NYCRedmen
Well-known member
The 2012 season was a good one for the Big East but not one of its best. In years past, the top of the Big East had been truly dominant nationally, and the league had set records for NCAA tournament berths.
Winning the conference regular-season title is one of the toughest gauntlets to run in sports, and winning the Big East tournament can often be more difficult than winning the national championship.
This year, with the loss of West Virginia to the Big 12, will be bittersweet. The Big East should bounce back a bit in performance, but it will likely still fall a bit short of the tremendous power the league flexed in 2009 through 2011, and the backdrop will be somber. It will, sadly, be the last hurrah of the most powerful basketball conference ever assembled.
Here's how the Big East teams stack up in the 2012-13 season:
1. Louisville Cardinals
The Cardinals won 30 games last season and did so through injuries and difficulties. This season, Rick Pitino will have tremendous depth, talent and experience, and a chance to win another national championship.
If its healthy in March, this team could be special. Expect Peyton Siva to have an All-Big East season and Chane Behanan to take off as a star. Freshmen Montrezl Harrell of North Carolina, the 6-foot-8 forward who was originally slated to attend Virginia Tech, and point guard Terry Rozier of Ohio will both help right away. Give Pitino healthy players and he will deliver wins ... and maybe even a championship.
2. Syracuse Orange
While the focus is on losing Kris Joseph, Fab Melo, Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters from a Syracuse-record, 34-win team, the Orange return Brandon Triche, who could average 20 points per game, point guard Michael Carter-Williams and shooter Trevor Cooney -- all terrific perimeter talents.
Baseline talents include lefty C.J. Fair and freshman wing Jerami Grant. Inside, Rakeem Christmas can block shots and rebound, and DaJuan Coleman will anchor the middle. Syracuse will lack experience but not talent.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Mike Brey did not get Tim Abromaitis back for a sixth season of eligibility but did get lefty Scott Martin. And the Irish have everybody else back, including Jerian Grant and Eric Atkins, a strong backcourt and Jack Cooley -- an outstanding rebounder -- up front.
The Irish finished third in the Big East last season, which was a tremendous performance by a young team. Cameron Biedscheid, a 6-6 freshman from St. Louis, can come in and help, but he does not have to be relied upon. This year's Irish team will be experienced, which will allow young players to develop.
4. Marquette Golden Eagles
Buzz Williams has built upon a culture of hard work, toughness and preparation, and the Golden Eagle program is going to be a contender for as long as the Big East lasts.
Returnees Vander Blue, Jamil Wilson and Davante Gardner will provide a solid nucleus, and transfer Trent Lockett of Arizona State and 6-7 freshman Steve Taylor of Chicago will add some quality depth. Marquette may have a "no-name" quality to its roster, but this team will scrap and fight its way to the upper division of the league.
5. Pittsburgh Panthers
Even though Pitt won 22 games, last season was a nightmare in which the Panthers experienced a drop from their incredibly high standards. Returnees Tray Woodall, whose injury killed Pitt last year, Lamar Patterson, J.J. Moore and Dante Taylor should make Pitt much better, as it brings back three starters.
Few freshmen can come in and crack Jamie Dixon's lineup, but New Zealand big man Steven Adams and hotshot DeMatha point guard James Robinson will be able to play right away. Transfer Trey Zeigler will be eligible from the start of the season and should compete for time from the first day. Last year, Pitt was ranked on prior performance. This year, it is because nobody can believe Pitt could be down for two straight seasons.
6. Georgetown Hoyas
The Hoyas lost seniors Henry Sims and Jason Clark, and junior Hollis Thompson declared for the NBA draft (going undrafted). But Otto Porter is prepared to be an All-Big East player, Markel Starks will be an experienced junior, and Greg Whittington has very good versatility and talent.
Add in 6-3 freshman shooting guard D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera from Oak Hill Academy and 6-7 forward Stephen Domingo of San Francisco, and John Thompson III will have talent to work with. You can get worn out underestimating Georgetown.
7. Cincinnati Bearcats
Mick Cronin has built a solid foundation at Cincinnati on defense, rebounding and toughness, and despite the loss of Yancy Gates and Dion Dixon, the Bearcats should be good again.
With the return of shooter/scorer Sean Kilpatrick and guards Cashmere Wright and Jaquon Parker, Cincinnati has talent and experience coming back, and players who have experienced success and hardship alike. The Bearcats need to improve offensive efficiency, as Cincinnati shot only 42 percent from the floor last season.
8. South Florida Bulls
Stan Heath has found a way to win at South Florida, which is no easy task. The Bulls' games were not pretty to watch, but the size and powerful defense of this team resulted in an NCAA tournament berth.
Point guard Anthony Collins plays lower to the ground than any other guard I can remember, and he controls the game. Victor Rudd Jr., a spectacular athlete, Jawanza Poland and Toarlyn Fitzpatrick can all defend and rebound, and any offense is a bonus. South Florida did not have a single player average double figures last season.
9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Mike Rice has done a really nice job recruiting and bringing Rutgers along to respectability in the Big East. The Scarlet Knights have four starters back, losing only Gilvydas Biruta. Guard Eli Carter is the most explosive scorer, and Jerome Seagears and Myles Mack provide Rice with quality guards and wings.
Dane Miller and Austin Johnson are experienced, and Kansas State transfer Wally Judge is very talented and can be a difference-maker along with Kadeem Jack, who was injured and limited last season.
10. Connecticut Huskies
The Huskies were hit by the NCAA's retroactive application of the Academic Progress Rate increase and will be left out of the 2013 NCAA tournament. The resulting exodus has almost gutted the program. Gone are Alex Oriakhi (Missouri) and Roscoe Smith (UNLV), in addition to NBA defectors Andre Drummond and Jeremy Lamb.
Small but quick and explosive guards Ryan Boatright and 6-3 freshman Omar Calhoun will team up with bigs Tyler Olander and DeAndre Daniels. Olander and Daniels need to assert themselves offensively and cannot afford to get into foul trouble. Will UConn be able to block shots and intimidate? Probably not, but the Huskies have some talent -- just not depth.
11. St. John's Red Storm
The Red Storm are young again, and even though the Big East is going through changes, it is still a league that punishes youth. Moe Harkless and assistant Mike Dunlap were lost to the NBA, but God'sgift Achiuwa, Sir'Dominic Pointer, D'Angelo Harrison and Amir Garrett are talented second-year players. Freshman forward Christopher Obekpa of Centereach, N.Y., has potential, but he too is another young player.
In the "good old days," St. John's could expect these young players to mature together, but who knows how long they'll stick around together.
12. Villanova Wildcats
Last season was brutal for Villanova, and Jay Wright lost Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek for the potential to be drafted (neither was selected). Big men Mouphtaou Yarou and JayVaughn Pinkston return, as do guards Darrun Hilliard and Achraf Yacoubou.
Freshman point guard Ryan Arcidiacono and freshman forward Daniel Ochefu add depth, but Villanova will likely still be a year away.
13. Seton Hall Pirates
The Pirates finished 21-13 last season, just shy of inclusion in the NCAA tournament. The losses of Jordan Theodore and Herb Pope leave big holes in the leadership, scoring and playmaking departments. Fuquan Edwin is an outstanding defender who gets steals and deflections, Aaron Cosby can shoot it and help space the floor, and transfers Eugene Teague, Brian Oliver and Kyle Smyth will step in and play right away.
Teague is a good inside player, and Oliver (Georgia Tech) and Smyth (Iona) can both shoot it. The key will be point guard play.
14. Providence Friars
Top scorers Vincent Council, Bryce Cotton and LaDontae Henton are back. An outstanding recruiting class of freshmen Ricky Ledo, a big-time scorer, Josh Fortune, a hard-hat-wearing worker, and Kris Dunn, an excellent point guard prospect, gave Providence some real hope that things would improve quickly.
A shoulder injury to Dunn, which will keep him out for several months, and potential eligibility concerns with Ledo have shaken some believers. However, head coach Ed Cooley was not building for just one year but for the long haul. It will be a long process.
15. DePaul Blue Demons
Cleveland Melvin, along with Vincent Council of Providence, is one of the best players not getting attention because his team doesn't win. Melvin averaged almost 18 points and 7.4 rebounds on a 12-19 team last season. Brandon Young and Moses Morgan return to provide more experience.
Moving up in the Big East is tough, and DePaul will need more time to establish high-level consistency. Having scorers is fine, but the Blue Demons gave up 48 percent shooting on the defensive end. That will not win in the Big East.
Winning the conference regular-season title is one of the toughest gauntlets to run in sports, and winning the Big East tournament can often be more difficult than winning the national championship.
This year, with the loss of West Virginia to the Big 12, will be bittersweet. The Big East should bounce back a bit in performance, but it will likely still fall a bit short of the tremendous power the league flexed in 2009 through 2011, and the backdrop will be somber. It will, sadly, be the last hurrah of the most powerful basketball conference ever assembled.
Here's how the Big East teams stack up in the 2012-13 season:
1. Louisville Cardinals
The Cardinals won 30 games last season and did so through injuries and difficulties. This season, Rick Pitino will have tremendous depth, talent and experience, and a chance to win another national championship.
If its healthy in March, this team could be special. Expect Peyton Siva to have an All-Big East season and Chane Behanan to take off as a star. Freshmen Montrezl Harrell of North Carolina, the 6-foot-8 forward who was originally slated to attend Virginia Tech, and point guard Terry Rozier of Ohio will both help right away. Give Pitino healthy players and he will deliver wins ... and maybe even a championship.
2. Syracuse Orange
While the focus is on losing Kris Joseph, Fab Melo, Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters from a Syracuse-record, 34-win team, the Orange return Brandon Triche, who could average 20 points per game, point guard Michael Carter-Williams and shooter Trevor Cooney -- all terrific perimeter talents.
Baseline talents include lefty C.J. Fair and freshman wing Jerami Grant. Inside, Rakeem Christmas can block shots and rebound, and DaJuan Coleman will anchor the middle. Syracuse will lack experience but not talent.
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Mike Brey did not get Tim Abromaitis back for a sixth season of eligibility but did get lefty Scott Martin. And the Irish have everybody else back, including Jerian Grant and Eric Atkins, a strong backcourt and Jack Cooley -- an outstanding rebounder -- up front.
The Irish finished third in the Big East last season, which was a tremendous performance by a young team. Cameron Biedscheid, a 6-6 freshman from St. Louis, can come in and help, but he does not have to be relied upon. This year's Irish team will be experienced, which will allow young players to develop.
4. Marquette Golden Eagles
Buzz Williams has built upon a culture of hard work, toughness and preparation, and the Golden Eagle program is going to be a contender for as long as the Big East lasts.
Returnees Vander Blue, Jamil Wilson and Davante Gardner will provide a solid nucleus, and transfer Trent Lockett of Arizona State and 6-7 freshman Steve Taylor of Chicago will add some quality depth. Marquette may have a "no-name" quality to its roster, but this team will scrap and fight its way to the upper division of the league.
5. Pittsburgh Panthers
Even though Pitt won 22 games, last season was a nightmare in which the Panthers experienced a drop from their incredibly high standards. Returnees Tray Woodall, whose injury killed Pitt last year, Lamar Patterson, J.J. Moore and Dante Taylor should make Pitt much better, as it brings back three starters.
Few freshmen can come in and crack Jamie Dixon's lineup, but New Zealand big man Steven Adams and hotshot DeMatha point guard James Robinson will be able to play right away. Transfer Trey Zeigler will be eligible from the start of the season and should compete for time from the first day. Last year, Pitt was ranked on prior performance. This year, it is because nobody can believe Pitt could be down for two straight seasons.
6. Georgetown Hoyas
The Hoyas lost seniors Henry Sims and Jason Clark, and junior Hollis Thompson declared for the NBA draft (going undrafted). But Otto Porter is prepared to be an All-Big East player, Markel Starks will be an experienced junior, and Greg Whittington has very good versatility and talent.
Add in 6-3 freshman shooting guard D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera from Oak Hill Academy and 6-7 forward Stephen Domingo of San Francisco, and John Thompson III will have talent to work with. You can get worn out underestimating Georgetown.
7. Cincinnati Bearcats
Mick Cronin has built a solid foundation at Cincinnati on defense, rebounding and toughness, and despite the loss of Yancy Gates and Dion Dixon, the Bearcats should be good again.
With the return of shooter/scorer Sean Kilpatrick and guards Cashmere Wright and Jaquon Parker, Cincinnati has talent and experience coming back, and players who have experienced success and hardship alike. The Bearcats need to improve offensive efficiency, as Cincinnati shot only 42 percent from the floor last season.
8. South Florida Bulls
Stan Heath has found a way to win at South Florida, which is no easy task. The Bulls' games were not pretty to watch, but the size and powerful defense of this team resulted in an NCAA tournament berth.
Point guard Anthony Collins plays lower to the ground than any other guard I can remember, and he controls the game. Victor Rudd Jr., a spectacular athlete, Jawanza Poland and Toarlyn Fitzpatrick can all defend and rebound, and any offense is a bonus. South Florida did not have a single player average double figures last season.
9. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Mike Rice has done a really nice job recruiting and bringing Rutgers along to respectability in the Big East. The Scarlet Knights have four starters back, losing only Gilvydas Biruta. Guard Eli Carter is the most explosive scorer, and Jerome Seagears and Myles Mack provide Rice with quality guards and wings.
Dane Miller and Austin Johnson are experienced, and Kansas State transfer Wally Judge is very talented and can be a difference-maker along with Kadeem Jack, who was injured and limited last season.
10. Connecticut Huskies
The Huskies were hit by the NCAA's retroactive application of the Academic Progress Rate increase and will be left out of the 2013 NCAA tournament. The resulting exodus has almost gutted the program. Gone are Alex Oriakhi (Missouri) and Roscoe Smith (UNLV), in addition to NBA defectors Andre Drummond and Jeremy Lamb.
Small but quick and explosive guards Ryan Boatright and 6-3 freshman Omar Calhoun will team up with bigs Tyler Olander and DeAndre Daniels. Olander and Daniels need to assert themselves offensively and cannot afford to get into foul trouble. Will UConn be able to block shots and intimidate? Probably not, but the Huskies have some talent -- just not depth.
11. St. John's Red Storm
The Red Storm are young again, and even though the Big East is going through changes, it is still a league that punishes youth. Moe Harkless and assistant Mike Dunlap were lost to the NBA, but God'sgift Achiuwa, Sir'Dominic Pointer, D'Angelo Harrison and Amir Garrett are talented second-year players. Freshman forward Christopher Obekpa of Centereach, N.Y., has potential, but he too is another young player.
In the "good old days," St. John's could expect these young players to mature together, but who knows how long they'll stick around together.
12. Villanova Wildcats
Last season was brutal for Villanova, and Jay Wright lost Maalik Wayns and Dominic Cheek for the potential to be drafted (neither was selected). Big men Mouphtaou Yarou and JayVaughn Pinkston return, as do guards Darrun Hilliard and Achraf Yacoubou.
Freshman point guard Ryan Arcidiacono and freshman forward Daniel Ochefu add depth, but Villanova will likely still be a year away.
13. Seton Hall Pirates
The Pirates finished 21-13 last season, just shy of inclusion in the NCAA tournament. The losses of Jordan Theodore and Herb Pope leave big holes in the leadership, scoring and playmaking departments. Fuquan Edwin is an outstanding defender who gets steals and deflections, Aaron Cosby can shoot it and help space the floor, and transfers Eugene Teague, Brian Oliver and Kyle Smyth will step in and play right away.
Teague is a good inside player, and Oliver (Georgia Tech) and Smyth (Iona) can both shoot it. The key will be point guard play.
14. Providence Friars
Top scorers Vincent Council, Bryce Cotton and LaDontae Henton are back. An outstanding recruiting class of freshmen Ricky Ledo, a big-time scorer, Josh Fortune, a hard-hat-wearing worker, and Kris Dunn, an excellent point guard prospect, gave Providence some real hope that things would improve quickly.
A shoulder injury to Dunn, which will keep him out for several months, and potential eligibility concerns with Ledo have shaken some believers. However, head coach Ed Cooley was not building for just one year but for the long haul. It will be a long process.
15. DePaul Blue Demons
Cleveland Melvin, along with Vincent Council of Providence, is one of the best players not getting attention because his team doesn't win. Melvin averaged almost 18 points and 7.4 rebounds on a 12-19 team last season. Brandon Young and Moses Morgan return to provide more experience.
Moving up in the Big East is tough, and DePaul will need more time to establish high-level consistency. Having scorers is fine, but the Blue Demons gave up 48 percent shooting on the defensive end. That will not win in the Big East.
