2008/2009 Big East Thread

[ehh]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

Not sure if this is serious or not but if you need a good laugh, give it a read. The part I bolded should give you a good sense of his college basketball knowledge.

http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/03/big_ten_will_outshine_big_east.html

The Big East is so overrated.

Three No. 1 seeds? Are you kidding me?

Louisville is our nation's overall No. 1 seed, and the Cardinals have lost to Western Kentucky (a No. 12 seed), Minnesota (a No. 10 seed) and they were blown out by 40 when they faced Notre Dame, a team that didn't make the field of 65!

My boss, Matt Hanlon, predicted three Big East teams to be No. 1 seeds and make it to Detroit, along with Michigan State. I have challenged him to a basketball duel for a good cause close to his heart.

There are seven teams in the NCAA tournament from the Big Ten, the Big East and the ACC. I guarantee the Big Ten will win more games than the Big Least. The East Coast dream will become a nightmare when the men to the east don't get a team beyond the second round. Here is how the conference will unfold:

Big East projections
Louisville wins its first, and is done after Ohio State rocks the Cardinals' world in their second-round game at Dayton, Ohio.

West Virginia loses its opener to Dayton. UConn gets beat by BYU in the second round.

Marquette loses to Missouri in the second round. Pittsburgh gets beat by Tennessee in its second game.

UCLA hammers Villanova in the second round. Syracuse falls to Temple in the second round. That adds up to six wins by the seven Big East teams.
Now here are the Big Ten projections, and how the conference will silence its critics and the Big Beast bandwagon:

Big Ten projections
Ohio State wins its first two games only to lose to Wake Forest in the Sweet 16. Wisconsin beats Florida State, Xavier and Tennessee before losing to Duke in the Elite Eight.

Minnesota is one and done against Texas. Illinois beats Western Kentucky and then loses to Gonzaga.

Michigan beats Clemson and Oklahoma and loses to Temple in the Sweet 16. Purdue beats Northern Iowa, Mississippi State, BYU and Missouri to get to the Final Four before losing to Michigan State in Detroit.

The Spartans beat Robert Morris, USC, Kansas and Wake Forest to earn a spot in the Final Four in the Motor City. They beat Purdue in overtime before losing to North Carolina by seven in the championship game.

If I'm right, that would be 17 wins for the Big Ten teams to six wins for the Big East, the most overrated conference in college basketball history.
No Big East teams will advance beyond the second round, and two Big Ten teams will make it to the Final Four.

That wouldn't be too far fetched, as the Big Ten had the second-highest RPI as a conference this year. Big Ten teams play more defense than Big East teams.

The only reason I'm not picking MSU or Purdue to win it all is, when healthy and motivated, North Carolina this year is as good as any college basketball team I have ever seen. (ORLY!?)

I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is, and I hope smart people follow me. I challenge people to take sides in this battle of the Big East and the Big Ten. Pick a side, pick which conference will win more games. If you lose, please make a donation in your name to the fight against neurofibromatosis.

NF is a horrible genetic disease that has no cure. Courageous children and adults are fighting every minute for a cure and to promote awareness.
You may disagree with my predictions, but you have to agree to help NF if I'm right.

The Big Ten is better than the Big East this year.

The brackets will not lie come April.

[Psyblast]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

Not sure if this is serious or not but if you need a good laugh, give it a read. The part I bolded should give you a good sense of his college basketball knowledge.

http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-ra..._big_east.html

LOL, I knew before I clicked on it that it was a Simonson piece. LMAO, that guy's a meathead who couldn't tell his elbows from his ***.

[ehh]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

If Louisville cuts down the nets they will be the first national champion in history to have lost a game by more than 25 points during the regular season.

[crques]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

I think someone is a little upset about Devondorf lighting their team up.

I'm over that game dude. Like I said before, Dedledork is a hell of a player but that talent is somewhat ruined by his attitude. I'm not saying that he can't ball or that he doesn't play hard, I'm just saying that the "look at me, I'm bad" crap he does whenever he makes a play is a little extreme for my liking. It's one thing to be emotional and pump your first or something after a big play, but to pound your chest and look for the closest camera to talk **** into is a bit over the top. Act like you've done it before and play ball. There's no need to get in someone's face and growl or yell at them and let them know that you made a 25 foot 3-pointer. I'm sure they are aware of it.

I seriously don't have a problem with Syracuse and any of their players, aside from Devendouche. I actually enjoy watching Flynn play. He's a hell of a player and is pretty humble for the most part, and always seems to be playing with a smile.

[windseer90]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

I'm giving the Big East a lot of love in the tourney. All but Marquette are making the Sweet Sixteen, along with Pitt, Nova, and Louisville in the Elite 8, and Louisville winning it all.

[Cusefan]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

I gotta say, These experts comparing the 2006 Orange to the 2009 team are horribly off base. True the 2006 team did win the BE Tourney and came out flat in the NCAA Tourney. But the comparisons should end their. This 2009 team would probably beat the 2006 team by about 20 points. Gerry McNamara really did carry that team and even Jimmy B says that he was injured in the NCAA Tournament.

If Syracuse loses in the first or second round, It will not be fatigue that gets them rather sloppy Basketball.

[Cusefan]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

Jonny Flynn wants you to know this much: He's "coming back to Syracuse."

Miami, Fla. -- There is, of course, so much to consider today. A possible trip to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 for the first time in five years. Jim Boeheim's 799th career coaching victory. An extension of a season, now in sudden death, that almost nobody up north wants to see end.

And there is that elephant, too. The elephant in the room that folks can no longer ignore as the Syracuse University Orange prepares to take on those Arizona State Sun Devils this afternoon at American Airlines Arena. The elephant named Jonny Flynn.

Specifically, might this be it? Could this be the last game that Jonny Flynn, the sophomore guard who'll inevitably suit up in the NBA, ever plays for the Orange? Will there be two reasons to mourn a Syracuse loss down here where a man wearing the kind of spring dress June Cleaver once favored was dancing for nickels the other night near a fountain at a mall?

For what it's worth, the elephant has said no.

No.

No.

Unequivocally no.

"I'm coming back to Syracuse," Flynn declared on Saturday. "That's it. I'm coming back to Syracuse. There is no 'as of right now.' I'm coming back to Syracuse. Yeah. I'm coming back to Syracuse."

Asked if those words could be really and truly believed, Flynn demurred not at all.

"You can believe whatever you want to believe," he said with a broad smile. "I can't make you believe it. I can only say it. I'm coming back."

Fact is, none of this made for a particularly pertinent issue back on Friday when SU opened its NCAA Tournament play against poor Stephen F. Austin because the overmatched Lumberjacks were simply not equipped to pull the plug on the Orange campaign. But Arizona State, ranked 19th in the nation and with the marvelous James Harden on its side, is a different breed.

Indeed, the Sun Devils, who beat a Temple club that was a lot better than that SFA outfit, are good enough to send the Orange home and, thus, Jonny on his way.

And so, the logical question.

And, yeah, the predictable response.

"I try to not really think about that," Flynn said when asked if the sight of Arizona State brought with it the sound of a ticking clock. "Because if you're thinking like that, you have a losing mindset. You think you're going to lose a game. And I don't go into any game thinking I'm going to lose it. I'm just loving Syracuse and trying to win games."

From the fans' point of view, there is much comfort in all of this because after only 71 games across these past two seasons the, ahem, 6-foot Flynn -- who has already accounted for 1,178 points, 426 assists and 107 steals -- makes anybody's list of great guards during the Boeheim Era of Syracuse basketball.

Douglas . . . Hart . . . McNamara . . . Moten . . . Thompson . . . Washington. You know the names.

And among them is that of Jonny Flynn, who is something of an amalgamation of all of them and possibly the best of the bunch. And despite his Saturday announcement -- which may have had more to do with expediency than sincerity -- the kid might be just a loss away from being a cheerful Orange memory.

"It's definitely crossed my mind that this could be my last game with Jonny Flynn," admitted Paul Harris, Flynn's pal from Niagara Falls. "If so, you have to cherish the moment. I know back home, we'll still play pickup ball. But as far as college ball goes, this could be it. Hopefully, it's not. But if it is, I've had a great couple of years with Jonny.

"Think of all those big shots he's made. His very first game, he broke Carmelo Anthony's record. And then in his second game, he hit that buzzer-beater to win it. And then playing all those minutes (67) against UConn. I don't even have the words to describe how much a competitor Jonny Flynn is and always will be. I've always said he's got the biggest heart I've ever seen on a basketball court."

It'll be on display again this afternoon when SU (27-9) takes on the Sun Devils (25-9). And as you watch the carrier of that heart -- as you watch Jonny Flynn do his wondrous thing once more -- you'd be well-advised to absorb all that you see because . . .

Well, just because.

Now, if Flynn is true to his word (and we'll see about that) . . . if both Harris and Eric Devendorf return for their final years of eligibility (and both insisted unhesitatingly on Saturday that they would) . . . if Wes Johnson, the 6-foot-7 transfer from Iowa State, is the real deal (and Jim Boeheim has suggested Johnson may be SU's best player next season) . . . if Scoop Jardine is healthy . . . if Kris Joseph and Mookie Jones and Sean Williams mature . . . if those incoming freshmen, DaShonte Riley and James Southerland and Brandon Triche, are as good as advertised . . . and if Andy Rautins and Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson are not abducted by aliens . . . that would make for a pretty spectacular roster, albeit one that would be over the 13-scholarship limit.

But then, all of that makes for pleasant pondering for another day. This afternoon, there are Sun Devils to fret and Jonny Flynn to enjoy. Not, though, in that order.

------------------------------

(Bud Poliquin's column, his "To The Point" observations and his on-line commentaries appear virtually every day on syracuse.com. Additionally, his work can be regularly found on the pages of The Post-Standard newspaper. E-mail: [email protected].)

[quaziemoto3]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

You got the two teams mixed up, its usually Pitt that loses in the first round

not this year...hehehe

[crques]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

not this year...hehehe

I was attending the WV Boys High School State Basketball Tournament last week from Wednesday - Saturday so I really haven't had a chance to come on here and comment on WVU's game against Dayton (and it's probably a good thing that I've had time to simmer down some before I post anyway, LOL).

Just a couple of thoughts about the game. First of all, I think that WVU's good showing in the Big East Tournament probably hurt them in their 1st round game with Dayton. They were a little over confident heading into the matchup with the Flyers and thought that they could just show up and cruise to a victory over an Atlantic 10 team that was an 11 seed.

You could see from the opening tip that WVU's role had been reversed from previous years and that they weren't the ones playing with something to prove or that chip on their shoulder. I suppose some of that can be attributed to youth and inexperience since they started 2 freshmen and a 3rd saw considerable playing time, but that's not making an excuse. They still knew what they were playing for and what was on the line. For whatever reason they came out flat and lacked the intensity that had carried them in the past against opponents no one gave them a chance to beat. They just didn't appear hungry enough and Dayton had something to prove. Much credit to them and their coaching staff for having a great gameplan and executing it well.

Secondly, they lacked a true leader and someone they could count on in the game whenever they were trying to get over the hump after making a run. Last year's team had Joe Alexander to make the plays and Darris Nichols to keep things in check during key possessions. The previous year as they were making their NIT Championship run, Frank Young practically put the team on his shoulders and carried them down the stretch. The two seasons prior to that it was Gansey and Pittsnogle taking over in pressure situations.

During the Dayton game, Ebanks and Bryant did all they could, but the experienced guys such as Ruoff and Butler really didn't come through and give them the leadership they needed. I'm not going to knock Ruoff because he had a tremendous career and helped this team to a lot of victories in his career. I'm just saying that when it counted and we needed him, he wasn't there for whatever reason. Maybe the pressure got to him because he was the most experienced player and only senior on the team. I don't know exactly. The same thing happened to him in the last game of the regular season against Louisiville. He was pressing too hard, shots weren't falling, and he got in foul trouble. Butler had some really bad turnovers and never seemed to get comfortable or in the flow of the game.

In saying all that, WVU still had a great season and overachieved yet once again when not many expected it. With the solid core of returning players, and hopefully the return of Mazzulla coupled with another good Huggins recruiting class, I look for this team to have another great season next year and definitely advance further in the tournament. Butler and Smith will be the seniors, but I can see next year's team belonging to Ebanks and hopefully he can give them that "go-to" guy they needed this season.

[countryboy]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

gotta love the Pitino to Arizona rumors stirring up...

[Cusefan]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

As Expected, Flynn and Paul Harris are mulling over whether to go the NBA or stay(Harris, seriously?). Obviously Flynn Leaving would be pretty bad for the Orange but I cannot understand why Harris would even think about leaving.

Even if Flynn Leaves, Next years team should still be pretty good. Flynn Staying would mean SU would be one of the best in the Nation next year.

[ehh]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

Kinda funny that the BE ended up with two FF teams but neither of the teams (UL, Pitt) that every thought were locks ended up making it. Yet another example of the great depth in the league.

[ehh]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

Stolen, but a great summary and early preview of what teams will look like next year. Since this year was so great obviously teams will be losing a lot next year. If Syracuse returns their starters they are going to be the no brainer for preseason #1. WVU may be the preseason #2. Seton Hall actually looks like it may be making strides, they return just about everyone and add transfers Herb Pope and Jeff Robinson. Notre Dame will have a bounce-back year in all likelihood if Gody comes back. The rest is pretty much a mystery at this point.

*Key returns are considered players who played more than 10 minutes per game
* Key losses are players who will not return and played more than 10 minutes per game
A (?) indicates players that are listed in mock draft and which may leave early
All rankings listed taken from scout.com

************************************************** ************************
Cincinnati

Key Losses
Alvin Mitchell
Mike Williams

Key Returns
Deonta Vaughn
Yancy Gates
Dion Dixon
Larry Davis
Rashad Bishop
Steve Toyloy

Gains
SG – Sean Kilpatrick - NR
* Transfer Ibrahima Thomas (C- Ok. State - #28) will be eligible after Fall 09
*Cashmere Wright will be back after spending 2008-2009 out with ACL tear

************************************************** ************************

Connecticut

Key Losses
A.J. Price
Jeff Adrian
Hasheem Thabeet
Stanley Robinson(?)
Craig Austrie

Key Returns
Jerome Dyson
Kemba Walker
Stanley Robinson(?)
Gavin Edwards
Chukwuma Okwandu

Gains
SG – Darius Smith – 21
SG – Jamaal Trice – NR
SF - Jamal Coombs-McDaniel – 17
C - Alex Oriakhi – 4
* Ater Majok (PF - #10 in class of 2008) will be eligible to play after Fall 2009

************************************************** ************************

DePaul

Key Losses
Jabari Currie
Matija Poscic

Key Returns
Dar Tucker
Will Walker
Mac Koshwal
Jeremiah Kelly
Devin Hill
Michael Bizoukas

Gains
SF - Tony Freeland - NR
SG Mike Stovall – JC

************************************************** ************************

Georgetown

Key Loses
DaJuan Summers(?)
Jessie Sapp
Greg Monroe(?)

Key Returns
DaJuan Summers(?)
Greg Monroe(?)
Chris Wright
Austin Freeman
Jason Clark
Nikita Mescheriakov
Omar Wattad

Gains
SF – Hollis Thompson - 7

************************************************** ************************

Louisville

Key Losses
Terrence Williams
Earl Clark
Andre McGee

Key Returns
Edgar Sosa
Jerry Smith
Preston Knowles
Samardo Samuels
Terrence Jennings

Gains
PF - Stephan Van Treese - NR
PG - Peyton Siva - #7
PF - Rakeem Buckles - #17
SG - Mike Marra – NR

************************************************** ************************

Marquette

Key Losses
Dominic James
Jerel McNeal
Wesley Matthews
Dwight Burke

Key Returns
Lazar Hayward
Jimmy Butler
Maurice Acker
Patrick Hazel

Gains
SG Darius Johnson-Odom - JC
SG - Dwight Buycks - JC
C - Brett Roseboro - NR
PG - Junior Cadougan - #5
PF - Jeronne Maymon - #26
SF - Erik Williams - #21

************************************************** ************************

Notre Dame

Key Losses
Kyle McAlarney
Luke Zeller
Zach Hillesland
Ryan Ayers
Luke Harangody(?)

Key Returns
Luke Harangody (?)
Tyrone Nash
Jonathan Peoples
Tory Jackson

Gains
C – Tom Knight – 35
PF – Mike Broghammer – NR
C – Jack Cooley – 24
SG – Joey Brooks - NR
Transfer Scott Martin (SF - Purude - #4) Ben Hansbrough (G - MSU - NR) become eligible

************************************************** ************************

Pittsburgh

Key Losses
Sam Young
Tyrell Biggs
Levance Fields
DeJuan Blair(?)

Key Returns
DeJuan Blair(?)
Jermaine Dixon
Brad Wannamaker
Gilbert Brown

Gains
C – Talib Zanna – NR
C – J. J. Richardson – NR
PF – Dante Taylor – 5
SF – Lamar Patterson - 19

************************************************** ************************

Providence

Key Losses
Jeff Xavier
Geoff McDermott
Weyinmi Efejuku
Randall Hanke
Jonathan Kale

Key Returns
Sharaud Curry
Marshon Brooks
Brian McKenzie

Gains
C - Russell Permenter - JC
PG - Vincent Council - #34
PG - Johnnie Lacy - #12
C - James Still - #34
SG - Kyle Wright - JC
PF - Kadeem Batts - NR
SG - Duke Mondy - NR

************************************************** ************************

Rutgers

Key Losses
Anthony Farmer
J.R. Inman
Jaron Griffin

Key Returns
Mike Rosario
Gregory Echenique
Corey Chandler
Hamady N'Diaye
Earl Pettis
Mike Coburn

Gains
C- Brian Okam – NR
PF – Dane Miller – NR
PF – Austin Johnson - NR
*Transfer Jon Mitchell ( PF - Florida - #25) will be eligible to play

************************************************** ************************

Seton Hall

Key Losses
Paul Gause

Key Returns
Jeremy Hazell
Robert Mitchell
Eugene Harvey
John Garcia
Jordan Theodore
Mike Davis
Brandon Walters

Gains
* Transfer Herb Pope (PF - NMSU - #9) and Keon Lawrence (SG - Missouri - NR) will be eligible.
* Transfer Jeff Robinson (SF - Memphis - #8) will be eligible after Fall 09


************************************************** ************************

South Florida

Key Losses
Jesus Verdejo
Mobolaji Ajayi
Aris Williams
Mike Mercer

Key Returns
Dominique Jones
Augustus Gilchrist
Chris Howard
Alex Rivas Sanchez
Eladio Espinosa
Justin Leemow

Gains
SG - Mike Burwell - NR
SG - Jordan Dumars - NR
SG - Shaun Noriega - NR
* Transfer Anthony Crater (PG - OSU - #21) will be eligible to play

************************************************** ************************

Saint John’s

Key Losses
Anthony Mason Jr (medical?)

Key Returns
Anthony Mason Jr (medical?)
Paris Horne
D.J. Kennedy
Sean Evans
Justin Burrell
Malik Boothe
Rob Thomas
Quincy Roberts
Dele Coker
TyShwan Edmondson

Gains
SG - Dwight Hardy - JC
SF - Omari Lawrence - #22

************************************************** ************************

Syracuse

Key Losses
Kristof Ongenaet
Jonny Flynn(?)

Key Returns
Jonny Flynn(?)
Eric Devendorf
Paul Harris
Andy Rautins
Arinze Onuaku
Rick Jackson
Mookie Jones
Kris Joseph

Gains
C - DaShonte Riley - #9
SG - Brandon Triche - NR
* Transfer Wesley Johnson (SF - Iowa State - NR) will become eligible

************************************************** ************************

Villanova

Key Losses
Dante Cunningham
Shane Clark
Dwayne Anderson

Key Returns
Scottie Reynolds
Corey Fisher
Corey Stokes
Reggie Redding
Antonio Pena

Gains
SF - Dominic Cheek - #3
PF - Mouphtauo Yarou - #10
PF - Isaiah Armwood - #12
PG - Maalik Wayns - #4
* Transfer Taylor King (SF - Duke - #15) will be eligible for 2009
* Maurice Sutton (C - 2008 class - #25) will be coming off a redshirt year

************************************************** ************************

West Virginia

Key Losses
Alex Ruoff

Key Returns
Da'Sean Butler
Devin Ebanks
Darryl Bryant
Kevin Jones
Joe Mazzulla
Wellington Smith
John Flowers

Gains
SG - Casey Mitchell - JC
C - Deniz Kilicli - NR
C - Dan Jennings – #23
SG - Dalton Pepper - #30

[Cusefan]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

Watch out for Wesley Johnson, that kid is going to be sick. Boeheim already said he will be the best Scorer next season.

[TheLetterZ]

Re: 2008/2009 Big East Thread

Has anyone else heard anything to the effect that Devendorf and Harris might not return for Syracuse next season?