Big East Blog

Big East Blog 12/3

 

There’s been a lot of talk lately about how improved the Big Ten looks, however it was the Big East that has quietly won six of the opening tournaments heading into December.  Looks like another year, another deep conference for the Big East…

Cold Player: Corey Fisher

 

Entering his senior year, Fisher has been out to prove that he could be "The Guy" in Villanova now that Scottie Reynolds is out of the picture.  So far, he’s proven to be "The Guy who shoots 1-10 against ranked teams", as he did in a loss against Tennessee this past weekend.  Fisher has struggled to find his stroke this season, shooting an ugly 35% from the field and a squeamish 20% from downtown.  With Corey Stokes and Malik Wayns playing alongside of him, you wonder if the three guard lineup is affecting Fisher’s rhythm.  The next big test for Nova doesn’t come until January 12th where the Wildcats take on Louisville, so Fisher has some time to warm up.

 

Top Five Playmakers

 

Chris Wright 2976

 

Wright gives you the same feeling of security you get when you set your house alarm at night.  With Wright running the offense, Georgetown gets reliable production and a trustworthy leader from the point guard position.  Leading the Big East in assists at 7.4 per game, Wright has shown he’s capable of scoring and making the plays for others that keep the offense in rhythm.  Capping off a 21 point, 10 assist game against the 8th ranked Missouri Tigers, Wright nailed a three pointer as time expired to send the game into overtime, where the Hoyas prevailed after Jason Clark got hot from behind the arch.  Wright’s ability to keep the offense from becoming stagnant, as well as his leadership and clutch play will be a key factor in the team’s success moving forward.  

 

Maalik Wayns 

 

Maalik Wayns has shown flashes of his great potential early in the season, averaging 14 points, almost 6 assists and an impressive 4 rebounds per game.  His upper body strength really bodes well for him in terms of success at this level, where it helps him on the boards and finishing at the rim.  At 5.8 assists per game he finds himself 3rd in the Big East, but Wayns must tone down his turnovers as he becomes more comfortable playing in a three guard offensive set.  His best game of the young season came against Boston University, where he scored 12 points, tallied 12 assists, grabbed 6 rebounds and turned the ball over only once.  Moving forward, he’ll need to tighten up his ball security and work on his outside game, which has been pretty shaky thus far.  His ceiling is high, so he should be an interesting prospect to watch for as conference play begins next month.  

 

Vincent Council

 

Council doesn’t get much publicity or face time on ESPN, but he is scoring 16 points per game and dishing out over 5 assists, leading the Friars to a 7-1 start.  Council loves to push the tempo, where he shows a nice touch in the lane and impressive vision in the drive and dish game.  Against Wyoming, Council dropped 29 points, including a 16-16 performance from the free throw line.  Look for the tandem of Council and guard Marshon Brooks to provide a few scares in some of the higher ranked teams in the conference.

 

 

Scoop’s been around for a while, but this is his first year as a fixture at the starting point guard position. Jardine may not be much of an NBA prospect, but he’s quick with the ball, excellent in transition and can make the pass that results in a bucket.  He’s scoring 11 points and averaging a excellent 7 assists per game, 2nd in the Big East next to Georgetown’s Wright.  He’s had his ups and downs shooting the ball, but after being selected to the men’s U.S. select team this summer where he was able to go up against the NBA’s elite, his confidence has looked much higher and it’s shown in his game.  With Jim Boeheim’s tight zone leading to turnovers and fastbreak opportunities, Scoop has found success making opponents pay in transition.

 

Brad Wanamaker

 

More a point forward than a point guard, Wanamaker operates as the playmaker for the Pitt Panthers, only he dribbles half as much.  His ability to keep defenders honest with three ball allows him to penetrate and hit the open man.  He’s a rare playmaker in that he operates from the wing, where he can break down defenses and use his excellent vision and sharp passing skills to create opportunities for his teammates.  He’s one of those guy who makes his teammates better, and despite lacking flash and explosiveness, his role is vital in regards to his team’s success.  

 

Notes:

 

– Rick Jackson for the Orange leads the Big East in rebounding at 13 per game while scoring about 13 as well.  He’s got great touch around the basket, and is looking to develop a bit more of a mid range game.  Heralded freshman Fab Melo on the other hand is averaging the same amount of points per game as he is personal fouls per game.

 

– Austin Freeman is scoring 21.7 points per game on 59% from the field and a whopping 56% from downtown.  Preseason Big East Player of the Year looks like a great call.

 

– West Virginia’s Casey Mitchell has come out of nowhere, scoring 22 points per game after only averaging 3.7 points in 8 minutes a game last season.  Sounds more like a Snapple Fact.

 

– Ashton Gibbs is having another strong year, scoring 18.6 points on 45% from behind the arch.  With Nasir Robinson, Gary McGhee and new addition Talib Zanna under the glass, along with Gilbert Brown and Brad Wanamaker on the wings, the Panthers look like the team to beat in the  Big East to start the season.

 

– Providence tandem Marshon Brooks and Vincent Council combine for an average of 35 points.  Council is averaging 16 and 5.3 assists, while Brooks is scoring 19 points and 8.5 rebounds.  

 

– Louisville opened the KFC Yum! Center with a 15 point beat down on last year’s National Champion runner up Butler Bulldogs.  After five games, Terrence Jennings has been huge on the defensive end, blocking 3.6 blocks per game to lead the Big East.

 

– Notre Dame is off to a hot start after losing the majority of their offense in Luke Harangody and Tory Jackson.  Ben Hansbrough and Tim Abromaitis are both averaging 15 a game, however Hansbrough is shooting 50% and Abromaitis is shooting 38%.