This Week in the BIG EAST - Weekly Overview of NCAA College Basketball's Top Conference

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This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) hosts John and Kevin welcome guests Creighton head coach Greg McDermott (@cucoachmac), Georgetown Hoyas radio voice Rich Chvotkin (@HoyasWin) and TheAthletic.com College Basketball writer Dana O’Neil (@DanaONeilWriter).

The BIG EAST Spotlight shines down on McDermott (8:45). McDermott’s Bluejays have been entertaining to watch both defensively and offensively as Creighton is tied for second in the league standings with just over a week left in the regular season. The BIG EAST Focus has Chvotkin (25:03), who gives a historical perspective of the conference from the earliest days of league play in 1979. Chvotkin has been the voice of the Hoyas for 46 years. O’Neil (33:30) has covered NCAA Basketball for more than 25 years at places like ESPN and the Philadelphia Daily News. She’s the author of “Long Shots” a work that reflects on Villanova’s journey to the 2016 national title. O’Neil gives her wide angle view of where the BIG EAST stands on the national college basketball landscape.

TWITBE brings sounds of the game through #BIGEASThoops game audio highlights. John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) wrap up the latest news in the BIG EAST and previews what’s to come next week.

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The #MarchToMSG is heating up as two weeks remain in the regular season. This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) hosts John and Kevin welcome guests Georgetown head coach Patrick Ewing (@CoachEwing33), BIG EAST Executive Associate Commissioner Stu Jackson (@StuJackson32) and FOX Sports College Basketball Bracketologist Mike DeCourcy (@tnmike).   

The BIG EAST Spotlight shines down on Patrick Ewing (7:36) who gives his take on how the Hoyas have been able to play through a lot of adversity this season so far. Ewing highlights his players who have stepped up, “they have a strong belief in themselves.” The BIG EAST Focus narrows in on Stu Jackson (24:10). Jackson shares his insider view as he fills many roles during the season, including a sounding board for the BIG EAST coaches and the Ringmaster of the #BEtourney extravaganza that is about to begin at Madison Square Garden in March. Longtime college basketball writer for The Sporting News, Mike DeCourcy (35:53) joined FOX Sports this season as their No. 1 Bracketologist. DeCourcy evaluates @BIGEASTmbb from the bottom to the top as it looks like the BIG EAST could have at least six viable teams for the Big Dance in March.

TWITBE brings sounds of the game through #BIGEASThoops game audio highlights. John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) wrap up the latest news in the BIG EAST and previews what’s to come next week.

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This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) hosts John and Kevin welcome guests Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard, former Syracuse guard Lawrence Moten and CBS Sports Network college basketball analyst Steve Lappas.  

The BIGE EAST Spotlight shines on Willard, head coach of the league-leading Seton Hall Pirates. Seton Hall has a deep roster that includes a national Player of the Year candidate, a point guard who is tough as nails, a dominating center that protects the rim like few others can, and a versatile enough bench to pose matchup problems for just about everyone they face.The BIG EAST Focus narrows on Lawrence Moten, former Syracuse shooting guard and former BIG EAST scoring leader. His 25-year record was surpassed by Marquette’s Markus Howard this week. CBS Sports Network’s Steve Lappas gives the National Perspective. Lappas gives his take on all things @BIGEASThoops.

TWITBE brings sounds of the game through #BIGEASThoops game audio highlights. John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) wrap up the latest news in the BIG EAST and previews what’s to come next week.

*** Keep TWITBE No. 1! Make sure to rate and review. ***

This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) hosts John and Kevin welcome guests Marquette head coach Steve Wojciechowski, College Basketball Insider Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) and Pete Gillen (@Gillenhoops).

Fifty games have been played in the 2019-20 @BIGEASTmbb season as February gets started. In the BIG EAST Spotlight is Golden Eagle head coach Wojciechowski. Wojciechowski (7:58) talks about his All-American senior guard Markus Howard and how the season has progressed with the depth Marquette has assembled around him. The BIG EAST Focus takes a media angle in episode five with Daniels (24:49), who is the national recruiting director for 247sports.com as well as the FOX Sports National College Basketball Insider. Daniels paints the picture from an outside the conference angle and what BIG EAST fans have to look forward to in the future with incoming student-athletes. The National Perspective comes from CBS Sports Network’s Gillen (33:16). A former head coach at Providence and Xavier, Gillen shares the veteran perspective on how tough it is to game plan in a tough conference like the BIG EAST.

TWITBE brings sounds of the game through #BIGEASThoops game audio highlights. John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) wrap up the latest news in the BIG EAST and previews what’s to come next week.

*** Keep TWITBE No. 1! Make sure to rate and review. ***

This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) hosts John and Kevin welcome guests St. John’s head coach Mike Anderson (@Iron_MikeMA),Creighton junior guard Mitch Ballock and FOX Sports and CBS Sports college basketball analyst Bill Raftery.

In the BIG EAST Spotlight, Anderson (6:40) is the new coach on the block among the BIG EAST coaches. Anderson brings an up-tempo style and new culture of basketball to Queens after successes at Arkansas, UAB and Missouri. The BIG EAST Focus narrows on Ballock, the Bluejays’ sharp-shooter (22:50) who gives perspective on Creighton’s success so far this season and their improved defensive tenacity. A former Seton Hall head coach before he was a national college basketball analyst, Raftery is a favorite among @BIGEASThoops fans (33:56). Raftery takes the temperature of the league nationally midway through the league season.

TWITBE brings sounds of the game through #BIGEASThoops game audio highlights. John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) wrap up the latest news in the BIG EAST and previews what’s to come next week.

*** Keep TWITBE No. 1! Make sure to rate and review. ***

This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) hosts John and Kevin welcome guests Xavier head coach Travis Steele (@CoachSteeleXU), Providence senior forward Alpha Diallo and former BIG EAST Commissioner Mike Tranghese.

Steele (8:05) is in the BIG EAST Spotlight ahead of the Xavier-Creighton All-Access game on Sunday. The BIG EAST Focus narrows on Diallo (25:00) who talks about representing the U.S. in the Pan Am Games and the turnaround the Friars have had during conference play. Tranghese takes a look back on his favorite memories of BIG EAST play. (34:08)

TWITBE brings sounds of the game through #BIGEASThoops game audio highlights. John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) wrap up the latest news in the BIG EAST and previews what’s to come next week.

For the second episode of the This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE), hosts John and Kevin welcome guests Villanova head coach Jay Wright (@VUCoachJWright), Butler senior guard Sean McDermott (@big_sean14) and FOX Sports college basketball analyst Donny Marshall.

Wright (8:10) and the Wildcats have won four of the last six BIG EAST tournament titles and two NCAA championships. Villanova is coming off a midweek overtime win over DePaul right into a non-league game this weekend against past and future member Connecticut. Wright addresses the challenges of having a young team while looking to continue national prominence.

The BIG EAST Focus narrows on Butler’s McDermott (24:00) who has helped the Bulldogs to a Top 10 national ranking. McDermott emphasizes Butler’s dedication to becoming one of the best defensive teams in the country.  

Marshall (33:30) gives his take on the current @BIGEASThoops standings in the National Perspective breaking the teams down from the bottom to the top. Marshall, a former Connecticut forward, takes a look back on the last 40 years of the BIG EAST and the future, which includes the Huskies once again. Marshall gives his inside take on Connecticut under head coach Danny Hurley.

TWITBE brings sounds of the game through #BIGEASThoops game audio highlights. John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) wrap up the latest news in the BIG EAST and previews what’s to come next week.

*** Keep TWITBE No. 1! Make sure to rate and review. ***

Hosts John and Kevin welcome BIG EAST fans to This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) for the dawn of 2020. Earlier this week, the NET ranking had the BIG EAST as the No. 1 conference. Guests on the show inaugural show for 2020 is DePaul head coach Dave Leitao (@CoachDLeitao), Marquette senior standout Markus Howard (@markushoward11) and longtime college basketball writer, columnist and observer Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz).

Leitao (7:31) brings the BIG EAST Spotlight down on his Blue Demons, a program that is no longer flying under the radar a renaissance late last season with the CBI Finals and strong non-conference start in ‘19-20.

The BIG EAST Focus narrows on Marquette’s “marked man” Howard (24:23) who has picked where he left off less than a year ago averaging 26.8 points per game, leading the country in scoring.

Katz (35:45) gives the National Perspective from his seat as the national writer for NCAA.com and FOX Sports. Katz gives his take on what the BIG EAST has that has caught the eye of the country and why he ranked @BIGEASTmbb as the toughest conference in the nation. ”The BIG EAST has no bad teams.”

TWITBE brings sounds of the game through #BIGEASThoops game audio highlights. John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) wrap up the latest news in the BIG EAST and previews what’s to come next week.

*** Keep TWITBE No. 1! Make sure to rate and review. ***

The hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST are John Rooke, a well-known BIG EAST play-by-play voice for 29 years
and Kevin McNamara, who has covered the BIG EAST for 27 seasons at the Providence Journal and is a columnist
for Basketball Times. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied
tradition of the top basketball conference in America. This Week in the BIG EAST covers all things college basketball
at Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova, and Xavier.

There is only one day left of competition, five games to go until the end of the 2018-19 #BIGEASThoops regular season. No seeds are set for the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament. As many as seven teams can be considered for NCAA Tournament consideration depending on how the next week pans out. Guest interviews with John and Kevin this week start with Creighton head coach Greg McDermott. In the BIG EAST Spotlight (9:09), McDermott talks about his Bluejay team’s chances and the catalyst behind a late-season push. Creighton is one of five teams tied for third place in the league standings and enter Saturday on a four-game winning streak. In the BIG EAST Focus is BIG EAST Supervisor of Officials John Cahill (23:18). With a tight battle within the league this season every whistle matters, especially at this time of the year. Cahill spent 40 years running the whistles on the floor, including Final Fours and NCAA Championship games, feeling the “love’ of fans from all sides. Now he watches every BIG EAST game from all angles grading and analyzing the calls and non-calls. He joins John and Kevin to discuss his experiences. Washington Post reporter Ava Wallace (33:02) brings the National Perspective as a college basketball reporter. Wallace’s main subject is Georgetown, a team that finds itself in the postseason mix in head coach Patrick Ewing’s second season at the helm.

John and Kevin wrap with “Who’s Go Next” looking ahead to the notable games coming up on the final Saturday. Will Villanova clinch another regular season title? What are the possibilities for seeding for a tournament that starts in five days.

There are 13 games left on the #BIGEASThoops schedule and Episode 8 of #TWITBE continues with another lineup of heavy-hitting guests. With less than two weeks  to go, nothing in the bracket has been finalized.

The BIG EAST Focus narrows in on BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. Ackerman (23:01) gives insight on her relationships with and around the sport of basketball, including BIG EAST founder Dave Gavitt. Ackerman talks Pan Am games with USA Basketball, BIG EAST scheduling, conference balance and strength and what it would take for expansion to take place.  

In the BIG EAST Spotlight this week is Providence sophomore center Nate Watson (8:01). Watson has been a force down low with the Friars currently taking the inside-out approach in order to find some success.

The National Perspective comes from college basketball insider and author for WatchStadium.com’s Jeff Goodman (33:27). Goodman gives his take on the NCAA bubble the hot term for this time of year. Goodman gives his breakdown of the BIG EAST teams and where he thinks they can land in the postseason.

John and Kevin wrap up the week that was in the BIG EAST and look ahead to notable games coming up over the weekend.

Episode 7 of #TWITBE comes after a Wild Wednesday in the league, as Marquette takes over the top spot in the conference standings. In the Spotlight this week is DePaul Head Coach Dave Leitao. Leitao talks with Kevin and John about the unprecedented parity in the BIG EAST this season. The Blue Demons are in a three-way tie with Providence, DePaul and Creighton at 5-9 with a few games left before the end of the regular season.

The BIG EAST Focus narrows in on CBS Sports Network analyst Peter Gillen. Gillen, a former coach at Providence and Xavier, brings his perspective on “crunch time” in college basketball and the ups and downs that come with it.

Sticking with the media point of view, the National Perspective comes from FOX Sports basketball analyst Evan Daniels. Daniels gives his take on the talent across the BIG EAST with an eye on next year as this one winds down. Daniels also covers college recruiting for 247Sports and analyzes “the game within the game” discussing the new talent coming into the BIG EAST next year.

The BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament’s Broadway opening night is just four weeks away and like the Phantom of the Opera, the Lion King or even Cats, it looks like Villanova is settling in for another long run in the spotlight.  Threatening to steal a scene or two along the way would be Marquette, as the second place team in the standings, the understudies beat the Wildcats last weekend, giving Villanova its first loss this season after 10 wins to open league play.

Tied for third place in the standings sits St. John’s and in the #TWITBE BIG EAST Spotlight this week is head coach Chris Mullin (8:58). Mullin sees the Red Storm moving in the direction he wants, but to be where they expect to be come mid-March, St. John’s needs to rely on some grit to get there.

The BIG EAST Focus narrows on Butler guard Kamar Baldwin (23:50). Long gone are the days where Butler can sneak up on the basketball big boys across the country and pull off a surprise. Baldwin and Butler continually work on changing their mindset from being hunters to the hunted. The junior discusses Butler’s NCAA Tournament push.

Former Providence forward and current Westwood One NCAA Basketball radio analyst Austin Croshere (32:54) brings the National Perspective. A star at Providence in the late 1990’s, Croshere made a great career for himself in the pros and now works for Westwood One, where he will call this weekend’s Providence-Xavier game for the mass media company. Croshere gives his preview on the game as well as what is to come over the next few weeks.

Halfway through BIG EAST play, Villanova and Marquette have established themselves as the teams to beat. The Wildcats are unbeaten at 10-0. The Golden Eagles have suffered only two losses.

#TWITBE Episode 5 opens with the BIG EAST Spotlight on Butler head coach LaVall Jordan (6:49). In his second year at the helm of his alma mater, Jordan has Butler poised to make another run at an NCAA Tournament berth. Butler is coming off a 70-68 win over Seton Hall, which was the second ever FOX All-Access men’s basketball game with no commercials and mic’d up coaches.

The BIG EAST Focus this week welcomes a senior forward from the Red Storm, Marvin Clark II (25:16). Clark chronicles his journey to St. John’s from his tough upbringing through his transfer from Michigan State. He gives his insight on what it is like to be a transfer student-athlete.

The #TWITBE BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Providence head coach Ed Cooley (4:49) who was recently named coach of the Pan Am Games U.S. National Team, which will consist of all BIG EAST players.  Cooley also breaks down the Friars' standing in the league both in talent and game play. He also gives personal anecdotes of the life of a Division I coach.

The Focus narrows on DePaul senior forward Max Stus (21:36) who ranks in the BIG EAST top 10 in both scoring and rebounding.  Strus gives his background, his recruiting and transfer story from a Division II school and how he found his way to DePaul, just 40 minutes away from his hometown of Hickory Hills, Ill.

Halfway through league play Villanova and Marquette continue to rise above the mayhem and set the pace at the top of the league standings.  BIG EAST Senior Associate Commissioner Stu Jackson (32:50) joins John and Kevin to break down the BIG EAST and the influx of new talent across all 10.  Giving insight on the renewal and extension of the BIG EAST Tournament's home on Broadway, Jackson likens the long standing partnership with Madison Square Garden to "peanut butter and jelly"

Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard is in the #TWITBE BIG EAST Spotlight this week as hosts John Rooke and Kevin McNamara get his take on the difficult task of balancing the development of young players with winning in the BIG EAST. The Pirates have some notable non-conference wins this season over No. 9 Kentucky and on the road at Maryland, while retooling their previously veteran-heavy roster.

Guard play is the topic this week for the BIG EAST Focus and National Perspective. The Focus narrows in on Creighton sophomore guard Ty-Shon Alexander and Xavier radio analyst Byron Larkin, the Musketeers’ all-time leading scorer, gives the National Perspective. Alexander, one of the top young guards in the league, talks about his transition from high school to college and the adjustment from freshman to sophomore year. Larkin, who compares himself to Butler’s Kamar Baldwin, breaks down the play of the dominant young backcourt players around the league and also gives his birds eye view of the conference overall.

John Rooke and Kevin McNamara shine this week’s #TWITBE BIG EAST Spotlight on Xavier first-year head coach Travis Steele as he continues the momentum of the Musketeer program. At 36 and a 10-year former XU assistant, he is very familiar with the winning culture at Xavier.

Coming into the BIG EAST Focus this week is the familiar voice of FOX Sports college basketball analyst Tarik Turner. Turner, a former St. John’s men’s basketball captain and NCAA tournament competitor, he brings knowledge on the league from player, coach and in-studio insight.

NCAA Vice President of Men’s Basketball Dan Gavitt brings the national perspective this week as he helps break down the new NCAA Evaluation Tool, or NET, and what it means for teams and fans. Come March, the NET will become very top of mind.

With 25 BIG EAST games in the books, John and Kevin will wrap up the week that was in the league and what is coming up.

Season five of #TWITBE starts off in a BIG WAY as hosts John Rooke and Kevin McNamara welcome, Villanova head coach Jay Wright, Marquette star Markus Howard and national basketball analyst Andy Katz as guests for the first episode.

After a 76-71 win over St. John’s on Tuesday, Villanova improved to 3-0 in league play, coming off a difficult non-conference schedule. Wright and the Wildcats were picked to win the regular season league title after winning their second National Championship title in three years.

Marquette’s leading scorer Howard broke the single-game scoring record with 53 points in a 106-104 OT victory at Creighton on Wednesday.

Katz brings the national perspective as an analyst for both NCAA.com and FOX Sports. Katz talks about balance in the league this season and what teams have the potential to dethrone defending national champs ‘Nova

Hosts John Rooke and Kevin McNamara meet this week’s guests on the floor of Madison Square Garden, the home of the 2018 BIG EAST Tournament presented by Jeep. The tournament and March Madness are in full swing and the BIG EAST is right in the middle of it all. The BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Mack, head coach of the No. 1 seed in the tournament and 2018 BIG EAST Coach of the Year. Mack discusses the run his Xavier team has made the season en route to winning the regular season BIG EAST Championship. The BIG EAST Focus narrows on junior guard Brunson, Villanova’s leading scorer and the 2018 BIG EAST Player of the Year. The National Perspective comes from the Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Juliano. Juliano gives his thoughts on how the BIG EAST stacks up among other power basketball conferences and how Villanova has the ability to make a deep run in March..

Like what you are hearing? Rate and Review us on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher! Five star reviews for a five star Conference. Tweet your questions to John Rooke @JRbroadcaster and Kevin McNamara @KevinMcNamara33 and use the hashtag #TWITBE. Follow @BIGEASTmbb #BIGEASThoops #MarchToMSG.

The #MarchToMSG is nearly complete as #BIGEASThoops season comes to a close on Saturday. No tournament seeds are set going into the regular-season finale, but one thing is known, Xavier has clinched at least a share of the title. #TWITBE John Rooke and Kevin McNamara whip around the league and discuss where the standings are with one game left for all on Saturday. For the last episode before the tournament begins, John and Kevin bring in BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman for the BIG EAST Focus. Ackerman gives her insight on the excitement of the regular season and if that will carry over to next week’s tournament at Madison Square Garden. The BIG EAST Spotlight shines on St. John’s head coach Chris Mullin who talks about the Red Storm’s resurgence in February after a slow start in conference play, The National Perspective comes from Xavier’s all-time scorer and radio analyst Byron Larkin. Larkin gives an update on the current first-place Musketeers as they look to secure a No. 1 seed in the tournament with a win over DePaul on Saturday.

Like what you are hearing? Rate and Review us on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher! Five star reviews for a five star Conference. Tweet your questions to John Rooke @JRbroadcaster and Kevin McNamara @KevinMcNamara33 and use the hashtag #TWITBE. Follow @BIGEASTmbb #BIGEASThoops #MarchToMSG.