The Hall notches their first win in a big way.

January 20
DePaul (0-6) v. South Florida (2-4)
61-70 F
This game was pretty tight all the way through, with USF only having a five point lead at the half. DePaul went on a 12-3 run to start the second half, but South Florida took the lead back with around seven minutes remaining and they would hold on to take the game. DePaul’s star, Dar Tucker, had 19 points and five rebounds, but that was nothing as USF’s Dominique Jones had 26 points and ten rebounds. USF simply out shot DePaul, but not by much.

January 21
#21 Villanova (2-3) v. #3 Connecticut (6-1) (at the XL Center in Hartford, CT)
83-89 F
This was a fun match up, as Connecticut and Villanova always have good games. This game was tied at the half, but UConn pulled off the six point victory. Villanova put up quite an effort with five players in double figures. Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds had 14 points and five assists, while Dwayne Anderson had 15 points and eight rebounds. Connecticut’s AJ Price had a ridiculous night though with 29 points, five rebounds, and five assists. He hit ten of 13, and four of six from downtown. Jeff Adrien also contributed 12 points and 14 rebounds in a big Connecticut win that was exciting until the end.

Louisville (5-0) v. Rutgers (0-6)
78-59 F
This was not even close to being a game. L’ville was up by 20 at the half on the back of Terrence Williams who had a game high 23 points, as well as 11 rebounds. Rutgers’ leading scorer was Mike Rosario who scored 21 points. The story of this game boils down to the Cardinals shooting 59.2% from the floor, while lowly Rutgers could only manage 38.6%. Hence, Rutgers still has not won a Big East game.

January 22
West Virginia (3-2) v. #14 Georgetown (3-3)
75-58 F
Georgetown suffered from a four minute scoring drought near the end of the first half. They also had their worst shooting performance of the season, only making 39.2% from the floor. That means that the Mountaineers were never in danger of losing this one in the second half. They made smart shots and expanded their lead. The ‘Eers leading scorer was Da'Sean Butler with 27 points and eight rebounds. Chris Wright led for the Hoyas with 13 points. Either way, Georgetown loses a big one at home at the hand of Huggins’ squad.

Providence (5-2) v. Seton Hall (0-6)
98-93 F/OT
This one went into bonus basketball. Providence got up in the first half, but then had a three minute scoring drought near the end of it. It was back in forth all second half ending in one last possession for the Hall in which they just could not drive on the Friars. Jeremy Hazell let the Hall with 30 points, hitting seven three pointers. Five, almost six, Friars were in double digits in scoring, led by Jeff Xavier with 20 points. Stat of the game; Providence took 42 free throws and made 31. Christ that is a lot.

Cincinnati (3-4) v. St. John’s (1-5) (at Carnesecca Arena in Jamaica, NY)
71-60 F
St. John’s had an 11 point lead at the half, resulting from a two minute drought. Then St. John’s decided to not score baskets. They only scored 21 points in the second half, while Cincy scored 43. This was the textbook definition of half time adjustments as Cincy came out firing. St. John’s only scored nine points in the last 13 minutes. Paris Horne scored 20 for the Red Storm, while Deonta Vaughn had 23 for Cincy. The stars did their jobs, but St. John’s fell flat in the second half.

January 24
#3 Connecticut (7-1) v. #19 Notre Dame (3-4)
69-61 F
This was the biggest weekend match up. Notre Dame had won 45 times out of the last 45 games in the Joyce Center. After Saturday, that streak was snapped as UConn managed to outshoot Notre Dame 44.7% to 32.9%. Luke Harangody had a nice 24 points shooting fade away jumpers right over Thabeet. He only scored nine points and 11 rebounds. UConn chucked up a lot of three pointers that missed, only going six of 18, but they had a critical stretch along with a 13 to one run in the latter part of the second half to secure the Huskies victory. Jerome Dyson led UConn with 15 points and nine rebounds.

#21 Villanova (3-3) v. South Florida (2-5)
70-61 F
Late game scoring droughts are the theme of this week, as Villanova failed to score for around a three minute stretch late in the game and USF closed this already close game. But Villanova was clutch down the stretch and made their free throws. Dante Cunningham let the Wildcats with 14 points and eight rebounds, while USF’s Augustus Gilchrist led all scorers with 18 points and seven rebounds. ‘Nova shot 44%, while USF only managed 35.2% from the floor.

DePaul (0-7) v. #10 Marquette (6-0)
70-79 F
After about four and a half minutes in the first half Marquette took the lead and did not give it back. They led 48 to 34 at the half, and while they only finished up by nine, they were clearly the better team on the floor. Marquette led as much as 15, but DePaul played tough in the second half to lost only by nine. Jerel McNeal led with 21 points and had six steals for Marquette, while Dar Tucker had 18 points for DePaul.

Rutgers (0-7) v. St. John’s (2-5) (at Carnesecca Arena in Jamaica, NY)
59-70 F
St. John’s took the lead three minutes in and Rutgers battled back to close it to three in the last few minutes of the game. However, Rutgers failed to score within about the last three minutes and therefore had no chance to close the game. Paris Horne had 27 points for St. John’s, going 12 of 13 from the floor. Mike Rosario led for Rutgers with 16 points and five steals. Rutgers remains completely in the Big East.

January 25
#4 Pittsburgh (6-1) v. West Virginia (3-3)
79-67 F
This game was back and forth until 15:11 remaining in the second half when Pittsburgh took a lead with a pair of Sam Young free throws and flew to the finish. Four Pitt players had 11 points or more, with Sam Young earning 22. Da'Sean Butler had 21 points and six rebounds, but with WVU only shooting 41.1% to Pitt’s 53.6%, Pitt runs away with this one in the second half.

#14 Georgetown (3-4) v. Seton Hall (1-6)
60-65 F
WOOOOW. Seton Hall picks up their first win a HUGE upset of #14 Georgetown in New Jersey. This is the first win against a ranked opponent for Bobby Gonzalez. This game was tight all the way through but Georgetown faltered in shooting down the stretch, and the Hall players played smart basketball and got good shots. Greg Monroe had 17 for the Hoyas, but Hall’s Jeremy Hazell had 23 points and seven rebounds to lead Seton Hall to get their first Big East win against a big time team.

#12 Louisville (6-0) v. #8 Syracuse (5-3)
67-57 F
My postgame reactions here.

January 26
#8 Marquette (7-0) v. #22 Notre Dame (3-5)
71-64 F
Now that the flood gates are open, apparently everyone can win at South Bend. But to be honest, Marquette is a very good team. Notre Dame only scored three points in the last 2:15, which pretty much doomed them though. Luke Harangody contributed a whopping 29 points and 17 rebounds, but Marquette’s Jerel McNeal had 27 points. Three other Marquette players had 13 points or more as well. Marquette also limited Notre Dame to 36.4% from the floor, while they shot 43.1%. Marquette was just too good for Notre Dame at home.

Weekly Awards
Team of the week: Connecticut (Honorable mention to Marquette)

Player of the Week: Jerel McNeal

Best Game of the Week: January 24th – Connecticut v. Notre Dame

Worst Game of the Week: January 21st – Louisville v. Rutgers

Kudos of the Week: Seton Hall for getting their first Big East win in beating #14 Georgetown at home.

Shame of the Week: St. John’s for giving up an 11 point half time lead to let Cincinnati win on the road.

Editor’s Note: The Big East Report is a recap and summary of the week that was in the Big East. It runs every Tuesday or Wednesday right here at Orange::44. Got an idea you want seen on the Big East Report? Send an e-mail along to syracuseorange44@gmail.com.