In Rab's Words #14

[spiral97]

A quick team-by-team breakdown of our 15 big east foes (in alphabetical order no less): http://gomarquette.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082107aad.html

Shoot Around...Agree to Disagree

Good "stuff" on ESPN.com. ESPN is beginning its annual tour of college basketball's major conferences in a segment called "Shoot Around". College basketball experts (exactly how do you get to be a college basketball expert), Andy Glockner and Jay Bilas, give their opinions, expert analysis and insights on this year's pretenders and contenders within the Big East Conference. Love it...love the shoes...love the bag...love it all, as it can mean only one thing...basketball season is upon us.

Let's "blog"...check in on what the experts think and compare notes with what "Rabs Words" thinks...a little "ying and yang"..."good cop bad cop". They may be experts, but that doesn't mean we have to agree with EVERYTHING Jay and Andy write.

So buckle up...16 teams in one "blog", that may be too much for other "blogspots", but not here...direct...to the point...no fluff...time to cover the Big East A-Z..

Cincinnati - 2-14 in Coach Mick Cronin's first year at the helm...second year...players more familiar with the Cronin system...one of the Big East's best kept secrets in 6'7 John Williamson...eight newcomers...a great home court advantage...year two, the Bearcats will be a tough out in Cincy. Bank on it...5/3rd bank...that's the Bearcats' arena.

Connecticut - Scary, scary, scary...too talented and too well coached. The Huskies are a prideful bunch...combine returnees AJ Price, Doug Wiggins, Jeff Adrien and Hasheem Thabeet and you have your hands full. All those teams that beat up on the Huskies last year...be warned...ancient Chinese proverb...championship programs and Hall of Fame coaches don't go quietly into the night.

DePaul - Our rivals down I-94 may have lost Wilson Chandler and Sammy Mejia, but Coach Wainwright has brought in two extremely talented freshmen in 6'9 Nayal Koshwal and 6'5 Darquavias "Dar" Tucker...this pair is special and will provide plenty of excitement at All State Arena.
 
Georgetown - "Hoya Paranoia" is back in full swing led by perhaps the nations premiere center, 7'2 Roy Hibbert. He may not be flashy, but point guard Jonathan Wallace is as good as it gets in college basketball. A coach's dream...low turnovers, knocks down open shots, defends and is an absolute maestro in conducting Georgetown's super efficient Princeton offense. Factor in 6'7 DaJuan Summers and, McDonald's All American 6'3 freshman Austin Freeman, and you have a legit Final Four contender on your (our) hands.

Louisville - Along with Georgetown, the Cardinals are the "sexy" picks to wear the Big East crown. A healthy front line of David Padgett and Derrick Caracter is a good place to start, which makes "the Ville" a safe pick to be one of the Big East's elite teams in '07-'08...throw in "T Wil", Milwaukee's own, Jerry Smith and that "sharp dressed guy" on the sidelines...Freedom Hall will be rockin' again in '07-'08.

Notre Dame - Everyone talks about the return of Kyle McAlarney and sophomore sensation Tory Jackson...but what about Luke Harangody? Last time we encountered the 6'8 265 lbs. sophomore he was posting a "double-double" in South Bend. Coach Charlie Weis may want to poke his head in on a couple Coach Mike Brey's practices...the Irish can flat out score.

Pittsburgh - The Panthers have fast become a bitter rival of the Golden Eagles...two teams that preach toughness, rebounding and defense...no wonder it's a rivalry. The Marquette - Pittsburgh match up has produced some of the Big East's best finishes over the past 2 years...expect '07-'08 to be no different. Gone are Gray and Kendall, but returning are Cook, Fields, Ramon, Biggs and Young...and that is plenty good enough.

Providence - You want a "sleeper" pick, then don't pick the Friars... they are no "sleeper"... they are just plain good. A backcourt of Sharaud Curry and Weyinmi Efejuku combined with arguably the Big East's most versatile player in 6'7 forward Geoff McDermott...The Ocean State (that's Rhode Island) will not be a friendly stop on the Big East circuit.

Rutgers - Head coach Fred Hill assisted Villanova head coach, Jay Wright, in building the famed Wildcat back court of Foy, Lowery, Nardi and Allen...translation...he can recruit. Enter freshman point guard Corey Chandler and 7'0 center Hamady N'Diaye and you get the point. Not that it matters, but did you know Fred Hill's dad is the baseball coach at Rutgers?

St John's - 3 words...Anthony, Mason, Junior...a superstar in the making...the versatile forward can score inside and out and put a team on his back. But "AMJ" is far from a one man show... Eugene Lawrence and sharpshooter, Avery Patterson gives the Red Storm a powerful "trifecta" to roam around the World's Most Famous Arena.

Seton Hall - The league's top 2 returning scorers in Eugene Harvey and Brian Laing, a frenetic style of play, new arena and a coach that makes caffeine nervous...if nothing else, the Pirates make for great theatre.

South Florida - Just what we need...more Michigan State influence in the Big East. Former Michigan State assistant and Arkansas head coach, Stan Heath, takes over in Tampa...waiting to meet him at the door was 6'8 "double-double" machine, Kentrell Gransberry...nice house warming gift...as we all know the "Izzo Blueprints" drawn up in East Lansing work...I'm sure Coach Heath remembered to pack them when he left Fayetteville.

Syracuse - Gone is the entire front line...returning is a loaded backcourt led by "Eminem" look alike Eric Devendorf...Devendorf can score like Mr. Mathers can "rap"...also returning is "linebacker in a tank top", Paul Harris and point guard Josh Wright...throw in one of the nation's top recruiting classes and no one should be feeling sorry for the Orange.

Villanova - Why do the Wildcats scare "Rab's Words" so much? Easy...great guards. Get a good look at sophomore Scottie Reynolds, his next visit to the Bradley Center after this year will be to play the Bucks...fans in Philly are going to love a couple of freshman Coreys - Fisher and Stokes - suiting up for `Nova...Stokes was a teammate of David Cubillan at prep school powerhouse St. Benedit's and Fisher led St. Patrick's to the mythical National High School championship...and don't look now, but Coach Wright's front line is vastly underrated.

West Virginia - "He's Baaaaaaaack"...head coach Bob Huggins takes the reigns of his alma mater in Morgantown. Let's see...toughness...defense...passionate, get out of my way rebounding and WINS...the Huggins' formula for success is setting up shop in West Virginia, Big East beware...oh yeah, Darrius Nichols, Joe Alexander and Da'Sean Butler...Coach Beilein didn't exactly leave the cupboard bare.