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Four Big East Teams in Top 25

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Four BIG EAST teams are in Monday’s Associated Press poll led by Villanova’s No. 9 ranking. Seton Hall moved up seven spots to No. 16. UConn is 20th and Xavier jumped back in at No. 22.  Providence and Creighton were among other teams receiving votes.

In Sunday’s action, Seton Hall defeated Rutgers 77-63 to win the Garden State Hardwood Classic. Bryce Aiken came off the bench to score a game-high 22 points and was named the game MVP. Jared Rhoden added 16 points and nine rebounds. The Pirates (9-1) used a 13-0 run late in the first half to grab control of the contest.

St. John’s pushed its record to 8-2 after beating Colgate 82-64 at Carnesecca Arena. Julian Champagnie scored a team-high 19 points and connected on 5-of-7 from 3-point range. Posh Alexander added 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists. The Johnnies are 8-0 at Carnesecca this season.

Villanova (7-3) could never get going offensively and lost 57-36 at Baylor in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle. The Bears moved into the No. 1 position in the national polls on Monday. Justin Moore was the only Wildcat in double figures, scoring 15 points. The 36 points were the fewest scored by the Wildcats in a game since Feb. 4, 1979, a 36-34 victory over Penn State.

BIG EAST conference play starts this weekend, but the schedule until then is light with many schools in final exams. Tuesday’s schedule shows two contests. Creighton (8-2) hosts Arizona State at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. The Bluejays are coming off an 83-71 neutral court win over then-No. 24 BYU. A win over UIC would give Creighton a 9-2 start (or better) after 11 games for the eighth time in the last 11 season.

DePaul plays at UIC at 8 p.m. The Blue Demons (8-1) last played on Friday, winning 62-55 at Louisville. Javon Freeman-Liberty and David Jones are ranked in the top five in the BIG EAST in scoring and rebounding. Freeman-Liberty is second in scoring (20.3) and third in rebounding (8.4). Jones is third in scoring (17.7) and fourth in rebounding (8.2).

Going into Tuesday, league teams own an overall record of 88-23 (.793).

Big East Rivalry Weekend

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NEWARK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – BIG EAST teams won six of seven games on Saturday, including Georgetown and Xavier winning rivalry games, Creighton knocking off a ranked opponent and UConn, Providence and Butler all coming out on top. Marquette, facing a top-five opponent, was the only team to lose. After Saturday, league teams own an overall record of 86-22 (.796) and have won 16 of their last 18 games.

Georgetown overcame a 10-point deficit at halftime to defeat long-time rival Syracuse 79-75 at Capital One Arena. Aminu Mohammed scored 20 of his game-high 23 points in the second half and finished with a game-high 13 rebounds. Donald Carey added 18 points for the Hoyas (5-4).

In the other big rivalry game, Xavier handled Cincinnati 83-63 in the third largest margin of victory in the Crosstown Shootout series. Jack Nunge did not start, but produced a career-high 31 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. The Musketeers (9-1) led by as many as 27 points. Xavier has won seven of the last nine meetings with UC.

Creighton led by as many as 21 points in its 83-71 victory over No. 24 BYU in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Bluejay trio of “Ryans” – Hawkins, Kalkbrenner and Nembhard – combined for 56 points. Ryan Hawkins led with a game-high 25 points for the second straight game. The Bluejays (8-2) have beaten at least one ranked team in each of the last nine seasons.

UConn (9-2) used a 13-0 surge in the second half to take control of its 74-64 neutral court win over St. Bonaventure in the Never Forget Classic. R.J. Cole led a balanced scoring attack with 15 points. Tyler Polley added 13.

Providence completed its non-conference slate with a 68-53 victory over Central Connecticut State. The Friars (10-1) jumped to a 22-4 lead and did not face a serious challenge. A.J. Reeves impressed with 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Noah Horchler added 12 points and 10 boards.

Butler started the second half of its game against Eastern Illinois with a 13-0 run en route to a 66-54 win. The Bulldogs (7-3) got a career-high 20 points from Bryce Golden. Aaron Thompson posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists.

Marquette fell behind early and could not recover in a 67-56 loss to No. 4 UCLA. Greg Elliott scored a career-high 22 points. The game was delayed seven hours due to travel problems for UCLA.

Today’s slate has more mid-season, top-flight flavor. After St. John’s hosts Colgate on FS1 at Noon ET, the tougher schedule of opponents begins when Villanova visits No. 2 Baylor at 3 p.m. on ABC. New Jersey rivals Seton Hall and Rutgers battle at Prudential Center at 7:30 p.m. on FS1.

Big East, Big Win for DePaul

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LOUISVILLE – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – After starting the season with eight games at home, donning the road uniforms was not a problem for DePaul. The Blue Demons won 62-55 at Louisville to improve their record to 8-1. David Jones poured in 33 points and took down 14 rebounds.

A seven-game Saturday includes two storied rivalries, a visit from a top-five team and the completion of non-league schedules for PC, UConn and Marquette.

At noon ET on FOX, Syracuse and Georgetown meet for the 97th time. The Hoyas (4-4) are coming off a 100-71 win over UMBC and are 3-1 at home against the Orange since 2013.  Also at noon, Creighton takes on its second straight ranked opponent when the Bluejays (7-2) meet No. 24 BYU in Sioux Falls, S.D., on FS1. Creighton last played a week ago, losing 64-58 to then-No. 19 Iowa State.

Providence hosts Central Connecticut State on FS1 at 2 p.m. The Friars (9-1) are finishing a five-game home stand. They are 7-0 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. No. 15 UConn plays St. Bonaventure in the Never Forget Classic at 4 p.m. on ESPN. The Huskies (8-2) lost 56-53 at West Virginia on Wednesday.

Butler (6-3) hosts Eastern Illinois at 4 p.m. on FS1. The Bulldogs are coming off a 66-62 OT win at Oklahoma in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle. Xavier and Cincinnati meet for the 89th time in the annual Crosstown Shootout. The Musketeers (8-1) are on a four-game winning streak and have won six of the last eight meetings in the series.

Because of an aircraft problem for No. 4 UCLA, the Marquette-UCLA game has been delayed until 9:30 p.m. on FS2. The Golden Eagles (8-2) are facing their fourth ranked opponent this year, but their first top-five opponent at home since the 1991-92 season.

The Hall Knocks-Off No. 7 Texas

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NEWARK – Seton Hall knocked off seventh-ranked Texas and St. John’s held off Monmouth to maintain its unblemished mark at home on Thursday. At the 100-game mark, BIG EAST teams are collectively 79-21 (.790).

Seton Hall (8-1) held Texas scoreless for a stretch of 7:40 in the second half and won a 64-60 decision. Bryce Aiken scored the Pirates’ final five points, including a clutch 3-pointer after he missed his first seven tries from beyond the arc. Jared Rhoden had 18 points and Alexis Yetna stepped up with 12 points and 10 rebounds after Ike Obiagu left the game in the first half with an ankle injury.

St. John’s (7-2) built a double-digit lead against Monmouth before some crucial plays by Posh Alexander preserved an 88-83 victory at Carnesecca Arena. Alexander made three late free throws and a steal in the final minute. He led the Johnnies with 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor and was 7-of-8 from the foul line. Monmouth had won seven in a row, including five road victories. St. John’s is 7-0 at Carnesecca.

Before a seven-game Saturday that includes plenty of intriguing matchups, DePaul starts the weekend with a game at Louisville at 8 p.m. on ACC Network. The Blue Demons are 7-1 after Tuesday’s 87-67 win over Duquesne. The game will be DePaul’s first on the road this season. Javon Freeman-Liberty has been excelling across the board. He leads the BIG EAST in scoring with a 21.8 mark, ranks second in rebounding (8.8) and seventh in assists (4.3).

Saturday’s schedule:

Creighton vs. BYU

Syracuse at Georgetown

Central Connecticut St. at Providence

UCLA at Marquette

UConn vs. St. Bonaventure

Eastern Illinois at Butler

Cincinnati at Xavier.

USA Basketball Names Reeve as Coach

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MINNEAPOLIS – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Minnesota Lynx head coach and general manager Cheryl Reeve, who as an assistant coach for the USA Basketball Women’s National Team helped the U.S. claim gold medals at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games and 2014 and 2018 FIBA World Cups, will take the reins of the program as USA National Team head coach through 2024.

In addition to USA National Team training camps and exhibition games, Reeve will lead the USA at the 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Washington, D.C.; the 2022 FIBA World Cup in Sydney, Australia; and, if the USA qualifies, the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

“I am incredibly humbled and excited to be named head coach of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, one of the greatest dynasties in sports,” said Reeve. “I have enjoyed an incredible journey with USA Basketball since joining in 2014 and look forward to what lies ahead as we seek more gold for the USA. I am indebted to the USA Basketball Board of Directors, Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, and of course, my Lynx family who have positioned me for this prestigious opportunity.”

“Cheryl Reeve is a coach who has been successful on multiple levels of the game,” said retired Gen. Martin Dempsey , USA Basketball chairperson. “With five international gold medals as an assistant on the coaching staff of our USA National Teams and a combined six WNBA championships as a head coach and an assistant, USA Basketball believes there is no one more qualified than Cheryl to follow Dawn Staley and continue the legacy of success that defines this program. I am confident that she will continue the USA Basketball Women’s National Team’s tradition of developing teams that make all Americans proud both on and off the court.”

In addition to the combined four gold medals in the Olympics and FIBA World Cups, Reeve was on the bench as an assistant when the USA claimed the 2019 FIBA AmeriCup and, in all, has assisted USA teams to a 57-4 overall record, including a spotless 38-0 slate in official FIBA competitions. During the 2019-20 USA National Team’s expanded training, Reeve stepped in for then-USA head coach Staley, who was unable to coach due to her collegiate coaching commitments and acted as the team’s lead coach during the 2019-20 college tour (4-1), 2019 FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament (3-0) and 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (3-0).

A three-time WNBA Coach of the Year (2011, 2016 and 2020), Reeve was the 2019 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year and has earned six WNBA titles, four as a head coach (2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017) and two as an assistant coach (2006 and 2008).

Having completed in 2021 her 12th season at the helm of the Lynx (2010 to present), Reeve, who in 2017 took on the role of Lynx general manager, has compiled a 267-127 (.678 winning percentage) record and a 41-21 (.661 winning percentage) playoff slate.

Prior to being named head coach at the Lynx, Reeve spent nine years as an assistant in the league at Charlotte (2001-02, 2004-05), Cleveland (2003) and Detroit (2006-09), where she aided the Shock to a pair of WNBA titles.

Villanova Takes Down Syracuse at MSG

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – In the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle, Butler overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half and won at Oklahoma in overtime. Villanova knocked off Syracuse in the Jimmy V Classic at MSG. DePaul and Providence picked up non-conference home victories.

The 4-0 mark on Tuesday improved the composite BIG EAST record to 74-20 (.787).

No. 6 Villanova trailed Syracuse 29-26 at halftime before putting together a 41-24 second half that produced a 67-53 victory. The Wildcats (7-2) pounded the glass, grabbing 27 offensive rebounds to 11 for Syracuse. Justin Moore scored 18 points and Collin Gillespie added 14. Villanova took 50 3-pointers and made 13.

Butler (6-3) gained its 66-62 OT victory at Oklahoma after Chuck Harris nailed a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left in the extra period which gave the Bulldogs a 63-62 lead. Harris scored a season-high 26 points. The Sooners forced the overtime making a contested 3-pointer with two seconds left in regulation.

DePaul ended its eight-game home stand to start the season with an 87-67 win against Duquesne. Like Villanova, the Blue Demons (7-1) also used a strong second half, which included a 16-2 run midway through the period, to post the win. Javon Freeman-Liberty filled his stat line with 26 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Brandon Johnson and Nick Ongenda each added 13 points.

Providence used a strong first half to be the difference in its 68-58 win over Vermont. The Friars (9-1) led 30-20 by halftime.  A.J. Reeves and Nate Watson each scored 24 points. Reeves connected on six 3-pointers. The game was the 500th for coach Ed Cooley. His record is 295-205 (.590).

Today’s schedule also includes four games.

The BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle has a doubleheader on ESPN2. At 7 p.m. ET, No. 15 UConn (8-1) travels to West Virginia. At 9 p.m., Kansas State hosts Marquette (7-2). Road teams have won four of the five BIG EAST-Big 12 Battles. FS1 also has a doubleheader. Xavier (7-1) aims for its fourth win a row when it hosts Ball State at 6:30 p.m. followed by UMBC at Georgetown (3-4) at 8:30 p.m.

Big East Honors – Dec. 6

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NEW YORK – Providence guard Al Durham has been named BIG EAST Player of the Week and Georgetown guard Aminu Muhammed has been selected BIG EAST Freshman of the Week. Durham led the Friars to wins against Texas Tech and Rhode Island, while Muhammed had strong performances against South Carolina and Longwood.

BIG EAST Player of the Week

Al Durham, Providence, G, Gr. – Durham sparked the Friars to a 72-68 win over previously unbeaten Texas Tech with a game-high 23 points and had 14 points and six assists in a 66-52 victory against in-state rival Rhode Island. For the week, he averaged 18.5 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds and connected on 17-of-18 from the free throw line. Durham is averaging 14.6 points for the season.

BIG EAST Freshman of the Week

Aminu Mohammed, Georgetown, G, Fr. – Mohammed averaged 16.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in a 1-1 week. He had 17 points and eight boards in an 80-67 loss at South Carolina and 15 points and 11 rebounds in a 91-83 victory over Longwood. For the two games, Mohammed shot 52.4 percent from field. He leads all BIG EAST freshmen in scoring (14.3) and rebounding (7.9).

 

BIG EAST Honor Roll

R.J. Cole, UConn, G, Gr. – Averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds in wins over Md.-Eastern Shore (72-63) and Grambling (88-59).

Ryan Hawkins, Creighton, F, Sr. – Had 25 points and five rebounds in a loss to No. 19 Iowa State (64-58). Averaged 14.0 points and 4.0 boards in a 1-1 week.

Julian Champagnie, St. John’s, G-F, Jr. – Averaged 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in a 1-1 week. Had 24 points and eight rebounds in a loss to Kansas (95-75).

Collin Gillespie, Villanova, G, Sr. – Averaged 24.5 points in wins against Penn (71-56) and Saint Joseph’s (81-52). Shot 59.3 percent from the field and made 9-of-15 from 3-point range.

Nate Johnson, Xavier, G, Sr. – Averaged 19.5 points in a 2-0 week. Had 24 points in a win against Central Michigan (78-45) and 15 points in a victory at Oklahoma State (77-71).

 

It’s SMU vs Virginia at Fenway Bowl

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The SMU Mustangs and University of Virginia Cavaliers will play each other in the inaugural Wasabi Fenway Bowl at Fenway Park on Wednesday, December 29 at 11 a.m. ET, announced by ESPN this afternoon. The inaugural Wasabi Fenway Bowl, jointly produced by Fenway Sports Management and ESPN Events, will be nationally televised on ESPN. It will mark the first college football bowl game to be played at the historic home of the Boston Red Sox, and the first Division 1 bowl game to be held in New England.

“The Wasabi Fenway Bowl will be a new landmark sporting tradition New England can be proud of, and we could not be more excited to have these two outstanding teams participating in the inaugural game at historic Fenway Park on December 29,” said Michael Welts, CMO of Wasabi Technologies.

“Beyond the field, we are also honored to further the game’s philanthropic mission through the Honor Roll program, which recognizes the incredible efforts of educators to help students reach their full potential in and out of the classroom, while supporting access to quality education in our region. Not only will the Wasabi Fenway Bowl ignite a new passion for college sports in New England, it’s a tremendous opportunity to give back to our local community,” he said.

SMU will be playing its 19th bowl game in program history, after ending the season with an 8-4 record overall, going 4-4 in AAC play. The Mustangs were ranked in the top 25 for five weeks in 2021, reaching as high as No. 16, and feature one of the nation’s top offenses, led by record-setting quarterback Tanner Mordecai.

“Our student-athletes worked hard this season to reach our goal of making the post-season and this will provide a truly unique and first-of-its kind student-athlete experience in playing at Fenway Park against an ACC team,” said SMU Director of Athletics Rick Hart.

Virginia enters the 2021 Bowl Season with a record of 6-6 (4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference). The 2021 Wasabi Fenway Bowl will be UVA’s 22nd bowl game appearance in program history. The matchup marks the first-ever meeting between SMU and Virginia. The Cavaliers will play their first game in the city of Boston since 2010 when they visited Boston College.

“We are pleased to be the Atlantic Coast Conference’s representative for the inaugural Wasabi Fenway Bowl,” said Virginia athletics director Carla Williams. “Playing at such a historic venue will be a special opportunity for our football program and a great experience for our fans. I am grateful for everything that Bronco Mendenhall has done to elevate our football program over the past six years and excited to see him be able to coach this team one more time. It will be a very special moment for everyone associated with Virginia football.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to coach my team one more time and it will be a remarkable experience to play a bowl game at Fenway Park,” “There are a handful of sporting arenas in the country that are as unique, historic and beloved as Fenway Park. So, the idea of coaching my last game at Virginia at a place like Fenway Park, I really like that,” said Virginia head football coach Bronco Mendenhall.

“At the beginning of the year, we set winning a bowl championship as one of our goals. We are going to plan a great experience for our team, enjoy our time in one of the most historic cities in our country and prepare really hard for the final time we will compete together,” he said.

UConn, Villanova Rise to Top, Again

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PHILADELPHIA – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Big East Conference’s 4-3 record on Saturday included victories by Villanova, Providence, UConn and Seton Hall while Midwest conference members Marquette, DePaul and Creighton were beaten.

No. 6 Villanova (6-2) finished a 3-0 week against Philadelphia Big Five opponents with an 81-52 home win against Saint Joseph’s. All five starters reached double figures led by Collin Gillespie’s 23 points. The Wildcats held the Hawks to 36.2 percent from the field and limited the three local foes to 51.3 points per game for the week.

Providence used some strong physical play to win its annual in-state battle with Rhode Island 66-52. Ed Croswell came off the bench to post 13 points and 15 rebounds, while forward Noah Horchler added 16 points and seven boards. PC won the rebounding battle 45-30. Al Durham added some offense with 14 points and six assists.

In another in-state battle, Marquette could not stop No. 23 Wisconsin in the second half, allowing 55 points in an 89-76 road defeat. The Badgers made 70.4 percent from the floor after halftime. Justin Lewis led the Golden Eagles (7-2) with 14 points.

UConn played Grambling State without injured starters Adama Sanogo and Tyrese Martin. The Huskies (8-1) responded with a balanced team effort in an 88-59 victory at Gampel Pavilion. R.J. Cole led five players in double figures with 18 points and dished seven assists. The Huskies are off to their best start since 2013-14 when they were 9-0 and won the national championship.

After a sluggish first few minutes, No. 25 Seton Hall (7-1) rolled to a 113-67 victory against D-II Nyack College at Walsh Gymnasium. Three bench players each scored more than 20 points: Jamir Harris (23 points), Tyrese Samuel (22) and Tray Jackson (21).

DePaul suffered its first loss of the season, dropping a 68-64 decision to Loyola Chicago at Wintrust Arena. The visitors took a 49-47 lead with 11 minutes left and held off numerous Blue Demon rally attempts. David Jones led all scorers with 19 points. Javon Freeman-Liberty fouled out with four minutes to play and was limited to seven points and six rebounds.

In a BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle, Creighton (7-2) had its 22-game home winning streak against non-conference foes end with a 64-58 loss to No. 19 Iowa State at a sold-out CHI Health Center. The Cyclones used an 11-4 run in the second half to take a 39-31 lead and control of the game. Ryan Hawkins scored 25 points for the Bluejays.

BIG EAST teams are 68-19 (.782) going into Sunday. The schedule shows three games. Georgetown plays at South Carolina at 2 p.m. ET on the SEC Network. Xavier plays at Oklahoma State in a BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle at 5 p.m. on ESPN2 and St. John’s hosts Fordham at Carnesecca Arena at 7 p.m. on FS1.

Big East, Big 12 Battle

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ELMONT – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – St. John’s, the only BIG EAST team in action on Friday, lost 95-75 to No. 8 Kansas in a BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle contest. It was the first basketball game played in the new UBS Arena in Elmont, home of the New York Islanders. The Jayhawks led 64-61 midway through the second half before pulling away for the victory. Julian Champagnie had 24 points for the Johnnies. BIG EAST teams are 64-16 (.762) going into today.

A busy day on the December 4 slate shows seven games with a few significant challenges for a few teams that have performed better than expected so far this season.

No. 6 Villanova (5-2) meets its third Philadelphia Big Five foe this week when it hosts Saint Joseph’s at Finneran Pavilion at noon ET on FS1. Collin Gillespie had a game-high 26 points in Wednesday’s 71-56 win over Penn. He leads the BIG EAST with an assist/turnover mark of 3.1. The Hawks beat Georgetown 77-74 last week at the Wooden Legacy.

Also at noon, No. 25 Seton Hall hosts D-II Nyack College on campus at Walsh Gymnasium on FS2. The Pirates (6-1) have a three-game winning streak after Wednesday’s 85-63 win over Wagner. Jared Rhoden ranks third in the BIG EAST in scoring (18.4).

Marquette (7-1) travels to Madison for its annual battle with Wisconsin. FOX will televise at 12:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles won last year’s game 67-65 when Justin Lewis tipped in a missed free throw just before the buzzer. The Badgers are ranked 23rd in this week’s AP poll. This season, Lewis ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in scoring (17.3) and seventh in rebounding (8.1).

The 131st battle between Providence and Rhode Island happens at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center at 2 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. The Friars (6-2) have won 11 of the last 17 meetings. PC is coming off a 72-68 home win over Texas Tech in the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle.

DePaul puts its unbeaten mark on the line when it hosts Loyola Chicago at 4 p.m. on FS1. The Blue Demons (6-0) have not played since last Sunday’s 101-63 win over Eastern Michigan. Javon Freeman-Liberty leads the BIG EAST in scoring with a 23.5 average and is second in rebounding at 9.2.

Also at 4 p.m., UConn hosts Grambling State on FS2. The No. 17 Huskies take a depleted lineup into the game with starters Tyrese Martin and Adama Sanogo out with injuries. Sanogo, who has an abdominal strain, leads the team in scoring (16.7). Martin’s scoring mark is 12.9. He has a wrist injury.

The BIG EAST day ends with Creighton hosting No. 19 Iowa State (7-0) at 9 p.m. in another BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle. The Cyclones defeated Xavier 82-70 last week in the NIT Tip-Off. ISU has held its opponents to 60.4 ppg. A Creighton win would give the Bluejays an 8-1 start, their best since 13-0 in 2016-17.