Articles

Chris Lofton looked like he was ready to beat Memphis one on five. Tennessee's sharpshooter had 21 points at the half while the #17 team in the country had just 22. Lofton ended with 34 points, including 6 threes, often of the fade-away, off-balance variety. Prior to this game, the Vols had lost to UNC and Butler and their best win of the season was arguably at home over Fordham. This win puts them back in the thick of the nationl picture, though the Top 25 is still probably out of reach.

On a night busy with Top 25 action, everyone else advanced with relative ease. #2 Pittsburgh, #7 Florida, #9 Duke, #10 UCONN, #14 Butler, #22 Maryland, #23 Air Force, and #25 Michigan State all won by double digits.

Tom Crean, Jamie Dixon, John Thompson III, and Jay Wright are the future of the Big East.

Jeff Fox looks at the top undrafted college players with the best chance of making NBA rosters this year.

Two factors complicate efforts to rank the returning small forwards in the Big East.  One is that some teams use a three-guard lineup in which one of the three guards has to be considered a “3” even if he doesn’t fit the classic image of a small forward and would normally be considered a shooting guard.  Another consideration is that it is sometimes difficult to determine whether certain players would be more accurately designated as a “3” or a “4.” 

 

Additionally, there is also the question that hounds every ranking by position, which is, “Will that individual play that position this season?”  For example, at Notre Dame, will Tory Jackson be good enough to earn the starting point guard position?  If so, then Kyle McAlarney would likely play the “2,” Colin Falls the “3,” and Russell Carter the “4.”  If not, then McAlarney would man the point, Falls would start at off guard, and Carter would start at small forward.

Team by team breakdown of the incoming Big East talent. Connecticut, Louisville, Villanova, and West Virginia have the top four classes.

CHN's All-American Teams. First Team includes: Randy Foye, Villanova; JJ Redick, Duke; Brandon Roy, Washington; Adam Morrison, Gonzaga - POY; Shelden Williams, Duke