Big East Tournament sets the stage for the final chapter of Yancy Gates' success story

The tale of Yancy Gates hasn't exactly been a textbook success story.

His book is filled with chapters that were almost never finished, chapters about success, and chapters about struggle. The chapters are filled with pages of slander more likely to headline a tabloid magazine. There are pages about personal growth, and development. There are pages about new starts and underwhelming finishes.

(Photo Source: Getty Images)

But while a good portion of the book is filled with disappoint and regret, the final chapter is about redemption. it is about maturation. It is about evolving as a human being. 

The final chapter of Yancy's story is a one that even he didn't think would be written. It's a chapter that he thought nobody would read.

"Here we are being talked about on TV, you know, people talking about us on Twitter, and it wasn't for us fighting or for us losing games," said Gates, following his team's thrilling semifinal victory over top-seeded Syracuse. "It was about how hard we played and how hard we fought back to get a win, it was talking about the character we showed in order to do that, nobody was talking about that earlier in the year."

Here is a young adult who stands 6-foot-9 and weighs nearly 260 pounds. His shoulders are the size of railroad ties. His glare is menacing, too terrifying to look directly into. He looks like a destroyer. Like a monster. He's been labeled a punk, a thug and an underachiever.

He was a five-star recruit brought in to revitalize a downtrodden Cincinnati program struggling to compete in a larger-than-life Big East Conference.

"He's been called upon to do a lot, too much, in rebuilding our program, before he was ready to do it. It was really unfair," head coach Mick Cronin said following the Bearcats 72-70 double-overtime victory against Georgetown in the Big East quarterfinals.

Gates, now a senior, dominated the quarterfinal, scoring a season high 23 points, and forced the Hoyas to consistently double-team him down the stretch. The victory was huge in terms of Cincinnati's NCAA Tournament hopes, but even bigger because Gates was able to be the star of the show, the hero if you will, instead of the villain, which he is often perceived as being.

"This is my last shot at it," said Gates. "I don't want to just play one game and go home right away. I'll never play in the Garden in the Big East Tournament again, I want to put on the best performance I can."

During the aftermath following 'The Crosstown Brawl', more than a few media members believed that Yancy had played his final game in a Cincinnati uniform. The senior had exhausted his second chance, they said. The scar he left on the university was permanent, they wrote. But show me somebody who has never made a mistake, and I will show you a liar.

"The fallout provided us a lot of a mental toughness. Not necessarily motivation, but it brought us together," said Gates following the 71-68 Semifinal win over Syracuse. "You know like, when Syracuse went on that run in the second and the crowd got loud, earlier in the season we probably would have let that get to us. We would have probably panicked and tried to speed up and do things that we hadn't done to get the lead. But we kinda grabbed ourselves and calmed down. You know, that's the toughness we needed to build, and thanks to what happened earlier this year, we've matured to the level that we can become resilient."

The six-game suspension he suffered was difficult. It was difficult for him, difficult for his team, difficult for the university and difficult for his family. "I think it hurt me more than it hurt them," he said, "because I just had let so many people down."

But every great story has a great catalyst. The brawl with Xavier was that catalyst. Maybe a younger Yancy Gates would have laid down or given up. But his book was coming to a close. This was his senior year. He had worked too hard for this.

"I'd come to practice and play just as hard as if I was playing in a game, just to help them get ready for the game," Gates said. "I played really hard on the scout team, and gave it my all, and I think they really respected me for that. Because I think maybe they thought I wasn't going to come to practice, or maybe come and just sit down and not practice at all. But this is my senior year. I'd let them down too much. I owe them everything."

Coach Cronin has been especially important in Gates' success. He's been stern and tough, but that's what Gates has needed.

"Growing up, man, my dad was hard, real tough on me, but then you come to college and you got somebody doing the same thing and you really gain that respect," Gates said. "You start to grasp what he's saying as life lessons when you get older."

The lessons that Gates had been taught were difficult at first, but based on where he is now, they've all seemed worth the cost.

"You know, one thing ‑‑ it's like a proud parent," Cronin said. "Me and his dad will talk tonight and laugh. We've been working on this guy for a long time, his dad longer than me. But I just can't tell you how proud I am of him, not just as a player, but as a human being in general."

During the Bearcats remarkable Big East Tournament run, Gates has gone up against two of the conference's best centers, Henry Sims of Georgetown and Fab Melo of Syracuse. Gates has scored 41 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the two games.

To think that this team, and this player, would be just 40 minutes away from a Big East Tournament Championship is not only improbably but would have been considered unimaginable and impossible just a few months ago.

But that's what makes this story so great. You couldn't have predicted this ending in December.

In the 24 hours, we will know how the story finally ends. But regardless, this is a book you just can't put down.

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Despite dissappointing loss, consistency remains the key to Otto Porter's freshman success

Freshman aren't supposed to walk into Madison Square Garden for the first time in their lives and put on a dominant performance. Not in the Big East Tournament, not ever.

But nobody told Georgetown's Otto Porter. Maybe he just didn't know any better. The native of Sikeston, MO, a town with a population of just under 18,000 people, isn't used to big city lights or the grandeur of the Big East Tournament.

"New York is amazing. Playing in Madison Square Garden is a dream come true," said Porter, who scored a career-high 20 points on Wednesday in the second round against Pittsburgh. "I've never really experienced anything like this."

(Photo Source: Getty Images)

Freshman aren't supposed to get blinded by the bright lights. It's part of the learning process. But so far, Porter has showed little signs of growing pains. 

Maybe he's just too consistent to get rattled by even the grand stage at "The World's Most Famous Arena". "I just stay level-headed. I don't get into a 'zone' or anything, I just try to play at a consistent level all game. Consistency is really important"

Consistency is something that Porter does best. While he may not put up gaudy scoring numbers, he's turned into one of the best "stat-sheet stuffers" in the the league. He never has an off night. When he only scores four points, he makes up for it by grabbing 15 rebounds, like he did in the Hoyas 83-75 win at DePaul earlier in the year. Widely considered one of the best freshman in the conference, he was left off the All-Rookie Team, despite ranking eighth in the conference in terms of rebounding. Porter has logged three double-doubles and has grabbed at least ten rebounds in seven games this season.

On Thursday night, in the Hoyas'double-overtime loss to Cincinnati, Porter scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds, had four assists, two blocks and two steals. "Whatever my team needs is what I will do. Tonight it was a couple of shots late in the game. "Sometimes it's a rebound or a steal, or playing defense. But we didn't do enough tonight, so we have to go harder." The loss was tough on all the Hoyas, who sat in disbelief and in disappointment in the locker room. They weren't silent, as much as they were empty. There was nothing in their eyes. 


They had let a ten point second half lead dwindle away, and were forced to spend ten extra minutes fighting to get back the victory that they thought was theirs. "I'd rather be in here talking about a win," said senior Jason Clark. "But they did a better job tonight. I can say a lot of things, but I'd just rather be in here talking about a win."


Porter made the tying basket in regulation and overtime, but a Henry Sims 3-point attempt caromed off the rim at the buzzer, ending Porter's short but productive experience in New York.

"Every game is a new experience. But I just have to do my best to replicate it the next time out."

Consistency. Few freshman have it, and even fewer realize how important it is. Maybe that's why Otto Porter has been such a valuable part of Georgetown's unexpected success this year.

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Leadership by Comittee: Southerland's second half surge leads Syracuse

Should we have really counted out Syracuse?

Trailing by eight midway through the second half against a UConn team that hasn't lost a postseason game since 2010, Syracuse used it's staunch defense and well-balanced offense to defeat the Huskies, 58-55. This was the sixth time since the beginning of 2012 that the Orange have had to rally back from a second half deficit in order to earn the victory.

Part of the reason they are able to do this on a consistent basis is because they have so many different players who are capable of being the superstar for a night. Opponents cannot possibly lock down on seven different players. UConn had to ride on the coattails of Jeremy Lamb and Shabazz Napier. Syracuse rode on the shoulders of whoever was hitting shots.

(Photo Source: AP)

And on Thursday afternoon, James Southerland was hitting his shots.

"That's the beauty of our team, we guys, if we're double-teamed, we don't have to think twice about passing", said point guard Brandon Triche, who finished with seven points and seven rebounds. "Guys like James, guys like C.J. can knock down shots. We have so many great players, the best one is who ever is open, and James was getting his today."

Southerland finished with only ten points, but the timeliness of the baskets increased his performance value. All ten of his points were scored in the final eight minutes, including a 3-pointer that gave Syracuse the lead for the first time since the first half.

"It felt really great out there," Said Southerland. "Especially being at home and all. It's good my teammates are here for me, they're not giving up on me just because I missed two shots, and it feels good.

But what happens when they get down by too much? Can you consistently rely on erasing second half deficits?

"No matter how much, eight points with 12 minutes to go. That's a lot of time. If we was playing well, we probably could have gone up 20," Said Triche. "Again, tonight it was James. Dion played great too. But anybody on this team can get buckets."

Once again, it's superstar-by-committee for the Syracuse Orange. "It was just a matter of going with the two guys that were playing better," said Jim Boeheim during the post-game press conference.

"Some games it's been those two (Dion and James), some games it's been Scoop and one of them. But today Scoop wasn't making shots, and I thought that the two best offensive players we had were those two guys," Boeheim continued. "I thought Michael Carter had a great first half. He made three great passes, and I thought Rakeem, we're using him coming in at center. He was huge in the first half."

We are enamored with the individual superstar. We want there to be one guy. One LeBron. One Kobe. One Jimmer. One Kemba.

But Syracuse has made a living this year off of finding a new player to lead the way every game.

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Joint leadership is propelling the Huskies to another postseason run

Maybe UConn doesn't need just one individual leading willing to shoulder the load during crunch time. Sure, it's a luxury to have a player who's willing and able to take a game over at any time, but not many teams are awarded with a player like that.

In the case of the 2012 UConn Huskies, they have bi-partisan leadership, and through two Big East Tournament games, it seems to be working.

(Photo Credit: AP)

A leader needs to be willing and able to take over a game when need be. before this week, Shabazz Napier seemed only willing, and Jeremy Lamb only able.

Shabazz Napier said he wanted to be the leader. "I try to tell the guys, I feel as if I’m their best leader. Sometimes they give me a chance, sometimes they don’t." That's what he said after a disappointing loss to Rutgers on January 9th.

He questioned his team's lack of heart, and voiced his desire to be anointed the leader. “I hate to say it — I gotta question a lot of these guys’ hearts,” he said following a 15-point loss to Marquette on February 15th,“…Simple stuff – just quitting. It doesn’t look like UConn basketball."

Napier might have relayed his message in an uncontroversial manner, but he's starting to get his point across, and he's doing with his actions instead of his words.

Before fouling out in overtime of UConn's 71-67 win over West Virginia in the second round of the Big East Tournament, the polarizing guard scored 26 points, distributed six assists, grabbed four rebounds, and had three steals and three blocks. When the Mountaineers stretched their second half lead to nine points, it was Napier who led the ferocious comeback with steals, 3-pointers and numerous displays of athleticism.

"I thought Shabazz was close to magnificent." Said Jim Calhoun in the post game press conference, "I thought Jeremy stepped up like the big time player that he is."

Jeremy Lamb followed up his 25-point performance in the first round of the Big East Tournament with 22 points and eight rebounds. But after scoring 12 of the Huskies 26 points in the first half, he want silent for much of the second half. Luckily for Lamb, Napier was there to pick up the slack. When Napier fouled fouled out in overtime, Lamb returned the favor by propelling the team to victory with a big 3-pointer.

"I knew we needed a score, and in the game yesterday, Coach told me to shoot, and I didn't take a shot. You know, Coach was just saying, I want you shooting the ball."

Lamb's 3-pointer was the last field goal of the game, and the eventual game-winner, but due to his unselfish nature, he needed to be willed into demanding the attention. "I told Jeremy, you've got to be willing to shoot now, you've got to be looking for hits," said Napier, "and when he came off that curve, there was no doubt in my mind it was going in because that's what he works on in practice, that's what we work on in practice".

So Jeremy is evolving as a scorer who demands the ball and Shabazz is learning to lead by example. The Huskies have two capable leaders, not one.

But despite this, the question will always be asked. "I'm going to tell you and Shabazz is going to tell you and coach is going to tell you, last year and this year, two completely different deals. This is not Kemba Walker. He's a totally different player. In the last week that I've been around Shabazz, he's a different player than he was three weeks ago. He's a different player." Coach Calhoun is right, Lamb and Napier are different players. Not just compared to last year, but also compared to last month.

But if it's not a question about comparison, it's a question about whether or not the Huskies can do it again. "I don't think it can happen again, but then again, I said it could never happen in the first place." Said Calhoun.

"Would we like to give it a shot? Would we like to take a stab at it? Everybody out there would. Everybody out there would. We're just going to try to play tomorrow's basketball game to take it where it may."

With Napier and Lamb leading this team, they seem to be headed in the right direction.

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Ashton Gibbs' first tournament win could be the first of five this week

Given Pittsburgh's recent success, you'd be shocked to know that the Panthers haven't won a Big East Tournament game in three years. Ashton Gibbs, the face of the Pittsburgh program, never won a Big East tournament game. The Panthers were 84-17 coming into this season, yet won zero Big East Tournament games in that stretch.

But the Panthers have lost more conference games this season than in the three previous seasons combined.

Kinda weird right?

Then it probably makes sense that their first Big East Tournament win in Ashton Gibbs' career would come after finishing their worst regular season in recent memory.

(Photo Credit: AP)

"The past three years we had a lot more success during the regular season," said head coach Jamie Dixon. "But it was a good win for us today". Senior leader Ashton Gibbs shared similar sentiments, "Yeah, it's definitely a little weird, especially the past three years we had a lot more success during the regular season. But it was a good win for us today."

The Panthers entered the 2012 Big East Tournament as the No.13-seed. Since 2006, the two times they've entered the tournament ranked outside one of the top three seeds, they've advanced to the Championship game, and won it all in 2008 as the No.7-seed.

Wouldn't that be a fitting way for Gibbs to end his Big East career?

After all, if there was one place in the world that embraced something like that, it would be Madison Square Garden.

Syracuse had no business winning the 2006 Big East Tournament, yet there they were, resting squarely on the shoulders of senior Gerry McNamara, cutting down the nets. If you need further evidence, look no further than Kemba Walker's tour of destruction last season.

This Pittsburgh team more than fits the role of the tournament darling. Like Syracuse and UConn, the Panthers were ranked in the preseason Top-25. Like Syracuse and UConn, the Panthers entered the tournament without a winning record in conference play, and failed to meet the lofty expectations set for the team. And like Syracuse and UConn, the Panthers have a savvy, no-nonsense guard who is more than capable of putting the entire team on his back.

The point is, if there's going to be a team to make a run this year, it's going to be Pittsburgh. If there's a player that's going to lead a memorable run, it's going to be Ashton Gibbs. "Yeah, I think it's definitely possible. We're just going to take one game at a time and worry about our next game and keep going."

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Lamb's leadership shines in UConn victory

The press conference following UConn's 81-67 win over DePaul in the first round of the Big East Tournament didn't last more than 45 seconds before Kemba Walker's name was mentioned for the first time.

Roughly 365 days after Kemba Walker started one of the greatest postseason stretches in recent memory with a 91-77 first round win over DePaul, the Huskies were back in the familiar No.9-seed and against a familiar No.16-seed foe.

But replacing Kemba, who finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the 2011 first round game against the Blue Demons, was Jeremy Lamb, who finished with 25 points, five rebounds and four assists on Tuesday afternoon.

So maybe there was just reasoning for bringing up a former-player so quickly in the press conference.

(Source: AP Photo)

"I'm not trying to be Kemba." Lamb said during the post-game press conference. "Of course everybody wants to lead their team to championships, but I'm just trying to do what's best for this team. The whole team knows, we've got five great players, Boatright, Shabazz, Roscoe stepping up. We also got great big men, so it's a great team effort. "

Lamb did have a very "Kemba-esque" game though. He hit a bevy of 3-pointers, took his man off the dribble, and hit a number of tough shots each with a higher degree of difficulty than the last.

Ever since the beginning of the school year, Lamb had been anointed as "The Next Kemba", and while that may be unfair to both Lamb and Kemba, the biggest knock on the Huskies this year was there lack of leadership and energy, which was the calling card of Kemba's success.

But on Tuesday afternoon, this looked like a different UConn team. A team with energy. A team with a leader. Alex Oriakhi attacked the glass on every possession, and displayed a a level of energy he struggled to play with on a consistent basis this season.Shabazz Napier was looked to find open teammates instead of looking for open shots. He finished with only five points, but had six assists and zero turnovers.  Andre Drummond was a force on the low block, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds and four blocks.

But it was Lamb who led it all. He scored 15 of the Huskies first 30 points of the game. He did the big things and the little things. Just by watching the ebbs and flows of the game, you could tell that Lamb was the leader. He wasn't overly vocal or demonstrative, but he led by example, and his teammates followed.

Or maybe it was just  deja vu. Tuesday afternoon just seemed all too familiar.  Noon start time. Tuesday afternoon.  No.9 Huskies vs. No. 16 Blue Demons. "Yeah, it's a coincidence," Lamb said at the press conference. "But it's a whole new year."

Lamb is right, this was a brand new year, yet he was tagged as a new version of a former-player. This UConn team is different than last year. Sure they have a lot of the same parts, but some of those parts have different roles.

Napier has taken a full season to fully adjust to primary ball-handling responsibilities. Oriakhi had a difficult time adjusting to the addition of future-lottery pick Andre Drummond, and Lamb had to adjust from being the sidekick to the superhero. Even Jim Calhoun had to adjust to not having a full fledged "player-coach" on out the floor for 40-minutes a game.

But adjustments are made during the regular season,  if Tuesday afternoon is any indication, UConn has made those adjustments, and could be primed to replicate their postseason success.

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Previewing the Madness: The Big East

There is only one thing you need to know about the 2011 Big East Tournament -- UConn and Villanova, who have both spent time in the top ten this season -- will be playing on the first day of the tournament.

Think about that for a second.

Two teams that were at one point considered two of the ten best teams in the country could not even secure a top eight seed in their conference. While UConn may have been overrated due to the ridiculous start Kemba Walker had and Villanova has had an epic collapse down the stretch of the season, the fact that those two will have to win five games in five days to take home the Big East Tournament title should tell you the kind of depth this league has.

The ironic part, however, is that while there is an unprecedented amount of "good" in the Big East, there isn't all that much "great". Pitt and Notre Dame certified themselves as the top two teams in the league, but they are the kind of powerhouse that you expect to see at the top of the Big East. This isn't the Pitt, UConn, and Louisville teams of 2009.

Where: Madison Square Garden

When: March 8th-12th

Final: March 12th, 9:00 pm, ESPN


Favorite: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Yup, I'm going with it. Let me explain, because I do have a convincing argument. The Irish have won 11 of their last 12 games. Ben Hansbrough, who should win the Big East player of the year award in the voters get it right, has been playing the best basketball of his career of late. Tim Abromaitis has refound his shooting stroke. This team is loaded with experienced basketball players that create all kinds of matchup problems with their versatility. Throw in the fact that this group owns Pitt of late -- they've won three in a row against the Panthers using their Burn Offense -- and the Irish are my pick to win it all.

• Other Contenders: The list of contenders for the Big East title is long. There is regular season champion Pitt, although the Panthers are playing short handed right now. Back up big man Talib Zanna broke his thumb and is still out of the lineup. He's the Panthers best offensive rebounder, and for a team that thrives on cleaning up the offensive glass, this loss is much more significant than you think. The Panthers have as many losses without Zanna as they did with him in the lineup.
  
  There are a number of other teams capable of winning this thing. Syracuse is a tough team to beat at the Garden, and when Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph are playing well, the Orange are a very good team. Louisville is the streakiest team in conference. They press and they shoot a lot of threes, and when the threes are dropping and they are forcing turnovers, the Cardinals are a tough team to beat.
  

Sleeper: St. John's Red Storm

Its weird calling a team that is ranked as high as the Johnnies are a sleeper, but they are the fifth seed in the Big East, so I'll allow it. The Red Storm struggled early in the season, but they have really come together down the stretch as Dwight Hardy has become one of the best scorers in the league. But the biggest reason St. John's has a shot at winning this thing? They are a much better team at home, and their home court just so happens to be Madison Square Garden.

• Deeper Sleepers: West Virginia is really coming together late in the season Joe Mazzulla and Kevin Jones are finally hitting their stride late in the season, while they have three legitimate scoring threats -- Deniz Kilicli, Casey Mitchell, Truck Bryant -- that are all capable of going for 20 points. Also keep an eye on Cincinnati. The Bearcats have come on late in the season and played their way off the bubble and into a potential six seed in the NCAA Tournament.
  

Players to Watch:

• Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall: Hazell has been through more this season than is fair. He broke his wrist early in the season, got shot on christmas day, and has had to deal with arguably the most dysfunctional basketball program in the country. That said, he can score with the best of them. When he gets hot, he is fun to watch.
• Marshon Brooks, Providence: Brooks leads the league in scoring. He's gone for 43 points and 52 points this season. Need I say more?
• Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette: DJO is one of my favorite players in the conference to watch. The Kanye West lookalike is a lefty that just knows how to score. He's got range well beyond the three point line and dunks as hard as anyone in the country.
  

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Bob Huggins may not take the credit, but I'll give it to him

Bobby Huggins had every right to celebrate this win.

His tenth conference tournament title. The first Big East tournament title for both Huggins and West Virginia. Madison Square Garden. ESPN.

Short of hanging a banner from Indy in three weeks, this is as good as the college hoops season gets.

But after Da'Sean Butler hit his second game-winner in three nights (and sixth of the season) and after Chris Wright's desperation lay-up couldn't quite get to rim level, Bob Huggins stood to the side as the Mountaineers celebrated.

"I've never gotten involved in that," Huggins told reporters after the game, "because I don't think its about me. I think its about them."

"They're the one who come in and go through what they go through on a day-to-day basis. They're the guys who have to go out and produce on the floor."

He's right. Bob Huggins doesn't have to go through a season's worth of Bob Huggins' practices. The Mountaineers deserve praise for simply surviving.

"We practice three hours a day," Da'Sean Butler told reporters after the game.

Huggins has a unique coaching style. He has developed reputation as a yeller and a screamer, a younger Bobby Knight if you will. While that isn't necessarily false -- I don't know if there are five people in this profession better at berating an official or a player -- Huggins is actually very calm on the sideline 90% of the time.

"I just stand over there," Huggins said. "I can't sit, so I stand. If I could sit I would probably sit."

That said, there may not be a more demanding coach in the country than Huggins. Simply put, he expects the best from each and every one of his players.

And whether it is great coaching, an ability to motivate, or intimidation -- is it possible he scares his players into playing their best to avoid a screaming session? -- Huggins always seems to get the most out of the guys that come through his program.

I mean, this isn't exactly a team chock full of all-americans and lottery picks. West Virginia just won the toughest conference tournament in the country, and they did it with just one five-star (Devin Ebanks) and one four-star (Kevin Jones) recruit. Da'Sean Butler and Wellington Smith were three-star recruits, as was Truck Bryant. Joe Mazzulla and Cam Thoroughman were two-star recruits.

Hell, he turned Joe Alexander, an after thought as a recruit in high school and as a draft prospect heading into his junior season, into the eighth pick in the draft. After leaving West Virginia and Bob Huggins, Alexander subsequently became the highest draft pick to have his rookie contract option declined.

And you still don't believe he is able to squeeze every ounce of talent out of his players?

There is nothing that is particularly great about this West Virginia team. They have one point guard that is ineffective and another that has one arm. They don't have a true center, or a true shooting guard for that matter. It seems like every player on there roster is stuck somewhere between being a small forward and a power forward.

And yet, he has this team on the brink of becoming a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He has a Big East Tournament banner to hang in WVU Coliseum. He has a team capable of reaching the Final Four, in not further.

"I just want them to enjoy it and receive the accolades they deserve," Huggins said.

Anyone that caught a glimpse of this team after the game knows they were.

As the team was celebrating after the game, there were hugs all around. They participated in a rousing chorus of "Take me home, country roads" as it played through the Garden's sound system. Da'Sean Butler, once again the hero, came to the press conference with a net around his neck and a smile permanently stretched from ear to ear.

As happy as each of the Mountaineer players were, I think that they would agree, to a man, that they would not be here without Coach Huggins.

He may not take the credit, but he cannot do anything if it is given to him.

As Wellington Smith said, "Coach did a great job just coaching me."

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Maybe, just maybe, the Big East tournament worked. Is it possible the two best teams made the final?

West Virginia head coach Bobby Huggins isn't one to take the time to reflect on his life.

He hails from Midvale, OH, a place he describes as "500 people, two stoplights, nine bars", the kind of place where you learn life lessons from a guy in a pick-up truck.

"I got in a truck with this guy one time," Huggins recalled after the game, "I looked and he didn't have a rear-view mirror. I said 'You don't have a rear-view mirror.' He said 'I don't back-up. We're going forward, son.' And that's kind of how I've lived my life."

Tonight, at least, there is no doubt Huggins will be heeding his own advice.

Hopefully, Huggins never reflects on wearing this suit.
(photo credit: Digital Headbutt)

West Virginia has no time to bask in the glory of their 53-51 win over Notre Dame in Friday's second Big East semi-final. Exactly 21 hours after Tory Jackson's potential game-winning three-pointer bounced off the rim, the Mountaineers will have to take the court again, this time against Georgetown, who just may be the best eighth-seed in the history of conference tournaments.

This is the Big East tournament, after all. And the Big East just may be the toughest league in the country.

"What the people in this league have done over the years," Huggins told reporters. "It's the best league in the country. I've been around enough and been in the other leagues."

"When you're in the other leagues, you say 'Man, it ain't that good.' Then you get in here."

It makes you wonder.

One of the prevailing theme's yesterday from writer's covering the Big East Tournament had to do with the double bye, or more specifically how three of the four teams that had earned the double bye had lost in their first game, making it five in the two years we've had a double bye.

The reason why varied. Some believed it was because the team's that had played were in rhythm. Others believed it was an advantage to get rid of the jitters of playing in Madison Square Garden.

Could the answer simply be the league is that good?

That the teams playing on the first day aren't that far behind the teams getting one bye; and that the teams getting one bye are just as good as the teams getting double byes?

Sitting here at Madison Square Garden, I can't help but think that we may just be getting the Big East's two best teams tomorrow.

Georgetown has whooped both Duke and Villanova this season. Last night, they knocked off the tournament's No. 1 seed with a thrilling comeback. Three great wins over three great teams, no question about it.

But tonight may actually be the Hoyas most impressive win of the season.

I know that, after reading that, you likely think I'm an idiot, that I'm stretching the facts to make my story better. You may very well be right.

But keep in mind that this Marquette team doesn't get blown out. Coming into this game, the Golden Eagles were 22-10. Of those 10 losses, not a single one had come by double digits, their largest defeat a nine point setback coming at the hands of rival Wisconsin. Of their seven Big East losses -- which came by a total of 21 points -- the worst was a seven point loss to Pitt.

This Marquette team battles, they fight, and they scrap. Buzz Williams' team doesn't know the meaning of quit.

And tonight they got run out of the gym.

"They absolutely annihilated us," Williams said after the 80-57 loss.

What about West Virginia?

Da'Sean Butler had 24 points in WVU's win over Notre Dame.
(photo credit: Star Ledger)

The Mountaineers just knocked off the hottest team in the Big East, beating Notre Dame at their own, slowed-down, game. They aren't going to win many beauty contests with the way they play. West Virginia is the basketball equivalent of a old, beat-up pickup truck. They aren't going to run you off the floor, but they'll run over you, through you, and can ding you throw at them.

West Virginia lacks quality point guard play, but they make up for it with their ability to defend -- this 1-3-1 zone that Huggins is using is so effective with the length of the Mountaineers -- and how hard they hit the offensive glass. And when Da'Sean Butler plays like he has the last two games, this Mountaineer team is awfully tough to beat.

Bob Huggins doesn't reflect.

I do. And when I look back at this week, I don't know if there are two teams I would rather see play for the Big East Tournament title tomorrow.

Continue reading...

Greg Monroe: An unselfish superstar

It was just three possessions in a 40 minute basketball game, but they meant so much more.

Three possessions was all it took for Georgetown to put this game away. Those same three possessions are all you need to see if you're wondering why Greg Monroe is sitting in the lottery on most NBA Draft boards.

With 6:58 left on the clock, Monroe drove baseline from deep in the left corner and finished at the rim with a dunk. On Georgetown's next possession, he buried a three from the wing. On the ensuing possession, Julian Vaughn blocked a shot by Mo Acker. Monroe picked up the loose ball, led a 2-on-1 break, and dropped a pretty bounce pass to Austin Freeman for an and-one layup that gave the Hoyas a 70-52 lead with just 5:32 left.

Should I mention that he also blocked Jimmy Butler's shot on the next Marquette possession?

Monroe celebrates with Jason Clark after drawing a foul.
(photo credit: NJ Star Ledger)

Monroe finished with 23 points, 13 boards, 7 assists, and 2 blocks in an 80-57 win for the Hoyas. A sterling performance no matter how you slice it, just the kind that has gotten Monroe mentioned in the same breath as the great Hoya centers of the past -- Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutumbo, Alonzo Mourning.

"I'm honored to follow people that were so good here," Monroe told reporters after the game, "but I don't compare myself to them."

"Me being here just two years, I can't put myself in the same category as those players."

Monroe is different than his Georgetown predecessors, however.

Where Mutumbo, Ewing, and Zo thrived on their ability to intimidate in the paint, be it via an emphatic dunk or a blocked shot, Monroe's biggest weapon is his versatility. How many players do you know that can get you 13 rebounds and 7 assists on the same night and have it be considered par for the course.

"He is the best skilled big man in the country," West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins said after his Mountaineers beat Notre Dame in the other semifinal.

"He passes the ball, he finds open people, he can lay it down, he can score in the post."

With that much ability, it would be very easy to let individual success go to your head. But Monroe has stayed grounded, his mentality as unselfish as his passing ability.

"I just come out and try to do things for my team," Monroe said.

Its not just Monroe.

This team first aspect is something that JT III preaches, something that he has ingrained in his players. You ask him a question about a certain player's performance, he will say it is a function of the team, proof that his system is working the right way. The saying goes "there's no I in team", but with Thompson, there's no I, you, he, or me; its always we, us, or the team.

A perfect example came when he was asked about Monroe's aggressiveness early and whether it helped set a tone for the team and the game.

"I think the same thing happens when Austin comes out aggressively, when Chris comes out aggressively. When we come out aggressively and focus, it sets the tone in general."

That's a pretty standard answer from Thompson.

And its refreshing. Incredible, really.

In the day and age of early entry, Sportscenter top 10, and youtube, its not that easy to find a player, let alone a team, as devoted to the team concept as Georgetown is.

What's more important is that it shows through in their play.

When the Hoyas are playing at their best, its due to that team-first mentality. Georgetown runs what is known as a continuity offense, meaning they don't run a lot of set plays. You're not going to see Chris Wright and Monroe running pick-and-rolls. Austin Freeman won't be getting isolations on the wing. Jason Clark isn't going to be curling off of double screens.

Monroe had 23 points, 13 boards, and 7 assists last night.
(photo credit: SNY TV)

Georgetown runs a system with a set of rules and reads given the situation. The Hoya players know where in this system they are going to be able to get scoring opportunities. Put another way, it is very difficult for the Hoyas to call a play for a certain player.

JT III can't, or won't, run a play to 'feed the hot hand', so to speak. Where their selflessness shines through is that the players on the court do it themselves. When Freeman gets it going, they look for him. Yesterday Chris Wright was hot, and Georgetown got him the ball in spots he could score. Today, it was Monroe.

The Hoyas have won a lot of games this year playing that way.

After beating Marquette, who hadn't lost by double digits all season coming into tonight, by 23, the fourth straight impressive win by the Hoyas, its safe to say this team is playing their best basketball of the year.

But they aren't satisfied just yet.

"Its March," Thompson said, "there's no time to take a breath and pat yourself on the back in March."

Continue reading...

Syracuse may have a fatal flaw

Today proved nothing about Georgetown.

Let me say that again, it proved nothing.

I know what you're thinking: "How is that possible? The Hoyas just ran away from the best team in the Big East!"

Well, we already knew that Georgetown could beat anyone in the country. We already knew that when their offense is clicking like it was today, they can score like they did today. You can ask Villanova and Duke, who both took a solid whooping from the Hoyas earlier this season.

Seeing how valuable Monroe, who had 15 points, 10 boards, and 7 assists, is in orchestrating their offense from the post should come as no surprise to anyone.

Monroe proved how valuable he really is today.
(photo credit: NYT)

"He's the best inside passer in college basketball, easily," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said after the game.

As good as Chris Wright was this afternoon -- 27 points, 6 assists, and 6 boards is impressive no matter how you slice it -- he didn't do anything we haven't seen before. This was the third time this season Wright has scored at least 27 points. This isn't the first time he's shown the ability to get into the paint at will.

Its no secret that Jason Clark is one of the best glue guys in the country. We've come to expect 3 steals, 3 offensive rebounds, and 4 assists out of him, the 17 points and three threes an added, but not necessarily unprecedented, bonus.

If anything, what we learned today was that, diabetes or not, Austin Freeman is still Austin Freeman.

"Physically, he's at a point where as long as we're monitoring his level, he's fine," Georgetown coach John Thompson said. "As long as he keeps and we keep his levels fine, he will be able to perform."

If anything, a fatal flaw in this Syracuse team may have been exposed.

Look, I've been on the Syracuse bandwagon since they ran through UNC and Cal in NYC back in November. I think this team -- today excluded -- plays a terrific brand of defense in their zone. I think they are efficient offensively. I think they move the ball well, I think they are dangerous in transition. There isn't much not to like about this team. I think they have talent coming off the bench. I think their roster is balanced.

I could go on and on.

But if you were paying attention, you'd realize that in that list, I never mentioned a go-to scorer.

After today, Syracuse is headed into the NCAA Tournament on a two game losing streak. Last Saturday, Kyle Kuric scored 22 second half points to spark a late surge by Louisville that put away Syracuse. Today, the Orange allowed a 22-4 run midway through the second half that turned a nine point lead into a nine point deficit in the span of about about five minutes.

So I ask you: does Syracuse have a stopper? Do they have a guy that they can give the ball to when things aren't going well and they really need a basket?

The last two games the answer has been no.

Wes Johnson is Syracuse's most talented player, but can he really create his own shot against a set defense? Johnson has been the most effective this season when he is spotting up from three and using his athleticism to attack the rim, whether in transition or on the offensive glass.

Andy Rautins may be the Orange's most valuable player, but he isn't necessarily a great scorer as much as he is a great shooter with an all-around game.

Kris Joseph doesn't have a jumper. Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson struggle too much from the foul line. Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche are capable point guards, but Sherron Collins they ain't.

That lack of a stopper has cost the Orange two games.

But will it cost them a one seed?

Did this loss cost Syracuse a one seed?
(photo credit: ESPN)

It could.*

(*If Arinze Onuaku's injury is serious, than this could be a moot point. While his injury is no where near as damaging as the one suffered by Robbie Hummel, Syracuse is still a different team without him)

Right now, Syracuse is safely in as a No. 1. But if both Duke and Ohio State win their conference tournament championships, the Orange could be in trouble. If you win a major conference's regular season and tournament titles, you deserve to be a No. 1 seed.

Whether they get a No. 1 seed or not may not matter, however.

"That team is still one of the best, if not the best, team in the country in spite of today's outcome," Thompson said.

"Do I expect them to be a dangerous team in the tournament? Absolutely."

Continue reading...

Is Harangody best as a 6th man?

Maybe we should start calling Notre Dame Omega Prime.

Their transformation from college basketball's version of a sports car to a slow, lumbering machine has been nothing short of incredible.

For years, the Irish under Mike Brey were known as a team that wanted to outscore you. They wanted to run the floor, jack up some threes, and get the game into the 80's. Its exactly what this team was until mid-February. Defense took a back seat to controlling -- pushing -- the tempo. The shell drill wasn't as important as working on spacing the floor in transition.

"The offensive tempo. That's the biggest change we've made," said Notre Dame coach Mike Brey.

"It was something we had to do to survive."

Survive has turned into thrive, as the Irish have embraced this new style. Instead of outscoring teams, Notre Dame is out-executing. Instead of taking the first open shot, the Irish are working the shot clock and moving the ball, waiting for the perfect shot, even if it takes 34 seconds off the shot clock.

What surprised people about the Irish without Harangody is that they have been just as good on the offense end of the floor. True, their total scoring numbers are down, but more points scored aren't always necessarily the best indicator of how well you are playing offensively. It is the number of points you get on each trip down the floor, your offensive efficiency.

Would you believe me if I told you the Irish two most efficient offensive games playing real competition came without their all-american?

You see, Harangody is a possession ender. When he got the ball, more likely than not a shot was going up. Without Harangody on the floor, there is much better ball movement. The Irish spread the floor, make the defense move, and as a result create driving lanes and open shots. Even without Gody on the court, this team still has guys that can hit shots.

The talk about the Irish being better without Harangody is silly. No one is better missing an all-american.

But perhaps they are better with the big fella playing a different role.

Right now, Brey is bringing Gody off the bench. While that is mostly a result of Gody's conditioning, it is quite effective. The Irish can establish a tempo, a rhythm on offense if you will. When Gody comes in, he provides a spark.

Tonight was the perfect example. The Irish looked sluggish before Gody came in, but he scored a quick 10 points, helping Notre Dame erase an early 11-2 deficit and giving them some momentum.

Is it too crazy to think that he is the most valuable now as instant offense off the bench?

Continue reading...

Marquette is battle tested

Marquette blew a ten point halftime lead to St. John's, but thanks to a David Cubillan three with a minute left and a turnover forced by Lazar Hayward with 38 ticks left, and the Golden Eagles escaped with a two point win over the Johnnies.

The win came just two weeks after Jimmy Butler hit a fadeaway at the buzzer in overtime to beat St. John's in Carnesecca Arena.

Marquette advances to face Villanova, who has beaten Marquette by two in both of their previous matchups this year.

You see the theme there?

Lazar Hayward had 20 and 9 to lead Marquette.
(photo credit: NYT)

There isn't a more battle-tested team in the Big East than Marquette. 12 of their 19 Big East games this year, including today's win, have been decided by three points or less. Four of their last five coming into the Big East tournament went to overtime. Their ten losses this season have come by a combined 35 points, with the most lopsided defeat coming at Wisconsin by nine points.

In other words, if you play Marquette, be prepared for a dogfight.

Marquette's ability to win those dogfights is what has them on the verge of an NCAA Tournament bid.

Things weren't always looking this good for the Golden Eagles.

Rewind to January 23rd. Marquette had just lost at Syracuse by five, dropping them to 11-8 overall and 2-5 in the Big East. Many were calling them this year's hard luck losers, most had written them off as a potential tournament team.

When the team got back to Milwaukee after the game, Buzz Williams met with his players on the team plane.

"I told these guys 'We're counted for dead'", Marquette head coach Buzz Williams said while addressing reporters after today's win. "'Nobody believes in you. Only the people that are on this plane are the ones that care and that genuinely believe that we have a chance.'"

They responded by winning nine of their last eleven games in the regular season, earning the five seed and a first round bye in the Big East tournament, quite an improvement from the start of the season.

You see, winning close games is a skill. Its a learned ability, equivalent to the ability of a team to execute offensively or to perfect help side rotations. And early in the season, Marquette did not know how to win. You can't really blame them. After losing Jerel McNeal, Dominic James, and Wesley Matthews -- three guys who dominated back court minutes last season -- Williams was left with a group of inexperienced players; kids that hadn't been in a late game situation before.

It was evident early on. Missed free throws late cost Marquette an early season win at West Virginia. Jumping on a pump fake allowed Scottie Reynolds to hit a game winner their next time out. At DePaul a month later, it was once again missed free throws down the stretch that afforded Mike Stovall an opportunity to hit a game-winner. And those are just a few examples.

But as the saying goes, you learn from experience, and the late-game experience that Marquette gathered early in the season is paying off.

Watching Marquette today, one thing was evident -- even in a close game down the stretch, it was clear this team thought they were going to win. After David Cubillan hit that three to take a 55-53 lead, he didn't turn and scream at the crowd. He didn't pound his chest. It was a subtle fist-pump and head-nod, as if he knew he was going to make the shot.

He wasn't the only one.

"I trust Cuby like I trust my wife", Williams said. "I want him out on the court. Not so he can make the big three, but because I know if he [is able] to make a big three, he will make a big three."

"Our team expects the same from each person because we all know what each person can do."

I think we can agree on one thing.

Whatever high seed draws Marquette in their region is probably not going to be excited about it.

Continue reading...

Georgetown looked like a contender against USF, but how long will it last?

Pregame, it was billed as a rematch.

Postgame, it looks more like revenge.

But whatever you want to call Georgetown's 69-49 man-handling of South Florida in the second round of the Big East tournament, what is clear is that the Hoyas played some of their best basketball of the season today.

"Our team is healthy right now", Georgetown coach John Thompson III said after the game. "I think that the guys are extremely focused right now. And so mentally and physically and emotionally I like where we are right now."

He should.

Chris Wright had 16 points, 6 boards, and 4 assists without a turnover against USF.
(photo credit: UPI)

This was Hoyas basketball to a T. Defensively, they didn't let South Florida feel comfortable the entire game. The Bulls only turned the ball over 12 times, but they shot just 29% for the game. Dominique Jones was the only player to get into any kind of rhythm on the offensive end, and even he required 18 shots and 14 free throws to get his 21 points.

Offensively, they did just about everything JT III could ask for, from balanced scoring, the knocking down their perimeter shots, to getting easy baskets in transition.

Greg Monroe had 16 points and 8 boards. Chris Wright went for 16, 5 boards, and 4 assists. Jason Clark had 16 and his four threes.

If there was one knock on their performance, it was the 18 offensive rebounds they gave up to the Bulls. But Georgetown struggles to rebound the ball and South Florida has one of the better front lines in the conference. Giving up just 7 second chance points to the Bulls is, in the long run, a pretty good performance.

But the question that every Georgetown fan should be asking themselves is how long it will last.

On a few different occasions, this Georgetown team has looked like they were ready to reach their potential. They romped Duke in front of Barack Obama, but proceeded to lose to this very same South Florida team a few nights later. After beating Villanova at home, the Hoyas lost four of their next six games, dropping them into the 8th seed in the Big East.

Consistency is not a virtue this Hoya team has enjoyed much of this year.

Perhaps this time is different. As we all know, Austin Freeman is being treated for his diabetes. For the first time maybe all season, he is healthy. Don't underestimate what Freeman brings to the table for Georgetown. Clearly, he is the leading scorer for the Hoyas, but perhaps more important is his floor game. He is as good as anyone the Hoyas have had under JT III at running the offensive correctly; knowing when is the correct time to shoot and when to pass.

Which is huge, given that the Hoyas will be playing Syracuse tomorrow for the third time this season.

For those that don't know, Georgetown-Syracuse is probably the fiercest rivalry in the Big East. There is a genuine dislike between the two fan bases. And as of today, the Orange have all of the bragging rights.

Syracuse has won both matchups this season. In the first game, the Orange over came an early 14-0 deficit and eventually beat the Hoyas 17. In the second matchup, the Orange dominated the Hoyas for 30 minutes, before a furious Georgetown rally came up two points short.

So what do the Hoyas need to do to win tomorrow?

"We have to make shots and guard our guys," Thompson said.

Or, in other words, play better basketball.

Maybe they are now.

Continue reading...

Seton Hall blows a lead, but survives to fight another day

With 13:36 left in the game, Herb Pope caught an alley-oop to put Seton Hall up 76-47.

Providence had scored eight points in the first 6:24 of the half, and with nothing left to play for, it seemed as if the Friars had all but given up on the season.

Or at least that's what Seton Hall thought.

By the time things were all said and not, Big East tournament records were broken, two teams were in triple figures, and the Friars had missed a three that would have tied the game.

The numbers posted in this game were ridiculous. Take a look:

• Both teams broke the record for points in a Big East tournament game, scoring 109 and 106 to break the old record of 103, scored by Seton Hall in 1993.
• Jamine Peterson had 38 points and 16 boards, setting Providence's Big East scoring record previously held by Billy Donovan from 1987.
  
• Along with Peterson, the Friars had four other starters reach double figures ... and they still lost.
• Seton Hall also had all five starters hit double figures.
  
• The two teams combined to shoot 146 field goals and 82 free throws. It probably then makes sense that neither team had more than 14 turnovers.
• PC outscored the Hall 59-33 over the last 13:36 of this game, and still lost.
  

Let's put it simply: composure is not one of Seton Hall's strong suits. They handed this game to Providence on a silver platter. From the 1:48 mark on, Seton Hall turned the ball over five times, including on four straight possessions. They missed late free throws, including two form Jeff Robinson with 8.5 seconds left and a three point lead. They took quick shots instead of working the clock. They missed an opportunity to foul instead of allowing PC the chance to tie the game.

And while all of that makes us question how good Seton Hall really is, the one stat that matters is the 1 that is added to Seton Hall's win column.

Remember, the Hall is still fighting for a tournament spot, and Bobby Gonzalez did his darnedest to let the committee know at the press conference, intercepting a question directed at his players.

"We have 19 wins, we have no bad losses", Gonzalez said, "we beat Notre Dame at our place. A lot of people are saying they're in. We know it's a big game. If we win, now, all of a sudden we swept Notre Dame, we have 20 wins. We'll leave it up to the people to make the decision. We want to keep playing."

Why did he keep mentioning Notre Dame?

Well, the Pirates play Notre Dame tomorrow.

Both Notre Dame and Seton Hall are on the bubble. Tomorrow' matchup could very well turn into a play-in game.

And if it is anywhere near as exciting as the last five minutes here tonight, we are in for a treat.
Continue reading...

Big East Tournament isn't changing yet

About a month and a half ago, we wrote a post about how there were grumblings that the Big East Tournament was going to change.

For the first time since the league expanded, all 16 teams were invited to Madison Square Garden. The way the tournament is currently set up is that the teams seeded 9th-16th play on Tuesday, with the 5th-8th seeds playing the winners after a bye, and the top four teams get a double-bye.

According to Big East associate commissioner Dan Levitt, it is going to stay that way. There was some support for changing the structure to have the top four teams plays the bottom four teams on day one, with the winners getting day two off while the middle eight teams play. No teams would receive a bye in this format.

"It was brought up by the head coaches at the annual meeting in May and I think the (proposed) format makes a lot of sense," Gavitt told FOXSports.com. "But ultimately, it got back to the timing – and after going from 12 to 16 teams a year ago, the timing didn’t seem right."

"There was certainly support for the change, but there was also support for not making the change right now." Continue reading...

Big East Tournament to change?

That's at least what SNY.tv is reporting.

Last season was the first since the Big East expanded that all 16 teams were invited to MSG to participate in the Big East Tournament. The way it was set-up, the 9-16 seeds played Tuesday, with those winners advancing to play the 5-8 seeds. The 1-4 seeds got a two round bye.

The new schedule would have the 1-4 seeds playing the 13-16 seeds on Tuesday, with the winners getting a day off before playing Thursday.

Personally, I believe the proposed tournament structure is much more fair, especially in a league as deep, balanced, and talented as the Big East. Usually, there is not going to be too much of a difference between the teams that finish 9th or 10th in the league and the teams that finish 4th and 5th. Most seasons, the teams that would be forced to play five games in five days will still be fighting for a tournament berth.

The new method would still give the higher seeds an advantage (they get the day off before the second round), but it wouldn't give them such an overwhelming advantage. Playing your third game in three days against a fresh Villanova/UConn/Georgetown/etc. team is almost unfair.

Continue reading...