Big East Offseason Thread

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress 11m11 minutes ago
Italian PG Federico Mussini committed to St. John's, a school source informs. Huge get for Chris Mullin and the Big East. Exciting prospect!

Zagsblog on Mussini to St. John's

http://zagsblog.com/st-johns/report-...st-johns-next/

@GiveNGobball: RT @EvanDaniels: Tyrique Jones has verbally committed to Xavier, per a source.

St. John's, NC State, and Wisco finalists for Rowan.

http://www.scout.com/college/basketb...is-recruitment

@PaulBiancardi: Just spoke with Maverick Rowan about Bo Ryan is retiring as Wisconsin was in his final list.
"It definitely changes things a lot"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Markedman

@PaulBiancardi: Just spoke with Maverick Rowan about Bo Ryan is retiring as Wisconsin was in his final list.
"It definitely changes things a lot"

---

Think St. John's looks to be in good shape here. They have a really fun looking shaping roster shaping up with Mussini, LoVett (talent as he's not a headache off the court), Johnson, Ellison, M'Vouika, potentially Rowan, and Williams all capable of hitting from three and spreading the floor. They will need Sima eligible and provide interior defense (and/or land more interior help), but at least they will be an entertaining team to watch. This could also allow them to make a huge jump a year from now if they sign a strong 2016 class.

Butler having a nice summer. Joining the Big East had really helped their recruiting

@jeffborzello: Howard Washington is Butler's second four-star commitment in the 2016 class, joining ESPN 100 big man Joey Brunk.

That is awesome, a lot of people questioned Chris Holtmann, great for him to get a strong class.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MKE_GoldenEagleFan

That is awesome, a lot of people questioned Chris Holtmann, great for him to get a strong class.

---

I did not believe that Brandon Miller was the answer, but Holtmann looks next in line in the succession of great Butler coaches. Building a very nice first full class, and also played the transfer market nicely with Jordan Gathers and especially Kethan Savage.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Markedman

Butler having a nice summer. Joining the Big East had really helped their recruiting

@jeffborzello: Howard Washington is Butler's second four-star commitment in the 2016 class, joining ESPN 100 big man Joey Brunk.

---

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports...tler/29525287/

DePaul just added a kid from Turkey for this year.......@WeAreDePaul: Look for Erten Gazi to get immediate time in the Blue Demons backcourt in the 2015-16 season. #dpubb #depaul

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Markedman

DePaul just added a kid from Turkey for this year.......@WeAreDePaul: Look for Erten Gazi to get immediate time in the Blue Demons backcourt in the 2015-16 season. #dpubb #depaul

---

In all due fairness, Gato could get immediate time in DePaul's backcourt.

I am certain this comment was made with a nod towards my mad skills and high basketball IQ.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MayorBeluga

In all due fairness, Gato could get immediate time in DePaul's backcourt.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gato78

I am certain this comment was made with a nod towards my mad skills and high basketball IQ.

---

Sorry Gato, it's DePaul. Those aren't skills they usually value. They're more into the "we'll take anyone that commits" skillset.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gato78

I am certain this comment was made with a nod towards my mad skills and high basketball IQ.

---

If it makes you feel better, then sure, why not.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MayorBeluga

If it makes you feel better, then sure, why not.

---

Did Gato say "mad" skills or "math" skills? If the latter, he is encroaching on my turf.

Still think this is a Final Four team warriorfan? ;)

http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/2015...ils-to-qualify

The Big East is losing a lot of size this year:
Kameron Woods
Will Artino
Joshua smith
Mikael Hopkins
Carson Desrosiers
Paschal Chukwu
Chris Obekpa
Matt Stainbrook

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MUBasketball

Still think this is a Final Four team warriorfan? ;)

http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/2015...ils-to-qualify

---

As much as I like Dunn and believe that he carries PC to the tournament, cannot count on any more then that. Never thought that Chukwu would transfer, as he had all the playing time he wanted coming next year and was poised to be one of the breakout players in the country.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by warriorfan4life

As much as I like Dunn and believe that he carries PC to the tournament, cannot count on any more then that. Never thought that Chukwu would transfer, as he had all the playing time he wanted coming next year and was poised to be one of the breakout players in the country.

---

Its a bummer. They are a program with a lot of momentum after the past few years but doesn't look like they'll be able to capitalize in Dunn's final yr.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MUBasketball

Its a bummer. They are a program with a lot of momentum after the past few years but doesn't look like they'll be able to capitalize in Dunn's final yr.

---

Still like their first 6-7 players a good deal, but zero depth (especially on the interior) limits their potential over the season.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nukem2

The Big East is losing a lot of size this year:
Kameron Woods
Will Artino
Joshua smith
Mikael Hopkins
Carson Desrosiers
Paschal Chukwu
Chris Obekpa
Matt Stainbrook

---

Time for Luke and Henry to feast

As far as the Friars, they have been playing only six or seven guys for a couple of years now, so that shouldn't be a problem, barring injury. They will be playing a lot of small ball with no one over 6'8". Outside shooting could be a major issue. Dunn was around 35% on treys, but no one else was over 33%, and both Cartwright and Lomomba are awful, below 20%. Fazekas has a rep as a shooter, but will he be able to play decent enough defense to even get on the court?

There is some athleticism on the team, but I will be very surprised if Providence finishes in the upper half of the league or earns an invite to the Big Dance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Phantom Warrior

As far as the Friars, they have been playing only six or seven guys for a couple of years now, so that shouldn't be a problem, barring injury. They will be playing a lot of small ball with no one over 6'8". Outside shooting could be a major issue. Dunn was around 35% on treys, but no one else was over 33%, and both Cartwright and Lomomba are awful, below 20%. Fazekas has a rep as a shooter, but will he be able to play decent enough defense to even get on the court?

There is some athleticism on the team, but I will be very surprised if Providence finishes in the upper half of the league or earns an invite to the Big Dance.

---

I think Ricky Council will provide needed shooting (and starts from day one at the two). Also, I think that Jalen Lindsay is a much better shooter then last year's numbers indicate. Providence will have no issues scoring the ball, but I worry that they will give up lots of points on the interior. Have the Friars and Marquette just behind the top four in the league, but both sneak in the tourney as 9-12 seeds. If Chukwu stayed, I would have had Providence in the top tier with Nova and Georgetown.

I watched Brunson today for USA U19 team..........kid looks like he is going to be a star. Very impressive. My guess is Nova plays a lot of 3 guard sets this year.

It will be interesting to see if Wright has Arcidiacono or Brunson as the primary ball handler, or if they share those duties. I expect both will be on the court 30+ mpg.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Markedman

I watched Brunson today for USA U19 team..........kid looks like he is going to be a star. Very impressive. My guess is Nova plays a lot of 3 guard sets this year.

---

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great games by Jalen Brunson (14 pts, 7 ast) and Harry Giles (13 pts, 16 rebs) as <a href="https://twitter.com/usabasketball">@usabasketball</a> wins Gold in OT at FIBA U19 Championships!</p>&mdash; Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayBilas/status/617781784198168577">July 5, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Brunson was first team all tournament and MVP.

Brunson is the best point guard in the Big East already.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TedBaxter

Brunson is the best point guard in the Big East already.

---

Brunson will be a stud from day one, but Kris Dunn is the best point guard (and arguably best returning player) in the country.

I think Brunson makes his team better.

Dunn played a giant role in leading a top 25 team last season, and their tourney game went off the rails as soon as he picked up two early fouls. He will have an even bigger role to shoulder this season with Henton gone and lack of size on the interior, but I expect him to do enough to lead Providence back to the tournament. Brunson is lucky enough to come into a very established team, and I would not be surprised if he becomes a key cog on that team. However, he has to prove himself on the college level, especially compared to the returning Big East player of the year.

My opinion has less to do with what Kris Dunn has done to date and what kind of pro prospect he is and more to do with Brunson being one of those impact players like Tyus Jones who can run the team. To me Dunn is a scoring point guard and Brunson a pure point like Jones.

Again, just my opinion.

I'll always defer to experience until the young guy proves it on the court. Dunn was CBS Third Team All-American, First Team All-Big East, Big East POY, and Big East DPOY. I think Brunson will be a great player, but I wouldn't crown him until he's outdoing Dunn on the court.

We all saw Dominic James come in and be better than most, if not all, point guards in the Big East at leading the team as a freshman.

I don't consider Dunn a pure point guard like Brunson. He's like MCW of the Bucks. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

Dunn had the highest assist rate in the country last year. He had the ball in his hands a lot (using 30% of Providence's possessions when on the floor), but that because he was so good at facilitating offense (both for himself and others).

Ed Cooley's system is a dynamic point guard's dream. Vincent Council, Bryce Cotton, and Kris Dunn have all been incredibly efficient both in scoring and assisting the ball. Their assist rate rankings have been phenomenal:

2012 - Vincent Council 43.0% (7th best in the country)
2013 - Vincent Council 42.9% (5th best in the country)
2014 - Bryce Cotton 34.8% (20th best in the country)
2015 - Kris Dunn 50.0% (1st best in the country)

All of these guys also scored the basketball, but very few players coast to coast are as good at providing for their teammates as the Providence point guards are. I expect Dunn to continue that as a junior, and have a feeling Ricky Council may be groomed next for the role of PC point guard.

For what it may be worth, only one Villanova player has been in the top-250 in assist rate over that same period. In 2012, Maalik Wayns had a 32.5% assist rate, good enough for 60th in the country.

For those of you interested in coaching vacancies, Mullin still has an assistant coach opening. Based on chatter on their board, he wanted Ed Pinckney.

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 1m1 minute ago
Denver coach Michael Malone has hired well-regarded Ed Pinckney as his top assistant, league sources tell Yahoo. He had been with Bulls.

@NYPost_Brazille: Ed Pinckney staying in NBA not a surprise. Top candidates for last spot, I'm hearing, are Mitch Richmond and Greg St. Jean. #sjubb

Q&A with Jay Wright
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...-jalen-brunson

I've always respected Wright and the Nova program. He had one sub-par season, but he rebuilt the program quickly. I think Wojo can do the same at MU.

Wright has recruited a lot like MU has the past dozen years or so, getting a fair share of Top 100 recruits but only occasionally getting Top 40 recruits. Every few years he will land what I call an "anchor class" with three Top 100 recruits and then usually get one or two Top 100 recruits in other classes as kind of complementary pieces to the puzzle.

I think we're a year away from getting back to Nova/GTown status, but I do think Wojo will get us there.

In a way, Wright's success at Nova is very similar to Ryan's at UW - with the exception of that one season the Wildcats failed to make the NCAA Tournament. It's kind of weird that Wright doesn't get greater props for what he's achieved.

I also find it strange that very seldom is Wright part of the rumor mill when high-profile jobs open up. You almost never read his name when all the speculation runs rampant, which is a major contrast to all the Crean and Buzz rumors.

By the way, I think my favorite non-MU team over the past 15 years or so to watch was that Nova group that played four guards (Ray, Foye, Nardi, and Lowry) along with a forward (Sheridan) the year Sumpter missed due to injury. Man they were exciting/entertaining. Had Sumpter not been injured that year, I think Nova could have won the whole thing.