Big East Conference 2006-07 Preview
by Jesse Ullmann and Pat DiSalvo
In its second year as a 16-member monster conference, the Big East will be successful yet again this season. But it will look quite different. Although players graduate or move on to the NBA every year, many Big East icons are gone. West Virginia lost four of its starters after finishing third in the conference last year. Stars Gerry McNamara, Carl Krauser, Steve Novak, Marcus Williams, Josh Boone, Quincy Douby, Taquan Dean and the Villanova three – Randy Foye, Allen Ray and Kyle Lowry – are all gone.
But despite all those losses, the conference still boasts several strong teams. The Georgetown Hoyas and Pittsburgh Panthers are likely top 10 programs. Connecticut, despite its youth, will be dangerous, as usual. Syracuse and Marquette should be solid. Seven conference teams could again make the NCAA tournament.
Injuries and the return from them will dictate the future of a few conference teams. If Curtis Sumpter is healthy, Villanova could surprise some people. As of now, Louisville’s David Padgett doesn’t look close to 100 percent as he continues to rehab his knee. Coach Rick Pitino recently said Padgett likely won’t fully recover until February.
Look for Georgetown and Pittsburgh to dominate the conference and become two of the country’s elite teams. Both are legitimate Final Four contenders. Syracuse is also a sleeper – if the Orange’s seniors can fulfill their potential – to make a run deep into March. And you can never count out Connecticut. It’ll be another exciting and physical year in the Big East.
Preseason Awards
1st Team All-Big East
Dominic James, Marquette
Eric Devendorf, Syracuse
Jeff Green, Georgetown
Curtis Sumpter, Villanova
Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh
Conference MVP: Jeff Green, Georgetown
Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh
Freshman of the Year: Paul Harris, Syracuse
Newcomer of the Year: Patrick Ewing Jr., Georgetown
Team Capsules
1. Pittsburgh Panthers (25-8, 10-6, Sixth)
Projected Starting Five:
Sophomore guard Levance Fields
Junior guard Ron Ramon
Sophomore forward Sam Young
Senior forward Levon Kendall
Senior center Aaron Gray
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 16 at Wisconsin
Dec. 21 at Oklahoma State
Jan. 13 vs. Georgetown
Feb. 17 vs. Washington
March 3 at Marquette
Yeah, the gritty point guard Carl Krauser is gone, but Pittsburgh has plenty of talent to win without him. Sophomore Levance Fields, a superb point guard, will take Krauser’s spot and provide the Panthers with a scoring threat. Pitt also returns a beast in the middle in Aaron Gray, who averaged a double-double last year. Senior Levon Kendall will also chip in a bunch of points. As usual, Pitt will be tough, especially at home. Be wary of junior guard Ron Ramon, who led the league in three-point shooting percentage last season. Some might question the Panthers’ toughness without Krauser, but after a challenging non-conference schedule, the team will grow into one of the nation’s elite teams.
2. Georgetown Hoyas (23-10, 10-6, Fifth)
Projected Starting Five:
Junior guard Jonathan Wallace
Sophomore guard Jessie Sapp
Junior forward Jeff Green
Junior forward Patrick Ewing Jr.
Junior center Roy Hibbert
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 2 at Duke
Dec. 30 at Michigan
Jan. 13 at Pittsburgh
Feb. 10 vs. Marquette
Feb. 24 vs. Pittsburgh
Feb. 26 at Syracuse
Fresh off a Sweet 16 appearance and a near upset of eventual champion Florida, Georgetown is one of the best teams in the country, let alone the Big East. The team graduated two double-digit scorers in Ashanti Cook and Brandon Bowman. But they do return the top two scorers: the all-around talented Jeff Green and big-man Roy Hibbert. The addition of Patrick Ewing Jr., son of Hoya legend Patrick Ewing, will give the Hoyas a dynamic frontcourt duo. Ewing Jr. transferred to Georgetown from Indiana. Depth might be a problem as the team lost three starters from last year, but count on coach John Thompson III and the tough Hoya defense to lead this team to a successful season and another late run in March.
3. Syracuse Orange (23-12, 7-9, Ninth)
Projected Starting Five:
Junior guard Josh Wright
Sophomore guard Eric Devendorf
Senior forward Demetris Nichols
Senior forward Terrence Roberts
Senior center Darryl Watkins
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 2 vs. Wichita State
Dec. 5 vs. Oklahoma State
Jan. 4 vs. Pittsburgh
Feb. 5 at Connecticut
Feb. 26 vs. Georgetown
With Syracuse icon Gerry McNamara having graduated from the Hill, the Orange will be without its clutch leader. But Syracuse returns four of five starters, including the talented Eric Devendorf, an impressive scorer. Syracuse also has a heralded recruiting class, nabbing one of the best recruits in the country in guard Paul Harris. Harris likely won’t start until midway through the year, when he’ll take over for Wright. Although the team may struggle without McNamara to lean on, it has enough talent to overcome the loss. Success will also hinge on the play of their inconsistent frontcourt, seniors Terrence Roberts and Darryl Watkins. With sophomore center Arinze Onuaku undergoing knee surgery that could keep him out for several months, if not the year, Roberts and Watkins will need to carry even more of a load. If the team’s four seniors play to their abilities and if Harris matures quickly, this team could make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
4. Marquette Golden Eagles (20-11, 10-6, Fourth)
Projected Starting Five:
Sophomore guard Dominic James
Sophomore guard Jerel McNeal
Sophomore guard Wesley Matthews
Junior forward Dan Fitzgerald
Junior center Mike Kinsella
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 9 vs. Wisconsin
Jan. 10 at Connecticut
Jan. 15 at Louisville
Jan. 21 at Pittsburgh
Feb. 14 at DePaul
Following the trend of another team losing a senior star, Marquette will be without Steve Novak this year. That’s 17.5 points per game. Fortunately for coach Tom Crean and the Golden Eagles, the team returns one of the most talented sophomores in the country – Dominic James. The 5-10 point guard, who wowed teams with his quickness and athleticism, can do just about everything, and he will lead the Golden Eagles. Joining James in the backcourt is Jerel McNeal, who averaged more than 11 points per game last season. Sophomore Wesley Matthews is also a budding star. The big men need to step up to help take the load off of James, McNeal and Matthews. Despite its weak frontcourt, Marquette will be a force simply because of its guards. Look for the Golden Eagles to remain in the Big East’s upper echelon.
5. Connecticut Huskies (30-4, 14-2, First)
Projected Starting Five:
Sophomore guard Craig Austrie
Sophomore guard AJ Price
Sophomore wing Marcus Johnson
Sophomore forward Jeff Adrien
Freshman center Hasheem Thabeet
Schedule Highlights:
Jan. 6 at LSU
Feb. 21 at Rutgers
March 3 at Georgetown
To get into the psyche of the Connecticut fan this season, you must first understand that the folks in Storrs are coming off one of their more disappointing seasons in recent Husky history. The 30-4 record speaks for itself, but expectations were high, and compared with Husky Nation standards, the team did not accomplish a lot. This season marks a breath of fresh air as it is out with the old – Marcus Williams, Rudy Gay, Hilton Armstrong and Josh Boone – and in with the new – A.J. Price, Doug Wiggins, Hasheem Thabeet and Curtis Kelly. Coach Jim Calhoun does not have lofty expectations for this group yet, but as the season unfolds, he should expect to see some sort of maturation process from his 13 combined freshmen and sophomores. Expect to see at least five or six different starting lineups. Kelly and Wiggins add depth from the bench and could eventually be everyday starters.
6. Louisville Cardinals (21-13, 6-10, 11th)
Projected Starting Five:
Sophomore guard Andre McGee
Senior guard Brandon Jenkins
Junior forward Juan Palacios
Sophomore forward Terrence Williams
Junior center Terrance Farley
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 5 at Arizona
Dec. 16 vs. Kentucky
Jan. 22 vs. Connecticut
Jan. 27 vs. Syracuse
Feb. 12 at Pittsburgh
Coach Rick Pitino leads a talented but inconsistent bunch back for 2006-07. Last year, Louisville missed the NCAA tournament. Although the Cardinals lost their best player in Taquan Dean, they return four of the top five scorers from last season. Look for guard Brandon Jenkins – who appears to have fully healed a broken leg suffered in August – and versatile forward Juan Palacios to pick up the slack. If David Padgett could just stay healthy, the Cardinals would be a top 25 fixture. But that’s asking for a lot. Highly touted freshman Derrick Caracter or junior center Terrance Farley will likely take Padgett’s place until he is ready. If Padgett does miss most of the season, another appearance in the NIT could be in the cards for Louisville.
7. Villanova Wildcats (28-5, 14-2, Second)
Projected Starting Five:
Senior guard Mike Nardi
Freshman guard Scottie Reynolds
Sophomore forward Shane Clark
Senior forward Curtis Sumpter
Senior center Will Sheridan
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 6 at Oklahoma
Jan. 8 at Georgetown
Jan. 20 vs. Texas
Feb. 6 vs. St. Joseph’s
Feb. 28 at Connecticut
The three heralded guards that carried the Wildcats to the Elite Eight last season are gone. Randy Foye, Allan Ray and Kyle Lowry all moved on to the NBA, leaving a gaping hole in the backcourt. Thankfully, senior Mike Nardi remains at point guard, and forward Curtis Sumpter will return healthy after overcoming an ACL injury. The Wildcats did not explore their bench much last season, and relying on those who warmed it last year will be hard for Villanova. The team has a relatively young group that may struggle at times, but if Sumpter stays healthy, he could help carry the Wildcats into March. This squad will not be close to the Villanova group that tore through the Big East last year. Instead, Villanova will be more of a bubble team.
8. DePaul Blue Demons (12-15, 5-11, 14th)
Projected Starting Five:
Junior guard Cliff Clinkscales
Sophomore guard Jabari Currie
Senior guard Sammy Mejia
Junior forward Karron Clarke
Sophomore forward Wilson Chandler
Schedule Highlights:
Nov. 20 at Kentucky
Dec. 13 vs. Wake Forest
Jan. 10 vs. Pittsburgh
Jan. 31 vs. Connecticut
Feb. 3 at Syracuse
DePaul had flashes of brilliance last year, highlighted by a 39-point thrashing of Syracuse at the end of the season. The Blue Demons return their top six scorers – along with all five of last season’s starters. That’s enough to bump DePaul up in the Big East, in which it finished 5-11 last year. Led by guard Sammy Mejia, coach Jerry Wainwright has a talented squad. The question is whether they can build off the end of last year and continue winning in the tough Big East. This team may pull off a few big wins but because of a brutal schedule and inconsistency, they might fall just short of qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.
9. St. John’s Red Storm (12-15, 5-11, 15th)
Projected Starting Five:
Junior guard Eugene Lawrence
Senior guard Daryll Hill
Sophomore forward Anthony Mason
Senior forward Aaron Spears
Senior center Lamont Hamilton
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 29 vs. Hofstra or St. Joseph’s in the Aeropostale Festival
Feb. 1 vs. Georgetown
Feb. 25 vs. Duke
Coach Norm Roberts and the Red Storm head into the 2006-07 season with cautious optimism. Third-year center Lamont Hamilton had a productive off-season and is expected to be a leader with Daryll Hill who, coming off an injury-plagued 2005-06 season will try to be the dynamic player he once was. The recruiting wars are a hurricane, and Roberts is right in the eye of the storm. First-year head coaches such as Bobby Gonzalez at Seton Hall, Fred Hill at Rutgers and Barry Rohrssen at Manhattan do not help the Red Storm’s recruiting situation in New York City right now. And it’s not just those three schools. Nathaniel Lester recently chose Hofstra over St. John’s. Rob Thomas of South Kent must initially sit out because he has not been cleared academically. The Red Storm’s scoring defense, a stingy 64.6 points per game, was impressive last season.
10. Providence Friars (12-15, 5-11, 13th)
Projected Starting Five:
Sophomore guard Sharaud Curry
Sophomore guard Weyinmi Efejuku
Sophomore wing Geoff McDermott
Senior forward Herbert Hill
Junior center Randall Hanke
Schedule Highlights:
Nov. 22 vs. Boston College
Dec. 6 at Florida
Jan. 4 vs. Marquette
Coach Tim Welsh’s job status this season will be more noteworthy than in recent years’ past. In this space, we have suspected that particular coaches – mostly from New Jersey – were in imminent danger of being fired, but never Tim Welsh. That changes right now. Welsh cannot afford to have a letdown season. The Friars have been picked to finish 10th in the Preseason Coaches Poll. Anything less and Welsh could be in major trouble. The format for the Big East Tournament will be the same as last year’s, so that means the worst four teams in the league do not get an invitation. Providence missed last season. Two years in a row would be a disaster. Fortunately for the Friars, 6-11, 260-pound Ray Hall anchors a rookie group that will feature an impressive backcourt tandem in Brian McKenzie and Jamal Barney. McKenzie could make a run at a starting spot.
11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (16-14, 6-10, 12th)
Projected Starting Five:
Sophomore guard Kyle McAlarney
Senior guard Colin Falls
Senior guard Russel Carter
Junior forward Rob Kurz
Sophomore center Luke Zeller
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 3 vs. Maryland
Jan. 30 at Syracuse
Feb. 24 vs. Marquette
Notre Dame’s conference tournament life hinged on a season-ending meeting against DePaul. They needed to win for a trip to the Big Apple. With Colin Falls, Chris Quinn and Torin Francis, they were able to persevere. This season, two of those staples are gone, and there are lots of questions. Coach Mike Brey’s squad was the feel-good story of the conference last season. An overtime loss followed by another or dropping a game by single digits against a beatable team was tough to watch. The Irish were good last season and caught some tough breaks. Freshman guard Jonathan Peoples will see minutes off the bench. Two big men, 6-8, 255-pound Luke Harangody and 6-7 Joe Harden are also freshmen.
12. West Virginia Mountaineers (22-11, 11-5, Third)
Projected Starting Five:
Freshman guard Devan Bawinkel
Junior guard Darris Nichols
Senior forward Frank Young
Sophomore forward Joe Alexander
Senior center Rob Summers
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 30 vs. Connecticut
Jan. 13 at Marquette
Feb. 10 vs. UCLA
Feb. 27 at Pittsburgh
Good-bye Mike Gansey, adios Kevin Pittsnogle, adieu Johannes Herber. And I’ve run out of common languages. Along with that trio, John Beilein also lost his sharp-shooting son, Patrick Beilein. That’s more than 53 points per game from last year. Predicting their starting five was like rattling off tonight’s lotto numbers will be. The Mountaineers will struggle in the Big East after having one of the more exciting and successful teams in recent memory the past few years. Thankfully, they return part-time starter Frank Young. But Young was a role player last year. It’ll be a bit of a long year for those in Morgantown. There will likely be no miracle run in March this time around.
13. Cincinnati Bearcats (21-13, 8-8, Eighth)
Projected Starting Five:
Junior guard Jamual Warren
Junior guard Marvin Gentry
Junior forward John Williamson
Senior forward Cedric McGowan
Junior forward Marcus Sikes
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 2 vs. UAB
Jan. 24 vs. Pittsburgh
Feb. 21 vs. Georgetown
The Cincinnati Bearcats have made the postseason for 17 consecutive years. With the unpredictability of this year’s squad and a new head coach in Mick Cronin, that streak is in major jeopardy. Last spring, the bubble popped for veterans James White, Devon Downey and Eric Hicks who lost in the NIT quarterfinals. There are also a few players on the roster still with eligibility questions. Two of those players are foreign imports Adam Hrycaniuk (pronounced Ritch-a-nuke) and Hernol Hall. Two JuCo kids – part of a nine-player recruiting class – who are expected to make immediate contributions are John Williamson and Jamual Warren, who arrive with a full two years of eligibility left. 6-1 freshman guard Deonta Vaughn has impressed Cronin in preseason practices. Sophomore big-man Connor Barwin, also a tight end on the football team, may actually receive some serious playing time this season. He averaged 10 minutes per game last season.
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (19-14, 7-9, 10th)
Projected Starting Five:
Sophomore guard Anthony Farmer
Senior guard Marquis Webb
Sophomore freshman JR Inman
Junior forward Ollie Bailey
Senior center Byron Joynes
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 28 at North Carolina
Jan. 17 vs. Georgetown
Jan. 27 vs. Seton Hall
Coach Fred Hill had been a veteran assistant and finally gets the nod to call all the shots for the Scarlet Knights. Unlike a couple of other newcomers to the league, Hill has four starters returning. Byron Joynes, Adrian Hill and Ollie Bailey will anchor a strong frontcourt and will look to prove something to those coaches who picked Rutgers to finish 14th in the preseason conference poll. That most likely is the blatant result of losing Quincy Douby’s 27.0 points per game, which is fair. Freshman Hamady N’diaye is a blue chip recruit with good shot-blocking skills and at 6-11 and 235 lbs., he will be a fun player to watch develop. The intimate but ruthful confines of the Louis Brown Athletic Center will be a benefit against Connecticut, Georgetown and Syracuse. 6-1 guard Courtney Nelson, a transfer from Richmond, has three years of eligibility left starting this season.
15. Seton Hall Pirates (18-12, 9-7, Seventh)
Projected Starting Five:
Sophomore guard Paul Gause
Junior guard Jamar Nutter
Junior forward Brian Laing
Junior forward Stan Gaines
Senior center Grant Billmeier
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 9 vs. Penn State
Jan. 3 vs. Rutgers
Feb. 19 vs. Pittsburgh
If you look closely, you’ll see a sparkle in the eyes of the Seton Hall fan. Within the span of a couple of months, coach Bobby Gonzalez hopped across the Hudson and has rejuvenated the Pirates program. Besides already signing most of next year’s class, Bobby G. has added two big-time guards in Eugene Harvey from Brooklyn and Larry Davis from Queens, and both will make immediate contributions. They join Paul Gause and Jamar Nutter in the backcourt and on the wings to add depth. Stan Gaines and John Garcia will be asked to apply heavy pressure on opposing offenses when conference play roles around. Center Grant Billmeier is in a tough position because he must fill the void at center left by Kelly Whitney. Freshman Kashif Pratt from Bronx is a solid wing player who can give the starters ample rest if necessary.
16. South Florida Bulls (7-22, 1-15, 16th)
Projected Starting Five:
Freshman guard Solomon Bozeman
Senior guard Chris Capko
Senior forward McHugh Mattis
Senior forward Melvin Buckley
Senior forward Melvyn Richardson
Schedule Highlights:
Dec. 5 vs. Richmond
Dec. 19 at UNLV
Feb. 14 vs. Syracuse
A 63-56 win in the season finale against national power Georgetown gave the Bulls’ players some clarity heading into the summer. With a more generous schedule this season, do not expect the school’s sophomore year in the Big East to be as bad as their one-win debut. The losses of Solomon Jones and James Hughes will hurt, so fourth-year coach Rob McCullum has added a handful of transfers and a schedule, which if pieced together correctly, can include wins against Rutgers, Syracuse, Notre Dame and Louisville. Center Kentrell Gransbury, a transfer from LSU, and guard Jesus Verdejo, an Arizona transfer, are not eligible until December. Freshman wingman Amu Saaka is expected to see significant minutes, and the health of 6-9 sophomore Aris Williams is not 100 percent. He is coping with knee problems.
