Big East Preview

The Big East burst onto the scene last year after filling many coaching vacancies. The conference has many talented teams and should take the conference to the top three this year. The new coaches did some very good recruiting this year, the conference has taken a step forward from where it was just a few seasons ago.

Recruiting was big in the Big East this year. Schools that missed out big last year (Providence) came up big this year. While schools that consistently bring in top talent (UConn and Syracuse) continued to stock their teams with the best talent in the northeast (that lm2 doesn't want). UConn brought in 2 big time players with both of their scholarships including their first state of New York recruit, Blaine Morrison. Duane Brickey is counted on to step into the starting role this year after Peter Piscitelli is selected in the lottery of the '14 NBA Draft. Providence brought in Syracuse outcast Gilbert Henderson, who last season made a down to the wire decision to attend Syracuse over Providence. Kerry Hardcastle looks to be a very good guard now and in the future. Syracuse also landed a few solid prospects in Vincent Rockey and Thomas Olson.

There looks to be a battle for the top point guard in the conference this year as last year's lone returnee from the 1^st Team All-Big East Team, Kenneth Ostrander, looks to keep his rank above last year's 2^nd Teamer, Gregory Selvage of Pittsburgh. Selvage's backcourt mate, Jose Frenandez, decided to forfeit his remaining year of eligibility to get taken 51^st overall in the draft by the Washington Wizards and is now trying out for numerous Europe Pro League Teams. The Big Returnee's might not be the guys that were honored last year, UConn returns Pisctelli, who could have been a lottery pick last year, and Sophomore Sensation Stephen Sheard (yes s4). The team returns almost everything from last year and that is why they are in my preseason Final Four.

Recruiting Review

Rank	School	#	Top Recruit	Comments
1	Connecticut	2	Blaine Morrison	They had 2 'ships and hit big with both of them, that's why they are number 1…
2	Providence	7	Kerry Hardcastle	Kenneth Jess and Loren Reinhold are two underrated recruits… Gilbert Henderson stayed in the Big East after one year at 'Cuse with the team that was #2 on his list last year…
3	Syracuse	4	Vincent Rockey	Vincent Rockey should develop into a very solid shooting guard…
4	Seton Hall	4	Joseph Wiechmann	Wiechmann will be a serviceable center in the Big East…
5	Georgetown	5	Shane Harris	Harris is a very good point prospect… Gill could develop into the best player in this class…
6	Rutgers	3	Steven Robbins	Robbins is a very skilled player and could develop into a special player…
7	Cincinnati	3	Ronald Piggott	Piggott is a solid player and is the cornerstone of this teams rebuild… Adam Ordonez is a solid future option at center…
8	Villanova	2	Efrain Atkinson	Atkinson is a very solid point…
9	St. John's	5	Kevin Douglas	Douglas is still a step slow, but with proper development he could be a reliable starter… Mitchell is the team's future at small forward…
10	West Virginia	4	Gerald Norman	Norman is an athletic center that should develop nicely… McComis is a sleeper prospect at point guard…
11	Pittsburgh	1	Joel Robinson	Robinson is a good point guard; the team needs to lockup some talent next year though…
12	Louisville	2	Willy Ohl	Louisville needs to hire a coach…

 

Big East East

School	Recruiting	Top Player	Top Newcomer
(#4/#14) Connecticut	1	Peter Piscitelli	Blaine Morrison
Syracuse	3	Eddy Pierce	Vincent Rockey
Villanova	8	Dale Hill	Efrain Atkinson
St. Johns	9	Walter Gray	Kevin Douglas
Georgetown	5	Hilario Martinez	Shane Harris
Seton Hall	4	Matthew Dudley	Joseph Wiechmann

Stephen Sheard and Peter Piscitelli are the real deal in Storrs… Thompson is one of the best sixth men in the nation… Eddy Pierce came back for what is probably his last in Syracuse… Mouzon is a great player, sometimes he forgets where his teammates are… Gust is underrated, he is a force on offense… Hill is this teams go to guy, he will have to carry their perimeter offense this season… Gray is a solid point guard but after him they have a lot of experienced role players… Look for this team to rely on their experience to get the job done… Martinez and Butler lead this team, with them they can play with anyone on any given night… Harris is a great pickup in recruiting, not much playing time available for him though… Claudio Marino may be their best player… Dudley and Bryant are both solid but neither is a go to guy…

Big East West

School	Recruiting	Top Player	Top Newcomer
(NR/#20) Pittsburgh	11	Alvin Beringer	Joel Robinson
West Virginia	10	Eric McCoil	Gerald Norman
Providence	2	Robert Budde	Kerry Hardcastle
Rutgers	6	Alvin Bryant	Joe Vanhorn
Cincinnati	7	Robert Lash	Ronald Piggott
Louisville	12	Benjamin Scott	Steven Barber

Alvin Beringer is this teams identity, they need him to be big this year… Solid duo of point guards in Switalksi and Selvage, Selvage could arguably be the best point in the nation… Eric McCoil, Kenneth Ostrander and William Reiner lead this team… Their experience could lead them to the conference title… They will pound it inside all day long with the best frontcourt in the nation, Robert Budde (who could be eligible for a 5^th year?) and Alexander Shewmaker (last years lone recruit)… Remember the name Kerry Hardcastle, he could be big for these guys… Bryant and Wilson Alberto lead this team… Freshmen Steven Robbins could get some solid playing time this year… Lash may be their best player, but he is way too slow to lead a team at this level… Cincinnati will probably struggle this year, once their coach gets things in place expect them to contend for the conference year in and year out… Louisville looks to once again sit at the bottom of the pile…

Awards

First Team Big East

PG-Kenneth Ostrander, Sr., West Virginia
SG-Stephen Sheard, So., Connecticut
SF-Michael Ferguson, So., Pittsburgh
PF-Peter Piscitell, Jr., Connecticut
C-Robert Budde, Sr., Providence

Player of the Year:
Robert Budde, Sr., Providence

Conference Tournament Champion: Connecticut

National Tournament Bids: 4 (Connecticut, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, West Virginia)

Postseason Invitational Bids: 3 (Providence, Villanova, Rutgers)