I did not get a chance to watch “Cold Pizza” so I missed Jamie Dixon’s early appearance. If anyone caught it, please leave a comment with your impressions. I need to know what to expect.
As much as possible, I’ll be trying to liveblog the Big East Basketball Media Slam, via the Internet feed. We’ll see how it goes.
11:02: Adam Zucker (Syracuse) in studio. Seth Davis at MSG. Tranghese already spoke to coaches, players and media.
11:03 Coaches poll: Villanova #1, UConn #2, and Pitt #7. Taken before Curtis Sumpter went down. Didn’t have time to catch the complete list.
11:05 First team and coach they will talk to is Cinci.
11:09 Andy Kennedy is still effusive in praise and stressing Huggins’ friendship. My impression: — he doesn’t expect to get the Cinci job, so it is more important to seem loyal and good. Better for possible next head coach job or hook up with Huggins at his next destination or another top coach. Cinci picked to finish #9.
11:15 Providence preview/interview. Doesn’t look good for this season. Tim Welsh and Don McGrath (with hair). Welsh really slicked back the hair to show just how much it is thinning. Providence picked 13th in BE. That seems about right.
11:20 Pitt coming up.
11:24 Graphic showing incoming players includes Trevor Ferguson?? Dixon and Aaron Gray. Krauser didn’t come, because of classes — English class. Instead Gray and Levon Kendall at media day.
Talked about Krauser first, about nearly going. Dixon almost seems relaxed, still in cliches and coach speak, but a little easier mood.
3-guard will be used, but there are big guys and others who may surprise — Hudson, Biggs and Young.
Aaron Gray: “a great opportunity,” just want to help team. On the new players, he just ducks it and says they are all good and ready to help.
11:28 Pitt ad followed. Hmm. CSTV has a lot of PSA and ads for themselves. Not making a lot of ad sales at this time.
11:30 Marquette. Davis made fun of the mascot flap.
11:35 Georgetown. All 5 starters return. JTIII and Brandon Bowman.
Most of the interviews are kind of bland, unless it’s your team. UConn is next.
11:43 Jim Calhoun and Rudy Gay. AJ Price and Marcus Williams issues will probably be resolved next week. Definitely won’t be playing in the first semester, though.
Why does the BE Basketball PSA still have the old logo?
11:50 Villanova. Jay Wright with Randy Foye. Sumpter ACL injury first issue. Wright thinks there’s a 40% chance he might come back this year. Jason Fraser looks like he will play this year, despite 2 knee surgeries over summer.
12:00 St. John’s. All 5 starters return including Daryl Hill. Norm Roberts and Hill. Hill wearing a sweater vest with a tie underneath? Wow. Not exactly looking street. St. John’s has Anthony Mason, Jr. — bloodlines. St. John’s has a new practice facility — gym, lockers, lounge for players and coaches offices.
At this rate, for each team they should have about 20 minutes left at the end to talk about the Big East overall. Probably see the Tranghese comments.
12:06 USF. Go Bulls! Zucker appears to be openly mocking the Bulls as he sends it back to Davis. Picked for #16. Coach Robert McCullum and Solomon Jones.
12:11 DePaul. Jerry Wainwright, new coach hired from Richmond, and Marlon Brumfield. Wainwright looks like some “that guy” actor, but I can’t say who. Brumfield is incredibly uncomfortable sitting there and keeps giving short, mumbled answers that are flustering Seth Davis for some reason.
12:18 Seton Hall. Louis Orr and Kelly Whitney. 3 years ago the coach of the year, now on the hot seat and likely gone after this season. If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything. Let’s move on.
12:23 Rutgers. Speaking of coaches in NJ trying to keep their jobs. Coach Gary Waters and Marquis Webb.
A step forward if they can just make the BE Tournament
12:31 ND. Mike Brey and Chris Quinn. Davis makes Duke references — shut the f**k up — have to make those ties don’t you, Seth? Davis is totally slurping Brey and ND newcomers. I love how they describe what ND did on the graphic — 1st round NIT. Translation: they lost to Holy Cross at home to complete the bad season.
12:36 WVU. John Beilein and Kevin Pittsnogle. High expectations are a concern. Beilein almost sounds like he’d settle for being middle of the BE pack. Pittsnogle said NBA wants to see more of him on the inside. Beilein happy about a veteran team to run the offense he has.
12:42 Syracuse. Jim Boeheim and Gerry McNamara. Brings up the Vermont game, but Boeheim deflects. Usual poor-mouthing concerns about what the new kids will bring and how soon. McNamara looks like he’s going to swallow the mic. McNamara showed up wearing a sweat suit. Keep talking about Scranton population traveling to Syracuse.
12:48 Louisville ends the team interviews. Rick Pitino and Taquan Dean. Early injuries, but Pitino downplays it — gives the freshmen a chance to really learn. Dean moving on without Garcia taking the pressure off of him. Pitino is effusive in praise for Dean — especially in how hard he works in practice and his defense.
12:56 Mike Tranghese interview with Seth Davis.
Tranghese admits that the football schools were going to leave, but the presidents “changed their minds.”
Regarding the 12 team BE Tournament and leaving out 4, will be revisited in a couple years; but unlikely to change.
TV contracts run for 2 more years — which will dictate the schedules and missing some teams. That will likely change given the schools all want to play everyone.
Seth Davis slurps Tranghese by saying he thinks he’s the best commish in the NCAA as he kicks it back to Zucker.
1:00 Final thoughts from Davis. Davis picks UConn for BE.
