seton Hall will be similar to last year in terms of style, but the way they win games will be different. Their backcourt will keep coming at you and wear you down for 40 minutes every night and their defense will be much improved over the swiss cheese defense they played last season. All of this makes the Pirates one of the biggest sleepers in the country this season. Still, it will take some time for the young guys to gel and learn how to win in the Big East. Once they do, watch out.

Schedule:

11/11- vs. Monmouth
11/18- vs. Robert Morris
11/20- vs. Loyola Maryland
11/23- vs. Navy (Philadelphia, PA)
11/24- vs. Virginia or Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
11/28- at Princeton
12/1- at St. Mary’s
12/4- vs. St. Peter’s
12/8- at Penn State
12/22- vs. James Madison
12/27- vs. North Carolina State
12/31- vs. Delaware State
1/3- vs. Connecticut
1/5- vs. Morgan State
1/8- at Marquette
1/12- at Pittsburgh
1/17- vs. South Florida
1/19- vs. Louisville
1/24- at Providence
1/27- vs. Cincinnati
1/30- at Rutgers
2/2- at Georgetown
2/6- vs. Notre Dame
2/9- at Villanova
2/12- vs. Marquette
2/17- at West Virginia
2/23- vs. DePaul
2/26- at South Florida
3/1- at St. John’s
3/5- vs. Syracuse
3/9- vs. Rutgers

Projected record: 21-10 (10-8).
Postseason: NIT.

2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #10

#10- Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Joyce Center, South Bend, IN.

Last season: 24-8 (11-5). Lost to Winthrop in NCAA 1st round.
Head coach: Mike Brey, 8th season. 142-78 at Notre Dame.
Associate head coach: Sean Kearney.
Assistant coaches: Gene Cross, Rob Balanis.

New additions: Tim Abromaitis (2 star SF), Tyrone Nash (3 star PF), Ty Proffitt (2 star PG), Carleton Scott (3 star PF).

Losses: Russell Carter (17.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 39.4% 3 pt shooter), Colin Falls (15.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.4 apg, 39.6% 3 pt shooter), Joe Harden (1.2 ppg, 0.9 rpg), Kieran Piller (0.2 ppg, 0.2 rpg).

Roster: (#, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year’s stats)

21 Tim Abromaitis 6-8/224 F Fr. Unionville, CT
41 Tim Andree 6-8/210 F So. Colts Neck, NJ (0.4 ppg, 0.2 rpg)
42 Ryan Ayers 6-7/210 G/F Jr. Blue Bell, PA (2.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.4 apg)
44 Luke Harangody 6-8/251 F So. Schererville, IN (11.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.2 apg) (out 4-6 weeks)
33 Zach Hillesland 6-9/233 F Jr. Toledo, OH (5.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.2 apg)
2 Tory Jackson 5-11/193 G So. Saginaw, MI (7.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 4.3 apg)
31 Rob Kurz 6-9/232 F Sr. Lower Gwynedd, PA (12.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.7 apg)
23 Kyle McAlarney 6-0/196 G Jr. Staten Island, NY (10.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.4 apg)
1 Tyrone Nash 6-8/220 G Fr. Queens, NY
20 Jonathan Peoples 6-3/215 G So. Bellwood, IL (1.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.7 apg)
13 Ty Proffitt 6-4/206 G Fr. London, KY
34 Carleton Scott 6-7/198 F Fr. San Antonio, TX
40 Luke Zeller 6-10/239 F/C Jr. Washington, IN (3.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.5 apg)

Backcourt:

Perhaps the biggest key to Notre Dame’s season will be the return of Kyle McAlarney. Suspended from the team for most of last season after a marijuana arrest, McAlarney is back and hopes to build on his outstanding statistics in limited action last season. Notre Dame has a gaping hole in its backcourt with the departure of Colin Falls and Russell Carter. Those two players combined for 32.4 ppg and shot almost 40% from three point range last year. Tory Jackson and McAlarney will try to fill that hole, but after them there really isn’t much depth at all. Notre Dame is another team loaded with forwards but at the same time light on guards. I do expect Jackson and McAlarney to have pretty good years, but they really only have two other guards to back up the two starters. Jonathan Peoples should see some more time on the floor, but he didn’t really have a great season last year. Freshman Ty Proffitt wasn’t highly rated out of high school, but he is likely to be thrust right into the action off the bench.

Frontcourt:

The Irish’s strength lies up front. Led by Rob Kurz and Luke Harangody, the Irish frontcourt will lead them this season. For the fans, you’ll see a much different Notre Dame team this year, one that puts less emphasis on the three point shot and more on the mid range and post game. In the past, ND could rely on guys like Colin Falls, Russell Carter, Chris Quinn, and Chris Thomas to light it up from downtown. For now, those days are gone. Tory Jackson and Kyle McAlarney can shoot the three ball, but they won’t do it at nearly the clip Falls and Carter did. This forces Notre Dame to focus on getting Harangody and Kurz involved in the offense. Harangody is a beast on the low block, but he’ll be out 4-6 weeks at the beginning of the season. For ND’s sake, they better have him back for their December 4th date with Kansas State and Michael Beasely and Kansas State at Madison Square Garden. It’ll be along night if they don’t. Ryan Ayers, Zach Hillesland, and Luke Zeller need to contribute more this season in order for the Irish to have success. If they do, Notre Dame will have a very deep frontcourt. Add in freshman Tyrone Nash and it only gets better.

Schedule:

11/12- vs. Long Island University
11/16- vs. Monmouth (US Virgin Islands)
11/18- vs. Baylor or Wichita State (US Virgin Islands)
11/19- vs. Charlotte, Winthrop, Georgia Tech, or Illinois-Chicago (US Virgin Islands)
11/24- vs. Youngstown State
11/26- vs. Colgate
12/1- vs. Eastern Michigan
12/4- vs. Kansas State (New York, NY)
12/8- vs. Northern Illinois
12/22- vs. San Francisco
12/29- vs. Brown
12/31- vs. North Florida
1/3- vs. West Virginia
1/5- vs. Connecticut
1/12- at Marquette
1/15- vs. Cincinnati
1/19- at Georgetown
1/26- at Villanova
1/31- vs. Providence
2/2- vs. DePaul
2/6- at Seton Hall
2/9- vs. Marquette
2/13- at Connecticut
2/17- at Rutgers
2/21- vs. Pittsburgh
2/24- vs. Syracuse
2/28- at Louisville
3/2- at DePaul
3/5- vs. St. John’s
3/8- at South Florida

Projected record: 19-11 (9-9).
Postseason: NIT.

2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #11

#11- West Virginia Mountaineers

WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, WV.

Last season: 27-9 (9-7). NIT Champions.
Head coach: Bob Huggins, 1st season. 0-0 at West Virginia.
Assistant coaches: Billy Hahn, Erik Martin, Larry Harrison.

New additions: John Flowers (3 star PF), Jacob Green (3 star PF), Cameron Payne, Josh Sowards, Will Thomas (3 star SG), Cam Thoroughman (2 star SF), Jonnie West (3 star SG).

Losses: Frank Young (15.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.8 apg), Rob Summers (4.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.9 apg), Devan Bawinkel (1.9 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 0.6 apg).

Roster: (#, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year’s stats)

11 Joe Alexander 6-8/230 F Jr. Mt. Airy, MD (10.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.9 apg)
1 Da’Sean Butler 6-7/225 F So. Newark, NJ (10.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 apg)
41 John Flowers 6-7/195 F Fr. Waldorf, MD
34 Jacob Green 6-9/220 F Fr. Clinton, MD3 Joe Mazzulla 6-2/210 G So. Johnston, RI (3.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 1.0 apg)
14 Darris Nichols 6-3/200 G Sr. Radford, VA (10.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.6 apg)
25 Cameron Payne 6-4/200 G Fr. Charleston, WV
22 Alex Ruoff 6-6/215 F Jr. Spring Hill, FL (10.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 5.3 apg)
43 Jamie Smalligan 7-0/265 C Sr. East Grand Rapids, MI (5.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.6 apg)
35 Wellington Smith 6-7/215 F So. Summit, NJ (2.3 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.1 apg)
21 Josh Sowards 6-7/205 F So. Scott Depot, WV
32 Ted Talkington 6-2/200 G Jr. New Martinsville, WV (0.7 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 0.3 apg)
24 Will Thomas 6-5/205 G Fr. East Cleveland, OH
2 Cam Thoroughman 6-7/215 F Fr. Portsmouth, OH
4 Jonnie West 6-3/175 G Fr. Memphis, TN

Backcourt:

To me, West Virginia is one of the most confusing teams in the nation. How will the players react to John Beilein leaving? Will Beilein’s players adjust to Bob Huggins and his different style of play? How will they replace Frank Young? Those are the key questions for this year’s version of the Mountaineers. They return a talented point guard in senior Darris Nichols (10.9 ppg, 4.6 apg). Nichols, also a great free throw shooter, will anchor WVU’s offense. Look for him to have a big time year. West Virginia really doesn’t have any other guards that will see significant time other than Jonnie West, the son of legendary NBA man Jerry West. Like pops, Jonnie is a great shooter. He should contribute after being red shirted last year. Other than that, West Virginia has a few walk ons and is really stacked with forwards.


Frontcourt:

Here’s where it gets interesting. Can Joe Alexander, often called one of the most athletic players in the nation, duplicate or surpass his level of success from last year? Same goes for junior Alex Ruoff who averaged over five assists per game last season. Ruoff and Alexander are tall, but they play mostly on the perimeter and act as quasi-guards. A key to WVU’s success this year will be uber sophomore Da’Sean Butler. A lights out shooter and a great slasher, Butler brings an athletic game to the table and is a matchup disaster for many teams in the Big East Conference. He averaged 10 ppg as a freshman and I expect that total to go up this season. After that, WVU has only two guys 6-9 or taller on the roster and that is precisely where they will get beat. Senior center Jamie Smalligan returns, but he’ll need a lot of help in the frontcourt. He is not capable of playing 30-35 minutes a game. Huggins’ only other hope is to quickly develop freshman Jacob Green, a 6-9/220 power forward. He’ll need to contribute right away if WVU wants to finish higher than 11th in this brutal league. Still, I expect them to have a very nice season but ultimately falling short of the NCAA Tournament because of the issues in the frontcourt.

Schedule:

11/16- vs. Arkansas Monticello
11/18- vs. Prairie View A&M
11/23- vs. Tennessee (Newark, NJ)
11/24- vs. Texas or New Mexico State (Newark, NJ)
11/27- vs. Maryland Eastern Shore
12/1- vs. Winthrop
12/5- vs. Auburn (Birmingham, AL)
12/8- vs. Duquesne
12/15- vs. Maryland Baltimore County
12/19- at Radford
12/22- at Canisius
12/29- vs. Oklahoma (Charleston, WV)
1/3- at Notre Dame
1/6- vs. Marquette
1/10- at Louisville
1/13- vs. Syracuse
1/17- vs. St. John’s
1/20- at South Florida
1/23- vs. Marshall (Charleston, WV)
1/26- vs. Georgetown
1/30- vs. Cincinnati
2/2- at Providence
2/7- at Pittsburgh
2/14- vs. Rutgers
2/17- vs. Seton Hall
2/20- at Villanova
2/23- vs. Providence
2/27- at DePaul
3/1- at Connecticut
3/3- vs. Pittsburgh
3/8- at St. John’s

Projected record: 19-12 (8-10).
Postseason: NIT.

2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #12

#12- Cincinnati Bearcats

Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, OH.

Last season: 11-19 (2-14). No postseason.
Head coach: Mick Cronin, 2nd season. 11-19 at Cincinnati.
Associate head coach: Larry Davis.
Assistant coaches: Chris Goggin, Tony Stubblefield.

New additions: Kenny Belton (2 star PF), Rashad Bishop (3 star SF), Larry Davis (3 star SG), Adam Hrycaniuk (transfer), Anthony McClain (4 star C), Alvin Mitchell (4 star SF), Darnell Wilks (2 star SF), Mike Williams (transfer, Texas).

Losses: Cedric McGowan (8.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Timmy Crowell (1.5 ppg, 0.8 apg), Ronald Allen (1.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg), Connor Barwin (1.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg).

Roster: (#, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year’s stats)

32 Kenny Belton 6-8/245 F Fr. Salem, VA
22 Rashad Bishop 6-6/220 F Fr. Newark, NJ
11 Larry Davis 6-3/180 G Fr. Houston, TX
1 Marvin Gentry 6-3/180 G Sr. Fort Worth, TX (7.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.25 apg)
34 Adam Hrycaniuk 6-10/230 C Sr. Mysliborz, Poland
30 Anthony McClain 6-11/245 C Fr. Fort Washington, MD
20 Branden Miller 6-4/195 G Jr. Cincinnati, OH (0.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.2 apg)
23 Alvin Mitchell 6-5/215 F Fr. Fort Lauderdale, FL
10 Marcus Sikes 6-8/230 F Sr. Richmond, VA (9.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.4 apg)
5 Deonta Vaughn 6-1/195 G So. Indianapolis, IN (14.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.5 apg)
33 Jamual Warren 6-2/195 G Sr. Springfield, MA (8.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.2 apg)
15 Darnell Wilks 6-7/195 F Fr. Nashville, TN
21 Mike Williams 6-7/240 F Jr. Camden, AL (injured)
45 John Williamson 6-6/225 F Sr. Columbus, OH (13.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.0 apg)

Backcourt:

Plain and simple, I expect Cincinnati to have a much better year than last year’s 11-19 (2-14) disaster in Mick Cronin’s first year. In their backcourt, Cincinnati returns Marvin Gentry, Deonta Vaughn, and Jamal Warren to form a very nice core of guards. They will be joined by freshmen Larry Davis and Alvin Mitchell, two talented newcomers. Deonta Vaughn was one of the more underrated players in the Big East last season, putting up 14.5 ppg as a freshman. Gentry and Warren are seniors and I expect them to have big years as they don’t want to end their college careers by missing the Big East Tournament again. All together, this backcourt is one of the better ones in a conference filled with good backcourts.

Frontcourt:

Up front, the story for the Bearcats is John Williamson and freshman Anthony McClain. Other than that, the Cincinnati frontcourt is not very deep and that might end up being their Achilles heel. Williamson had a nice season last year and McClain will come in with high expectations. Coach Cronin will miss Mike Williams, a transfer from Texas who will be out with an achilles tendon injury (no pun intended). Another transfer, Adam Hrycaniuk, figures to see some time off the bench for this thin frontcourt. Senior forward Marcus Sikes has been a solid contributor all throughout his career and should get the start at the four.

Schedule:

11/9- vs. Belmont
11/10- vs. Western Carolina
11/11- vs. Bowling Green
11/16- vs. Coastal Carolina
11/24- vs. Fairfield
11/26- vs. South Carolina Upstate
12/1- at UAB
12/8- at Illinois State
12/12- at Xavier
12/19- vs. Memphis
12/23- at North Carolina State
12/29- vs. Miami (Ohio)
1/1- at Louisville
1/5- at St. John’s
1/9- vs. Syracuse
1/12- vs. Villanova
1/15- at Notre Dame
1/19- vs. Pittsburgh
1/23- vs. Connecticut
1/27- at Seton Hall
1/30- at West Virginia
2/2- vs. Marquette
2/9- at Rutgers
2/13- vs. St. John’s
2/20- vs. South Florida
2/23- at Georgetown
2/27- at Pittsburgh
3/2- vs. Providence
3/6- vs. DePaul
3/8- at Connecticut

Projected record: 15-15 (7-11).
Postseason: None.

2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #13

#13- DePaul Blue Demons

Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL.

Last season: 20-14 (9-7). Lost to Air Force in NIT Quarterfinals.
Head coach: Jerry Wainwright, 3rd season. 32-29 at DePaul.
Associate head coach: Gary DeCesare.
Assistant coaches: Scott Wainwright, Ramon Williams.

New additions: Michael Bizoukas (3 star PG), Dar Tucker (4 star SF), Mario Stula (3 star PF), Mac Koshwal (4 star C), Matija Poscic (JC transfer), Kene Obi (1 star C).

Losses: Wilson Chandler (14.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg), Sammy Mejia (14.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg), Marcus Heard (6.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Keith Butler (1.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg), Lorenzo Thompson (1.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg).

Roster: (#, Name, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year's stats)

0 Michael Bizoukas 6-1/175 G Fr. Munster, IN
3 Draelon Burns 6-4/210 G Sr. Milwaukee, WI (11.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.4 apg)
5 Karron Clarke 6-6/210 F Sr. Brooklyn, NY (6.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 0.6 apg)
12 Cliff Clinkscales 6-1/175 G Sr. Queens, NY (1.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 2.3 apg)
1 Jabari Currie 6-4/215 G Jr. Detroit, MI (3.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 3.0 apg)
4 Wesley Green 6-9/300 C Sr. Eustis, FL (3.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.6 apg)
20 Adam Handler 6-5/215 F Jr. Deerfield, IL (0.3 ppg, 0.4 rpg)
13 Mac Koshwal 6-10/240 C Fr. Chicago, IL
15 Thijin Moses 6-8/175 F So. Chicago, IL (1.2 ppg, 0.3 rpg)
55 Kene Obi 7-2/260 C Fr. Enugu, Nigeria
31 Matija Poscic 6-10/235 C Jr. Opatija, Croatia
10 Mario Stula 6-7/210 F Fr. Sibenik, Croatia
2 Dar Tucker 6-4/210 F Fr. Saginaw, MI
30 Will Walker 6-0/180 G So. Bolingbrook, IL (3.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.9 apg)
11 Joshua Washington 6-1/175 G So. Houston, TX

Backcourt:

The major question for this year's DePaul team is how do they replace Sammy Mejia and Wilson Chandler? Those two player combined for 28.7 points a game last season on a team that struggled to score. That doesn't bode well for the returning players (eight of them) who combined only averaged 31.7 ppg. We'll start in the backcourt where Mejia's loss will be felt hard by the Blue Demons. Draelon Burns is DePaul's best returning player and this senior out of Milwaukee will need to provide leadership and offense or else DePaul won't even make it to the #13 spot. Jabari Currie, Will Walker, and freshman Michael Bizoukas will battle for the other starting guard spot. Freshman Dar Tucker will challenge for the starting spot at the 3, but I think he'll be better served coming off the bench this season. Get to know him, he'll be a player down the road. Senior Cliff Clinkscales will most likely not see much time at all.

Frontcourt:

Up front, the story will be Mac Koshwal. This stud freshman center will probably earn the starting spot from day one and give DePaul a much needed boost in the frontcourt. They will miss Wilson Chandler, but in Koshwal they have a great player for years to come. Koshwal will put up a lot of points this year, but it remains to be seen how quickly he will adjust to the college game. Senior Karron Clarke (6.6 ppg) will start at forward. Clarke and Burns in the backcourt have the potential to A) provide leadership as seniors and B) form a nice inside-outside combo, opening up jumpers for Burns. Thijin Moses and Wesley Green are the only other players who return from last year's squad. Both did not see much action, only combining for 4.8 ppg last season. Two Croatians enter the Blue Demon program this year. Matija Poscic and Mario Stula should see time off the bench and make a mild impact on DePaul's frontcourt. Freshman Kene Obi is a big man at 7-2 tall, but don't expect him to see more than ten minutes per game for Jerry Wainwright's team.

Schedule:

11/9- at Creighton
11/17- vs. Northwestern
11/24- vs. North Carolina A&T
11/28- vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christie
12/8- at Kansas
12/12- vs. Vanderbilt
12/15- vs. Illinois-Chicago
12/20- vs. Mississippi (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
12/21- vs. Clemson (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
12/22- vs. La Salle (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
12/29- at Detroit
1/3- vs. Villanova
1/5- vs. Providence
1/8- vs. Georgetown
1/12- at St. John's
1/16- at Villanova
1/19- vs. Rutgers
1/21- vs. Florida Gulf Coast
1/26- at Marquette
1/30- vs. Syracuse
2/2- at Notre Dame
2/5- at Providence
2/9- vs. South Florida
2/12- vs. Louisville
2/19- at Connecticut
2/23- at Seton Hall
2/27- vs. West Virginia
3/2- vs. Notre Dame
3/6- at Cincinnati
3/9- at Pittsburgh

Projected record: 13-17 (6-12).
Postseason: None.

2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #14

#14- St. John's Red Storm

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY/Carnesecca Arena, Queens, NY.

Last season: 16-15 (7-9). No postseason.
Head coach: Norm Roberts, 4th season. 37-48 at SJU.
Assistant coaches: Glenn Brica, Fred Quartlebaum, Chris Casey.

New additions: Malik Boothe (3 star PG), Justin Burrell (4 star PF), Mike Cavataio (1 star SF), Dele Coker (4 star C), Sean Evans (2 star PF), Paris Horne (3 star SG), D.J. Kennedy (3 star SF), Rob Thomas (4 star PF).

Losses: Lamont Hamilton (13.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.4 apg), Avery Patterson (10.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.1 apg), Daryll Hill (6.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.2 apg), Qa'rraan Calhoun (5.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Aaron Spears (4.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg), Ricky Torres (2.3 ppg), Devin Mayo (0.6 ppg), Corey Brown, Adam Laitsas.

Roster: (#, Name, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year's stats)

33 Otoja Abit 6-6/187 F Sr. Woodside, NY (0.3 ppg, 0.1 rpg)
30 Liam Biesty 6-0/175 G Sr. Brooklyn, NY (0.3 rpg)
3 Malik Boothe 5-9/185 G Fr. Rosedale, NY
24 Justin Burrell 6-8/220 F Fr. Bronx, NY
32 Mike Cavataio 6-4/180 G/F Fr. Forest Hills, NY
15 Dele Coker 6-10/270 F/C Fr. Newburgh, NY
22 Sean Evans 6-8/230 F Fr. Philadelphia, PA
23 Paris Horne 6-3/180 G/F Fr. Middletown, DE
11 Tomas Jasiulionis 6-11/249 C Jr. Utena, Lithuania (2.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.3 apg)
10 D.J. Kennedy 6-6/190 G/F Fr. Pittsburgh, PA
4 Eugene Lawrence 6-1/225 G Sr. Brooklyn, NY (7.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.6 apg)
2 Anthony Mason Jr. 6-7/207 F Jr. Memphis, TN (11.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.0 apg)
55 Rob Thomas 6-6/235 F RS-Fr. New York, NY
5 Larry Wright 6-2/159 G So. Saginaw, MI (4.0 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.5 apg)

Backcourt:

The Red Storm return Eugene Lawrence and Larry Wright, two key components of their very thin backcourt. Lawrence is an assist machine, dishing out over five assists per game for last season's team. He needs to improve his outside shot this season in order for St. John's to be successful. An influx of freshmen will force Lawrence to handle the leadership and scoring in the backcourt. Wright only averaged four points per game last season so he needs to step it up in order for the Johnnies to win more games than expected. Freshmen Malik Boothe and Paris Horne should be first off the bench to give Lawrence and Wright a rest. They will need to contribute because the backcourt doesn't have much depth at all. Liam Biesty and Mike Cavataio do not figure to see much playing time, if any.

Frontcout:

Up front, St. John's is led by junior Anthony Mason Jr., the son of former New York Knick Anthony Mason. Mason led the team in scoring last year, averaging just about 12 points per contest. This 6-7 forward will be counted on to lead the extremely young Red Storm frontcourt this season. The good news for St. John's is that although their frontcourt is young, it is extremely talented. Freshmen Justin Burrell, Dele Coker, and Rob Thomas figure to make big impacts right away because of the depth issues on St. John's. All three of these freshmen will inject talent and muscle into the frontcourt for the Red Storm. All three of them are native New Yorkers, so they should have no problem adjusting to the bright lights of the big city and the big stage, Madison Square Garden. Junior big man Tomas Jasiulionis should see about 10 minutes a game off the bench for the Johnnies. If Norm Roberts can get his freshmen to build good chemistry early on in the season, this team could exceed expectations. If not, expect the Storm to miss the Big East Tournament.

Schedule:

11/14- vs. St. Francis (NY)
11/20- vs. Sacred Heart
11/25- vs. Fairleigh Dickinson
11/28- vs. Long Island University
12/2- at Miami
12/15- vs. Niagara
12/19- vs. Ohio (Honolulu, HI)
12/21- vs. Louisiana-Lafayette or Hawaii (Honolulu, HI, TBD)
12/22- vs. Tulane, St. Mary's, Georgia, or East Tennessee State (Honolulu, HI, TBD)
12/28- vs. Marist
12/29- vs. Hofstra or Virginia Tech
1/2- at Syracuse
1/5- vs. Cincinnati
1/8- at Connecticut
1/12- vs. DePaul
1/17- at West Virginia
1/23- vs. Pittsburgh
1/26- at Louisville
1/30- vs. Georgetown
2/2- at South Florida
2/6- at Rutgers
2/9- vs. Providence
2/13- at Cincinnati
2/16- vs. Villanova
2/20- vs. Marquette
2/23- at Duke
2/27- at Georgetown
3/1- vs. Seton Hall
3/5- at Notre Dame
3/8- vs. West Virginia

Projected record: 12-18 (4-14).
Postseason: None.

Position Rankings

Point Guards
1. Darren Collison- UCLA
2. Drew Neitzel- Michigan State
3. Sean Singletary- Virginia
4. Tywon Lawson- North Carolina
5. Eric Maynor- Virginia Commonwealth
6. Derrick Low- Washington State
7. D.J. Augustin- Texas
8. Tyrese Rice- Boston College
9. Jamont Gordon- Mississippi State
10. Jonathan Wallace- Georgetown
11. Drew Lavender- Xavier
12. Edgar Sosa- Louisville
13. Dominic James- Marquette
14. Stefon Hannah- Missouri
15. Eugene Harvey- Seton Hall
16. Scottie Reynolds- Villanova
17. Daniel Ruffin- Bradley
18. Russell Robinson- Kansas
19. Greivis Vasquez- Maryland
20. Jason Richards- Davidson

Top Five Freshmen
1. Derrick Rose- Memphis
2. O.J. Mayo- Southern Cal
3. Johnny Flynn- Syracuse
4. Jerryd Bayless- Arizona
5. Corey Fisher- Villanova

Shooting Guards
1. Chris Lofton- Tennessee
2. Stephen Curry- Davidson
3. Marcelus Kemp- Nevada
4. Jaycee Carroll- Utah State
5. A.J. Graves- Butler
6. Mario Chalmers- Kansas
7. Wayne Ellington- North Carolina
8. Jerel McNeal- Marquette
9. Patrick Beverley- Arkansas
10. Antoine Aguido- Hofstra
11. Josh Shipp- UCLA
12. Martin Zeno- Texas Tech
13. Kyle Weaver- Washington State
14. Bryce Taylor- Oregon
15. Eric Devendorf- Syracuse
16. Josh Carter- Texas A&M
17. Maureece Rice- George Washington
18. Courtney Lee- Western Kentucky
19. K.C. Rivers- Clemson
20. Joe Crawford- Kentucky

Top Five Freshmen
1. Eric Gordon- Indiana
2. Nick Calathes- Florida
3. James Harden- Arizona State
4. Austin Freeman- Georgetown
5. Corey Stokes- Villanova

Small Forwards
1. Brandon Rush- Kansas
2. Chris Douglas-Roberts- Memphis
3. Chase Budinger- Arizona
4. Gavin Grant- North Carolina St.
5. DeMarcus Nelson- Duke
6. Lawrence Hill- Stanford
7. Justin Hawkins- New Mexico St.
8. Terrence Williams- Louisville
9. Shan Foster- Vanderbilt
10. Raymar Morgan- Michigan State
11. Brian Laing- Seton Hall
12. Malik Hairston- Oregon
13. Robert Vaden- UAB
14. Bill Walker- Kansas State
15. DaJuan Summers- Georgetown
16. Wesley Matthews- Marquette
17. Tommie Liddell- Saint Louis
18. Geoff McDermott- Providence
19. Alonzo Gee- Alabama
20. C.J. Anderson- Xavier

Top Five Freshmen
1. Kyle Singler- Duke
2. Donte Greene- Syracuse
3. Chandler Person- Florida
4. James Anderson- Oklahoma State
5. Jamelle Horne- Arizona

Power Forwards
1. Tyler Hansbrough- North Carolina
2. D.J. White- Indiana
3. Brandon Costner- NC State
4. Ryan Anderson- California
5. Brook Lopez- Stanford
6. Taj Gibson- Southern Cal
7. Richard Hendrix- Alabama
8. Tyler Smith- Tennessee
9. Joseph Jones- Texas A&M
10. Jon Brockman- Washington
11. Darrell Arthur- Kansas
12. Jeff Adrien- Connecticut
13. James Gist- Maryland
14. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute- UCLA
15. Randal Falker- Southern Illinois
16. Maarty Leunen- Oregon
17. Kyle Hines- UNC-Greensboro
18. Will Daniels- Rhode Island
19. Rob Kurz- Notre Dame
20. Damion James- Texas

Top Five Freshmen
1. Michael Beasley- Kansas State
2. Patrick Patterson- Kentucky
3. Blake Griffin- Oklahoma
4. Anthony Randolph- LSU
5. Herb Pope- New Mexico State

Centers
1. Roy Hibbert- Georgetown
2. Joey Dorsey- Memphis
3. Josh Heytvelt- Gonzaga
4. Alexs Maric- Nebraska
5. Luke Nevill- Utah
6. Shaun Pruitt- Illinois
7. Jeff Pendergraph- Arizona State
8. Trent Plaisted- BYU
9. Kentrell Gransberry- South Florida
10. DeVon Hardin- California
11. Ben McCauley- NC State
12. James Mays- Clemson
13. Jason Thompson- Rider
14. Ahmad Nivins- Saint Joe’s
15. Charles Rhodes- Mississippi State
16. Mickell Gladness- Alabama A&M
17. Andrew Strait- Montana
18. Chris Daniels- Texas A&M-CC
19. Brian Butch- Wisconsin
20. Goran Suton- Michigan State

Top Five Freshmen
1. Kevin Love- UCLA
2. DeAndre Jordan- Texas A&M
3. Kosta Koufos- Ohio State
4. Cole Aldrich- Kansas
5. Nayal Koshwal- DePaul

2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #15

#15- South Florida Bulls

Sun Dome, Tampa, FL.

Last season: 12-18 (3-13). No postseason.
Head coach: Stan Heath, 1st season. 0-0 at USF.
Assistant coaches: Reggie Hanson, Byron Samuels, Dan Hipsher.

New additions: Mobolaji Ajayi (2 star center, JC transfer), Orane Chin (3 star SF), Dante Curry (3 star PG), Mohamed Esseghir (IPFW transfer), Aaron Holmes (FSU transfer, 4 star SG), Dominique Jones (3 star SG).

Losses: Melvin Buckley (14.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.0 apg), McHugh Mattis (12.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.7 apg), Zaronn Cann (3.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg), Melvyn Richardson (2.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg), Chris Capko (1.8 ppg, 2.2 apg), Jared Rubens, Bobby Torres.

Roster: (#, Name, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year's stats)

33 Mobolaji Ajayi 6-9/225 F Jr. Kano, Nigeria
22 Solomon Bozeman 6-0/165 G So. Magnolia, AR (9.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.5 apg)
15 Orane Chin 6-7/195 F Fr. Clarendon, Jamaica
10 Dante Curry 6-4/175 G RS-Fr. Kissimmee, FL
34 Mohamed Esseghir 6-10/225 F Sr. Apollo Beach, FL
1 Kentrell Gransberry 6-9/270 C Sr. Baton Rouge, LA (15.6 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 1.1 apg)
20 Aaron Holmes 6-5/185 G/F RS-Fr. St. Petersburg, FL (eligible mid-December)
3 Chris Howard 6-3/200 G So. Lorton, VA (5.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.9 apg)
0 Dominique Jones 6-4/205 G Fr. Lake Wales, FL
5 Eddie Lovett 6-0/180 G Sr. Riviera Beach, FL (0.9 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.5 apg)
21 Adamu Saaka 6-6/195 G/F So. Decatur, GA (3.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.2 apg)
23 Jesus Verdejo 6-4/205 G Jr. Carolina, Puerto Rico (7.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.0 apg)
32 Aris Williams 6-9/235 F Jr. Columbia, MD (3.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 0.6 apg)

Backcourt:

The Bulls are coming off their 2nd season in the Big East and have a new direction under coach Stan Heath. Heath should inject passion and a desire to succeed into his team. They have a solid recruiting class coming in this season and I expect Heath to develop these players over the next four years, bringing South Florida out of the bottom of the conference. In the backcourt, Solomon Bozeman returns for his sophomore campaign after a successful freshman season in Tampa. Bozeman averaged almost 10 points per game while pulling down 3 boards and dishing out 3.5 assists last season. Bozeman will be counted on to get others involved and handle some of the scoring load on his own. Aaron Holmes is a talented player who transferred from Leonard Hamilton's Florida State program. He'll be eligible after the first semester and should make an impact in the Big East portion of the schedule. Chris Howard is a good guard who averaged just about 6 assists a game in his limited time last season due to recovery from a knee injury. He's injured his left knee twice in two years, so that is obviously a concern for Stan Heath. They need Howard to be healthy to energize their backcourt. Puerto Rican Jesus Verdejo will provide solid veteran leadership in USF's backcourt. Dominique Jones should see time off the bench and I expect him to be a solid four year player for the Bulls. In the end, I think the losses of Melvin Buckley and McHugh Mattis will be too much to overcome for this young team.

Frontcourt:

You can't talk about South Florida's frontcourt without mentioning Kentrell Gransberry. This former LSU transfer lit up the Big East last year for 15.6 ppg and a staggering 11.4 rpg. On a team with only three seniors (two of which don't figure to see much playing time), Gransberry will be counted on to provide leadership on and off the court for this young Bulls team. He will carry just about all of the scoring load and an injury to Gransberry would be absolutely devestating to USF. Mobolaji Ajayi, a junior college transfer, should be able to spell Gransberry when he needs a blow. Other than that, USF doesn't have much depth in the frontcourt. Aris Williams, a 6-9 forward, should earn a starting job but he only averaged 3.5 ppg last season. If Gransberry gets into any kind of foul trouble, USF will be eaten alive by the bigger and better frontcourts in this conference.

Schedule:

11/9- vs. Cleveland State
11/13- at Buffalo
11/16- vs. Rhode Island (Daytona Beach, FL)
11/17- vs. Florida Atlantic (Daytona Beach, FL)
11/18- vs. Florida State (Daytona Beach, FL)
11/24- vs. East Carolina
11/26- at Florida International
12/1- vs. Central Florida
12/5- at Richmond
12/8- vs. UAB
12/19- at Wake Forest
12/22- vs. St. Francis (NY)
12/29- vs. Winston-Salem State
1/2- vs. Rutgers
1/5- at Syracuse
1/9- vs. Pittsburgh
1/12- at Providence
1/17- at Seton Hall
1/20- vs. West Virginia
1/23- vs. Louisville
1/29- at Marquette
2/2- vs. St. John's
2/5- at Georgetown
2/9- at DePaul
2/13- vs. Syracuse
2/16- vs. Connecticut
2/20- at Cincinnati
2/26- vs. Seton Hall
3/1- at Rutgers
3/5- at Villanova
3/8- vs. Notre Dame

Projected record: 12-19 (3-15).
Postseason: None.

2007-2008 Big East Conference Preview- #16

#16- Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Rutgers Athletic Center, Piscataway, NJ.

Last season: 10-19 (3-13). No postseason.
Head coach: Fred Hill Jr., 2nd season. 10-19 at Rutgers.
Assistant coaches: Jim Carr, Darren Savino, Craig Carter.

New additions: Thomas Askew (transfer), Corey Chandler (4 star PG), Mike Coburn (3 star PG), Kofi Genfi, Earl Pettis (3 star SF), Charlie Rigoglioso, Justin Sofman (2 star SG).

Losses: Marquis Webb (10.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.2 apg), Adrian Hill (9.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg), Ollie Bailey (4.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg), Frank Russell (2.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg), Shayle Keating (0.6 ppg, 0.4 rpg), Jon Mimmo (0.8 ppg), Jason Cherry (0.8 ppg), Jamar Colon.

Roster: (#, Name, Ht/Wt, Pos., Class, Hometown, last year's stats)

22 Thomas Askew 6-4/210 F Jr. Paterson, NJ
1 Corey Chandler 6-2/190 G Fr. Newark, NJ
31 Mike Coburn 6-0/195 G Fr. Mt. Vernon, NY
2 Anthony Farmer 6-1/190 G Jr. Millville, NJ (7.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.1 apg)
30 Kofi Genfi 6-4/195 F Fr. Sayreville, NJ
32 Jaron Griffin 6-7/210 G/F Jr. Manchester, NJ (8.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.2 apg)
15 J.R. Inman 6-9/220 F Jr. Pomona, NY (12.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 0.6 apg)
21 Byron Joynes 6-9/265 C Sr. Baltimore, MD (did not play last season)
5 Hamady N'Diaye 6-11/235 C So. Dakar, Senegal (2.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.2 apg)
3 Courtney Nelson 6-1/180 G Jr. Newark, NJ (3.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.6 apg)
11 Earl Pettis 6-5/225 G Fr. Philadelphia, PA
10 Charlie Rigoglioso 6-2/180 G Fr. Wayne, NJ
24 Justin Sofman 6-4/210 G Fr. West Milford, NJ

Backcourt:

Rutgers comes off a disappointing 10-19 season in Fred Hill's first year on the job. Known as a tremendous recruiter in the talent-rich state of New Jersey, Hill has succeeded in attracting talent to Piscataway in such a short period of time. Corey Chandler headlines this recruiting class. This 6-2 freshman guard will make an immediate impact on a depleted Rutgers roster. Chandler can light it up from downtown and figures to score a lot for a team that only averaged 59.1 ppg last season. Mike Coburn is a solid recruit who may not make an immediate impact but will be a solid four year player for the Knights. Junior Anthony Farmer returns and will likely get the starting spot at point guard. A good ball handler, Farmer job will be to get others involved and to protect the basketball. Courtney Nelson is a decent backup guard and will see a lot of time because of Rutgers' limited roster. Freshman Justin Sofman will ease his way into the lineup but likely will not start.

Frontcourt:

African big man Hamady N'Diaye is back for his sophomore season. He has talent, but he doesn't have the athleticism at this point to really succeed in this conference. He'll be a nice defensive presence in the post for Rutgers. Byron Joynes will likely get the start at center for the Knights. Joynes redshirted last season because of a foot injury that required surgery. He is a powerful big man (6-9/265 lbs) who will jockey for position and pull down a lot of rebounds. It remains to be seen if he can score at a decent clip. Rutgers' two best players are Jaron Griffin and J.R. Inman. These juniors must lead this team in order for them to have any chance at success. Inman put up nice numbers last season (12 ppg, 7.3 rpg), but he needs to improve his defense and should concentrate on playing inside the three point line. He has the ability to step outside, but he only hit for a 32% clip last season from beyond the arc. Jaron Griffin is a hustler who will have some big games but can't be counted on to light up the box score. He's a junkyard dog who will do all the dirty work up front for this team. Earl Pettis is a highly-touted freshman out of Philadelphia who should earn some playing time but will be similar to Mike Coburn (a solid four year player).

Schedule:

11/9- vs. Tennessee Tech
11/11- vs. North Dakota State
11/12- vs. North Carolina Central
11/17- at Florida
11/20- vs. Dartmouth
11/25- at St. Peter's
12/1- vs. Princeton
12/5- vs. Lafayette
12/9- at Nebraska
12/13- at New Jersey Tech
12/16- vs. North Carolina
12/21- vs. Rider
12/29- vs. Manhattan
1/2- at South Florida
1/5- vs. Georgetown
1/9- at Providence
1/13- vs. Louisville
1/16- at Syracuse
1/19- at DePaul
1/23- vs. Villanova
1/26- at Pittsburgh
1/30- vs. Seton Hall
2/2- at Louisville
2/6- vs. St. John's
2/9- vs. Cincinnati
2/14- at West Virginia
2/17- vs. Notre Dame
2/23- at Marquette
2/26- vs. Connecticut
3/1- vs. South Florida
3/9- at Seton Hall

Projected record: 12-19 (3-15).
Postseason: None.

Non Conference Tournament Previews

Coaches vs. Cancer Classic- The likely semifinal matchups in the kickoff season tournament will pit Oklahoma against Memphis and Connecticut against Kentucky at the Garden. The latter game is more intriguing- pitting youth against youth with a ton of athleticism mixed in. Kentucky has a real chance to shock the SEC and take the crown if Patrick Patterson lives up to the hype that caused a major recruiting buzz and Ramel Bradley is able to take control from the point guard slot. The Huskies are led by Brookline’s own Jeff Adrien along with athletic guard Craig Austrie and blooming big man Hasheem Thabeet. I’ll still be shocked if Memphis doesn’t walk away with the crown.
Prediction: Memphis over Kentucky

CBE Classic- Only a miracle will keep Michigan State-Missouri and UCLA-Maryland meeting up in the semifinals in Kansas City. Missouri is a team a lot of experts secretly believe can sneak up on the Big 12, returning double-digit scoring guards Stefhon Hannah and Matt Lawrence. They’ll still be no match for the returning and the incoming talent of Michigan State. UCLA has the most deep and complete starting five in college basketball this season, while Maryland is attempting to make the leap behind Grievis Vasquez and James Gist.
Prediction: UCLA over Michigan State

NIT Season Tip-Off- The semifinals in this annually hyped tournament will include premier games like Syracuse vs. Ohio State and Washington vs. Texas A&M, although look out for UW-Green Bay, Utah, St. Joseph’s, Siena and Oral Roberts to pull off shockers. If the semis go as predicted you’ll see Eric Devendorf lead the Orange against the inside-outside combo of the Buckeyes David Lighty and Kosta Koufos. The winner will face either Joseph Jones and Josh Carter from Aggieville or Jon Brockman and Ryan Appleby from sleeper Washington.
Prediction: Syracuse over Washington

Legends Classic- The featured programs in the Legends Classic are Texas, West Virginia, New Mexico State and clear favorite Tennessee. The preseason SEC champs will be looking to avoid an upset at all costs led by Chris Lofton and transfer Tyler Smith from Iowa. Watch out for the Longhorns if D.J. Augustin can carry the scoring load.
Prediction: Tennessee over Texas

Maui Invitational- The final of the Maui is more predictable than past years in a less intriguing field overall. Still, crazier things have happened in Maui. Look for Marquette to squeeze past Oklahoma State and Duke over Illinois to pit us an exciting title game of Top 15 teams in a re-match of the CBE Classic final in 2006. Duke will attack with a boatload of talented freshmen like Kyle Singler and Taylor King along with Paulus and Scheyer. Marquette features all of their returning starters led by Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews.
Prediction: Marquette over Duke

Paradise Jam- Last year’s field was a bit more deep with Alabama, Xavier, Iowa, Villanova and Co. but this year features sleeper Notre Dame, talented Georgia Tech and the always scary Winthrop. The Irish bring back key pieces such as Luke Harangody, who is nursing a lingering injury that will keep him out of action for a few games, Luke Zeller, Rob Kurz and Kyle McAlarney. Georgia Tech could have been a preseason top five if Crittenton and Young stuck around, but instead they’ll have to settle for middle-of-the-pack ACC.
Prediction: Notre Dame over Georgia Tech

ACC/Big 10 Challenge- I love this year’s field in the challenge. You’ll see Bo Ryan and his solid Badgers travel to Cameron to take on a loaded Duke squad. Another young Georgia Tech team will face a daunting task in Bloomington against Gordon, White and the Hoosiers. Watch out for NC State going into Izzo territory and coming out with a victory. To top it off, preseason favorite North Carolina looks to avoid upset city when going to Columbus to play Matta’s Buckeyes.

Old Spice Classic- NC State, Kansas State, George Mason headline
Anaheim Classic- USC vs. Southern Illinois is a potentially exciting final
Great Alaska Shootout- Power mid-majors anyone? Butler vs. Gonzaga
Hall of Fame Challenge- Gonzaga will be facing a tough crowd here in Boston vs. UConn

Previews

October 17- Previewing the Major Non-Conference Tournaments (Hunter)
October 20- Big East Conference Preview Begins(Brian)
October 22- Top Players From The Big Six Conferences (Hunter)
October 24- ACC, Big 12, SEC Conference Preview Begins (Brian)
October 25- Big Ten Conference Preview Begins (Brian)
October 26- College Hoops Source Fantasy Draft (Zach, Brian, Hunter)
October 26- Pac Ten Conference Preview Begins (Brian)
November 1 and 2- Short Major Conference Previews (Zach, Hunter)
November 4- Final Preseason Top 25 (Hunter, Brian)
November 6- Final NCAA Tournament Projection (Hunter, Brian)

Preseason All-American Teams

First Team
G- Derrick Rose (Freshman, Memphis)- The smoothest point guard since Isiah Thomas
G- Chris Lofton (Senior, Tennessee)- Could lead the nation in scoring
G- Brandon Rush (Junior, Kansas)- Athletic wing who can hit big shots with ease
F- Tyler Hansbrough (Junior, North Carolina)- Scoring and rebounding machine for Roy Williams
F- Roy Hibbert (Senior, Georgetown)- The most dominant big man when he wants to be

Second Team
G- Tywon Lawson (Sophomore, North Carolina)- Speedy PG who sees the entire floor
G- Drew Neitzel (Senior, Michigan State)- Will keep MSU in every game with his shooting
G- Eric Gordon (Freshman, Indiana)- A jump-shooting wizard who could lead conf. in scoring
F- D.J. White (Senior, Indiana)- Undersized but plays with ferocity and compliments Gordon
F- Kevin Love (Freshman, UCLA)- Could be the final piece of the UCLA championship puzzle

Third Team
G- Darren Collison (Junior, UCLA)- Floor leader showed glimpses of PG stardom last year
G- Sean Singletary (Senior, Virginia)- Perfect candidate to score 20+ and dish out 5+ per game
G- O.J. Mayo (Freshman, USC)- The talent oozes out of Mayo, can he harness it?
F- Michael Beasley (Freshman, Kansas State)- Kevin Durant Lite can maneuver in the post well
F- Brook Lopez (Sophomore, Stanford)- Out until December due to academics

Fourth Team
G- Derrick Low (Senior, Washington State)- Spark plug guard leads an experience Wazzu team
G- Chris Douglas-Roberts (Junior, Memphis)- Gets to the rim as well as anyone in college hoops G- D.J. Augustin (Sophomore, Texas)- Dynamic scorer from all angles and all parts of the floor
F- Chase Budinger (Sophomore, Arizona)- Will emerge and begin living up to the hype
F- Brandon Costner (Sophomore, NC State)- Great moves in the paint. Big ACC tournament

Monroe Verbals to Hoyas

John Thompson III, already doing a great job at Georgetown, has received a verbal commitment from Greg Monroe, a 6-10 power forward from Harvey, Louisiana. This is by far Thompson's biggest commitment to date and it will establish Georgetown at the top of the Big East Conference for a long time. Monroe is a great rebounder with tremendous upside. Monroe committed on his visit to Georgetown for their Midnight Madness festivities.

Georgetown beat out Duke, Connecticut, LSU, and Texas for Monroe's services.