Brief interruption to football posting with a few little notes about basketball.
ESPN.com got to the Big East in their offseason “shootaround.” The focus is on the Big East Tournament going to 16 teams and an extra day. I’m torn. On the one hand, how can I be against one more day of the best conference tournament in the country? Who turns down free ice cream (I mean, aside from diabetics and the lactose intolerant)?
On the other, I like the fact that it adds to the Big East regular season. No team wants to mail it in at the end. They want at least a chance to make the trip to MSG. It makes the final week or two exciting even for the bottom feeders. Plus, from a conference money-making/prestige standpoint, there is always the risk of a bad loss by a bubble team to a really bad team. Knocking them out of the NCAA Tournament — less BE teams in the NCAA means less money for the conference/schools for games played. Plus, less bragging rights about how brutal the Big East is with the conventional argument of, “See how many teams we put in the Tournament.”
Here’s the team capsule for Pitt:
It’s hard not to envision the Panthers as a top five team nationally. Overwhelmed by injuries all season, Pittsburgh rolled to an improbable Big East tournament title on the emerging stardom of Sam Young. Unassuming off the court, he was a beast on it and his decision to return to campus should have been greeted with hosannas and hallelujahs. Mix in a healthy Levance Fields, powerful DeJuan Blair and the Panthers’ trademark nasty defense, and you have to give them the slightest of edges to win the league.
Jay Bilas puts Pitt as #3 in the conference behind UConn and Louisville.
St. Benedict’s coach Dan Hurley built one of the top basketball programs in the country. College coaches are always banging on his door looking to get an in with his bluechip talent. So, is it any surprise that when Hurley has a coaches clinic, the big names come willingly to speak?
St. Benedict’s head coach Dan Hurley announced that the Garden State Coaches Clinic will take place between 9-4:30 on Sept. 26 at St. Benedict’s. The event is open to all college, high school and travel coaches and will feature Bill Self, head coach of defending national champion Kansas; Pitt coach Jamie Dixon; West Virginia coach Bob Huggins; Texas coach Rick Barnes; former NBA coach Hubie Brown; and UMass assistant Vance Wahlberg, the creator of the dribble-drive motion offense now used by Memphis head coach John Calipari.
I guarantee you that all of the coaches make their appearance gratis. Heck, some coaches would probably pay just to be able to help. Not only do they “help” Hurley’s clinic, they get out there before some 600 other assorted coaches.
Everyone is still waiting for Mike Cook’s status to be determined by the NCAA. Cook is acting cool about it.
Cook doesn’t sound nervous about the impending decision.
“Actually, I’m not even worried about playing next year,” he said. “I’m focused on getting my knee better. I want to get completely healthy first. I’m not even thinking about the redshirt.”
Cook has yet to be given clearance to play basketball again. Doctors are schedule to make that determination Aug. 25. He has been rehabbing the knee mostly through weightlifting and running.
Cook’s outlook may have to do with the apparent delays in his case. Pitt was expecting a final resolution more than a month ago, then again two weeks ago.
“I never got my hopes up,” Cook said. “I figure the longer the (NCAA) takes, the better. That means they really are thinking about it.”
It could be worse. Cook could be QB Ben Mauk at Cinci. Watching training camp, eating a lot and in complete limbo. Thanks NCAA.
Lists? You want subjective lists to spark debate? Cards Hoops Blog spent the last 3 weeks producing a list of the preseason top-75 Big East players. Sam Young was #2 and DeJuan Blair #9 in the top-10. Levance Fields came in at #19. Gilbert Brown was #59. He included Brad Wanamaker as one who just missed the cut. Noting that his performance didn’t live up to his talent level.
Here are the rest of the rankings: 15-11; 30-21; 35-31; 40-36; 45-41; 50-46; 55-51; 65-61; 70-66; 75-71.
