ESPN assessment of Big East programs/recruiting

[NYWarrior]

John Carroll's assessment, team by team

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/insider/news/story?id=3095670&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fncaa%2frecruiting%2fbasketball%2fmens%2finsider%2fnews%2fstory%3fid%3d3095670

Marquette, three commits
Tom Crean has made his mark on this proud program over the past eight years. The Golden Eagles have won 44 games over the past two years, and 20 of those have come since Marquette has entered Big East play. The only numbers Crean can't be happy about are their two losses in their past NCAA appearances.

Marquette is a talented, deep and experienced team entering into the 2007-08 season. They will have tremendous guard play with the return of Dominic James. Crean loves multi positional players, and he may utilize a four guard lineup with James and a combination of 6-3 junior Jerel McNeal, 6-5 junior Wes Matthews, 6-0 sophomore David Cubillan and transfer Maurice Acker. In order for this to work, these perimeter players must defend and rebound versus bigger opponents. In addition, Crean will need to have big contributions from senior big man Ousmane Barro and newcomer and highly touted freshman Trevor Mbakwe.

Crean is one of the best recruiters in the game and has a great eye for talent. He has been able to land highly-recruited players with other less-hyped players and develop them through an intense individual instruction program. He has landed four commitments so far this year: Nick Williams (Mobile, Ala.), Tyshawn Taylor (Jersey City, N.J.), Joseph Fulce (Tyler, Texas) and a recent commitment from Chris Otule (Fort Bend, Texas).

Williams, Taylor and Fulce are talented, multi-dimensional players who should be able to learn Crean's system and fill in as James, McNeal and Matthews move on. In addition, Otule is an underrated big man who will hopefully develop and help give the Golden Eagles a defensive and rebounding presence.