http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/goodmanonfox/2008/07/17/BIG_EAST_OFFSEASON_ROUNDUPSorry for the delay, but the Big East is just too damn big these days. Here's the Big East Offseason Primer:
Cincinnati – The Bearcats will play in a tournament out in Las Vegas that also includes Florida State, UNLV and Cal. They will play two home games before going to Vegas and opening with FSU on Nov. 28. Mick Cronin’s team also has non-conference games against Memphis (12/29) and Xavier (12/13).
UConn – Jim Calhoun & Co. will play in the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands, along with Miami and Wisconsin, from Nov. 21-24. The Huskies will also face Gonzaga in Seattle on Dec. 20. Two players left the program – Curtis Kelly went to Kansas State and Doug Wiggins left for UMass.
DePaul – Director of Basketball Operations Ivan Vujic left for Northwestern. Jerry Wainwright’s team will play in the Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 22-23 with the first two games at campus sites and the final two at the Orleans Arena. DePaul will play at Cal (12/3) and against UCLA (12/13) in the Wooden Classic. Former Ohio State wing Eric Wallace transferred into the program.
Georgetown – The Hoyas will play in the loaded Old ####e Classic in Orlando from Nov. 27-30 along with Michigan State, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Maryland and Oklahoma State. John Thompson III also has non-conference games against Memphis (12/13) and at Duke (1/17). Vernon Macklin (Florida) and Jeremiah Rivers (Indiana) transferred out of the program, and Julian Vaughn (Florida State) transferred in and will be eligible immediately.
Louisville – Rick Pitino & Co. will host its own tournament from Dec. 6-8 with Ohio, Lamar and Indiana State. The Cardinals will also play Minnesota on Dec. 20 in a doubleheader out in Phoenix and have non-conference games against Western Kentucky (11/29) in Nashville; Mississippi (12/18) in Cincinnati; UNLV at home on Dec. 31 and Kentucky in Freedom Hall on Jan. 4.
Marquette – New coach Buzz Williams hired Aki Collins (Fairfield), Tony Benford (Nebraska), Dale Layer and director of basketball operations Scott Monarch. The Golden Eagles will play in the Chicago Invitational and will play non-conference games against Wisconsin-Milwaukee (11/22), Wisconsin (12/6) and at Tennessee (12/16). Scott Christopherson left to go to Iowa State.
Notre Dame – Assistant Gene Cross left to become the head coach at Toledo and was replaced by Anthony Solomon, who returned to South Bend after one season at Dayton and a head coaching stint at St. Bonaventure. The Irish will take a trip to Ireland from Aug. 12-25 and will also play in the Maui Invitational in Nov. Mike Brey’s team will play at UCLA (2/7) and the Irish have also added Ben Hansbrough (Miss. St.) and Scott Martin (Notre Dame).
Pittsburgh – Assistant Orlando Antigua left for Memphis and his spot was taken by Brandin Knight – who was promoted from the director of basketball operations. Brian Regan moved up from the video spot to the director of basketball operations. The Panthers will play in the Legends Classic in New Jersey and will also play at Florida State (12/21) and are still looking for an opponent at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 17. Sophomore big man Cassin Diggs transferred out of the program and is considering Delaware State.
Providence – New coach Keno Davis brought two more Davis’ with him from Drake – Rodell and Chris Davis. He also hired Pat Skerry from Rhode Island. Providence will play in the Anaheim Classic from Nov. 27-30 along with Arizona State, Baylor and Wake Forest. The Friars will play at Boston College (12/20) and also lost Dwain Williams to Oregon State.
Rutgers – Fred Hill will replace video coordinator Ryan Krueger with alum Oliver Winterbone. The Scarlet Knights will host a five-team exempt tournament, the Garden State Challenge, along with St. Bonaventure, Marist, Delaware and Robert Morris. Rutgers will also travel to North Carolina. Hill will also bring in Jonathan Mitchell (Florida) and lose two transfers – Courtney Nelson (William Patterson) and Justin Sofman (Monmouth).
St. John’s – The Red Storm will play in the Preseason NIT (Boston College pod) and will also take a Labor Day trip to Cancun. Norm Roberts & Co. will play Duke and Miami (12/27) in Madison Square Garden. Two players left the program – guard Larry Wright (Oakland) and Mike Cavataio (Holy Cross).
Seton Hall – The Pirates will play in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off on Nov. 20-23 along with Memphis, Xavier, USC, Virginia Tech, Missouri, Fairfield and one other team. Keon Lawrence has transferred in from Missouri and Larry Davis (Loyola Marymount) and Augustine Okosun are leaving the program.
South Florida – Stan Heath’s team will play in the San Juan Shootout on Dec. 20-22 along with Murray State, Wright State and ORU. The Bulls have non-conference games at Virginia (11-19), at UAB (12/3) and at Vanderbilt (12/16). Augustus Gilchrist transferred in from Maryland and South Florida lost four players – Aaron Holmes (Santa Fe CC), Solomon Bozeman (Ark-Little Rock), Orane Chin (San Francisco) and Amu Saaka (Furman).
Syracuse – The Orangemen will host one of the four pods in the CBE Classic, along with Kansas, Florida and Washington, which culminates in Kansas City on Nov. 24-25. Jim Boeheim's team will play at Memphis (12/20) and also host Virginia.
Villanova – Jay Wright’s team will play in the Philly Hoop Group Classic, which is on campus sites on Nov. 16, and moves to the Palestra the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. Other teams involved are Penn State, Rhode Island, Towson, Niagara, Hartford, Monmouth and NJIT. ‘Nova will also bring in Taylor King from Duke.
West Virginia – Bob Huggins’ team will play in the Las Vegas Invitational from Nov. 28-29 and will open with Iowa and then face either Kansas State or Kentucky. The Mountaineers will play Ole Miss and Huggins’ old assistant, Andy Kennedy, at home on Dec. 3 and also play at Ohio State on Dec. 27.