BIG EAST STOCK REPORT: WEEK TWO

Big East Stock Report: Week Two
By Anthony Jaskulski

*All stats provided are conference games only unless otherwise noted.


1. Pittsburgh 15-0, 3-0, Stock: UP

National ranking: 1
Last game: W 90-67 vs. St. John’s
Next game: Jan. 14 vs. South Florida

Strong Point: The Panthers showcased their strength on the bench Sunday, getting productive minutes from wing Gilbert Brown and guards Jermaine Dixon and Brad Wanamaker, who combined for 32 points, including 17 from Dixon.

Area of Improvement: Pitt is 230th in the nation in free throw shooting, and just 61% from the stripe in conference play.

Overall Analysis: Even with forward Sam Young in a small shooting slump right now, Pitt is still finding ways to beat teams, and by large margins. The fact that the Panthers can rely on a big bench to step in for their starters makes them an even deadlier team. Pitt is making their mark as one of the deepest teams in the country.


2. Syracuse 16-1, 4-0 Stock: UP

National ranking: 8
Last game: W 82-66 at Rutgers
Next game: Jan. 14 at Georgetown

Strong Point: Forward Paul Harris averaged 20 points and 7.5 rebounds in two games against Rutgers and DePaul last week, shooting an astounding 68% from the field, proving to be yet another weapon in the Orange’s arsenal.

Area of Improvement: The Orange still continue to struggle on the offensive glass. Ranked in the bottom half in the conference with just 12 per game, Syracuse will need to open the door for more second chance opportunities as their schedule will only get more brutal down the stretch.

Overall Analysis: Leading the league in field goal percentage at 50%, Syracuse is getting productive numbers offensively from Harris, forward Arinze Onuaku and guard Jonny Flynn, who hasn’t committed a turnover in 40 straight minutes, making the Orange one of the best offensive units in the country.


3. Connecticut 14-1, 3-1 Stock: Rising

National ranking: 4
Last game: W 81-72 at Cincinnati
Next game: Jan. 15 at St. John’s

Strong Point: Guard A.J. Price stole the show for Connecticut Saturday at Cincinnati, going 8 of 12 from the floor with 22 points, advancing the Huskies to a perfect 8-0 record on the road.

Area of Improvement: Connecticut is still a shaky ball-handling squad. With a turnover margin of -1.50, surrendering nearly 13 a game, the Huskies have to do a better job taking care of the ball.

Overall Analysis: The Huskies are far away from their loss to Georgetown two weeks ago. With three big wins, including a 61-55 thrilling win at West Virginia last week, Connecticut is making it’s way back to a top contender in this league.


4. Marquette 15-2, 4-0 Stock: Rising

National ranking:
Last game: W 75-53 vs. West Virginia
Next game: Jan. 17 at Providence

Strong Point: Marquette continues to fly offensively. Led by guard Jerel McNeal, who tallied up 26 points on West Virginia Saturday, marking his fourth 20+ pt. performance in six games, the Golden Eagles have put up 75 or more points in seven of their last eight games.

Area of Improvement: Marquette is dead last in the Big East in offensive rebounding, averaging just nine per game.

Overall Analysis: Marquette is proving more and more that small teams can still win by big numbers. The fact the Golden Eagles could out-shoot West Virginia—who is a high caliber rebounding team—in the latter stages of the game Saturday, speaks in volume of the explosiveness of their offense.


5. Georgetown 11-3, 2-2 Stock: Falling

National ranking: 13
Last game: W 82-75 vs. Providence
Next game: Jan. 14 vs. Syracuse

Strong Point: Freshman center Greg Monroe has been on fire of late, coming up just two assists shy of a triple-double in the win against Providence Saturday.

Area of Improvement: Georgetown has been coming up well short in the rebounding department. They are dead last in the conference in offensive rebounding, pulling down just 10 a game, and just an average of 24 rebounds defensively.

Overall Analysis: The Hoyas are a physical team, that runs a very strong zone defense, but rebounding is a necessity, and that category, along with bad shooting and one shot per possession burned them in a loss at Notre Dame, and nearly lost them a home battle with Providence.


6. Louisville 11-3, 2-0 Stock: Rising

National ranking: 20
Last game: W 61-60 at Villanova
Next game: Jan. 12 vs. Notre Dame

Strong point: Guard Earl Clark and forward Terrence Williams posted double-doubles in Saturday’s win at Villanova. Clark had 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Williams finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Area of Improvement: The Cardinals are just down right awful from beyond-the-arc this year. They are shooting a Big East low 20% going just 10 of 50 in their two conference games.

Overall Analysis: It seems this is the time Rick Pitino’s team’s start coming out of their shell and lighting up conference play till early March. Louisville’s guard play has improved to solid numbers in the past few games, and unselfish ball movement and easy paint points have been the answer in their young Big East season.


7. Notre Dame 10-3, 1-1 Stock: Leveled

National ranking: 12
Last game: W 88-79 vs. Seton Hall
Next game: Jan. 12 at Louisville

Strong point: Forward Luke Harangody, who is leading the conference with 28.8 points per game, continues to put up astronomical numbers for the Irish. The senior has scored 20 or more points in his last eight games, including back-to-back 30-plus games. He also now has 12 double-doubles on the year.

Area of Improvement: Defense continues to be absent in South Bend. The Irish allowed Seton Hall to shoot 50%, only shooting 42% themselves, being saved by the line, in which Notre Dame shot 28 of 32 to secure the close home win on Saturday.

Overall Analysis: The Irish have one of the best tandems in the country with guard Kyle McAlarney and Harangody. Those two products have helped Notre Dame to a scoring offense that’s averaging a near 80 points per game.


8. Villanova 13-3, 1-2 Stock: Leveled

National ranking: 23
Last game: L 60-61 vs. Louisville
Next game: Jan. 18 vs. St. John’s

Strong point: The Wildcats have improved drastically in defensive rebounding so far this year, pulling down 25 per game, including out-rebounding their last two opponents this week.

Area of Improvement: Villanova is just 40% from the field in their three conference games this year, including a 20 of 53 performance (37.7%) from the field, going just 2 of 8 from beyond-the-arc Saturday in the loss to Louisville.

Overall Analysis: Despite a rough home loss to Louisville, and awful field goal percentages of late, Villanova is still a deadly offensive team with Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher, who can go off at any time. The Wildcats are sure to bounce back from their drought, and very soon.


9. Providence 11-5, 3-1 Stock: Rising

Last game: L 82-75 at Georgetown
Next game: Jan. 17 vs. Marquette

Strong point: Providence is getting key role performances from unsung heroes in this young Big East season. Center Randall Hanke is second in the league in field goal shooting, averaging 67%, while guard Marshon Brooks came off the bench to score a team-high 18 points vs. Georgetown Saturday.

Area of Improvement: Continuing to struggle on the boards, Providence is now -9 in rebounding margin per game. They were out-rebounded by Georgetown 38-27, and have only secured more boards than an opposing team once in conference play, 37-36 over DePaul

Overall Analysis: The Friars will just not be at the next level until team leaders Geoff McDermott and Sharoud Curry step up to their caliber of a year ago. They combined for 3 of 17 and just 11 points against Georgetown.


10. West Virginia 11-4, 1-2 Stock: Falling


Last game: L 75-53 at Marquette
Next game: Jan. 14 vs. Marshall

Strong point: The Mountaineers are one of the best teams in the league defending the three-point shot, holding opponents to just 23% this year, including keeping Marquette to just 5 of 17 in Saturday’s loss.

Area of Improvement: With a dreaded 39% from the field—worst in conference play—the Mountaineers were held to under 60 points in both losses last week.

Overall Analysis: West Virginia has taken a few steps back this week, with a home loss to Connecticut and a blowout collapse to Marquette. In both games, the Mountaineers combined to give up 85-60 on the boards, and shot under 40% in each contest.


11. St. Johns 10-5, 1-2 Stock: Level

Last game: L 90-67 at Pittsburgh
Next game: Jan. 15 vs. Connecticut

Strong Point: D.J. Kennedy has been a breath of fresh air for Coach Norm Roberts so far this year. He led St. John’s with an 18 point, seven rebound performance against Pitt, and is tied for 16th in the league with 15 points per game. He also leads the team in rebounding with 7.3 rebounds per game.

Area of Improvement: The Red Storm are tallying up just 64 points per game, second to last in the league. With Anthony Mason Jr. out for the year, and Justin Burrell continuing to struggle, it’s up to Kennedy to keep his team afloat right now.

Overall Analysis: Between injuries, and lack of talent, St. John’s is extremely tight on the bench, with hardly any depth to rely on. When one player is in a scoring rut, it seems the entire team suffers. Four of their starters had to play 32-plus minutes in the loss against Pitt due to the lack of depth.


12. South Florida 6-9, 1-2 Stock: Rising

Last game: W 80-58 at DePaul
Next game: Jan. 14 at Pittsburgh

Strong Point: The Bulls finally got the upper-hand in rebounding, grabbing 40-22 over DePaul on Saturday, and improving their road record winning two of their last four, after previously losing 23 straight road conference games before this year.

Area of Improvement: Free throw shooting and scoring offense is still a struggle for the Bulls, who are averaging a Big East worst 63.7 points per game, and just 61% from the free throw line.

Overall Analysis: If only South Florida could get their offensive act together, they wouldn’t be too bad of a team coming down the stretch. They are starting to wrestle down more rebounds, and tightening up defensively, allowing opponents to just 62.7 points per game.


13. Cincinnati 10-6, 0-3 Stock: Falling

Last game: L 81-72 vs. Connecticut
Next game: Jan. 14 vs. Rutgers

Strong Point: Guard Deonta Vaughn and forward Yancy Gates continue to carry the Bearcats this year. Vaughn is averaging a team-best 14.8 points per game, while Gates is leading with rebounds at six per game.

Area of Improvement: Cincinnati has given up 35 of 64 three-point field goals in their three Big East games, as well as landing dead last in Field Goal percentage defense and scoring defense.

Overall Analysis: Things are looking grimace for the Bearcats, who are struggling both on offense, with just 67 points per game and surrendering 80 points or more in the last three outings.


14. Rutgers 9-8, 0-4 Stock: Level

Last game: L 82-66 Syracuse
Next game: Jan. 14 at Cincinnati

Strong Point: Guard Mike Roasario is averaging a solid 17 points per game, 8th in the conference in scoring, and is leading the league in free throw shooting with a percentage of 88.9%.

Area of Improvement: The Scarlet Knights Assist/turnover ratio is just .86, and second to last in the conference, surrendering 13 turnovers a game, and -4.75 in turnover margin.

Overall Analysis: It’s not all bad for Rutgers. They may be on a five game losing streak, but those five losses were to all ranked teams, including giving battles to Marquette and Pitt.


15. Seton Hall 9-7, 0-4 Stock: Level

Last game: L 88-79 at Notre Dame
Next game: Jan. 18 vs. Connecticut

Strong Point: The Pirates, despite losing, outshot and out-rebounded Notre Dame, and got another solid outing from guard Eugene Harvey, who led four players in double figures with 21 points in Saturday’s loss.

Area of Improvement: Seton Hall is scoring at will, but defensive rebounds are keeping games out of their clutch. They are averaging just 19 per game, as well as giving up 88 or more points in their last four outings.

Overall Analysis: Defense better make an appearance in East Brunswick and quick, before another season lands Seton Hall on the wrong end of the conference standings.


16. DePaul 8-9, 0-4 Stock: Plummeted

Last game: L 80-58 vs. South Florida
Next game: Jan. 17 vs. Cincinnati

Strong Point: Forward Dar Tucker had 20 straight double figure performances, but was ended on Saturday against South Florida.

Area of Improvement: Along with just averaging 65 points per game, DePaul is also a lousy 56% from the free throw stripe, providing themselves no help in the scoring department.

Overall Analysis: The Blue Demons 12 point loss to South Florida is just a sign of worst things to come for one of the worst offensive teams not only in the league, but the nation.