COS's BIG EAST Preview
COS2000
I did an article on the Big East for a sports newspaper back east and they gave
me permission to put it out on the net. It consists of a team by team preview
and in the next post the All-Big East Team, POY and Predicted order of finish
in the Big East6 and Big East7. I did make one change after reading about
Georgetown's first exhibition game :)
Big East 7
Miami (8-10, 15-14)
The Hurricanes will miss Desma Thomas, but senior forward Octavia Blue (13.4
ppg. And 5.6 rpg) and junior forward Kym Hope (12.7 ppg. and 8.1 rpg.) should
provide the fire power to storm to the Big East 7 title. Hope may be as well
rounded a player as exists in Division I women's basketball, adding 53 blocks
and 45 steals to impressive scoring and rebounding stats. This summer, Hope
led the BIG EAST/Nike Summer All-Star Team in rebounding and was
second in scoring in a six-game competitive tour of Denmark and Sweden. Add to
this mix, sophomore guard Gina Graziani, Big East assists leader (6.8 assists
per game) and ranked 6th nationally. If coach Ferne Labati can keep her team
healthy, Miami is on the way to the Big East 7 title and a NCAA bid.
Rutgers (8-10, 11-17)
Head coach C. Vivian Stringer rebuilding process is continuing despite a few
bumps in the road. Forwards Kylie Martin and Susan Blauser left for Illinois
and former coach Theresa Grentz. Linda Miles was a non-qualifier. On a squad
dominated by freshman and sophomores, junior guard Tomora Young is the
returning top scorer (13.8 ppg) and rebounder (4.7 rpg). Freshman Parade
All-American Natasha Pointer will direct the offense from the point while
freshman center Tammy Sutton-Brown will anchor the post. Shawnetta Stewart, a
Prop 48 casualty returns at the guard spot.
Georgetown (9-9, 17-11)
Georgetown will be hard pressed to replace forward Ebiho Ahonkhai's 17.0 ppg.
With guard Kimberly Smith (10.9 pgg) transfer to N.C. State, the Hoyas will
need to re-load their potent offense. Coach Patrick Knapp has a wealth of
experience with nine returning letter winners, including three starters on
this year's team. With Kacy Williams and Kim Gallon, the Hoyas have an
abundance of backcourt talent. Junior forward Sylita Thomas was a consistent
performer last season with 10.9 ppg, while leading the team in rebounding
(7.4) and blocked shots (50). Add to this mix two freshman with great
potential: Suzy Bendegue 6-7 from Yaounde, Cameroon, and Porshia Jones 5-6
playmaker from Fort Lauderdale.
Providence (8-10, 13-14)
Replacing the 20.1 ppg and 7.6 rpg. provided by Nadine Malcolm, last year's
conference scoring champion, is the number one priority for the Friars.
All-BIG EAST Third Team senior forward Kerri Chatten is the only returning BIG
EAST player to finish among the top 10 in scoring (15.8 ppg) and rebounding
(8.2 ppg) last year. Providence had a top twenty recruiting class headed by
Dani Trippany, a 6-5 center from New York. The Friars are most likely a
year away from a run at the conference title.
Seton Hall (7-11,10-17)
Gone is three-time Kodak Honorable Mention All-American Dana Wynne, the top
rebounder in school and BIG EAST history. Junior forward Danielle Golay is the
top returning scorer (10.8 ppg) and rebounder (6.3 rpg). The Pirates have
more depth in the backcourt than any team in the league led by Christine Koren
directing the offense and Latoya Brookins at the off-guard.
Syracuse (4-14, 6-21)
Consistent scoring was the hallmark last season when four players averaged
double-figure scoring numbers. Three of those players are back. The backcourt
is set with senior guard Raquel Nurse (10.9 ppg 108 assists) and senior
Teakyta Barnes (11.9 ppg). BIG EAST All-Rookie Paula Moore dominates the front
court averaging 9.9 ppg and 7.9 rpg, while blocking 29 shots.
Pittsburgh (3-15, 8-22)
Despite losing two starters to graduation, the Panthers have an abundance of
talented returnees for the 1997-98 season. Senior center Latia Howard leads
the list of returnees with a 14.9 ppg and 7.4 rpg, while blocking 21 shots.
Joining Howard in the frontcourt will be junior Alecia Balich. If guard Gina
Montesano is fully recovered from her leg injury, she could help lift the
Panthers out of the BIG EAST7 cellar.
BIG EAST 6
Connecticut (18-0, 33-1)
Poised for it's 10th straight NCAA appearance and 5th straight BIG EAST
Championship, The BEAST of the EAST juggernaut keeps rolling along. The
Huskies won 33 straight games before suffering their only setback of the
season in a NCAA Elite Eight match up against eventual national champion
Tennessee. The team ended the season ranked No. 1 in the nation by the
Associated Press and No. 4 by USA Today.
Gone is the Associated Press Player of the Year, Kara Wolters, All-BIG EAST
performer Carla Berube and Freshman of the Year guard/forward Shea Ralph
(medical red shirt). But the Huskies are still ranked in the pre-season Elite
Eight.
Senior guard/forward All-America Nykesha Sales is the only returning member of
the 1996-97 All-BIG EAST First team and a pre-season nominee for National
Player of the Year. She averaged 16.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg 3.3 assists/game, and a
conference-best 4.2 steals/game. Sales enters her senior year with 349 steals
tied with Jen Rizzotti for the UCONN career steals record with one full season
left to play. Sales is ranked No. 5 on the UConn career scoring list
with 1,550 points (14.5/game) and needs 628 points in her final year to become
the school's all-time scoring leader.
This summer Sales led the United States club the United States World University
Games team in scoring (18.3 ppg) and helped them to win a gold medal in
international competition Sales attended try outs for the US Olympic team and
is part of the 22 player pool that will represent the US in international
competitions leading up to the Olympics.
Directing the offense will be senior guard Rita Williams (7.2 ppg, 113 assists
and 107 steals). Williams will be pushed hard for playing time by JUCO
transfer Tihana Abrlic, a 6-3 Junior Guard/Forward from Zagreb,
Croatia/Central Florida CC. Tihana led her team to 34-1 record last season
with 15.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, and 10.9 apg. Her international experience as a member
of the Croatian National Team as well as prior JUCO experience, should make
her an
immediate contributor for the Huskies. Also seeing some playing time will be
5-11 freshman guard Marci Glenney (Lisbon, CT), the Connecticut and New
England High School Player of the Year at Norwich Free Academy.
Sophomore Paige Sauer, who served as backup to Wolters last season, will start
at center. As a freshman she averaged 14.4 minutes per game and came on in
impressive fashion during the latter part of the season.
In the final eight games of the year, she averaged 10.3 points and 5.6 rebounds
per game.
She will be backed up by 6-5 freshman forward/center Kelly Schumacher (Quyon,
Canada). Schumacher averaged 20.8 points, 13.4 rebounds and 6.1 blocks a game
in her senior year as she helped lead her team to the Canadian national
championship. She was named the Canadian Athletic Association Player of the
Year.
Sophomore forward Stacy Hansmeyer will see more playing time in 1997. She
provides the Huskies with a physical player inside. 6-1 freshman forward
Svetlana Abrosimova (St. Petersburg, Russia) also joins the Huskies with a
strong background of international play. She was a member of the Russian
Junior All-Star team that won the 1995 and 1996 European Junior Championships.
She was named MVP of the 1996 European Junior Championship after averaging 18
points, six rebounds and three assists per contest.
She will be joined in the front court by top 75 player, 6-2 freshman forward
Jean Clark (Chino, CA). Clark averaged 17.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and five
blocks per game. She will see limited early action as she recovers from stress
fractures in her legs.
West Virginia (11-7, 19-12)
Alexis Basil inherits a team that won 19 games last season and has nine
returning letter winners including four returning starters. Senior guard
Talisha Hargis (17.9 ppg), a 1996-97 All-BIG EAST Second Team performer, was
the fourth leading scorer in the Big East last year. Joining her in the
backcourt will be juniors Rebecca Burbridge (10.9 ppg), Christie Lambert
(7.8), and sophomore Mandy Ronay. The Mountaineers also have junior forward
Maria
Tchobanova (15.2 ppg and 7.2 rpg), an All-BIG EAST Third Team honoree.
Sophomore transfer from George Washington Christin Annie should provide
additional help. Junior Ilse Opstaele (13.2 ppg and 4.4 rpg), a 6-5 post
player should shore up the post for Coach Basil. The Mountaineers should
provide a challenge for the young Husky team.
Boston College (13-5, 18-10)
Coach Cathy Inglese loses just one starter but it was an important one. Holly
Porter graduated as BC's all-time leading rebounder and the second-leading
scorer in BC and BIG EAST history. Guard Aimee McGuire (6.7 ppg and 3.3 apg),
a three-point specialist (30 of 70 three-point field goals) provides senior
leadership for this team. Sophomore Cal Bouchard (12.0 ppg), a unanimous
selection to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team last season is the best
playmaker in the league. In the frontcourt, junior center Whitney Steele (8.2
ppg, 4.2 rpg will anchor the middle. Junior Paula Bacso must step up for the
Eagles to make a run at a NCAA bid.
Villanova (8-10, 14-14)
Three returnees who started all 28 games for Villanova last year headline the
1997-98 roster: senior forward Jenn Beisel (10.1 ppg and 4.9 rpg), senior
guard/forward Jenny Higgins, and junior point guard Shanette Lee (7.3 ppg.,
5.4 apg.) . Joining this group will be sophomore Jenea Skeeters (12.8 ppg.,
4.0 rpg.). a BIG EAST All-Rookie Team selection. The Wildcats patterned
offense will give team fits, but Villanova lacks a strong inside game.
Notre Dame (17-1, 31-7)
Muffet McGraw lost two 2,000-point scorers when Beth Morgan and Katryna
Gaither, both now playing in the ABL, graduated. It does not appear that the
Irish can replace them, so 1997-1998 will be a rebuilding year. A talented
group of newcomers including centers Ruth Riley and Meaghan Leahy will have to
make immediate impact for the Irish to reach the NCAA tournament again. Senior
guard Mollie Peirick (7.9 ppg and 5.9 apg) is the lone starter to
return. She will be teamed with junior Sheila McMillen in the backcourt.
St. John's (St. John's 3-15, 5-22)
The turmoil continues at St. John's with five players not returning to the
team. This is compounded by the loss to graduation of Yvonne Wilson, the
team's leading scorer (11.3 ppg). Junior forward Andrijana Bedalov is the top
returning scorer (10.6 ppg) and was also second on the team in rebounding (6.9
rpg. Sophomore forward/center Tanya Mrdjen was the team's top rebounder last
season (7.2 rpg) and also chipped in 7.5 ppg. In the backcourt, senior
LaTricia Gunnells (6.8 ppg) returns as the mainstay from last season. Charlene
Thomas has to hope that her new JUCO recruits headed by Anitra Sanders,
Miami-Dade CC and Victoria Miller 6-4 Wallace State will provide some quality minutes or this could be another long season.
COS
"Life is meant to be celebrated not endured"
ama...@aagl.com
Thanks for posting this preview. I'm a west coaster and it's hard to keep
up with a lot of what's happening around the nation with other teams
other than the UConn's or Tennessee's. I'm a UCLA fan and Rutgers and
Seton Hall are both playing in the PAC-10/Big East Tournament in December
hosted by UCLA and USC at Pauley Pavilion. Nicely done.
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