UConn Final Four Live Blog

After a very hectic week, I decided to make up for my neglect of the Big Beast and offer a live blog for the UConn vs. Kentucky Final Four clash. With Connecticut the last Big East team remaining in the tournament, it’s up to Kemba Walker and his band of Huskies to take on the sensational freshman Brandon Knight and the Wildcats in a battle of college basketball blue-bloods. Tipoff is set for just before 9 PM and the Big Beast will be there every step of the way to offer insight, analysis, and some good hearted trash talk. Check back for more this evening!

9:07 – Here we go! Introductions are under way and UConn is set to come out. And anytime I see Calipari I think of a slime ball in a well-tailored suit.

9:10 – Walker and Lamb really need to keep on their trailblazing path if they want to win this game tonight. Kentucky can score points in a hurry and UConn can’t afford a slip up from either of their stars.

9:13 – UConn switches it up on their first possession and goes down low. Easy bucket…but Jones gets the better of the Huskies on the opposite end.

9:15 – Lamb gets it going with a nice jumper, Calhoun needs to get his guys to clean up the defensive glass though.

9:20 – First TV timeout and Kentucky leads 10-8…Jones is killing them right now with a three-point goggle three and ugly fast break layup.

9:29 – Big block there for UConn, they need to assert themselves early…Kentucky can be intimidated.

9:35 – Kemba Walker! Thunderous move down the lane and a nice and-one for UConn.  Up by 5, 17-12.

9:37 – Timeout Kentucky…UConn is playing in-your-face defense and frustrating UK’s freshman trio…keep it going guys.

9:39 – Lamb to the hoop again. He looks good tonight, but Brandon Knight and Jones are fueling a 5 point Kentucky run. 23-19 Connecticut.

9:47 – UConn is really controlling the game right now. Kentucky is off-balance on offense and Walker and Co. get getting easy looks. Pretty similar to how UK finished the half against West Virginia earlier in the tournament.

9:51 – Right out of the timeout and UConn gets a layup from Lamb. Calhoun’s squad is composed at the moment and are playing far more aggressive than the Big Blue.

9:55 – Halftime. UConn leads by 10 (31-21) and is really dominating this game. Kemba almost has a double-double at the half and Lamb is playing equally as well. If the Huskies can make some adjustments defensively to keep UK off the glass, this game could get out of hand in the second half. Unlike their Big East counterpart WVU, UConn has to keep attacking the basket and working for easy looks to build off their lead over Kentucky. It will be interesting to see if Walker can continue to lead the team against what will be a UK offensive assault in the second half. But if there is one thing that Walker has shown all year, it is consistency. And that more than anything could (and should) lead the Huskies to the victory.

Big East Bubble Season

 

Steve Lavin has the Big Apple thinking Big Dance.

Photo credit New York Daily News.

It’s the time of seasonnnn for bub-bles…While that is a little play on the famous Zombies’ tune, this time of year in college basketball is the month of the bubble. Every team in the country is striving to gain an NCAA bid, be it by an auto-lock from a conference championship, spectacular play throughout the season, or an eye-opening February. ESPN and other networks talk a lot about mid-majors who are trying to impress the voters and NCAA Tournament selection committee, but one also has to look at middle-of-the-road BCS conference teams as well. And with that let’s jump right into the position(s) of several Big East teams who are looking to get off of, stay on, or get enough accomplished to be mentioned in the “Bubble Watch.”

BIG EAST LOCKS: Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Villanova, Connecticut, Louisville, Syracuse

ON THE BUBBLE:

St. John’s (16-9, 8-5) Current Big East standing: 7      Since the start of February: (4-1) Last 10 games: (6-4)

RPI: 16          Strength of Schedule: 2

Bubble Status: Almost a lock.

With the type of production and results from the Red Storm this year, one would think Steve Lavin was a seasoned coaching veteran who hasn’t missed a beat over the last decade. However, Lavin is just getting back to his former UCLA-self and has this senior-laden squad making noise in NYC for the first time in recent memory. Early season losses to St. Bonaventure and Fordham could have kept this team from the Big Dance, but over the last month and a half the Johnnies have scored major wins against Georgetown, Notre Dame, Duke (ranked #1 at the time), UConn, and two key road wins at West Virginia and Marquette. From having seen St. John’s in action myself this year, when this team is firing on all cylinders and is able to control tempo with their up-and-down pace, they are nearly impossible to beat. Now all St. John’s needs to cap off a rather surprising season is to hold steady in their last five games with matches against Seton Hall, USF, and lowly DePaul…plus there is room for another marquee victory with games against Pittsburgh and Villanova.

West Virginia (16-9, 7-6) Current Big East standing: T-9      Since the start of February: (2-3) Last 10 games: (5-5)

RPI: 23          Strength of schedule: 3

Bubble Status: High-bubble team.

This time last month West Virginia was celebrating a huge non-conference victory over Top 10 Purdue. But oh what a difference thirty days can make. The Mountaineers followed that Purdue win with a shocking loss to in-state rival Marshall (out-doing a loss at ACC bottom feeder Miami) and have looked out-of-sync offensively in recent Big East games. Troubled shooting guard Casey Mitchell returned to action recently and played exceptionally at Syracuse on Monday night, but it is his teammates that are having serious problems finding the net. While coach Bob Huggins can still rest on big victories against Vanderbilt, Georgetown, Purdue, and at Cincinnati; his Mountaineers probably wish they had sealed the deal in single-digit losses to Minnesota (-4), Pittsburgh (-5), at Marquette (-4), and at Louisville (-4) to give them a better profile for March. West Virginia boasts the toughest remaining schedule of any team in the Big East with four ranked teams remaining, plus an always strenuous trip to Rutgers.

Cincinnati (20-6, 7-6) Current Big East standing: T-9      Since the start of February: (2-2) Last 10 games: (5-5)

RPI: 47         Strength of schedule: 34

Bubble Status: High-bubble team.

Almost any time a Big East team has 20+ wins in a season (albeit with 5 games to play) it is a pretty good bet that team is a lock for the NCAA Tournament…almost. The only problem here is that Cincinnati played nearly no one out-of-conference, sans for a 20 point mauling of cross-town rival Xavier. Mick Cronin’s Bearcats started strong with a sterling 15-0 record, however since that time not much has gone right for Cincinnati in the Big East as the team has gone 5-6 over their last 11 games. Most of Cincy’s problems have come on the road against Top 25 teams, but every one of those losses came by double digits. Luckily the Bearcats defeated Louisville at home on Wednesday and own a two point victory at St. John’s as well. While I can’t imagine Cincy not making the Big Dance, they do need to get another quality W to really put them in contention…and that could come in a 2 games series with Georgetown or when UConn visits the Queen City.

Marquette (15-11, 6-7) Current Big East standing: 11      Since the start of February: (1-3) Last 10 games: (4-6)

RPI: 66        Strength of schedule: 9

Bubble Status: Squarely on the bubble.

Like West Virginia, Marquette has found the sledding a bit tougher over the last half of the season. Since an 18 point pummeling of Notre Dame, the Golden Eagles fell at Louisville by one (following a 15 point lead late in the game) and can only point to a home victory over struggling Syracuse as a meaningful victory. As in past seasons, Marquette has had their fair share of tough losses with single-digit setbacks against Duke (-5), Gonzaga (-3),  Wisconsin (-5), UConn (-8), at Vanderbilt (-1), at Pittsburgh (-8), at Villanova (-5), at Notre Dame (-5), and at Georgetown (-9). Though it may seem a bit ridiculous that I listed all of those losses, it goes to show that this team has been very close to winning a handful of these games and that they clearly have the talent and coaching to compete with nearly anyone. Marquette does boast wins of Notre Dame, Syracuse, and West Virginia (all in Milwaukee) but the chances to get another notable victory are running out with only an away game with UConn providing for NCAA resume material. Buzz William’s needs to get his squad to at least 19 wins by season’s end for his squad to go dancing and that could very well happen with two games remaining against Seton Hall and home dates with Providence and Cincinnati.

Rankings and standings courtesy ESPN.com, RPI Rankings from RealTimeRPI.com, and Strength of schedule from teamrankings.com.

WVU Adds Two

Breaking News – West Virginia University received two verbal commitments today for their 2010-11 football class. The commits come after an important weekend for the Mountaineers in which they had several high-profile players visiting.

The first commitment comes from Pennsylvania dual-threat QB Terrell Chestnut. The 5-10, 178 pound athlete had originally committed to play for West Virginia rival Pittsburgh, but reneged on his word following the Panthers’ coaching change(s). Chestnut’s commitment could prove pivotal for either side of the ball at the college level, as many recruiting services have him listed as a 3 to 4-star player at either the quarterback or safety position.

The Mountaineers second commitment is a rather surprising one. Florida running back Andrew Buie had reportedly narrowed his focus down to two schools, Louisville and Auburn. However, new WVU offensive coordinator and head coach in-waiting Dana Holgorsen and his staff must have impressed the Sunshine State speedster as his verbal comes a week after his first visit to Morgantown. Buie is considered a steal for WVU as nearly every major SEC program sought Buie’s 4-star services.

While it remains to be seen if either players will follow through with their commitments and sign with the Mountaineers on the up-coming national signing day, this must be viewed as good news to WVU fans. Clearly Holgorsen’s resume, and most recent success at Oklahoma State, is a key factor in bringing both of these standout players to Morgantown. Now to see if West Virginia can hold onto their big-name recruits, unlike in past years.

The Big Beast Blog will feature conference-wide coverage of national signing day on February 2, 2011. Remember to check back often for the latest in recruiting news and updates.

Source: Whipple UConn Head Coach

 

Is Mark Whipple UConn's top dog?

Photo Courtesy Miami Herald

The Associated Press reports that the University of Connecticut has selected former Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple as the next UConn head football coach. Whipple, 53, will replace longtime coach and UConn program–builder Randy Edsall as the Huskies’ head coach according to the source.

Whipple has a reputable history of coaching in the New England area with collegiate head coaching experience at UMass, where he won a Division 1-AA National Championship in 1998, New Haven and Brown. Following those stints, Whipple was a successful assistant in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers before Randy Shannon secured his services at Miami.

If the report holds true, UConn appears to have jumped on the offensive bandwagon as recent coaching hires at Big East brethren West Virginia and Pittsburgh were highlighted by blooming offensive minds. With former Michigan and West Virginia offensive coordinator Calvin Magee accepting the same position at Pittsburgh and offensive guru Dana Holgorsen directing West Virginia’s offense, UConn’s AD Jeff Hathaway clearly needed a break from Edsall’s conservative approach to scoring points.

While Miami didn’t always win under Shannon, Whipple’s offenses added flare and firepower that the Hurricanes had been lacking for nearly a decade. In his first season at Miami, Whipple oversaw an offense that produced nearly 5,200 yards of total offense and directed both the Hurricanes’ rushing and passing offenses to Top 50 finishes this past season.

News concerning an official announcement from the UConn athletic department could come in the next few days and TheBigBeast Blog will have instant analysis and coverage of this potential coaching move.