Other Big East Action

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Thriller in Providence tonight as St. John's won 72-70 on an offensive rebound putback at the buzzer by Ejiofor, who had a severe mismatch with a smaller guard trying ineffectively to block him out. Ejiofor easily high-pointed the rebound over him.

Providence led by 15-18 points for stretches of this game, but they are prone to offensive droughts, partly because of no Bryce Hopkins (out with left knee tendinitis and has missed 9 games), and partly because PC's big men suck. PC was playing a 7'2" guy named Anton Bonke, who doesn't look like a total dork and runs the floor well but looks like he is a complete stranger to the college game. He is from the country of Vanuatu which I honestly have never heard of. During the game he showed his inexperience and only scored 4 points and 1 board which, combined with the 7'1" Christ Essandoko (who UConn briefly kicked tires on) gave PC 4 points and 2 boards at the 5 position. PC's best player was Miami transfer Bensley Joseph, who looked like a poor man's Kemba Walker but did not have a ton of help.

St. John's looked good on D but kept PC in the game by shooting 11-26 on FTs and 3-18 on 3s. This is not a good shooting team at all.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Watching St. John's - Xavier which is turning into a blowout of Xavier. Watching this game, I think St. John's is the best defensive team in the Big East, at least of the teams I have seen so far. They are not allowing Xavier any open looks and also are all over the boards. SJU looks like a dangerous team to me. Rickie P has them playing some serious ball like you knew he eventually would.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Watching Georgetown up 35-21 at Marquette. This is not the Georgetown of a couple years ago. This Hoya team is playing Cooleyball and are rolling. They have shown a zone defense which seemingly threw Marquette off. Will be very interesting to see what happens as you always need to play 40 minutes against Marquette especially on their Court.

 

[the Blades]

They have shown a zone defense which seemingly threw Marquette off.

I pray that DH is watching. It's a shame he's to stubborn to try the obvious and get out of his beloved man to man. At least for a different look to slow down the endless drives to the hoop by anyone with a pulse, even vs. some of the cupcakes B4 Maui. It's been a season long problem that he seems to ignore... Gotta be his worst group ever, yet no change, #ZONE....SMH!

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Zone defense is something UConn absolutely should be doing in stretches against teams that are killing them off the dribble which Providence was the first half this past weekend. I think Hurley believes in his head he can fix what is broken but sometimes you have to fix slowly over time and in the interim apply temporary treatments including zone defenses. Otherwise they will lose games because of not doing that.

BTW Marquette has tightened this game up and it's turned into an excellent game of Cooleyball vs Marquette's pressure.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Ben Gold of Marquette is having all kinds of problems finishing in this game. He isn't the player that Oso Ighadoro was.

 

[the Blades]

I think Hurley believes in his head he can fix what is broken but sometimes you have to fix slowly over time and in the interim apply temporary treatments including zone defenses. Otherwise they will lose games because of not doing that.

Yep, already have.....the whole Maui trip was teams beating his guys 1 on 1 ....But it seems time after time when they score it's like they can't stop the ball or don't have the will to get in front of their man. Slowing Providence down with full court pressure in the 2nd half helped some. But they need some Pitino match-up zone for a wrinkle or even a Cuse version with a rangy guy like Ross at the top...It can't hurt !

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Especially disappointing to me in the Providence game was Karaban's man to man defense. Although he did have 4 blocked shots and is good at help defense at the rim, his man was getting by him with ease repeatedly. The first half against PC was the worst defense they played since Maui. What we have to keep in mind is UConn needed to shoot 72% in the second half to barely win the game.

What we saw last night is a preview of what's coming. Marquette, Georgetown, St. John's all have athletic teams that are likely to have success driving the ball on UConn. St. John's is a weak 3 point shooting team (although they defend the perimeter well) and UConn will be in a position where it would be a no brainer to use zone defense against them if the relentless rim attacks are not stopped. St. John's won last night at Xavier with relentless rim attacks and relentless offensive rebounding which did not get stopped. They are the one team where a lot of zone defense may be called for.

 

[the Blades]

St. John's is a weak 3 point shooting team (although they defend the perimeter well) and UConn will be in a position where it would be a no brainer to use zone defense against them if the relentless rim attacks are not stopped. St. John's won last night at Xavier with relentless rim attacks and relentless offensive rebounding which did not get stopped. They are the one team where a lot of zone defense may be called for.

Good call....Different St. John's team but I recall watching em' blow by Uconn @ the XL Center 3 years ago.... over and over. And it shows DH's disdain and stubbornness of changing to a zone. Posh, Curbelo, etc., most of St. John's....couldn't hit a 3 all night, yet despite the their " lay-up line offense", DH refused to change to zone. ......And this team has no Clingan to make up for as Dan says our "embarrassing 1-on-1 defense".... so you'd think zone is 100% a no-brainer.

But it's like DH has a blindspot that refuses to adjust at times. Like he refused with Andre Jackson until FEB the same year and finally told AJ "stop shooting you're team out of games by taking 3's" then moved him to the dunkers spot, SMH !

St. John's (NY) vs. Connecticut Box Score (Men), January 15, 2023 | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

St. John's (NY) vs. Connecticut Box Score (Men), January 15, 2023

www.sports-reference.com

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Rickie P: St John is Where It Needs To Be

Pitino proud of 'fight' in first-place St. John's

Riding the program's best start in 39 years, No. 20 St. John's regained sole possession of first place in the Big East by rallying past Xavier 79-71 in overtime.

www.espn.com

Best start in 39 years- a long time and I remember that team 39 years ago, which was an awesome team.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Excellent first half between Marquette and St. John's ends with Marquette up by 1. Very interesting matchup because Marquette doesn't take transfer portal guys and develops their own recruits, whereas St. John's is a team of transfer portal acquisitions, although partly out of necessity because of what Pitino inherited.

Marquette showed zone a few times in the first half, but teams that don't play a lot of zone don't do it well, and St. John's found gaps in their zone. They are not really using it as a main line strategy as opposed to showing it.

Marquette getting a lot out of their young players Lowery and Parham.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

A win against St. John's now looms much larger because SJ is threatening to run away with the regular season title, although their remaining schedule is very very tough. In 1st place for the first time since 1984-1985 team with the legendary starting 5 of Mark Jackson, Chris Mullin, Walter Berry, Willie Glass and Bill Wennington. What a great team that was. However they still have 2 games with UConn, 1 in Storrs, the other in Storrs South.

 

[the Blades]

Rickie P: St John is Where It Needs To Be

Pitino proud of 'fight' in first-place St. John's

Riding the program's best start in 39 years, No. 20 St. John's regained sole possession of first place in the Big East by rallying past Xavier 79-71 in overtime.

www.espn.com

Well, he's never boring on or off the court, slimy yes, ask Uconn fans. But off, his wife has only one rule, just keep him away from empty restaurants.. LOL !

P.S. Dan Hurley......Use a FRICKIN' ZONE against this spaghetti bender, his team can't shoot to save their lives, that's what a zone strategy is for, keeping "off the drilble teams" on the outside......Remember what the Big East teams and Pitino did to Kemba half way through the season in 2010-11... and stopped his mid range and dribble penetration...... Capiche !

Slick Rick Pitino

"Slick" Rick has that slick moniker for a reason. It has been interesting watching his transformation since the return of his banning. Through Iona and then accelerated by the move to the Johnnies, he has been masterful about curating his media prescence and presenting as the contrite, elder...

the-boneyard.com

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

We will see what happens. I do think that it's pretty remarkable what Ricky P has done with that team in 2 years. Let's not forget they only lost to UConn by 5 in the Big East Tourney last year. That was the last game of the season any opponent was within sniffing distance of UConn. Also think it's amazing he is in 1st place with the worst 3 point shooting team in the Big East. It's older school basketball, and all of their defensive and rebounding stats are on point. In the games I have watched them in this year, they have looked very tough and resilient to me. I am expecting a great game, way better ballhandling is needed by UConn than the last game at Marquette.

 

[the Blades]

they have looked very tough and resilient to me....... way better ballhandling is needed by UConn

They foul alot and these garbage Big East refs let them get away with it. Not a fan at all, wait until the NCAA's and refs don't let you grab and foul all over the court, first week-end exit !

Speaking of....not good for the ball handling dept.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Plus UConn has to deal with this UConn-Killer who has gotten hot lately:

Kadary Richmond has ‘found himself’ heading into UConn game: ‘He knows nobody could guard him’

UConn killer Kadary Richmond has found himself heading into monster game for St. John's

www.nj.com

 

[the Blades]

Plus UConn has to deal with this UConn-Killer who has gotten hot lately:

Kadary Richmond has ‘found himself’ heading into UConn game: ‘He knows nobody could guard him’

UConn killer Kadary Richmond has found himself heading into monster game for St. John's

www.nj.com

Yeah, I remember him backing down RJ Cole into the lane vs. Seton Hall and other small Uconn guards for 3 years. What is he like 25 years old now, LOL! I remember he played a year at Cuse too. Just one more reason Hurley has to stop with his stubbornness and give into the zone D. It's the most basic strategy in coaching and a no-brainer..... yet to DH it's like an alien concept, SMH !

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Speaking of....not good for the ball handling dept.

View embedded media

In the last 8 minutes of the Marquette game there were heavy doses of Ball and Ross as primary ball-handlers. Which is not what you want. But you can't always get what you want.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

St. John's went down at Villanova tonight, which was not a surprise. If they go down Sunday to Creighton, UConn will be in a position to tie them the following Sunday at Storrs South. There is also the possible but unlikely chance that SJU goes down at DePaul.

Villanova shot 53% and made 11 3s, which overcame -6 on the boards. SJU also made 11 3s, but on 37 shots- 29%, and they should not be shooting that many shooting them at 29%.

 

[the Blades]

They foul alot and these garbage Big East refs let them get away with it. Not a fan at all, wait until the NCAA's and refs don't let you grab and foul all over the court, first week-end exit !

Speaking Pitino and his St. Johns butcher squad.... as I called it in FEB.... very unimpressive showing for a 2 seed. If your whole game plan is to foul all over the court and you can't shoot when that's taken away ???

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

They shot 28% FGs which included a pitiful 2-22 on 3s. Arkansas was a top 10 team preseason but lost their PG Boogie Fland for over 2 months. They are MUCH better with Fland back and running the point. Anyway the last Big Team standing for the 3rd straight year is ...... UConn!

 

[the Blades]

Anyway the last Big Team standing for the 3rd straight year is ...... UConn!

Yeah Huskies have to stop carrying this conference... time to make a departure for the ACC since they seem to need all the help they can get on the hoops side. (only 4 NCAA teams with 18 members, and only Duke's left, SMH ).....I'd even go for a mini ACC 4 team add with all the talk of a merger lately.

Dom Amore: The ACC now needs UConn as much as UConn needs the ACC. Oh, how things change

After years of scoffing, the idea of a power conference inviting UConn finally coming from outside CT. Will a change in narrative help?

www.courant.com

sneak peek- https://www.printfriendly.com/print?url=https://www.courant.com/2025/03/21/dom-amore-the-acc-now-needs-uconn-as-much-as-uconn-needs-the-acc-oh-how-things-change/

Leave the Big East name for Providence, Seton Hall and the others who weren't legacy teams to begin with ! Notre Dame with NBC will always be an Indy in football, but it would be like getting most of the BE 1.0 back together again.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Yeah Huskies have to stop carrying this conference... time to make a departure for the ACC since they seem to need all the help they can get on the hoops side. (only 4 NCAA teams with 18 members, and only Duke's left, SMH ).....I'd even go for a mini ACC 4 team add with all the talk of a merger lately.

The ACC is a sinking ship, does UConn really want to go down with that sinking ship? Their basketball has declined so badly it's become a complete joke!

 

[the Blades]

The ACC is a sinking ship, does UConn really want to go down with that sinking ship? Their basketball has declined so badly it's become a complete joke!

Um. OK........"According to tax documents, the ACC distributed an average of $44.8 million to its 14 football-playing members (Notre Dame receives a partial share as a football independent) and a record $706.6 million in total revenue for the 2022-23 season, its most recent available year. " I don't think the Big East and the $6 mill a year they pay Uconn while they divide the $10 mil in NCAA credits Uconn's MBB team made them, amongst each other, is a long term plan.

Especially with the reported House settlement revenue sharing at $20 mil a year per school being talked about. I'd say most of the private Catholics are gonna have a big problem going forward (this July) in funding this which will become a huge problem ( retaining coaches, paying players etc.) for most of the Big East. (while the ACC has just reached a settlement with Florida State, Clemson-ESPN )

Alot to still unpack in the big money/NIL era of college sports, so time will tell. Even though for years I've said "the Big East and Indy FB is perfect for Uconn until it ain't ".

Ain't might be coming very soon or in Dom's words ( Hartford Courant) - " For a long time now, UConn has been trying to get into a power conference. As the college sports template keeps changing, even more now with revenue sharing about to start, it’s no longer about salvaging football; it may be necessary to stay competitive across the board."

 

[the Blades]

I'd say most of the private Catholics are gonna have a big problem going forward (this July) in funding this which will become a huge problem ( retaining coaches, paying players etc.) for most of the Big East.

Well as I said it looks like it's $tarted.... Xavier is the first Big East private catholic victim of the P-4 money train.....

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

It should be obvious from the SEC's record 14 NCAA bids- the most by a lot- that this league is showing the money to its athletes. And to its coaches. Other than McNeese State in the 1st round there were no upsets in the NCAA tournament this year and the era of the so called Cinderella is over. It's now all about paying your way to a championship. St. John's threw money at some players to field a good team this year, but it's small time money. Big time players need to be shown big time money!

The SEC is the High Rollers Room at the Casino- you gotta pay to play!!!!!!!!!!

 

[the Blades]

It's now all about paying your way to a championship. St. John's threw money at some players to field a good team this year, but it's small time money. Big time players need to be shown big time money!

That's my whole point about the ACC and Uconn. They can probably do each other a favor at this point. ( obviously high end coaching matters). I have a suspicion that the Big East will eventually become another version of a mid-major in hoops. Same way the American ( only 1 NCAA bid this year) was eventually gonna fade as a hoops conference, luckily after Uconn grabbed the exit fees they were owed and left. Then you also have talk about Big 10/SEC taking over the hoops tourney from the NCAA. All not good but even worse if you have a weak TV deal like the Big East.

So Uconn may have one of the highest paid coaches in the NCAA, but as you said ya' need big time (TV) money to build and hold onto a roster in this environment. That's getting worse. ( or just poach proven upper classmen that is easier & trending) The precursor is this years sweet sixteen, it took a buzzer beater by a B1G team, as now nothing but P-4's are left.

NCAA Tournament Has Turned Into Power Conference Haves vs. Cinderella Have-Nots

College sports gigantism isn’t just for football. It has taken over March Madness as well. For the first time in history, the men’s basketball Sweet 16 is compr

www.si.com

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

[The precursor is this years sweet sixteen, it took a buzzer beater by a B1G team but.....nothing but P-4's are left.

The end of that game was great- the money 3 pointer by Colorado State and then the buzzer beater by Queen- just talking purely basketball, it was great stuff.

But I don't know or understand why nobody in the media is talking about the end of Cinderella. The clock has struck midnight for many of these teams which financially cannot compete with P4. An unprecedented 14 SEC bids. At this point we are trending towards an unequal playing field with the non P4s, so the NCAA tournament which markets itself as "March Madness" due to smaller school upsets can kiss that reality Goodbye. It's in the past. I don't like where things are going and just hope someone with an ounce of sanity restores order. Otherwise all the branding surrounding "March Madness" is completely fraudulent!

 

[the Blades]

But I don't know or understand why nobody in the media is talking about the end of Cinderella.

True, it's what the biggest of Big East loyalists mentioned too. But I only care about Uconn at this point. (something I recall Mike Tranghese saying about his beloved Providence College while him & his protegee watched the BE versions 1.0/2.0 implode, while they ideally sat by)

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Cinderella's shoe has been stolen and someone needs to find it. She ain't coming back until the shoe is found.

Lots of kudos to John Fanta for mentioning this in the Tweet posted by Blades. A lot of people who run the NCAA tournament need to ask the same question and reflect on what is happening.