UConn erases 14-point deficit to defeat Nova, 66-59
Written by Sean Murawski // SM Sports
February 19th, 2025
HARTFORD, CT— In yet another heart stopping and near season-defining game, UConn rewrote the script against Villanova at home, coming back to defeat the Wildcats 66-59.
UConn’s first lead was at 2-0, and they didn’t end up leading again until it was 59-58 with a minute and 42 seconds remaining in the game. In between, Villanova jumped out to as much as a 14-point lead at the under-12 media timeout. From then on, Nova scored just 6 more points, while UConn surged for 26 over the last 12 minutes to outlast Villanova and get a necessary win in Big East play.
Liam McNeeley (20 pts, 7 rebs, 2 ast) continues to shine as UConn’s most important offensive piece. Solo Ball (13 pts, 6 ast, 3-9 3pt) also had a big impact, particularly in UConn’s big second half. Alex Karaban (6 pts, 4 rebs, 0-3 3pt) struggled again, drawing concern as the season nears its most prominent point.
Off the bench, Tarris Reed Jr. gave Dan Hurley what he was looking for when he brought in the Michigan transfer: tenacity, toughness, and attitude. Reed’s 13 points and 9 rebounds helped solidify UConn’s dominance in the second half, particularly on a night when they struggled from three-point land, going 4-19 as a team.
Eric Dixon, despite scoring 17 points, went just 3-13 from the field. As was the case in the first game against UConn, the nation’s leading scorer got most of his buckets from the free throw line, where he hit 9 out of 12. Wooga Poplar (19 pts, 6 rebs, 3-9 3pt) was the real threat for Kyle Neptune’s team, going 1-on-1 and winning the majority of battles off the dribble. Jordan Longino also had 13 points and went 5-7 from the field.
Villanova’s season hit a momentous high last week with a marquee home win over St. John’s, but a lot of work still had to be done to polish up their resumé if they wanted even a sniff at an at-large NCAA tournament berth. Especially this season, UConn gave them a fighter’s chance to get another win over a tournament-bound team. They blew the lead and could not seal the deal in the second half, narrowing the margin for error even more as the season draws to a close. It will likely take a miracle run in the Big East tournament to have a shot at postseason play on the big stage for Villanova. Furthermore, it could very well spell doom for Kyle Neptune in his tenure on the Main Line.
To put it delicately, UConn needed this win more than any win this season. A dismal loss at lowly Seton Hall over the weekend diminished any confidence they had from the mid-week triumph in Omaha vs. Creighton. A loss at home to Villanova would have pushed them firmly into the bubble conversation— on the right side of it, but trending down. McNeeley, Ball and Reed made sure that there would be no such bubble talk.
Ahead of a weekend clash at MSG against St. John’s, the Huskies needed a win and they got it, by any means necessary. For Villanova, a long offseason awaits if they can’t string together a titanic end-of-season run.
Villanova’s next game: Friday 2/21, vs. Marquette, 7 pm, FS1
UConn’s next game: Sunday 2/23, at St. John’s, 12 pm, FOX
Sean Murawski is a writer for his own personal sports website, smsports.net. He publishes weekly columns and rankings on men’s college basketball, as well as coverage columns for the MLB.
McNeeley propels UConn to road win at Creighton, 70-66
Written by Sean Murawski // SM Sports
February 12th, 2025
OMAHA, NE— For the first time ever, UConn men’s basketball won a game in the CHI Health Center, defeating Creighton 70-66.
Since Greg McDermott’s Bluejays joined the Big East, UConn had a dismal 2-8 record against them before last night, with both wins coming in the state of Connecticut. Dan Hurley’s Huskies finally exorcised those demons last night, and freshman sensation Liam McNeeley had a lot to do with it.
McNeeley (38 pts, 10 rebs, 5-10 3pt) was playing just his second game back after returning from a month long absence due to a high ankle sprain. After scoring 18 in his official return in the loss against St. John’s, McNeeley showed out in Omaha. Deep threes, breakaway dunks, and an impenetrable, mature spirit highlighted his career-high night.
UConn needed every single one of those 38 points, as elsewhere, they struggled. Alex Karaban (10 pts, 6 rebs, 5-14 FG) continued his struggle from beyond the arc, missing 7 three pointers. However, his floaters in the lane and big rebounds in crunch time helped UConn put the game away when Creighton was surging. Solo Ball missed all 4 threes he took on a bum wrist, but he scored 11 while assisting 3 and blocking a shot. With just 4 points off the bench (Aidan Mahaney with all 4), UConn needed a huge night from someone, and they got it from their best player.
In their first meeting this season, Jamiya Neal was the star for Creighton. Neal, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Steven Ashworth combined for over half of Creighton’s points. Ashworth, like his team in general, went cold from 3, and Kalkbrenner did not get his usual dominance down low. Creighton led by 14 at one point late in the first half, giving UConn’s already subpar defense plenty of things to worry about. For two teams who usually light it up from three point range, they combined to go 13-50. As a result, they needed to find production elsewhere.
Coming into Tuesday night’s game, Creighton had won nine straight games and were playing like one of the hottest teams in the country. About a month ago, they had lost Pop Isaacs to a season-ending injury and were flirting dangerously with the bubble. Presently, they are well inside the tournament field and have nothing to do but polish their resumé and take care of any business to avoid moving closer to the bubble. However, they had only lost one home game this season— an out of conference clash with Nebraska— and they now add to their Big East loss tally for the first time in a long time.
In an up and down season, UConn gets another huge road win, perhaps even bigger than their win in Milwaukee two weeks ago over Marquette. With a home loss against St. John’s sandwiched in between, the last three game stretch perfectly summarizes their season so far: ups, downs, positives, negatives, heat ups and flame outs. They look to continue on the right foot against Seton Hall this weekend, as McNeeley’s full return bodes well for the next few games. Hassan Diarra played just 7 minutes last night due to a lingering knee injury, and Solo Ball’s wrist seems to bugging him more than he would have hoped. Still, a road win in a place they have never won is a great step in the right direction for the back-to-back reigning national champions.
UConn’s next game: Saturday 2/15, at Seton Hall, 2:30 pm on FOX
Creighton’s next game: Sunday 2/16 at St. John’s 3 pm on FS1
Sean Murawski is a writer for his own personal sports website, smsports.net. He publishes weekly columns and rankings on men’s college basketball, as well as coverage columns for the MLB.
UConn surges in second half to down DePaul, 72-61
Written by Sean Murawski // SM Sports
January 30th, 2025
HARTFORD, CT— It was a tale of two halves at the XL Center on Wednesday night, at UConn was fueled by a second half comeback to defeat DePaul and defend home court, 72-61.
DePaul, with just one conference win this season in the midst of a program rebuild, got off to a firing start. They led by as many as 14 points in the first half, with an angry Dan Hurley nearly speechless in the timeout huddles. DePaul, who rely heavily on the three point game, were driving to the hole with ease for the first portion of this game. Conor Enright (8 pts, 3 rebs, 2 ast) was relatively quiet compared to these two teams’ first matchup on New Years Day in Chicago. Layden Blocker (18 pts, 5 rebs) and CJ Gunn (14 pts, 4 rebs, 3 steals, 3-10 3pt) led the way for Chris Holtmann’s Blue Demons, who took a 37-29 lead into the locker room.
The second half was a true flip, which saw UConn outscore DePaul 43-24. Solo Ball (16 pts, 5 rebs, 2 blocks, 2-5 3pt) once again was the focal point of the Husky offense. Jaylin Stewart, who has found his way into a regular starting role in the absence of the injured Liam McNeeley, showed out with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 3 three-pointers, and a block. Off the bench, Tarris Reed Jr. (16 pts, 6 rebs, 2 blocks) was a valuable strength asset down low, proving himself to be too big for DePaul’s frontcourt on most occasions.
Aidan Mahaney has come into his own the last few games, and he had 10 points from 9 shots and logged 17 minutes. Mahaney’s fight in the first half was a lot of what kept UConn from going into halftime completely derailed. Despite the critics, and a lot of confidence-destroying performances, Mahaney has slowly morphed into a player with a much higher ceiling in 2025.
Despite winning the game by double digits, anyone other than a box-score prowler would understand the concern for Hurley and the Huskies following this win. UConn came out completely flat, and they were showered with boos from the UConn faithful at a particularly low moment in the first half. After the game, Hurley acknowledged how UConn fans have always had his back, declining to condemn the booing or telling the fans how to be fans. However you may feel about the notion, it’s possible the booing lit a fire under UConn’s bench.
DePaul’s season, despite starting strong, has regressed a bit during conference play. However, with the state of the program in recent years, Chris Holtmann has begun the revolution in Chicago. It’s likely they will be up and running in a few years’ time, but even games like this one and the overtime loss against Marquette show signs of life for a program that has been without a pulse for quite some time.
The main concern for UConn is the timeline of Liam McNeeley’s return. Ideally, they would like to have him back for this Saturday’s clash with Marquette in Milwaukee, but no guarantees have been made. Especially with an ailing Hassan Diarra (3 pts, 3 ast, 1-4 3pt) and a less-than-stellar Alex Karaban (8 pts, 8 ast, 1-14 FG), McNeeley may have the keys to the ignition in UConn’s season resurgence. If the pieces all fall together, UConn is a team most won’t want to see in March. However, if last night’s game was a preview of things to come as the season heads into the final turn, it may be out of reach before it’s underway.
DePaul will look to rebound against a struggling Seton Hall at home on Sunday, while UConn plays an all-too-important game at Marquette Saturday night.
DePaul’s next game: vs. Seton Hall, Sunday 2/2, 6 pm, FS1
UConn’s next game: at Marquette, Saturday 2/1, 8 pm, FOX
Sean Murawski is a writer for his own personal sports website, smsports.net. He publishes weekly columns and rankings on men’s college basketball, as well as coverage columns for the MLB.
UConn escapes Butler in OT, 80-78
Written by Sean Murawski // SM Sports
January 22nd, 2025
HARTFORD, CT— Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies once again played a Big East nailbiter, edging out Thad Matta’s Butler Bulldogs by two points in overtime.
It was more of the same that we have seen from UConn all season: an offense that is at times explosive, and at other times stagnant, complemented by a subpar defense lacking rhythm and discipline. The positives, while definitely present, are definitely outweighed by the concerning negatives.
Solo Ball has arguably been one of the biggest positives this season. Ball (23 pts, 6 rebs, 5-10 3pt) was once again UConn’s most important player. With prolific three point shooting and explosive athleticism, Ball has stepped up big time in his sophomore year, especially in the absence of Liam McNeeley. Alex Karaban (19 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 2-6 3pt) also played a stellar game, with monumental contributions down the stretch in overtime. The big man tandem of Samson Johnson combined for 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 blocks. Elsewhere on the bench, there were some more no shows from Aidan Mahaney and Jayden Ross. Despite his recent uptick in quality starts, Jaylin Setwart (4 pts, 1 ast, 2-3 FG) was less of a factor.
Butler’s offense was spearheaded by Jahmyl Telfort (25 pts, 3 rebs, 2 stl, 11-23 FG), who is the latest in the class of Big East players to have career games against UConn. Driving, diving, and strong takes were a part of Telfort’s repertoire last night. He was supported by Finley Bizjack’s 17 points on 3-6 three point shooting. Andre Screen, who had a fantastic game in the two teams’ first meeting, scored 13 points off the bench, blocking three shots to boot.
Defensively, UConn still has their struggles. Butler was able to get far too many easy buckets. UConn is prone to leave their feet on defense, and when they don’t leave their feet, they are often slapping on drives and failing to remain straight up in the post. Not only does this increase foul calls, but it also buys easy blow by buckets for their opponents. The Huskies rank 132nd in defensive efficiency after this game, while remaining top 10 nationally in offensive efficiency at 8th place. As a middle of the pack defense with not many answers heading into February, real concern may be turning to real panic in Storrs if they can’t turn it around on that side of the ball.
Offensively, it goes without saying, and is perhaps more evident in this game than in any other game, that Liam McNeeley is sorely missed. Speaking strictly in ability, Liam McNeeley is probably the closest thing this year’s team has to Tristen Newton. When the shot clock got low, Newton was a guy who could be trusted to get his own bucket and create something off the dribble through a broken play. McNeeley’s shot making and athleticism helps him craft similar plays, and without him, UConn struggles in late game situations. These kinds of things missing since Liam McNeeley’s injury have created a string of close games against teams that are, in theory, inferior to UConn. Last night’s game against last-place Butler was no exception.
For now, UConn will await Xavier on the road this Saturday in what has become a very intriguing game. Between UConn’s inconsistency and Xavier’s recent surges, it will make for a competitive matchup. It may not be a must win for UConn, but in my eyes, it is a game UConn cannot lose.
Butler’s next game: vs. DePaul, Saturday 1/25, 4 pm, CBS Sports Network
UConn’s next game: at Xavier, Saturday 1/25, 8 pm, FOX
Sean Murawski is a writer for his own personal sports website, smsports.net. He publishes weekly columns and rankings on men’s college basketball, as well as coverage columns for the MLB.
UConn bounces back, defeats Georgetown 68-60
Written by Sean Murawski // SM Sports
January 11th, 2025
In the nation’s capital on Saturday, UConn defeated a hot Georgetown team, 68-60, in front of a packed crowd at Capital One Arena.
After dropping their first conference game of the year against Villanova by 2 in heartbreaking fashion, the Huskies needed a statement game to prove they were worth sticking around in the national conversation. They needed it against a Georgetown team who had only lost 1 conference game, and is miles better than last season.
Alex Karaban (19 pts, 6 rebs, 4-6 3pt) needed a bounce back game more than just about anybody. After missing last week’s decisive free throws, he followed it up with a stellar performance in DC. He was supported by Solo Ball (15 pts, 3-8 3pt), who is truly emerging as a star and a focal point of UConn’s offense, especially in the absence of Liam McNeeley. Off the bench, Jayden Ross and Aidan Mahaney put in good minutes, while Samson Johnson scored 9 and blocked two shots.
For a young Georgetown team, a lot of eyes were on freshman big man Thomas Sorber. Sorber was solid, but not overbearing, with 9 points and 10 rebounds. He did block 4 shots, which disrupted a lot of UConn’s offense early. Micah Peavy (14 pts, 5 rebs) was the Hoyas’ highest scoring starter, and Curtis Williams Jr. (15 pts, 3-4 3pt) was a huge factor off the bench.
Both teams were rather sloppy with the ball, collecting 15 turnovers each. UConn had the advantage down low, with 30 of their 68 points coming in the paint. Georgetown got to the line more and started hot, but they never led by more than 6.
The score is a bit deceiving, as Georgetown was down by 23 points at one point. Admittedly, UConn’s close out tactics are a bit peculiar. In the final few minutes, there were several possessions that ended in Hassan Diarra chucking a long range three at the shot clock buzzer, which came after 30 seconds of the offense standing still. UConn’s offense takes a long time to develop anyway, and they typically use at least two-thirds of the shot clock. It’s a bit puzzling why that would be their plan down the stretch, and their costly turnovers made the game a bit closer at the end than the rest of the game actually was.
Georgetown’s youth definitely showed a bit during this game, and UConn’s veteran Alex Karaban delivered some big blows. His long range three pointers and deliberate movement off the ball gave UConn plenty of options across the floor. They are missing arguably their most lethal scorer, and this stretch of games is vital to get everybody involved and keep the line moving.
Under Ed Cooley, Georgetown have improved substantially this season. They have more conference wins at this stage (3) than they did the entirety of each of the previous three seasons. Georgetown being a good basketball school is great for the Big East brand, and with recent down turns from Providence and Seton Hall, it is admittedly great to see a DC arena jumping for a big-time conference game.
UConn’s stretch without Liam McNeeley will continue next weekend when they play host to Creighton, who themselves have fallen victim to the injury bug this season. Georgetown looks to rebound at St. John’s.
UConn’s next game: vs. Creighton, Saturday 1/18, 12 pm, FOX
Georgetown’s next game: at St. John’s, Tuesday 1/14, 7:30 pm, Peacock
Nova outlasts UConn amid chaotic ending, 68-66
Written by Sean Murawski // SM Sports
January 9th, 2025
Wednesday night at Finneran Pavilion brought comebacks, booth reviews, questionable decision-making, and a true “ball don’t lie moment” that even Jadeveon Clowney would be proud of.
Kyle Neptune’s Villanova Wildcats, who have very quietly begun to slowly and surely right some sort of ship this season, defeated UConn 68-66. Led by the nation’s leading scorer Eric Dixon, the Wildcats were able to sustain the late pressure from Dan Hurley’s Huskies. UConn drops their first Big East game of the season, and they are evidently still trying to obtain some structure in their second game of a few more to come without their star freshman Liam McNeeley.
Dixon, despite scoring 23 points, went 6-20 from the field and only hit two three-pointers. 9 of his 23 came from the line, where UConn sent him quite a bit. He was double teamed for most of his touches, and in the first half in particular, UConn was able to contain him well. In crunch time, he was able to get some big buckets to keep UConn at bay.
Without Liam McNeeley, it was up to UConn to prove their depth. This time, the rotation piece moved into the starting lineup was lengthy wing Jaylin Stewart (14 pts, 3 rebs, 2 blk). Stewart proved himself on both ends, playing stellar defense on Eric Dixon for the majority of the game. Elsewhere, Solo Ball’s 16 points on 4 threes to go with 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals led the Husky lines. Ball is turning out to be the team’s most athletic and engaging playmaker. His prolific three-point shooting and quick drives are a weapon for UConn’s offense to exploit teams with. Hassan Diarra (11 pts, 9 ast, 1 stl) continued to lead them from the point guard position. Tarris Reed Jr. (6 pts, 2 blk) also was a good bench piece, although both him and Samson Johnson struggled with foul trouble, a trend that has continued to dog UConn all season long.
For Nova, Dixon was supported by great shooting from Wooga Poplar, who scored 18 points on 3-6 from beyond the arc. Jordan Longino (12 pts, 2-3 3pt) also contributed to Nova’s offensive output, which helped them gain as much as a 12 point lead in the early second half of the game.
Alex Karaban (10 pts, 4 ast, 3 rebs, 2-7 3pt) ended up in the game’s final moment. After driving to the lane in the final seconds, he was inexplicably brought to the foul line after a seemingly all ball block that should have been a play on. Instead, UConn’s most decorated and experienced player was sent to the line for two, down by one, to gain the lead in the dying moments.
Karaban, who had never missed two free throws in a row in college (via ESPN), did just that. He clanked both off of the back rim, and a last ditch half court shot in the final seconds from Karaban was a no go. As they say— ball don’t lie.
Every Big East game will be a dog fight. The story of last night’s dog fight was turnovers: UConn turned the ball over 13 times, gifting Nova 15 points. UConn scored just 4 points off of Villanova’s 6 turnovers. Poor decision-making and giveaways helped UConn lose this game, but credit to Nova for their stellar performance at home. Dixon and co. scored when it mattered, and their early second half cushion came at the perfect time. UConn was constantly clawing back, and though they nearly did it, Nova’s initial push and offensive exploitation proved vital.
Hurley and the Huskies look to continue on their quest for a third straight title, although the road is rockier than it was last season. In 2023, they lost 7 Big East games, and still managed to win it all in Houston. However, a new cast of characters— specifically, a younger cast— are in Storrs now. They are proving to be an easier nut to crack than the last two championship teams.
Kyle Neptune’s seat was perhaps one of the hotter ones in the country coming into this season. Ever since Jay Wright’s departure, the program had lost a bit of its identity, as well as its Big East credential. Neptune’s rock bottom was likely last season, when they were ousted in the first round of the NIT at home by VCU. Neptune’s biggest peak? Last night in Philly, defeating an AP-ranked 9th UConn team, who has dominated the college hoops landscape for the last two seasons. UConn also had a major hand in dethroning Villanova as the kings of the conference, so Neptune’s key moment in Nova blue becomes a little sweeter with that in mind. Villanova earned a huge win, and it may boost them right back onto the bubble.
UConn’s next game: at Georgetown, Saturday 1/11, 2 pm, FOX
Villanova’s next game: at St. John’s, Saturday 1/11, 7 pm, CBS Sports Network
Sean Murawski is a writer for his own personal sports website, smsports.net. He publishes weekly columns and rankings on men’s college basketball, as well as coverage columns for the MLB.
2025 Big East Tournament Preview
Storylines, narratives, and things to watch for at the world's most famous arena
Written by Sean Murawski // SM Sports
March 12th, 2025
On Wednesday, there will still be four days before the NCAA tournament bracket is unveiled. Although the big prize is a spot in the field of 68, there is also plenty on the line at Madison Square Garden in the field of 11. The best tournament in basketball not named March Madness will begin in earnest, with narratives and storylines galore to get us all the way through to Selection Sunday.
The Outline
If you are talking Big East this year, you are talking St. John’s. Rick Pitino has revitalized and invigorated New York with his Red Storm’s blistering campaign: 27 total wins, 18 conference wins, just 4 losses total, undefeated at home, and a regular season Big East crown for the first time since 1992. The conference literally and figuratively runs through St. John’s— if you want the automatic bid, someone will have to beat St. John’s on the floor at MSG, something no team has managed to do this year.
Along with the Johnnies, four more teams earned byes to the quarterfinals. Creighton finished 2nd despite an injury to star transfer Pop Isaacs; UConn looks to defend their crown in 3rd place; Marquette will play Xavier in the 4 vs. 5 game to round out the quarterfinal slate.
The first round will consist of Butler vs. Providence (winner to play St. John’s), DePaul vs. Georgetown (winner to play Creighton), and Seton Hall vs. Villanova (winner to play UConn). Single elimination. 4 games, 4 days, one champion. The stage is set.
The Stars
The aforementioned Pitino is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the sport right now, but his team is all for it as well. RJ Luis Jr. (18.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.4 steals per game) should very well be on his way to a Big East Player of the Year award. Seton Hall transfer Kadary Richmond (12.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg) has also shown out. Zuby Ejiofor (14.1 ppg, 1.5 bpg) earned all conference first team honors with his ferocious play down low. They can’t really shoot the three, but they hound on defense and have a mid range game stronger than almost anyone in America. If it isn’t obvious, St. John’s is the team to beat and thensome.
UConn’s Dan Hurley lost 4 starters to the NBA from last season’s title winning team, but they return some fresh pieces who have earned their accolades this time around. Solo Ball (14.8 ppg, 1.6 apg, 42.8% 3pt) is one of the nation’s best three-point shooters, and Liam McNeeley (14.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.5 apg) is on track to be a lottery pick in this summer’s NBA draft. Returning captain Alex Karaban (14.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.6 bpg) also has found his form following a mid-season lull.
Elsewhere, Kam Jones for Marquette is having an all-American type season, and will likely find himself on one of the three lists by season’s end. Jones’ line of 18.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, and 6.1 apg has led Marquette through an up and down season. Despite their stock dropping somewhat after an early-season surge, Marquette is a fantastic defensive team and will cause fits in the right matchup. If Jones is firing, the Golden Eagles have as good of a shot as anyone to lift the trophy.
For Creighton, Pop Isaacs’ season-ending injury put a damper on some promise. However, Ryan Kalkbrenner has just picked up his 4th straight Big East Defensive Player of the Year award— the first player to do that since some guy named Ewing. Steven Ashworth (16.8 ppg, 7 apg, 38% 3pt) and Jamiya Neal (11.3 ppg, 6 rpg, 4.4 apg) help front the backcourt for Greg McDermott’s Bluejays, who bounced back superbly from injury and found a hot stretch at the right time to get themselves firmly in the tournament picture. As the second place team in the Big East, they could very well see UConn for a third time in the semifinal, a rematch everyone will be on board for.
Who will wear the slipper?
In a somewhat “down year” for any conference not named the SEC or the Big Ten, the Big East is already sending 1 more team to the NCAA tournament than last season. St. John’s joins UConn, Creighton, and Marquette for this year’s total of 4, but a fifth waits in the wings— Xavier.
The bubble this season across the country is particularly atrocious. Although Xavier is by no means safe in the field, they currently sit as SM Sports’ “Last Team In” at the time of this writing. While it might not be a true, definitive “win and in” game, Xavier defeating Marquette on Thursday in the Big East quarterfinals would go a very long way in securing the Musketeers a spot. As is the nature of the bubble, life for Xavier is not all up to them. Teams like Boise State, North Carolina, San Diego State, Indiana, and Ohio State all sit on the bubble too. Results elsewhere will have major effects for the fate of Sean Miller’s team.
One way for Xavier to be sure? Win the damn thing. The Musketeers have the talent to do it. Zach Freemantle (17.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 52.5% FG) has had a fantastic turnaround since returning from injury, leading the team in scoring. Ryan Conwell shoots the three at 40% while scoring 16 a game, while Dailyn Swain scores 10 and dishes out 5 assists on a nightly basis. If there’s any team below the surface that could take the crown, it’s Xavier. They not only have the talent, but the motivation: winning a few at MSG can all but solidify a spot in the NCAA tournament. Winning it all over the defending champs or the favorite St. John’s? That would be gravy.
In the era of conference realignment, super 18-team leagues, and staggered tournament formats, the Big East tournament remains classic and valuable. Every team gets a shot, and they get to take that shot at Madison Square Garden. There’s no better way for basketball to kick off the greatest month in sports. In a year where the SEC and Big Ten have dominated headlines, the Big East still remains the most intriguing conference tournament in the country. It just feels like something is coming, and that there will be surprises, twists, and turns over the next four days. It’s a precursor to the Big Dance, as it always is.
It’s New York, it’s Pitino, it’s Hurley. It’s Bill Raftery. It’s big time basketball in a big time arena on a big time stage. It’s the Big East and it’s March. You know the story.
It’s time to write it.
Sean Murawski is a writer for his own personal sports website, smsports.net. He publishes weekly columns and rankings on men’s college basketball, as well as coverage columns for the MLB.