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NBE BIG EAST MEDIA DAY NOTES, PART I

by Zach Smart

New York—The media circus hit Madison Square Garden like another New York bus driver strike, with Jim Calhoun and Rick Pitino being cornered by a mob of hungry reporters every which way. Big East media day came with high expectations, hype, hearsay and brought about more questions than an annoying girlfriend. The two lions of the Big East jungle, UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet and Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody, were back in the Madison Square Garden fold. This time, however, they were draped in dapper suits and the only thing they were answering to was a roaring crowd of questions.

Thabeet, a towering 7-foot-3 mountain of man, passed up the NBA lure and surefire shot of being propelled into the top-echelon of the nation’s wealthiest people. Jim Calhoun’s urging him to stay and constant reminders that he’s not ready for the big show were influences on his decision to return. The big Tanzania native’s desire to leave Connecticut with a national championship was another weighing factor.

Harangody, the Big East pre-season Player of the Year selection, was back in the arena where he kick-started a meteoric rise to stardom last season. His titanic performance at the Jimmy V Classic allowed his stock to balloon, after he cooked then vaunted freshman Michael Beasley and Kansas State to the beat of 19 points and 14 boards for Notre Dame.

Norm Roberts talked about his lofty expectations for sophomore guard Malik Boothe, who will look to establish himself as one of the conference’s elite guards (a daunting task in a conference that’s flooded with lead guards) and flower as a leader. He also talked about the emphasis on a revitalized recruiting class for next season for St. John’s (which, in the end, SJU hopes of penning top national recruit Lance “Born Ready” Stephenson.

Jamie Dixon, whose been the Frank White of New York recruiting over the past few years, discussed the weapons he has returning (Sam Young apparently had a sizzling summer that included a stay at the Lebron James Skills Academy). He added that there’s a major question mark surrounding the point guard position (Levance Fields is out for an unknown period of time after suffering an injury to his left foot) for Pittsburgh.

South Florida players talked about the need to move out of the Big East basement in order to become a more reputable program. They said winning all of the non-conference games, a goal that will be harder to attain now that underrated big Kentrell Gransberry has moved on to play professionally in France, is the main focus.

West Virginia’s Alex Ruoff and De’Sean Butler talked about Bob Huggins’ complex defense, the number one priority for heavily-touted recruits Kevin Jones and Devin Ebanks. While no player will individually be able to cushion the loss of jumping jack Joe Alexander, a potent nucleus returns.

Syracuse’s Jonny Flynn talked about the chemistry that he and Paul Harris established back in high school. The two Niagara Falls, N.Y. natives won’t have to shoulder as much of the scoring load with Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins, both returning from knee injuries, back in full force. Rautins admitted last year was a tough one for him, physically and emotionally, and that the season can’t get here soon enough.

On the other side of Madison Square Garden’s theater, Andre McGee admitted that the Cardinals will miss the presence of David Padgett and the controversial Derek Character, but likes Louisville’s chances.

Marquette’s newly-acquired head coach Buzz Williams, who’s already received commitments from Erik Williams, Jeronne Maymon and others, spoke about his lofty expectations for the torrent of talent he inherited from Tom Crean. Williams, whose words had some religious overtone to them, said he will be content as long as his players give it absolutely everything they’ve got.

Connecticut was picked first in the Big East media poll, garnering a total of 214 points and nine first-place votes. As usual, the coaches were not permitted to place their own teams on the ballots.The Huskies will look to avenge last year’s NCAA tourney first-round flameout. A.J. Price, who was the key to many essential victories last year, will run the show. Price can create offense and score in clusters and will have an intriguing understudy in Kemba Walker, who could squeeze his way into the starting lineup, oushing Price into a combination guard role. Hasheem Thabeet, who’s improved by leaps and bounds since he came to Storrs as a callow work-in-progress, will lead a formidable frontcourt. Though still a bit raw offensively, Thabeet swatted and altered the trajectory of many shots last year. He and experienced senior leader Jeff Adrien will help seal the basket shut and keep players out of the paint. Charles Okwandu, a 7-foot-1 JUCO transfer via Lagos, Nigeria, will provide a powerful presence but is likely as raw as the sushi on 185th street. The loss of Nate Miles, who was arrested for violating the restrictions of a restraining order, may hurt the Huskies. They will not have the services of Stanley Robinson, a freakish NBA talent, until the second semester. UConn’s first semester schedule (Western Carolina, Hartford, La Salle, Bryant, Delaware State, Fairfield), however, looks easier than Sunday morning.Will the Huskies erase the final two games of last year’s season (the 70-69 loss to San Diego, a game in which Price tore his ACL, and a BET loss to West Virginia)?

Syracusewas selected to finish eighth in the conference, wedged in between Georgetown and West Virginia. The Orange, which bid farewell to NBA talent Donte Green last season, will have a great deal of offense back with man-child Paul Harris and dual-threat Jonny Flynn (15.3 ppg, 5.7 apg). Cuse is also energized by the return of Eric Devendorf, a scoring guard who missed last year due to a medical redshirt. Devendorf has been the catalyst for the Orange and is welcomed back with Andy Rautins, a quick-strike three-point sniper who also missed last season with a knee injury. Expect another productive year from junior forward Orinze Onuaku (12.7 ppg, 8.1 RPG). A freshmen class underscored by Mookie Jones (Peekskill, N.Y.) and Kris Joseph could make an immediate impact.

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