• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Sports Bank

News. Sports. Arts & Entertainment. Politics

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Archives
  • Media
  • The Sports Bank in Book Form
  • Premier League Book

2009-2010 Big East Basketball Preview: Part 2 of 5

September 29, 2009 By paulmbanks 12 Comments

Share

harangody

by: David Kay

Part of two of our week long Big East Hoops Preview continues with the teams that will likely fall on the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.  Unfortunately, I have to include my beloved Marquette team in that category.

This list includes the most hatred duo to ever play on one college basketball team, a usual conference powerhouse re-tooling, my MU boys (tear), and a usual bottom feeder that could be poised to make some noise for the first time in almost a decade.

9. Notre Dame (9th, 8-10 in BE, 21-15 overall, NIT)

2009-2010 Outlook:
A lack of depth was a major issue as the Irish failed to live up to their lofty expectations last season, and it will once again be a concern as four important seniors graduated.  Luckily, Luke Harangody chose to come back for his senior season and Ole Miss transfer Ben Hansbrough (yes, Tyler’s little bro) should step into the starting line-up right away.  A Harangody and a Hansbrough on the same team; the hatred should be plentiful for ND this year.  Tory Jackson should be a steadying presence as he enters his fourth year as the team’s starting point guard.

Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Luke Harangody (Sr)/Thomas Knight (Fr)/Mike Broghammer (Fr)
F: Tyrone Nash (Jr)/Carleton Scott (Jr)/Jack Cooley (Fr)
SF: Scott Martin (Jr)
SG: Ben Hansbrough (Sr)/Joey Brooks (Fr)
PG: Tory Jackson (Sr)/Jonathan Peoples (Jr)

Gone: G-Kyle McAlarney, G/F-Ryan Ayers, C-Luke Zeller F-Zach Hillesland

Player to Watch: Martin- The Purdue transfer started in eight games for the Boilermakers during his freshman season.  He is a well-rounded player who can hit from the outside and will need to be a perimeter compliment to Hansbrough as sharp-shooters McAlarney and Ayers (who combined for 218 three-pointers last season) have both graduated and Jackson is inconsistent from deep.

10. Pitt (2nd, 15-3, 31-5, NCAA Elite 8 )

2009-2010 Outlook:
I realize this is low for Jamie Dixon’s team.  But losing four starters in Blair, Young, Fields, and Biggs means 59% of their scoring, 63% of their rebounding, and 60% assists from a year ago need to be replaced.  If their role players from last year can adjust to being starters under the tutelage of Dixon, there is a good chance Pitt will be tourney bound.  It doesn’t help though that returning sixth man Gilbert Brown will miss the first semester after being suspended for the first semester due to academic issues while their lone returning starter, Jermaine Dixon has a broken foot that will cause him to miss the beginning of the season.

jamie-dixon

Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Gary McGhee (Jr)/Talib Zanna (Fr)/J.J. Richardson (Fr)
F: Nasir Robinson (So)/Gilbert Brown (Jr)/Dante Taylor (Fr)/ Dwight Miller (Fr)
G: Jermaine Dixon (Sr)/Lamar Patterson (Fr)
G: Brad Wanamaker (Jr)/Tim Frye (Jr)
PG: Ashton Gibbs (So)/Chase Adams (Sr)/Travon Woodall (Fr)

Gone: C-DeJuan Blair, SF-Sam Young, PG-LaVance Fields, PF-Tyrell Biggs

Player to Watch: Gibbs- The reins of the Pitt offense will be put in Gibbs’ hands.  He helped lead the Jamie Dixon-coached U.S. U-19 team to the gold medal this summer which should be a big confidence booster as he only averaged ten minutes per game off the Panther bench last season.  Dixon needs someone to step into the leader role on the floor with four starters gone, and Gibbs will have to be that guy.  Spending a year learning from Fields could have only helped his preparation to be the Pitt floor general.

11. Marquette (5th, 12-6, 25-10, NCAA Second Round)

lazar12009-2010 Outlook:
Like Pitt, Marquette loses four starters who accounted for 67% of their scoring and 83% of their assists including their trio of four-year starting guards (McNeal, Matthews, and James.)  It will be a major transition this season as MU tries to find a new identity as six new faces join the Golden Eagles.  MU suffered a major loss in the pre-season when expected starting point guard, freshman Junior Cadougan, ruptured his Achilles tendon and will be sidelined for the season.  Still, If they can build their chemistry early in the year and Hayward emerges as a go-to player, there’s a chance Marquette could be dancing.

Projected Depth Chart
C: Chris Otule (So)/Youssoupha Mbao (Fr)
PF: Lazar Hayward (Sr)/Joe Fulce (Jr)
SF: Jimmy Butler (Jr)/Jeronne Maymon (Fr)/Erik Williams (Fr)
SG: Dwight Buycks (Jr)/David Cubillan (Sr)
PG: Mo Acker (Sr)/Daruis Johnson-Odom (So)/Junior Cadougan (Fr-out for season, ACL)

Gone: SG-Jerel McNeal, G/F-Wesley Matthews, PG-Dominic James, C-Dwight Burke

Player to Watch: Mbao- For a team that has lacked a real inside presence the past few years, having a 7’2 threat like Mbao will finally give Marquette a shot blocking threat they haven’t seen since Jim McIlvaine or Amal McCaskill.  It will just be a matter of how much Mbao will be able to contribute in his first season.  He is still rail thin and very raw, but if he can play 12-15 minutes a night right away at a very unsettled position, it could be a major boost for the Golden Eagles.

12. St. John’s (13th, 6-10, 16-18, CBI)

mason-jr2009-2010 Outlook:
Getting a medical redshirt year for senior Anthony Mason Jr. who played in just three games last season due a torn muscle in his foot was a big-time plus for a program that hasn’t had a winning record in conference play since 2001-2002.  They only lose one player who barely contributed and their recent youth movement is beginning to mature.  St. J’s could make some noise, but until they prove to be a consistent team, cannot be ranked any higher than this.

Projected Depth Chart
PF: Sean Evans (Jr)/Dale Coker (Jr)
F: D.J. Kennedy (Jr)/Justin Burrell (Jr)/Rob Thomas (Jr)
G/F: Anthony Mason Jr. (Sr)/ Omari Lawrence (Fr)
SG: Paris Horne (Jr)/Quincy Roberts (So)/Dwight Hardy (Jr)
PG: Malik Booth (Jr)/Malik Stith (Fr)

Gone: C-Tomas Jasiulionis, C-Phil Wait (transfer-Monmouth), SG-TyShawn Edmundson (So) (transfer)

Player to Watch: Horne- When Mason Jr. went down with his injury, Horne stepped up his game and finished the season at Storm’s leading scorer.  He loves to pull the trigger from deep and could be a solid compliment to Mason Jr.

WEEK LONG PREVIEW:
Monday: Teams 13-16
Wednesday: Teams 5-8
Thursday: Teams 1-4
Friday: Post-season Award Predictions

Follow paulmbanks

Related Posts via Categories

  • Max Christie: Michigan State Star, NBA Prospect Profile
  • Keegan Murray: Time to Buy NBA Draft Stock of Iowa Hawkeyes Forward
  • Jaden Ivey: Purdue Star a Top 5 Overall NBA Prospect
  • How did Michigan Wolverines come to explore their name?
  • 3 Easiest Sports to Bet on And Win
  • Greatest College Basketball Coaches of All Time
  • Five Underrated Players Who Could Impact the NBA Playoffs
  • Villanova’s Jay Wright, Leading Face of College Basketball, Retires
  • Skyy Clark: Illini Basketball Sign Highest Rated Recruit in Two Decades
  • Carlos Boozer On His Partnership With a Vasectomy-Specialized Underwear Brand (Exclusive)

Filed Under: College Basketball Tagged With: Anthony Mason Jr. Injury, Ben Hansbrough, big east, Big East predictions, Big East preview, Gilbert Brown suspended, Jermaine Dixon Injury, Junior Cadougan injury, Lazar Hayward, Lazar Hayward NBA Draft, Lazar Hayward NBA prospect, Lazar Hayward scouting report, Luke Harangody hate, Luke Harangody ugly, Marquette, Marquette preview, Notre Dame basketball preview, Pitt basketball preview, St. John's preview, Tyler Hansbrough brother

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. mswollering says

    September 29, 2009 at 8:33 AM

    Oh. It’s killin me to see Marq in this category, but it’s true. 83% of their assists need to be spoken for by the newbies. Ugh. Hayward will be good, but one man can’t do it alone. Youssoupha is quite a name. Can’t wait to see if he contributes—then explains the origin of his name and what made him that tall.

    Are you going to dedicate an entire article to how many games you plan to watch? Because I plan to pimp that article prior to its conception. Hey readers, stay tuned. The Drive to 225 could be inflated like Odom’s ego after marrying a Kardashian.

  2. paulmbanks says

    September 29, 2009 at 11:21 AM

    Wolley, why does it bother you to see Marq down? I thought Sconnies hated MU? It’s really killing me to see ND in this spot, it really is….ok it’s not. especially since they have a Hanbr…I don’t even want to say it, I might vomit

  3. paulmbanks says

    September 29, 2009 at 11:27 AM

    Dave, you know they moved that tourney you and I went to last year, to the UIC Pavilion this year. it was quite sparsely attended I recall, so I guess they’re having trouble selling tickets this year and had to move to the older, smaller venue.

    at least it had ND vs. Northwestern in the epic NIT 1st round match that everyone in chicago wanted last year, if its possible to use the phrase wanted and NIT in the same sentence

  4. David K. says

    September 29, 2009 at 11:55 AM

    Yeah, it pains me to pick Marquette 11th, but with the losses this off-season and 6 new players, they have a lot of questions…

    I didn’t know they moved the Chicago Invitational Tournament… it’s both an invite and tournament, so maybe that confused people… The Drive will be pimped out of control Wolley, don’t worry

  5. Tom Lea says

    September 29, 2009 at 11:58 AM

    There is no chance Marquette will be dancing this year.

  6. David K. says

    September 29, 2009 at 12:09 PM

    that’s probably true Tom… but at least we’ll beat the Badgers for a third straight year…

  7. Tom Lea says

    September 29, 2009 at 2:20 PM

    There is no chance they’ll beat Wisconsin either….I’d be willing to bet on it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

newsnow_f_ab
online casinos not on Gamstop

Best Paypal Casinos

Recent Posts

  • Man United Want to Sign Christian Pulisic on Loan from Chelsea
  • Elon Musk Jokes About Buying Man United, Causes a Huge Stir
  • That Time I met Al Gore, Interviewed Gen. Wesley Clark at a NASCAR Event
  • Five Worst NFL and College Football Announcer Cliches
  • Five Most Annoying Stadium Sound Effects of All-Time
  • Manchester United Transfer Talk: Casemiro, Matheus Cunha, Adrien Rabiot
  • What are the Benefits of Buying Costly Golf Balls for Players?
  • Chelsea Acquire Midfielder Cesare Casadei from Inter Milan
  • Erik ten Hag Open to Cristiano Ronaldo Exit, but Joel Glazer Obstructing
  • Manchester City Sign Sergio Gomez for €13m from Anderlecht

From Our Sponsors

OnlineBettingMD

Online Sports Betting

Best football betting sites

 

From Our Sponsors


[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2022 ·Magazine Pro · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in