Big-Time Contenders Do Battle in Big East
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For a league that has seldom been mentioned in recent years as the strongest in college basketball, the Big East has managed to do all right for itself.
Overshadowed by the Big 12, the SEC, and the ACC, the Big East has quietly gone about its business the last two seasons – quietly, that is, until March. The league has produced the last two national champions (Syracuse in 2003 and Connecticut a year ago), as well as the 2003 NIT champ (St. John’s) and 2004 NIT runner-up (Rutgers). Part of that postseason success can be attributed to the league’s grueling slugfest of a schedule: After 16 conference games and the postseason tournament, Big East teams have been well prepared for the NCAA Tournament and NIT.
This season, the ACC has been universally praised as the country’s toughest conference and the Big 12, SEC, and Big Ten are all receiving their just due. Where does the Big East fit into the picture? Consider the words of Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.
“Our league is as strong, maybe, as we’ve ever been,” Boeheim said. “I think we’re stronger this year than we were last year. I think we have more good teams. I think the middle of the league is better.”
If Boeheim’s preseason assessment is correct, might the Big East produce some national championship contenders by March?
“Anybody picked in the top 20 has a chance to be a national championship team,” Boeheim said. “Really, anybody picked in the top 40 has a chance to be a final four team. That’s just college basketball.”
By that measuring stick, the Big East can boast of at least four worthy title contenders: Syracuse, UConn, Notre Dame, and Pittsburgh are consensus picks for the preseason Top 25. Here’s a look at the Big East, in a predicted order of finish:
SYRACUSE
With five starters, including first-team preseason All-American Hakim Warrick, returning from a Sweet 16 team, the newly rechristened Orange are legitimate championship contenders.
The consistent Warrick, who scored in double figures in 30 of 31 games and grabbed double-digit rebounds 12 times last season, gives the Orange a unique threat.
“Hakim is as good as anyone in the country,” Boeheim said. “He’s almost a 20-10 player, and there are not many guys who can do that at this level.”
Point guard Gerry McNamara is a game-breaking shooter as well as a crafty playmaker. Versatile Josh Pace, a senior who played three positions last season, was a hero in Syracuse’s 2003 NCAA title run. Center Craig Forth performs several blue-collar tasks, not the least of which is blocking shots (a team-high 63 a year ago).
Several talented sophomores, including Demetris Nichols, who started at small forward last season, will be asked to increase their contributions, and the Orange might get a lift from the return of guard Billy Edelin, who was cleared to play by the NCAA in October but must make academic progress in the fall to return to the court by the conference season.
CONNECTICUT
Few teams in the country lost as many key players as did UConn. Lottery picks Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon and point guard Taliek Brown have all departed, but in a testament to the talent level Jim Calhoun and his coaching staff have stockpiled in Storrs, the Huskies are still good enough to win a second straight championship.
True, Calhoun was none too pleased with his team’s performance in exhibition games, but there were a couple of positive signs in the two victories. First, Rudy Gay, considered by many recruiting analysts to be the nation’s top freshman, began to live up to his advance billing, averaging 14 points, seven rebounds, 2.5 steals, and two blocked shots in the two games.
Perhaps more significant, sophomore point guard Marcus Williams, who didn’t play the second semester of his freshman season while concentrating on academics, had some impressive numbers, passing for 19 assists against just two turnovers.
UConn already had a sensational front line in place, with Charlie Villanueva, Denham Brown, Josh Boone, and Hilton Armstrong. Add Gay and Georgia Tech transfer Ed Nelson to the mix and it’s not a stretch to say the Huskies have the best front line in the game.
NOTRE DAME
With stars Chris Thomas, the gifted senior point guard, and Torin Francis, the junior center, back at full strength, the Irish will be better than last year’s NIT team. The addition of Arizona transfer Dennis Latimore will add some bulk to the front line.
Chris Quinn, a converted point guard, joins Thomas in a solid backcourt. Coach Mike Brey is hoping for increased contributions from senior small forward Jordan Cornette.
PITTSBURGH
The 31-5 record that coach Jamie Dixon coaxed out of the Panthers in his first season proved that he was a worthy successor to former coach Ben Howland, who left for his dream job at UCLA after the 2002-03 season. Dixon didn’t stray too far from the successful formula he and his old boss instituted and the results were impressive – a school-record for victories, a third straight Big East regular-season title, and third straight Sweet 16 appearance.
The Panthers are good enough for another NCAA trip despite the loss of key seniors Jaron Brown, Julius Page, and Toree Morris. Point guard Carl Krauser is among the best in the game, and sophomore center Chris Taft is an emerging talent.
PROVIDENCE
The return of forward Ryan Gomes, who decided against early entry into the NBA draft, makes this team a threat to return to the NCAA Tournament.
BOSTON COLLEGE
Craig Smith and Jared Dudley give the Eagles one of the league’s best forward tandems, and last year’s starting backcourt of Louis Hinnant and Sean Marshall return. A key to the Eagles’ season will be how effectively they can replace their lone graduated 2003-04 starter, center Uka Agbai. Nate Doornekamp, a 7-foot senior and former starter, should move back into the lineup.
VILLANOVA
After three seasons, coach Jay Wright has the pieces in place for a move up the league standings. Leading scorer Allan Ray and Mike Nardi, impressive last season as a freshman point guard, team up in a talented backcourt.
SETON HALL
Center Kelly Whitney and power forward Andrew Sweet will get a lot of shots as the Pirates try to improve on last year’s impressive showing that included a first-round NCAA Tournament upset of Arizona.
WEST VIRGINIA
D’ Or Fischer and Kevin Pittsnogle, each 6-foot-11, give the Mountaineers an intriguing inside-outside threat. Fischer was third in the nation in blocks last season, and Pittsnogle shot 37% from three-point range.
RUTGERS
The Scarlet Knights’ appearance in last year’s NIT championship game proved that coach Gary Waters’s hard work has paid dividends. Leading scorer Ricky Shields, a 6-foot-4 senior, returns this season along with sophomore guards Quincy Douby and Marquis Webb, both of whom made significant contributions as freshmen. Can they do more as sophomores? Douby’s impressive .426 shooting from three-point range as a freshman would suggest he can. And Webb, with his size, is capable of helping out at three positions.
GEORGETOWN
Coach John Thompson III, son of the former Hoya coach, can bring some pride back to this program, but it might take a while in a league that has at least nine teams with legitimate postseason tournament aspirations. Thompson will have a proven Princeton offense and three returning starters (forwards Brandon Brown and Darrel Owens and guard Ashanti Cook) to help him in his debut season.
ST. JOHN’S
New coach Norm Roberts has a tough task in his first season as he tries to resurrect a program that took a sudden nosedive last season after a litany of on- and off-court problems. Roberts, a New York native who knows the territory, has prepared well for his first head coaching job, having worked for Bill Self at Tulsa, Illinois, and Kansas. Daryl “Showtime” Hill is the lone returning starter, so this season could be a long one. But Roberts is uniquely qualified to turn this program around.
Mr. Dortch is the editor of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.