Rewind to Big East media day, October 16, 2013. Val Ackerman, the Big East’s new commissioner said the following to the media: “There’s no doubt the eyes of the basketball world and the eyes of others in college sports are definitely on the Big East.”
How true those words would be. And not surprisingly, the “eyes of the basketball world” were quick to be negative. Without the backing of ESPN, the Big East was constantly knocked and, even when good things happened, not given its full due. It was not an ideal first season for this new basketball-centric league. Marquette and Georgetown were picked 1 and 2 in the Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Many thought that it was crucial for Marquette, a team that has had a good run of success since joining the conference in 2005, and especially Georgetown, a school that was a big part of the original Big East’s foundation, to be successful both in the conference and nationally. Injuries and lack of on court chemistry seemed to do in both the Golden Eagles and Hoyas as the teams would finish 6th and 7th after 18 regular season games. Only two teams were ranked heading into the Big East Tournament and there was a concern that those two teams might even be the only schools to make the NCAA Tournament.
Continue reading First Season In the Books: How Did The Big East Do?
Where: Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
When: 7:00PM
How: Fox Sports 1 (Gus Johnson, Bill Raftery and Erin Andrews) /WEEI 103.7 FM (John Rooke and Joe Hassett)
Game Notes
Continue reading Game Notes & Preview: PC vs Seton Hall 3/14/14 #pcbb
Line opened with Providence as a 1.5 point favorite. The line has since moved to -2 and even -2.5 in some places. I’d expect it to settle around -2 by tip time. Kenpom sees the final score as 70-67 in favor of the Friars. I’ll have game notes and a preview going up at 12pm today.
This one started out ugly with both teams seemingly playing with a lid on the rim. But PC managed to finish the first half shooting 44% somehow and took a 2 point lead into the break, 28-26. The scoring in the first half was pretty balanced for the Friars but Cotton took control of the scoring in the second half.
Providence was able to gain some separation and it seemed like the teams were just reading baskets for stretches in the latter portion of the second half. Seton Hall continues to struggle at home and they seem destined for the CIT at best. Providence, though, is still alive for the Big Dance. They had to win tonight and they did. They still have work to do. Tuesday’s matchup against Marquette is huge and the Friars have traditionally struggled against the Golden Eagles, including their worst first half scoring performance in nearly a decade earlier this season in Milwaukee. Tuesday is also Senior Night and the Dunk better be packed despite the Tuesday night 9pm start.
Cotton finished with 24 points. Batts, Henton and Harris were the other Friars in double figures (14, 13, 11). Fortune hit some key shots and was 2/5 from beyond the arc.
The Friars (18-10, RPI 60, SOS 68) represent the muddled middle of the new Big East. With its best wins at home, Providence clearly has more work to do. I’m not optimistic given two of the Friars’ remaining three games are on the road (at Seton Hall, at Creighton), the second of which is Doug McDermott‘s senior night.
What they need: Three more wins, regardless of opponent or location. The Friars are going down to the wire.
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