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Big East in the Top 25

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NEW YORK – Providence and Connecticut, ranked 21st and 25th, respectively, in this week’s Associated Press poll, registered Thursday wins.

The Friars began their game against Georgetown with a 13-0 start, then stopped a Hoya comeback attempt in an 83-75 victory at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Ed Croswell and Al Durham each scored 15 points. Croswell shot 7-of-7 from the floor. Coach Ed Cooley registered his 209th win at Providence (15-2, 5-1 BIG EAST), tying him with former coach and BIG EAST founder Dave Gavitt. Georgetown (6-9, 0-4 BE) trimmed a 16-point deficit in the second half to four, but the Hoyas could not complete the comeback. Donald Curry scored a game-high 21 points and Kaiden Rice added 19. The duo shot a combined 10-of-16 from 3-point range.

UConn and Butler met for the second time in three days. The end result was the same with the Huskies (13-4, 4-2 BE) pulling away in the final minutes for a 75-56 win at Hinkle Fieldhouse. UConn wing Tyrese Martin scored 25 of his 27 points in the second half. Adama Sanogo added 15 points and nine rebounds. UConn won the rebounding battle 39-25. The Bulldogs (9-9, 2-5 BE), who led 28-24 at halftime, were led by Chuck Harris’ 16 points.

BIG EAST play continues Saturday with a pair of noon ET tipoffs. No. 11 Villanova will try to bounce back from Wednesday’s loss to Marquette when it plays at Georgetown on FOX. St. John’s hosts Seton Hall at Madison Square Garden on FS1. DePaul visits Creighton on CBS Sports Network at 5:30 p.m.

Celtics Acquire Bol and Dozier

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from official News Release) – The Boston Celtics acquired center Bol Bol, and guard P.J. Dozier from the Denver Nuggets as part of a three-team deal with Denver and San Antonio. Boston sent Juancho Hernangomez and cash considerations to San Antonio to complete the deal.

Bol (7-2, 220), 22, holds career averages of 2.7 points (47.8% FG, 37.8% 3-PT), 1.2 rebounds, and 6.2 minutes in 53 games (two starts) over three NBA seasons with Denver. He has competed in 14 games with the Nuggets in 2021-22, including a career-high 11-point performance on 5-of-7 shooting in 20 minutes played at Houston on Jan. 1.

Originally selected in the second round (44th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft, Bol averaged 21.0 points (56.1% FG, 52.0% 3-PT, 75.7% FT), 9.6 rebounds, and 29.8 minutes in nine games during his lone collegiate season at Oregon in 2018-19.

Dozier (6-6, 205), 25, has averaged 6.4 points (40.7% FG, 31.9% 3-PT), 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 18.0 minutes in 105 NBA games over five seasons with Oklahoma City, Boston, and Denver. Dozier, who has averaged 5.4 points in 18.9 minutes this season, produced a career-high 7.7 points on 41.7% shooting in 50 games with Denver in 2020-21.

Hernangomez played in 18 games during his lone season with the Celtics in 2021-22, averaging 1.1 points, and 1.4 rebounds in 5.3 minutes.

Big East: UConn Defeats Butler

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HARTFORD – In the only game Tuesday, No. 25 Connecticut used balanced scoring to defeat Butler 76-59 at XL Center in Connecticut. The Huskies (12-4, 3-2 BIG EAST) built a 39-24 lead by halftime and maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the second half. R.J. Cole led UConn with 17 points. Adama Sanogo and Andre Jackson produced double-doubles. Sanogo had 13 points and 15 rebounds while Jackson finished with 12 points and 10 boards.

 The Bulldogs (9-8, 2-4 BE) got 36 points from the freshman duo of Jayden Taylor (19 points) and Simas Lukosius (17). The game was a reschedule of a Jan. 1 contest. The two teams turn around quickly to meet at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Thursday.

FS1 has two of the three Wednesday contests. At 7 p.m. ET, St. John’s visits Creighton. The Johnnies will be aiming for their first win this season outside of New York City. Julian Champagnie leads the BIG EAST in scoring with a 21.4 average. Creighton has played only three games in the last 33 days – all on the road. At 9 p.m., DePaul hosts Xavier. The Blue Demons are coming off a 96-92 win over Seton Hall last Thursday. The Musketeers have four players averaging double figures in scoring from 11.2 points per game to 12.3.

No. 11 Villanova hosts Marquette at 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. The Wildcats are riding a six-game winning streak and have held two of their last four opponents to less than 43 points. The Golden Eagles have won four straight games while averaging 85.0 points in the wins.

Maverick Carter Joins Sox Foundation

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BOSTON – (Staff report from Official News Release) – The Red Sox Foundation added entrepreneur Maverick Carter to its Board of Directors. In his role, Carter will help develop and achieve the Foundation’s strategic goals and mission of improving lives throughout New England in the areas of health, recreation, and education. The new board appointment builds on a longstanding relationship between Carter and Fenway Sports Group that began in 2010 through a strategic partnership with LRMR Ventures. That relationship further deepened when Carter – through his relationship with NBA superstar LeBron James – became a member of FSG’s ownership group in March 2021.

“For the past decade, I have had the privilege of working closely with Mav and have seen firsthand how he incorporates community and service into every aspect of his work,” said Red Sox Foundation Chairman Tom Werner. “In addition to his incredible business acumen, his experience in sports philanthropy and athlete empowerment will be invaluable in how we continue to grow the programs and vision of the Red Sox Foundation. We are fortunate to have his talent and wisdom and look forward to deepening his connection to the Red Sox and FSG family.”

Throughout his career, Carter has significantly impacted the sports and media landscape and helped usher in a new era of athlete empowerment through his longtime business partnership with LeBron James and as CEO of The SpringHill Company, which owns notable brands including athlete empowerment brand UNINTERRUPTED and its More Than movement, the trailblazing hit show for leading cultural conversations, The Shop, and their blockbuster family film, Space Jam: A New Legacy.

Carter has channeled his passionate curiosity and determination to uplift others into building brands that develop authentic, award-winning content spanning several platforms, all with a common thread of empowering others. With an extensive background in marketing and business development, Carter was instrumental in building LRMR Ventures and in securing James’ lifetime deal with Nike, the first in the company’s history.

Carter also lends his time, experience, and strategic insights to leading companies and nonprofit organizations, starting as a founding Board Member of the LeBron James Family Foundation that is committed to creating generational change in his hometown of Akron. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Live Nation Entertainment and Equinox Group as well as the Advisory Council for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and Walmart’s Opportunity Leadership Council, among others.

“Empowerment is at the center of everything I do, whether that be in business, family or philanthropy,” said Maverick Carter. “It’s an honor for me to join the Red Sox Foundation’s Board of Directors and have the opportunity to help inspire and empower families and communities in Boston and beyond.”

Big East: Weekly Honors to Sanogo

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NEW YORK – Connecticut forward Adama Sanogo has been named BIG EAST Player of the Week and Creighton guard Ryan Nembhard has been selected BIG EAST Freshman of the Week. Sanogo helped push the Huskies past St. John’s in overtime and Nembhard had a strong all-around performance in a defeat at Xavier.

BIG EAST Player of the Week

Adama Sanogo, UConn, F, So. – Sanogo powered the Huskies to an 86-78 overtime win against St. John’s with 26 points, 18 rebounds and six blocked shots. The rebound total was the highest recorded by any BIG EAST player this season. Sanogo also made 10-of-17 shots from the field. He is averaging 15.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks for the season. It was UConn’s only game of the week.

BIG EAST Freshman of the Week

Ryan Nembhard, Creighton, G, Fr. – Nembhard posted 18 points, six assists and three steals in an 80-73 loss at Xavier in the Bluejays’ only game of the week. Nembhard has earned Freshman of the Week honors five times this season. For the year, he is averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 assists.

BIG EAST Honor Roll

David Jones, DePaul, F, So. – In a 1-1 week, averaged 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals. In a win against Seton Hall (96-92), had 24 points, eight rebounds and five steals.

Darryl Morsell, Marquette, G, Gr. – Averaged 21.0 points in a 2-0 week. Registered 26 points and five rebounds in a win over Seton Hall (73-72).

Julian Champagnie, St. John’s, F, Jr. – Averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals in a 1-1 week. Had 25 points, six boards and three steals in a win over Georgetown (88-69).

Collin Gillespie, Villanova, G, Gr. – Averaged 19.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in a 2-0 week. Had 21 points in a win at Xavier (64-60) and 17 points in a victory against Butler (82-42).

Colby Jones, G, So. – Averaged 11.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in a 1-1 week. Posted 16 points and nine rebounds in a win against Creighton (80-73).

 

Xavier, Marquette Win at Home

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Xavier rallied in the second half to beat Creighton and Marquette slipped past Seton Hall in a back-and-forth affair in Saturday afternoon BIG EAST action.

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The 17th-ranked Musketeers (13-3, 3-2 BIG EAST) recovered from a 34-29 halftime deficit to beat the Bluejays (10-5, 2-2 BE) 80-73. The usual balanced Xavier scoring attack had six players reach double figures. Colby Jones scored a team-high 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Alex O’Connell was tops for the Bluejays with 22 points, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Ryan Hawkins contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds.

A free throw by Greg Elliott with 1.8 seconds left gave Marquette a 73-72 win against No. 20 Seton Hall in a game where neither team led by more than five points in the second half. Darryl Morsell scored a career-high 26 points for the Golden Eagles (12-6, 4-3 BE). Justin Lewis added 18 points. Bryce Aiken scored 28 points for the Pirates (11-5, 2-4 BE). Alexis Yetna posted 15 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Ike Obiagu grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked seven shots.

Sunday’s slate shows two games. At noon ET on FS1, No. 14 Villanova hosts Butler at Wells Fargo Center. The first-place Wildcats (12-4, 5-1) are on a five-game winning streak. They will be playing only their sixth home game of the season. The Bulldogs (9-6, 2-2 BE), who are coming off Thursday’s 72-58 win at Georgetown, are the only team to have five wins against Villanova since the beginning of the 2016-17 season.

Today, St. John’s hosts Georgetown at Madison Square Garden at 4:30 p.m. on FOX. The Johnnies (9-5, 1-2 BE) lead the BIG EAST in scoring with an 82.1 average. The Hoyas are averaging 74.5. Both teams are giving up 74.4. St. John’s Julian Champagnie leads the league with a 21.2 scoring mark. Georgetown’s Aminu Mohammed is the BIG EAST’s top freshman scorer (13.8) and rebounder (8.3).

Marquette Stays Hot in Big East

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MILWAUKEE – In the BIG EAST’s All-Access Game on FOX Sports, Marquette defeated DePaul 87-76 at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday. The game featured DePaul head coach Tony Stubblefield and Marquette head coach Shaka Smart wearing live microphones throughout the commercial-free telecast.

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The Golden Eagles (11-6, 3-3 BIG EAST) pulled away midway in the second half from the Blue Demons (9-6, 0-5 BE).  Marquette’s Greg Elliott came off the bench to score a career-high 25 points. Darryl Morsell added 16 points. Both players shot 7-of-11 from the field.

DePaul’s Javon Freeman-Liberty, the BIG EAST’s top scorer with a 21.7 average, had 24 points and 10 rebounds. Yor Anei contributed 16 points and 11 boards. Seton Hall is the next opponent for both teams. DePaul hosts the Pirates on Thursday and Marquette plays the Pirates at home on Saturday.

Wednesday’s two games are an FS1 doubleheader. At 6:30 p.m. ET, Villanova plays at Xavier. It will be the fourth contest this season between ranked BIG EAST teams. The Wildcats (11-4, 4-1 BE) are ranked 14th by AP and the Musketeers (12-2, 2-1 BE) are 17th. The two teams met on Dec. 21 at Villanova with the Wildcats recovering from an eight-point halftime deficit to win 71-58.

At 8:30 p.m., UConn hosts St. John’s at Gampel Pavilion. The Johnnies (9-4, 1-1 BE) beat the Huskies (10-4, 1-2 BE) in last season’s only meeting, also at Gampel, 70-64. St. John’s Julian Champagnie ranks second in the BIG EAST in scoring with a 20.7 average and Posh Alexander is first in steals with a 2.4 mark. The Huskies will be playing its first game at Gampel since Dec. 4. R.J. Cole leads the team in scoring and ranks fifth in the BIG EAST with a 16.2 average. The game also will be carried on Westwood One radio.

Bruins Sign Tuukka Rask to 1-Year Deal

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BOSTON – The Boston Bruins signed goaltender Tuukka Rask to a one-year contract with an NHL cap hit of $1 million. Bruins GM Don Sweeney made the announcement late Tuesday afternoon. Rask was playing for the Bruins’ minor league team in Providence this week.

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Rask, 34, played in 24 games with Boston in 2020-21, compiling a 15-5-2 record with three shutouts, a 2.28 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. In 11 playoff games, Rask recorded a 6-4-0 record with a 2.36 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.

In 2020, Rask was nominated for the Vezina Trophy, given annually to the NHL’s beast goaltender as voted on by NHL general managers. The Savonlinna, Finland native posted a 26-8-6 record with five shutouts, a 2.12 goals against average and .929 save percentage. He led the NHL in both goals against average and save percentage (minimum 30 starts) and was tied for second in shutouts.

Rask previously won the Vezina Trophy in 2014, a season in which he compiled a 36-15-6 record with seven shutouts, a 2.04 goals against average and .930 save percentage.

Rask is also the only goaltender in Bruins history to have reached 500 career NHL games, a milestone he hit on October 23, 2019. The 6-foot-3, 176-pound goaltender also sits atop the Bruins all-time leaderboard in wins (306), save percentage (.921), playoff games played (104) and playoff wins (57).

Over his 14-year NHL career with Boston, Rask has appeared in 560 regular season games, compiling a 306-163-66 record with a 2.27 goals against average, .921 save percentage and 52 shutouts.

Rask was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round (21st overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Big East Weekly Honors | Jan 10

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Villanova guard Justin Moore has been named BIG EAST Player of the Week and Marquette guard Kam Jones has been chosen BIG EAST Freshman of the Week. Both players helped their respective teams to 2-0 weeks.

BIG EAST Player of the Week

Justin Moore, Villanova, G, Jr. – Moore averaged 21.5 points in victories against Creighton and at DePaul. In a 75-41 win over the Bluejays, Moore had prime defensive responsibilities in helping to hold Creighton to the lowest scoring total in a league game in seven seasons. He also scored a game-high 22 points. In a 79-64 victory at DePaul, the junior guard posted a team-high 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists. He ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in scoring with a 15.7 average.

BIG EAST Freshman of the Week

Kam Jones, Marquette, G, Fr. – Jones helped the Golden Eagles in an 88-56 win over Providence with a collegiate-high 14 points. In a 2-0 week, which included a 92-64 triumph at Georgetown, the freshman shot 52.8 percent from the field and 54.5 percent from 3-point range.

BIG EAST Honor Roll

Justin Lewis, Marquette, F, So. – Averaged 16.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in a 2-0 week. Had a career-high 23 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Providence (88-56).

Nate Watson, Providence, C, Gr. – Had 22 points and 11 boards in a win over St. John’s (83-73) and averaged 15.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in a 1-1 week.

Julian Champagnie, St. John’s, F, Jr. – Averaged 22.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in a 1-1 week. Posted 34 points, 16 rebounds and three blocked shots in a win over DePaul (89-84).

Bryce Aiken, Seton Hall, G, Gr. – Averaged 17.0 points and 7.0 assists in a 2-0 week. Posted 22 points, including seven points in overtime, in a win over UConn (90-87). Had 12 points and seven assists in a victory at Butler (71-56).

Adam Kunkel, Xavier G, Sr. – Came off the bench to score a game-high 25 points in a win at Butler (87-72). Shot 8-of-12 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range.

Cooley Earns 300th Win for Friars

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PROVIDENCE – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – On a three-game Saturday, Seton Hall won a fierce battle in overtime against Connecticut. Providence gave coach Ed Cooley his 300th career victory with a win against St. John’s. Villanova used a strong second half to win at DePaul.

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At Prudential Center, Seton Hall (11-3, 2-2 BE) and UConn (10-4, 1-2 BE) battled for 45 minutes before the Pirates prevailed 90-87. Pirate guard Kadary Richmond, who had a 6.9 scoring average, tallied a game-high 27 points. He scored 17 straight points in the second half and made the deciding basket with 31 seconds left in the extra stanza. Fellow guard Bryce Aiken had seven of his 22 points in overtime. UConn’s Adama Sanogo was a force with 18 points, 16 rebounds and three blocked shots.

Providence (14-2, 4-1 BE) trailed St. John’s (9-4, 1-1 BE) by seven points early in the second half before recovering to post an 83-73 victory at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Nate Watson led the Friar surge by scoring 18 of his game-high 22 points after the break. Jared Bynum added 18 points. Justin Minaya had 14 points and helped limit St. John’s Julian Champagnie to 11 points. St. John’s Dylan Addae-Wusu posted his second straight career scoring high with 20 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists. PC is 10-0 at home this season.

DePaul put together a 37-32 lead by halftime against Villanova before the Wildcats rebounded with a 79-64 victory at Wintrust Arena. Villanova (11-4, 4-1 BE) opened the second half with a 15-2 run to take control of the game. Collin Gillespie led the winners with 28 points. Justin Moore supported the effort with 21 points and seven rebounds. Javon Freeman-Liberty poured in a career-high 34 points for the Blue Demons (9-5, 0-4 BE). David Jones added 12 points.

BIG EAST action picks up again on Tuesday with DePaul at Marquette at 7 p.m. ET followed by Providence at Creighton at 9 p.m. Both games will be televised by FS1. The DePaul-Marquette game will be an All-Access Game with head coaches Tony Stubblefield and Shaka Smart wearing a live microphone throughout the telecast.