Throw-Down of the Year Contest

By:  Shane McCarthy

Throughout the season, this blog is going to keep track of the biggest throw-downs by Big East players.  There are no rules to enter and there will definitely be no prizes awarded.  As long as I see the dunk and deem it eligible based on its quality, it gets entered in.   And since I can’t watch every minute of every game and if I somehow miss SportCenter’s Top 10 for that day (which is all dunks for the next seven months), feel free to make me aware of what you think is a throw-down nomination.

With that out of the way, it didn’t take long at all to get our first nomination of the year.  On Friday night on Ramstein Air Base in Germany for the Armed Forces Classic, UConn Sophomore DeAndre Daniels scooted along the baseline and finished with a big throw-down over two Michigan St. players.  Sorry Adreian Payne (#5) and Derrick Nix (#25), you just got thrown-down on.  

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East 2012-13 Predictions

By:  Shane McCarthy

April seems forever ago, but the wait is finally over and the season starts tonight.  But before we get to actual games, let’s make a few more predictions to add to the excitement.

Big East Regular Season Title:  Louisville

Too much depth and experience.

Big East Tournament Title:  Syracuse

After watching UConn and Louisville streak through the tournament the last two years, it will be Cuse’s turn this year.

NCAA Tournament bids:  7

Louisville, Syracuse, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Georgetown

And given the seemingly wide-open nature of college basketball this year, I predict two Big East teams will make the Final Four. 

Player of the Year:  Michael Carter-Williams

I think Syracuse is going to be really good this year [again], and the reason being is going to be MCW.  He will mold into an excellent point guard who not only scores and plays excellent defense, but makes everyone on the floor better.

Rookie of the Year:  Steven Adams

There is a little bit of hype surrounding the freshmen center at Pittsburgh.  The 7 foot, 240 pound New Zealander will give opposing teams fits on both ends of the floor.

Defensive Player of the Year:  Gorgui Dieng

Every year Dieng has improved little by little.  And it looked like he was improving every game last year to the point where he became one of the best centers in the country.  He will be even better this year and will be one of the best shot blockers in the country.

Coach of the Year:  Buzz Williams

Buzz is an excellent coach who tends to get more out of his players than anyone ever expects.  I’m high on Marquette this year, while others are lukewarm, and by exceeding expectations he will earn coach of the year honors. 

All-Big East First Team

G:  Michael Carter-Williams

G:  Peyton Siva

G:  Vincent Council

F:  Gorgui Dieng

F:  Otto Porter

F:  Jack Cooley 

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East Preview: #1 Louisville Cardinals

Previewing all 15 teams from #15 to #1

By:  Shane McCarthy

After a seemingly improbable run to the Final Four, how will the Cardinals fare when a repeat trip is expected?  This team should be even better than last year’s, but the Big East and NCAA Tournament is a bear.  So before they start booking their tickets for Atlanta, they must take the season one game at a time.

Who’s Back:

Gorgui Dieng –C– Junior – 32.8 Min, 9.1 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 1.1 apg

Peyton Siva –G– Senior – 31.7 Min, 9.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.6 apg

Chane Behanan –F– Soph – 26.0 Min, 9.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.8 apg

Russ Smith –G– Junior – 21.5 Min, 11.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.9 apg

Wayne Blackshear –G/F– Soph – 7.0 Min, 2.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.1 apg

Kevin Ware –G– Soph – 5.3 Min, 1.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.5 apg

Angel Nunez –F– Soph – 4.6 Min, 2.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0.2 apg

Incoming Recruits:

Montrezl Harrell – [Power Forward] – 6 foot 7, 225

ESPN’s 90^th ranked player and 18^th ranked Power Forward

Rivals.com’s 82^nd ranked player and 20^th ranked Power Forward

Incoming Transfers:

Luke Hancock – [Guard/Forward] – 6 foot 5, 190

Luke, a transfer from George Mason who was forced to sit out the 2011-12 season, will now be an integral part of a title contender.  As a sophomore at George Mason, he averaged 10.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 4.3 apg, and led the team to a 27-7 record and to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2010-11.  Coach Pitino has named him co-captain of this year’s squad (along with Peyton Siva) and is expecting big things from him.  “Luke Hancock has been great this year.”  Coach Pitino said.  “He’s our best basketball player.  He’s mentally the best player on the team and physically the best player on the team.  He’s a true basketball player in every sense of the word.”  So expect Luke to be more than just a role player for the Cards this season.  

Who’s Out:  Kyle Kuric, Chris Smith, Rakeem Buckles, Jared Swopshire 

Overview:

When you bring back this much talent from a team that went to the Final Four the previous year – expectations are naturally going to run high, and rightfully so.  If they could do it last year, they should be able to do it again.  Consistency is huge in college basketball, and that is why the Cards are the #2 ranked team in both preseason polls.

It’s fair to expect a Final Four run, and it’s also fair to expect improvements from last season.  They no doubt struggled in the middle of the season and there seemed to be a point where getting into the NCAAs was in jeopardy.  They ended up finishing 11^th in the Big East in scoring and 155^th in the country.   Much of the struggles can be attributed to sloppy play, but injuries also played a role.

Injuries cannot be predicted, but for what it’s worth – the Cards are entering the 2012-13 season healthy.   Last year they played much of the regular season without Wayne Blackshear, a highly touted recruit who was rehabbing a shoulder injury.  When he finally got on the court towards the end of conference play, he struggled.  But on the big stage against Kentucky in the Final Four he showed his potential by going for nine points and four rebounds in just 14 minutes of playing time. 

And the sloppy play from a year ago should be minimized as Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng continue to improve and the young guys have a year of experience.  I already mentioned Blackshear, but Chane Behanan is another player who improved as the season went along and who could be in line for a massive year. 

However, the erratic, sloppy and unpredictable play of Russ Smith does return.  He’s had some ridiculous (aka russdiculous) moments in his career, but his work ethic and burst he brings off the bench is uncanny.  Expect some great moments with an equal amount of head-slapping moments. 

As for the newcomers, Luke Hancock will likely have the biggest impact.  He is a transfer from George Mason who is expected to claim the starting spot that was filled by Kyle Kuric last year.  I tried to find a bad thing said about Hancock, and I failed.  Pitino and all of his former coaches have nothing but great things to say about him.  He’s intelligent, trustworthy, and athletic, has great awareness and can make the big shots.  He sounds like the ideal basketball player.   Montrezl Harrell is a highly recruited incoming freshman who will provide front court depth.

Not only does Louisville have essentially the same roster that went to the Final Four a year ago who is expected to get back there again this year, but Coach Pitino knows a little something about getting to back-to-back Final Fours.  He did it in the 90s at Kentucky.  And he knows it’s no easy task.  There are definitely those who worry that this team was too erratic and untrustworthy last year to be making such bold predictions before the season even starts.  But there are those (including myself) who believe this team never achieved their full potential last year.  They waited until the Big East Tournament to really show off their defensive prowess with their full court press, which suffocated opponents.  They do not need to play that way every game, but when they need to, they are a different team.  Expect this team to be improved offensively (especially Behanan, Blackshear and Dieng with the addition of Hancock), to go along with their stout defense, to be one of the best teams in the country and one that is a serious contender to become national champions.      

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East Preview: #2 Syracuse Orange

Previewing all 15 teams from #15 to #1

By:  Shane McCarthy

Even after losing four significant contributors from last year’s squad, the Orange enter the 2012-13 campaign in the preseason top 10.  Needless to say, there is a bit of optimism surrounding this year’s team.  And rightfully so - they have veteran starters, skilled [young] role players from last year primed to step up, and another talented recruiting class.  The hype is warranted for their last year in the Big East, now it’s about delivering.

Who’s Back:

C.J. Fair –F– Junior – 26.4 Min, 8.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 0.9 apg

Brandon Triche –G– Junior – 22.5 Min, 9.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.6 apg

James Southerland –F– Senior – 16 Min, 6.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.4 apg

Baye Keita –F– Junior – 12.3 Min, 2.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 0.1 apg

Rakeem Christmas –F– Soph – 11.5 Min, 2.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.2 apg

Michael Carter-Williams –G– Soph – 10.3 Min, 2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.1 apg

Trevor Cooney –G– Redshirt Freshman 

Incoming Recruits:

DaJuan Coleman - [Center] – 6 foot 9, 275

ESPN’s 14^th ranked player and 6^th ranked Center

Rivals.com’s 26^th ranked player and 5^th ranked Center

McDonald’s All-American

Jerami Grant – [Power Forward] – 6 foot 7, 190

ESPN’s 37^th ranked player and 11^th ranked Power Forward

Rivals.com’s 64^th ranked player and 15^th ranked Power Forward

Who’s Out:  Kris Joseph, Scoop Jardine, Dion Waiters, Fab Melo

Overview:

I’m still disappointed that we didn’t get a Kentucky vs. Syracuse national championship last year.  Granted it would have only been a good game if Fab Melo was playing, but he is also the reason they didn’t get that far.  Damn you Fab.  That would have been a treat, as the Orange were probably the only team in the country that could actually match up with the Wildcats.

This year’s team is deep, a nine man rotation deep - very similar to last year.  That gives Boeheim the flexibility to tinker with combinations to exploit opponents and keep his guys fresh.

Brandon Triche, who has remarkably started every game of his Syracuse career, returns for his senior year.  Triche will continue to be the steady and solid player that he has been throughout his career.

C.J. Fair, James Southerland and Baye Keita also return to provide upperclassmen experience.  Fair will start and get the most playing time of the three as he has molded into a solid forward/wing player.  He isn’t the most dominating low-post player, but he picks his spots and is an excellent shooter.  Southerland is primarily a three point threat while Keita will provide front court depth.

Joining Fair in the front court will be Rakeem Christmas and freshman DaJuan Coleman.  Neither are the true center that Fab Melo was nor will they be the defensive force that he morphed into last year (earning him Big East Defensive Player of the Year recognition), but both are better all-around players than he was.  The combination of Christmas, Coleman and Fair will wear down opposing front courts and keep penetrators at bay.

Most of the buzz entering this year is over Michael Carter-Williams, and rightfully so.  MCW didn’t find the court much as a freshman, but will now take over the driver’s seat and assume the starting point guard role.  There isn’t a thing I can say about him that hasn’t been discussed all summer long: he’s long and fits into the 2-3 zone perfectly, has incredible handles, great vision, deep range, lightning quick slashing ability and can throw it down.  Pretty much – he will be the most exciting player on the court no matter who the Orange are playing.  And it seems plausible that the Orange will go as far as he takes them.

The rotation will be rounded out by Trevor Cooney, a redshirt freshman, and Jerami Grant, an incoming freshman. Cooney has been labeled as a sharpshooter, but Boeheim insists he is more than that.  While Grant is a tall, lanky forward who will factor in the front court/wing rotation.  Both these guys will likely be counted on to be more than role players, and will see extended minutes each game.

For their last year in the Big East, Boeheim has once again reloaded this team to compete for a championship.  On paper, this team looks to be very talented, Final Four worthy talented.  But of course there will be questions as this team will have a very different look from last year and will be counting on a number of young guys to contribute.  They likely won’t repeat their 17-1 conference mark from last season, but another big year looks to be on the horizon for the Orange.

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East Preview: #3 Marquette Golden Eagles

Previewing all 15 teams from #15 to #1

By:  Shane McCarthy

It is easy to predict a down year for Marquette.  They lost the Big East Player of the Year and one of the most dynamic scoring duos in the nation that combined to score 48% of the team’s points last year.  If you are of the view that Marquette is due for a regression this year – you are mistaken.  Buzz Williams should never be doubted, and he is poised to surprise again. 

Who’s Back:

Junior Cadougan –G– Senior – 28.6 Min, 6.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 5.4 apg

Vander Blue –G– Junior – 25.7 Min, 8.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.6 apg

Jamil Wilson –F– Junior – 24.1 Min, 7.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.1 apg

Davante Gardner –F– Junior – 19.1 Min, 9.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 0.7 apg

Derrick Wilson –G– Soph – 8.8 Min, 0.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.7 apg

Juan Anderson –F– Soph – 4.5 Min, 0.7 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.2 apg

Chris Otule –C– Senior – 17.8 Min, 5.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.1 apg (returning from an ACL tear after only playing in eight games last season) 

Incoming Recruits:

Jamal Ferguson – [Small Forward/Guard] – 6 foot 4, 180

ESPN’s 61^st ranked Small Forward

Rivals.com’s 134^th ranked player and 31^st ranked Shooting Guard

Steve Taylor – [Small Forward] – 6 foot 7, 200

ESPN’s 84^th ranked player and 22^nd ranked Small Forward

Rivals.com’s 109^th ranked player and 24^th ranked Power Forward

Incoming Transfers:

Trent Lockett – [Guard] – 6 foot 5, 210

Trent, a senior transfer from Arizona State who will be eligible immediately, is an attacking guard who can potentially fill the void left by Darius Johnson-Odom.  He averaged 13.0 ppg and 5.8 rpg for the Sun Devil last season, earning him All-Pac-10 Second Team honors. 

Jake Thomas – [Guard] – 6 foot 3, 200

Jake played for St. Catherine’s, winning two WIAA Division 3 championships, before becoming a two-year starter at the University of South Dakota.  He averaged 13.4 ppg with the South Dakota Coyotes and is known for his shooting capabilities, but his ball-handling and all-around athletic ability will be on display as well.   

Who’s Out:  Jae Crowder, Darius Johnson-Odom, Todd Mayo, Jamail Jones

Overview:

It is not groundbreaking analysis to state that the loss of Crowder and DJO is a significant negative for the Golden Eagles.  They both developed into extremely talented players who scored half of Marquette’s points last year.  That’s insane.  But with their eligibility now expired, the Eagles are forced to move on without them.

The big question being asked heading into the 2012-13 season is: Who will replace that production?

That doesn’t seem to be a fair question.  Just because there weren’t other significant scorers on the team last year, doesn’t mean those same players returning can’t be the answer.  With Crowder and DJO dropping over 35 a game last year, it was the law of attrition that prevented others from filling up the stat sheet on a consistent basis.

While there is talent on this roster, there is no reason to believe or expect that two guys will step up and average ~18 ppg.  While that would be ideal, it’s not needed.  Marquette has enough skill spread throughout to keep them competitive.

It starts in the front court where Davante Gardner, Jamil Wilson and Chris Otule are all above average players.  And if more than one of them can stay healthy for the entire season, they have the potential to be a terrorizing force. Both Gardner and Otule showed t glimpses, but neither was on the court for the full year.  Both are healthy heading into the season and need to keep it that way.

Like the front court, the back court is just as talented.  Junior Cadougan, Vander Blue and Derrick Wilson may not be household names (much like the front court), but they are a lethal bunch.  And if I were to pick one returning player to have a significant jump in production, it would be Blue.  He was ESPN’s 31^st ranked player in the class of 2010 who has yet to live up to full potential.

However, it could be senior transfer from Arizona State Trent Lockett, who eventually has the biggest impact.  Earning All-Pac 10 Second Team honors is not the most glorified recognition in the country, but his size and style of play make him a good fit to assume the DJO role.  He was a great grab for Buzz Williams, and could be this team’s X-factor.

Unfortunately, Todd Mayo has been ruled academically ineligible for the year and it is suspected that he will likely leave the program.  Mayo’s brief career was a rocky one, but he was the team’s best three point threat.  With his absence, incoming recruits Jamal Ferguson and Steve Taylor will provide needed depth in the back and front court respectively.

It’s no doubt going to take some getting used to watching Marquette play without Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom.  Those are big pieces to replace, and that means everyone needs to step up and contribute.  The Golden Eagles have the roster to do that and then some.  Year after year it seems that Marquette is consistently underrated (at least until mid-February when they gain respect and become everyone’s sexy Final Four pick), and this year is no different.  I believe they surprise once again, but this year they do it with more of a collective effort. 

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East Preview: #4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Previewing all 15 teams from #15 to #1 

By:  Shane McCarthy

A first round exit in the NCAA Tournament was not the plan after such a successful season in the Big East last year.  This year, expectations are running high as the Irish return all five starters.  Taking the next step is not only possible, but expected.   

Who’s Back:

Eric Atkins –G– Junior – 37.9 Min, 12.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.1 apg

Jerian Grant –G– Junior – 36.2 Min, 12.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.0 apg

Scott Martin –G– Senior – 34.7 Min, 9.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.7 apg 

Jack Cooley –F– Senior – 28.7 Min, 12.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 0.8 apg

Pat Connaughton –G/F– Soph – 24.1 Min, 7.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.9 apg

Tom Knight –F– Senior – 8.9 Min, 2.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.5 apg

Mike Broghammer –F– Senior – 5.3 Min, 1.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.3 apg 

Incoming Recruits:

Cameron Biedscheid – [Small Forward] – 6 foot 7, 174

ESPN’s 64^th ranked player and 15^th ranked Small Forward

Rivals.com’s 28^th ranked player and 8^th ranked Small Forward

Zach Auguste – [Power Forward] – 6 foot 10, 220

ESPN’s 25^th ranked Power Forward

Rivals.com’s 97^th ranked player and 23^rd ranked Power Forward

Austin Burgett – [Power Forward] – 6 foot 9, 220

ESPN’s 41^st ranked Power Forward 

Who’s Out:  Tim Abromaitis, Alex Dragicevich

Overview: 

The outlook is simple for Notre Dame as they enter the 2012-13 season: they return all five starters from a team that went 13-5 in conference last year; so naturally, expectations are high.  Coach Brey knows this team has the make-up to contend for the Big East regular season title, the Big East Tournament championship, and make a deep run in March.  That doesn’t mean anything short of this success is a failure, it’s just that the potential is there for such lofty expectations.

Notre Dame not only has one of the best back courts in the Big East, but they have one of the best back courts in the country with Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant.  Both are juniors, who not only bring veteran leadership and experience to this team, but a drive to be two of the best guards in the country.  It really is a scary thought to think these two will be even better than last year, but that is their goal.  You can’t ask for better leadership than what these two bring to the table.

It’s also a scary thought to think that Jack Cooley did not take the game of basketball seriously until last year.  He received Most Improved Player of the Year accolades in the Big East and quickly became one of the most dominant big men in the league.  Anything less than last year’s performance would be a disappointment, but there is reason to believe that he could be even better.

Pat Connaughton returns to resume his guard/forward role and all-around contributor, but he specializes in dropping treys.

Scott Martin also returns after being granted a sixth year of eligibility.  His numbers don’t jump out at you, but he is the type of player that coaches say his intangibles are needed for the team to succeed.

The Irish also welcome two highly touted recruits, Cameron Biedscheid and Zach Auguste, to provide valuable depth in the back court and front court respectively.  We know what the Irish were last year. And it’s perfectly reasonable to expect improvements given the consistency of the roster.  But if there is an even more bullish spin to put on this year’s squad, it is due to the addition of the two mentioned freshmen.

In college basketball, it goes without saying that talent is important, but consistency and depth are invaluable.  Notre Dame returns all five starters and bring in fresh talent to push the vets and provide a relentless attack night after night.  It has been since 2003 since the Irish have made it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament and they have never won the Big East regular season or tournament.  Louisville was chosen unanimously for first place in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll, but Rick Pitino’s vote (which couldn’t be for his own team) went to Notre Dame.  Needless to say, expectations are high for the Irish this year, and everything seems to be in place for a big season. 

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East Preview: #5 Pittsburgh Panthers

Previewing all 15 teams from #15 to #1

By:  Shane McCarthy

Last season was a disaster. Plain and simple. The Panthers only won five conference games, had an eight game losing streak and ended a 10 year run of making the NCAA Tournament.  But that was last year, and this year the Pitt Panthers look poised to return as a Big East contender.

Who’s Back:

Tray Woodall –G– Senior – 31 Min, 11.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 6.1 apg

Lamar Patterson –F– Junior – 28.5 Min, 9.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.6 apg

Talib Zanna –F– Junior – 19.3 Min, 6.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.3 apg

Dante Taylor –F– Senior – 18.8 Min, 5.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.5 apg

J.J. Moore –F– Junior – 18.4 Min, 7.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.4 apg

John Johnson –G– Soph – 14.1 Min, 4.2 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 1.2 apg 

Cameron Wright –G– Soph – 11.7 Min, 2.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.7 apg

Incoming Recruits:

Steven Adams – [Center] – 7 foot 0, 240

ESPN’s 6^th rated player and 4^th rated Center

Rivals.com’s 5^th rated player and 3^rd rated Center

James Robinson – [Point Guard] – 6 foot 3, 190

ESPN’s 43^rd ranked player and 4^th rated Point Guard

Rivals.com’s 59^th rated player and 8^th rated Point Guard

Chris Jones – [Shooting Guard] – 6 foot 5, 205

Incoming Transfers:

Trey Zeigler – [Shooting Guard] – 6 foot 5, 203

A transfer from Central Michigan, Trey will immediately be eligible for the Panthers this year.  He averaged 16 ppg, 6.1 rpg and 2.3 apg in his two seasons at Central Michigan.  In the 2010 recruiting class, Zeigler was the 28^th ranked player by Rivals and 33^rd ranked player by ESPN. 

Who’s Out:  Ashton Gibbs, Nasir Robinson

Overview:

Pittsburgh may have had the Preseason Big East Player of the Year on their roster last season (Ashton Gibbs), but it was clear they were going to go as far as Tray Woodall could take them.  Well Tray got hurt during their non-conference portion of their schedule, sat out an extended period of time and never got healthy until the very end of the season.  As a result, the Panthers were relegated to accepting an invitation to the College Basketball Invitation (CBI) – which they won!  Let’s just say, a return to the CBI is not the aspirations of the 2012-13 squad.

Woodall returns for his senior season, and he had offseason surgery to correct the issue he was hampered by last year.  Once again this team will likely go as far as he takes them, but unlike last year, Pitt has quality depth at point guard if needed.  Tray is one of the great distributors of the ball in the nation (he ranked third in the Big East with 6.1 apg), and it is paramount that he is on the floor as much as possible.  But when he’s not, Coach Dixon feels incoming recruit James Robinson can do a fine job of filling his shoes.

Pittsburgh will also be welcoming back upperclassmen Lamar Patterson and Dante Taylor.  Patterson really came on at the end of the season last year, but Taylor, a former McDonald’s All American, has battled through injuries throughout his career.  Both could be primed for enormous break-out seasons, not only based on potential and health, but also do to talented new-comers who will make the team better.

Trey Zeigler is a transfer from Central Michigan who is an excellent two guard.  Even though Gibbs underwhelmed last year, expect Zeigler (a highly touted recruit from 2010) to fill his role as the dynamic scorer on the Panthers.  And the already mentioned Robinson will provide excellent depth in the back court.

But the real prize is Steven Adams.

A true center from New Zealand, Adams immediately makes the Panthers a Big East contender.  There have been mixed reviews on him (mainly that his talents are raw), but one thing has been consistent – he is a defensive force.  The good news is that he will not have to carry this team, as he will be surrounded by talented players and an exceptional coach.  But if he does play at the level that already has pro scouts drooling, the whole country will have to be on watch.

The entire Pitt Panthers team, community and fan base would like to forget about last year.  I don’t think anyone saw that coming.  And after so many years of consistent excellence, such a drop-off didn’t even seem possible.  But the Panthers are retooled with a very talented lineup to make last year’s hangover-like season go away.  If this team runs through Woodall and Adams like it should, surrounded by talent all over the floor, a #5 finish in the Big East seems too low. The conference got a gift last year as playing Pitt meant a walk-over, but the Panthers should get back to their old ways of stomping opponents this year. 

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East Preview: #6 Cincinnati Bearcats

Previewing all 15 teams from #15 to #1 

By:  Shane McCarthy

After a seemingly out of nowhere run to the Big East Championship game and Sweet 16, Cincinnati will be looking for a repeat performance, and then some. However, they will have to do it without two important pieces from last year’s squad.

Who’s Back:

Sean Kilpatrick –G– Junior – 34.5 Min, 14.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.1 apg

Cashmere Wright –G– Senior – 31.2 Min, 10.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.6 apg

JaQuon Parker –G– Senior – 26.6 Min, 9.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.3 apg

Justin Jackson –F– Junior – 21.1 Min, 5.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.1 apg

Ge’Lawn Guyn –G– Soph – 10.1 Min, 2.3 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.6 apg

Cheikh Mbodj –C– Senior – 9.7 Min, 1.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.1 apg

Jermaine Sanders –F– Soph – 8.5 Min, 1.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.5 apg

Kelvin Gaines –C– Soph – 8.5 Min, 0.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.1 apg

Jeremiah Davis III –G– Soph – 7.9 Min, 2.5 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.5 apg

Incoming Recruits:

Shaquille Thomas – [Small Forward] – 6 foot 6, 185

Rivals.com’s 81^st ranked player and 23^rd ranked Small Forward

He was redshirted last season

Incoming Transfers:

Titus Rubles – [Forward] – 6 foot 7, 207

A junior college transfer from Blinn College, Titus is a tall slashing-type player who will see the floor plenty this upcoming season.  He averaged 14.5 ppg and 9.8 rpg during the 2011-12 season, earning him a NJCAA All-America Honorable Mention. 

David Nyarsuk – [Center] – 7 foot 1, 230

Averaging 9.8 ppg and 8 rpg for Mountain State in the NAIA last year, David will immediately be available for the Bearcats this season.  His size will help replace that of Yancy Gates and he gives the team added depth to an already strong and deep front court.  “If he was a junior college player,” coach Mich Cronic said, “he’d have been the No. 1 player in the country.”  

Who’s Out:  Yancy Gates, Dion Dixon, Octavius Ellis

Overview:

The foundation of Cincinnati Bearcat basketball is built on defense.  Last season they allowed 61.5 points per game, 5th best in the conference.  They also ranked 3rd in the conference in turnover margin, with a +3.11 figure.

Expect the tenacious attack to continue, but I’m not sure they will have as much success without Yancy Gates holding down the middle.  Gates was a terrorizing force who could control the low-post on his lonesome and forced opponents to game plan around him.  He was lost to graduation and without an obvious replacement – the Bearcats may find it difficult to repeat last year’s performance.

Justin Jackson and Cheikh Mbodj are the returning candidates who are in position to benefit the most from the departure of Gates.  But neither has shown much in the past to justify a jump in production.

That is why it is going to have to be a collective effort.  The addition of junior college transfer Titus Rubles was a huge victory for the program.  Rubles, in conjunction with Jackson, Mbodj and Nyarsuk, should provide the size and athleticism to survive in the low-post in the Big East.  And it helps that JaQuon Parker is an extremely scrappy player who can hold his own down low, despite his size.

While questions remain about how the front court will look and what type of production we should expect, there are no such questions about the back court.  That back court is so skilled, that it allows Coach Cronin to go to a smaller lineup when needed.  Something they did from time to time last year, and a move they could go to more often this year.

Cashmere Wright, a senior, ran the point with great efficiency last year and finished with an assist-to-turnover ratio better than 2-to-1.  And Sean Kilpatrick, a junior, is one of the most lethal shooters in the nation.  This combo alone will give opposing teams headaches, and that’s not even accounting for Parker, Ge’Lawn Guyn, or Jeremiah Davis III. Cincinnati will also be welcoming redshirt freshman Shaq Thomas, who should be productive as he gets his feet wet.  The Big East has some talented back courts (i.e. Louisville and Notre Dame), but I don’t think Bearcats fans should feel at a disadvantage when matched up against any of them.

Cincinnati was very steady last year - they only lost back-to-back games once, a three game losing streak in late January.  But they never got the attention they deserved (outside the infamous brawl against Xavier) until they knocked off Syracuse to reach the Big East title game.  There is the obvious question about replacing Gates, but Cronin has done a great job of improving this team every year.  A similar season to last year’s, led by the back court seems reasonable.  But if the front court ends up surprising, advancing past the Sweet 16 is not out of the question.  

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac 

Big East Preview: #7 Georgetown Hoyas

Previewing all 15 teams from #15 to #1

By:  Shane McCarthy

The Hoyas are missing a lot of fire power from last year’s squad, but that doesn’t mean this is going to be a down year.  Having one of the best coaches in the nation in conjunction with one of the best players in the conference, means they will still be a respectable force in the Big East. 

Who’s Back:

Otto Porter –F– Soph – 29.7 Min, 9.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 1.5 apg

Markel Starks –G– Junior – 24.4 Min, 7.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.6 apg

Greg Whittington –F– Soph – 20.1 Min, 4.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 0.9 apg

Nate Lubick –F– Junior – 18.4 Min, 3.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.0 apg

Jabril Trawick –G– Soph – 11.4 Min, 3.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 0.5 apg

Mikael Hopkins –F– Soph – 6.8 Min, 2.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 0.4 apg

Moses Ayegba –C– Junior – Returning from injury 

Incoming Recruits:

D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera – [Shooting Guard] – 6 foot 3, 210

ESPN’s 58^th ranked player and 10^th ranked Shooting Guard

Rivals.com’s 32^nd ranked player and 8^th ranked Shooting Guard

Stephen Domingo – [Small Forward] – 6 foot 7, 200

ESPN’s 77^th ranked player and 9^th ranked Small Forward

Brandon Bolden – [Center] – 6 foot 10, 200

ESPN’s 28^th ranked Power Forward

Bradley Hayes – [Center] – 6 foot 11, 250

ESPN’s 56^th ranked Center

Who’s Out:  Jason Clark, Hollis Thompson and Henry Sims

Outlook:

Georgetown will be entering the 2012-13 season with a new look for the second year in a row, as they replace three veteran starters – Clark, Thompson and Sims.   Fortunately there are pieces already in place that got valuable playing time last year.  And there are talented incoming recruits that will make an immediate impact.

However, the Hoyas are going to need improvements in the front court if they want to repeat the success of last year.  Hopkins, Lubick and Whittington all got playing time last year, but their performance was average.  Early indications point to Whittington making the leap this year and blossoming into a good low post player.  After playing half of every game last year, he should be better prepared for what to expect. 

Conversely, Georgetown should be just fine in the back court and on the wing.  But they do lack a true point guard.

Markel Starks struggled a bit in his first season of seeing extended playing time, by turning the ball over far too often.  With Jason Clark now gone, he may be more comfortable in his role.  However, if last year was any indication – his role is not point guard.  He has a knack for scoring, but he will need to cut down on the giveaways.  And without any other viable options to run the point, the Hoyas better hope he has improved.

Expect incoming freshmen D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera and Stephen Domingo to see the court early and often.  Both are ESPN top-100 recruits who are known for their scoring.

But make no mistake about it; this is Otto Porter’s team.  CBSSports.com recently compiled a list of the top 50 wings in the country, Porter was ranked 5^th.  This is what Jeff Borzello had to say about Porter - “His numbers don't jump out at you, but Porter is an ultra-efficient player who makes the most of his opportunities. He's versatile and perfect for the Hoyas' offense. With more minutes this season, Porter could take a major leap in production.”  Porter should be a force and is definitely a candidate for Big East Player of the Year.

Georgetown will have a different look this year, but a drop-off is not expected.  The program is in great hands with Whittington and Porter.  These two should thrive in JTIII’s system and lead the Hoyas to a plethora of victories.  

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East Preview: #8 Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Previewing all 15 teams in the Big East from #15 to #1

By:  Shane McCarthy

You have to go all the way back to the 2001-02 season to find the last time Rutgers finished with a .500 record in the Big East.  Last year was another tough season to endure, but fortunately for Rutgers fans - Mike Rice has the Knights on a promising path as he enters his third season as head coach.

Who’s Back:

Eli Carter –G– Soph – 29.8 Min, 13.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.1 apg

Dane Miller –G/F– Senior – 28.8 Min, 7.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.2 apg

Myles Mack –G– Soph – 26.6 Min, 9.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.1 apg

Jerome Seagears –G– Soph – 25.8 Min, 7.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg

Mike Poole –G/F– Soph – 22.1 Min, 6.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.2 apg

Austin Johnson –C– Senior – 16 Min, 4.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 0.4 apg

Derrick Randall –F/C– Soph – 11.3 Min, 2.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 0.1 apg

Malick Kone –G/F– Soph – 9.7 Min, 3.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 0.4 apg

Kadeem Jack –F/C– Soph – 8.3 Min, 1.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.0 apg

Greg Lewis –F– Soph – 5.9 Min, 0.6 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 0.3 apg

Incoming Recruits:

Logan Kelly – [Guard] – 6 foot 2, 200

Incoming Transfers:

Wally Judge – [Power Forward] – 6 foot 9, 250

In the class of 2009, Wally was the 15^th ranked player by ESPN and 18^th ranked player by Rivals.com.  He sat out last season at Rutgers after transferring from Kansas St., where it wasn’t working out.  He is extremely athletic and a former McDonald’s All-American, and will provide a sizable body upfront who will be looking to live up to the hype and get Rutgers back to relevance. 

Vincent Garrett – [Guard] – 6 foot 5, 210

Garrett, a junior college transfer from Lee College in Baytown, Texas, brings a scoring touch to Rutgers.  He averaged 16 ppg last year to earn all-region accolades at Lee College.  

Who’s Out:  Gilvydas Biruta 

Outlook:

 

The Big East punishes youth, and the story for Rutgers is very similar to that of St. John’s.  Both teams were incredibly young last year, thrown into the fire, and expectedly struggled to find success.

And the similarity with St. John’s doesn’t end there.  Not only are the Knights expected to have more success due to a year’s experience, but they are getting necessary aid from new comers, and more specifically – an improved front court.

The addition of Wally Judge will likely have the biggest impact.  He's a top 100 recruit who underperformed expectations at Kansas St. and is looking forward to a fresh start.  The Knights lacked physicality in the post, a strength of Judge's.  A change of scenery tends to be beneficial for highly touted recruits, something the Knights are willing to roll the dice on.  Judge's impact alone can be the difference for Rutgers getting to the next level.

Beyond Judge, the Knights will be looking for Randall and Jack to step up in the front court.  As freshmen, they were relatively unproductive.  But with a year's experience, the Knight faithful are hoping they are better prepared for the grueling Big East.

Rutgers is deep at guard, led by Eli Carter.  Expect him to expand on last season's success and lead the Knights in scoring.  Dane Miller has relatively underwhelmed in his 3 seasons thus far, but his size at wing makes him a matchup problem.  Even so, you cannot under estimate senior leadership on the floor.  The rest of the back court will be made up of Mack, Seagears, Poole, Kone and Garrett.  Playing time could turn into a hot-hand situation from game to game.

After two years at the helm, Mike Rice has gotten modest improvements.  This year he will be blessed with a deeper, more skilled squad.  It's been quite some time since Rutgers has been relevant, but year 3 of his tenure is looking promising.

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac