2010-11 Men's Basketball Media Guide by Ben Fairclough

The BIG EAST Conference Media Guide Table Of Contents 2 3 4-6 7-10 11-12 13-16 19-27 28 29 30 31-97 34-37 32 34 35 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80 84 88 92 96 97-99 100-101 102 103-114 104 105 106-111 112-114 115-166 116-118 119-120 121-125 126-130 130-131 132 133 134-136 137-141 142-144 145-147 147 148-156 156 158 159 160-162 163-164 165 166

Media Relations Directory BIG EAST Media Services The BIG EAST Conference Profile 2010-11 BIG EAST Notebook 2010-11 Preseason Predictions The BIG EAST On Television BIG EAST Composite Schedule 2011 BIG EAST Championship 2011 BIG EAST Championship Bracket 2011 NCAA Championship THE TEAMS Cincinnati Bearcats Team Preview/Schedule/Quick Facts Coaching Information/2009-10 Results In the BIG EAST/Career Leaders Connecticut Huskies DePaul Blue Demons Georgetown Hoyas Louisville Cardinals Marquette Golden Eagles Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pittsburgh Panthers Providence Friars Rutgers Scarlet Knights St. John’s Red Storm Seton Hall Pirates USF Bulls Syracuse Orange Villanova Wildcats West Virginia Mountaineers Commissioner John Marinatto BIG EAST Staff BIG EAST Administrators BIG EAST Officials Bureau 2009-10 IN-REVIEW Standings & Championship Results BIG EAST Awards Individual & Team Statistics Individual & Team Superlatives THE RECORD BOOK Game and Season Records Top Performances Career Leaders Year-By-Year Statistical Leaders All-Time Coaches Records BIG EAST Coaching Records National Coaching Records Championship Results All-BIG EAST Honors Year-By-Year Standings BIG EAST NCAA Champions All-Time Postseason Appearances The BIG EAST in Postseason Play Postseason Awards All-America Selections Postseason Tournament Honors The BIG EAST & The NBA Attendance History The National Polls The BIG EAST By Season

www.bigeast.org

The BIG EAST Conference 15 Park Row West Providence, RI 02903 (401) 453-0660 – Communications BIG EAST Staff Commissioner Senior Associate Commissioner (Football & Marketing) Senior Associate Commissioner (Compliance & Governance) Senior Associate Commissioner (Administration) Associate Commissioner (Men’s Basketball) Associate Commissioner (Women’s Basketball) Associate Commissioner (TV & Men’s Basketball Scheduling) Associate Commissioner (Communications) Associate Commissioner (Olympic Sports) Assistant Commissioner for Compliance Assistant Commissioner/Women’s Basketball Officiating Senior Director of External Affairs Director of Business Affairs Director of Communications Director of Communications Director of Internet Services Director of Men’s Basketball Operations Director of Sport Administration Director of Sport Administration Assistant Director of Communications Assistant Director of Compliance Assistant Director of Sport Administration Coordinator of Football Officiating Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officiating Assistant to the Commissioner Senior Administrative Assistant for Basketball & Administration Administrative Assistant Administrative Assistant Receptionist Administrative Fellow Communications Assistant Communications Assistant Football & Video Administration Assistant Olympic Sports/Sport Administration Assistant

John M. Marinatto Nicholas V. Carparelli, Jr. Joseph F. D’Antonio, Jr. Donna DeMarco Daniel G. Gavitt Danielle Donehew Thomas R. Odjakjian John Paquette James A. Siedliski Jennifer M. Condaras Barbara M. Jacobs Benjamin E. Fairclough Susan S. Eaton Sara Naggar Chuck Sullivan Mark Hodgkin Shawn P. Murphy Robert A. Weygand, Jr. Kristen Brown Michael A. Coyne Kenneth A. Schank Sarah A. Emmett Terry McAulay G. Arthur Hyland, Esq. Lisa Zanecchia Lois DeBlois Wanda L. Factor Linda Yates Kathy Kirkpatrick Bernadette Bartlett Jared Hager Katie Parker Michael Costa Eddie Thiebe

Credits Editor: John Paquette Assistant Editors: Chuck Sullivan, Jared Hager, Sara Naggar, Michael Coyne, Katie Parker Design: John Paquette, Chuck Sullivan, Charles Guillette, Mary Ann Guillette Typesetting and Printing: Charles Guillette, Colonial Lithograph, Inc., Attleboro, Mass. Photography: Tom Maguire, Mitchell Layton, Stephen Slade, Bruce Schwartzman, S.R. Smith, Jerry Margolis, MSG Photo Services, NBAE/Getty Images, NBA Photos Special Thanks: The BIG EAST thanks the school media relations offices for their valuable assistance and cooperation.

2010-11 BIG EAST Media Guide—1

BIG EAST Media Relations Directory The BIG EAST Conference

15 Park Row West Providence, RI 02903 *John Paquette Associate Commissioner e-mail................................. jpaquette@bigeast.org Mobile................................ (401) 265-2244 *Chuck Sullivan Director of Communications e-mail................................. csullivan@bigeast.org Mobile................................ (401) 641-8760 Sara Naggar, Director of Communications Michael Coyne, Assistant Director of Communications Jared Hager, Communications Assistant Katie Parker, Communications Assistant

University of Cincinnati Richard E. Lindner Center 2751 O’Varsity Way Cincinnati, OH 4522-0021 (513) 556-5191 (513) 556-0619 – FAX *Mike Harris, Assistant Athletic Director e-mail................................. michael.harris@uc.edu Mobile................................ (513) 755-0022

University of Connecticut Harry A. Gampel Pavilion 2095 Hillside Road, Unit 1173 Storrs, CT 06269-1173 (860) 486-3531 (860) 486-5085 - FAX *Kyle Muncy, Assistant Athletic Director e-mail:................................ kyle.muncy@uconn.edu Home: .............................. (860) 267-7792 Mobile:.............................. (860) 208-8624

DePaul University Sullivan Athletic Center 2323 N. Sheffield Ave. Chicago, IL 60614 (773) 325-7546 (773) 325-7531 - FAX *Greg Greenwell, Director of Athletic Communications e-mail:................................ ggreenwe@depaul.edu Home:................................ (773) 343-3722

Georgetown University McDonough Gym 3700 0 Street, NW Washington, DC 20057 (202) 687-2492 (202) 687-2491 – FAX *Bill Shapland, Senior Sports Communications Director Mike “Mex” Carey, Sports Information Director e-mail:................................ shaplanw@georgetown.edu Home:................................ (703) 521-5535

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University of Louisville

St. John’s University

Student Activities Center Louisville, KY 40292 (502) 852-0112 (502) 852-7401 *Kenny Klein, Associate Athletic Director e-mail:................................ Kenny.Klein@louisville.edu Mobile:.............................. (502) 599-7685

Carnesecca Arena, Room 157 8000 Utopia Parkway Jamaica, NY 11439 (718) 990-1520 (718) 990-8468 - FAX *Mark Fratto, Associate Athletic Director e-mail:............................. frattom@stjohns.edu Mobile:........................... 917-698-0865

Marquette University Al McGuire Center 770 North 12th Street Milwaukee, WI 53233 (414) 288-4794 (414) 288-6519 - FAX *Scott Kuykendall, Assistant Athletic Director e-mail:..........................scott.kuykendall@marquette.edu Mobile:........................(414) 807-3490

University of Notre Dame 113 Joyce Athletic Center Notre Dame, IN 46556-5678 (574) 631-7561 (574) 631-4836 - FAX *Bernie Cafarelli, Assistant Athletic Director e-mail:................................ cafarelli.1@nd.edu Mobile: ............................. (574) 532-0249

University of Pittsburgh P.O. Box 7436 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (412) 648-8242 (412) 648-8248 - FAX *Greg Hotchkiss, Director of Media Relations e-mail:................................ ghotchkiss@athletics.pitt.edu Mobile:.............................. (412) 491-5296

Providence College Alumni Hall 549 River Ave. Providence, RI 02918 (401) 865-2759 (401) 865-2583 - FAX *Arthur Parks, Associate Athletic Director e-mail................................. aparks@providence.edu Mobile:.............................. (401) 378-7334

Seton Hall University 400 South Orange Avenue South Orange, NJ 07079 (973) 761-9493 (973) 761-9061 – FAX *Matt Sweeney, Assistant Athletic Director e-mail:............................. sweenemc@shu.edu Mobile:........................... (973) 943-8434

University of South Florida 4202 E. Fowler Avenue ATH 100 Tampa, FL 33620 (813) 974-7099 (813) 974-5328 - FAX *Amy Woodruff, Assistant Communications Director e-mail:............................. awoodruff@admin.usf.edu Mobile: .......................... (813) 410-1194

Syracuse University Manley Field House Syracuse, NY 13244-5020 (315) 443-2608 (315) 443-2076 – FAX *Pete Moore, Director of Athletic Communications e-mail:............................. pimoore@syr.edu Mobile:........................... (315) 952-5011

Villanova University Jake Nevin Field House 800 Lancaster Avenue Villanova, PA 19085 (610) 519-4145 (610) 519-7323 – FAX *Mike Sheridan, Director of Media Relations e-mail:............................. michael.sheridan@villanova.edu Home:............................. (610) 924-9042

Rutgers University Louis Brown Athletic Center 83 Rockafeller Road Piscataway, NJ 08854-8053 (732) 445-4200 (732) 445-3063 – FAX *Kevin Lorincz, Associate Director of Athletic Communications e-mail:................................ klorincz@scarletknights.com Mobile:.............................. (732) 801-4067

West Virginia University P.O. Box 0877 Morgantown, WV 26507-0877 (304) 293-2821 (304) 293-4105 *Bryan Messerly, Sports Information Director e-mail:............................. bryan.messerly@mail.wvu.edu Home:............................. (304) 599-5708

BIG EAST Media Services bigeast.org The BIG EAST Conference and XOS Digital, Inc., a leader in digital sports media, jointly announced a new partnership on July 1, 2010, resulting in an overhaul to the conference’s official website www. bigeast.org. The BIG EAST Conference’s relaunched site resides on a robust content management system that allows the site to be completely customized on the fly. The new site features a cutting-edge online video platform, a sleek new design, simplified navigation and a newly developed conference-wide regular season and postseason live statistics platform. The conference’s online video platform will retain its BIGEAST.tv branding, with fans driven to that URL to consume all of the conference’s live online and on-demand video offerings. Those offerings will now include new on-demand programming in the form of webisodes and vignettes produced in XOS Digital’s production facility in Orlando, Fla. BIGEAST.tv also will feature highlights of every nationally televised BIG EAST contest posted following the conclusion of every game, complete game replays of televised contests 72 hours post conclusion and other on-demand interviews and features. In addition, fans can access BIGEAST.tv for live streaming of certain conference championships, which will be offered free-to-consumer for the first time in 2010-11.

TWITTER & FACEBOOK Fans and media members are invited to follow the latest BIG EAST men’s basketball news through social media. The BIG EAST Twitter feed may be accessed @BigEastMBB and the conference’s official Facebook page is available @bigeastconference.

CHAMPIONSHIP CREDENTIALS Credential applications for the 2011 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Championship presented by American Eagle Outfitters will only be accepted online via the BIG EAST Championship Credential Web Site. An advisory will be sent to accredited media in January with specific instructions on the application process. All parts of this section are for media use only. Accredited media should contact the conference office for the address.

CONFERENCE Release Media members can access PDF files of the complete press release from the men’s basketball page of the conference website. The release is updated daily following each day’s games.

E-Mail Distribution Media members may contact the BIG EAST Conference office by phone (401-453-0660) or e-mail to be included on the league’s e-mail lists for releases and information for any sport. Please contact Chuck Sullivan in the conference office (csullivan@bigeast.org) with requests or questions.

TELECONFERENCE AUDIO – REPLAYS AND INTERNET The BIG EAST weekly teleconference will be available via the BIG EAST website. Users can listen to the live or archived audio. Check the BIG EAST website at BIGEAST.org.

WEEKLY AWARDS The BIG EAST names a Player and Rookie of the Week, as well as a Weekly Honor Roll, each Monday during the season. Winners are chosen from nominations provided by the BIG EAST sports information directors. The information is released from the BIG EAST office and will be listed in the conference release and be available on the league web site.

BIG EAST Weekly Teleconference The BIG EAST men’s basketball coaches will hold a teleconference for the media each Thursday during the basketball season, beginning Jan. 6. Each coach will be available for approximately eight minutes. Media representatives wishing to participate should contact the BIG EAST office or consult the weekly press release for the phone number. The 16 coaches will be broken up into two groups of eight. The “first” group will have teleconferences on Jan. 6, Jan. 20, Feb. 3, Feb. 17. 11:00 a.m. Buzz Williams, Marquette 11:08 a.m. Bob Huggins, West Virginia 11:16 a.m. Keno Davis, Providence 11:24 a.m. Jim Calhoun, Connecticut 11:32 a.m. Steve Lavin, St. John’s 11:40 a.m. Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh 11:48 a.m. Kevin Willard, Seton Hall 11:56 a.m. John Thompson III, Georgetown The “second” group will have teleconferences on Jan. 13, Jan. 27, Feb. 10, Feb. 24. 11:00 a.m. Jay Wright, Villanova 11:08 a.m. Stan Heath, USF 11:16 a.m. Mike Brey, Notre Dame 11:24 a.m. Mike Rice, Rutgers 11:32 a.m. Oliver Purnell, DePaul 11:40 a.m. Mick Cronin, Cincinnati 11:48 a.m. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse 11:56 a.m. Rick Pitino, Louisville

ANNUAL AWARDS All-BIG EAST First, Second and Third Teams, Player, Rookie, Defensive Player and Coach of the Year are selected by a vote of the league’s 16 head coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. A league Most Improved Player, Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete, Sixth Man Award and a Sportsmanship Award are also presented. The awards will be announced prior to the start of the BIG EAST Championship. The BIG EAST All-Academic Team is comprised of letterwinners who are starters or important reserves and have an overall grade-point average of 3.00 or better over the past academic year. The entire all-sports squad is announced in June after the conclusion of the academic year.

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BIG EAST Conference

West Virginia won its first BIG EAST men’s basketball title and advanced to the NCAA Final Four, while Villanova won the NCAA title in women’s cross country as part of a banner 2009-10 academic year.

The 2010-11 academic year will be the 32nd in the history of The BIG EAST Conference as the unique consortium marches on competing at the highest level with integrity and sportsmanship. The BIG EAST has gone through membership changes since its birth, but the 2010-11 year will mark the conference’s sixth straight with the same 16-member group, the nation’s largest Division I-A conference. The BIG EAST Conference’s goals have always been the same. The outstanding performances of the student-athletes at BIG EAST schools are evidence of the league’s proud tradition of success. The league has always been able to boast that many of its best students are also its best athletes. The 2009-10 year was no different. Seven BIG EAST student-athletes were named NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners. Maya Moore, Connecticut’s women’s basketball standout, won the NCAA Honda-Broderick Award as the nation’s top female student-athlete. She also was named the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year for women’s basketball. Moore was the fifth BIG EAST women’s student-athlete to win the Honda-Broderick Award. In the athletic arena, BIG EAST student-athletes again enjoyed success on the national stage. The Connecticut women’s basketball team won its second straight national championship and its seventh overall crown. The Villanova women’s cross country team also won the NCAA title. The Notre Dame women’s soccer team reached the NCAA College Cup for the second straight year. The Syracuse women’s lacrosse squad reached the Final Four. On the men’s side, West Virginia’s basketball team became the BIG EAST’s 16th team to reach the NCAA Final Four and won the conference’s academic achievement award. The Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team advanced to the NCAA championship game. Individually, three BIG EAST student-athletes won NCAA titles. Cincinnati’s Josh Schneider won the 50 freestyle in men’s swimming. In track, Louisville’s D’Ana McCarty repeated as the NCAA indoor winner in the weight throw. Louisville’s Matt Hughes won the 3,000 steeplechase. Another Cardinal, Austen Childs, was the national runner-up in men’s tennis singles. BIG EAST football maintained its national profile as a competitively balanced group. Cincinnati won its second straight league championship in 2009 and compiled an undefeated regular season. The Bearcats finished third in the final Bowl Championship Series

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standings. Six of the league’s eight squads went to bowl games and helped the BIG EAST post a 4-2 bowl record. Rutgers, one of the bowl winners, also was recognized for having the nation’s highest NCAA APR rating, which measures academic success. The BIG EAST has continued to produce student-athletes who are at the forefront of athletic and academic achievement. In 2009-10, 22 BIG EAST players from 10 schools were chosen to their respective ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Teams. Over 400 student-athletes have earned academic all-America honors. The BIG EAST became the nation’s largest Division I-A conference in 2005-06 when five new members began competing. The new schools were: University of Cincinnati, DePaul University, University of Louisville, Marquette University and the University of South Florida. BIG EAST institutions reside in nine of the nation’s top 35 largest media markets, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Tampa, Pittsburgh, Hartford, Cincinnati and Milwaukee. With its newest members, BIG EAST markets contain almost one-fourth of all television households in the U.S. Since opening its doors in 1979, the league has won 28 national championships in six different sports and 128 student-athletes have won individual national titles. In 2003-04, Connecticut became the first school in NCAA history to win the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball titles in the same season. In ’02-03, the BIG EAST became the first conference in NCAA history to win the men’s and women’s titles in the same year when the Syracuse men and the Connecticut women captured their respective national championships. In men’s basketball, BIG EAST squads have won three of the last 12 NCAA championships. BIG EAST women’s teams have taken seven of the last 11 NCAA titles. Proactive movement has been a signature strategy for the conference that was born in 1979. The BIG EAST continually turns challenges into opportunities to become stronger. In 2009-10, the BIG EAST added men’s lacrosse to its growing list of sports, which increased its total to 24 sport championships. The BIG EAST became a reality on May 31, 1979, following a meeting of athletic directors from Providence College, St. John’s, Georgetown and Syracuse universities. Seton Hall, Connecticut and Boston College completed the original seven school alliance.

BIG EAST Conference While the membership has both increased and changed, the focus of the BIG EAST has not wavered. The conference reflects a tradition of broad based programs, led by administrators and coaches who place a constant emphasis on academic integrity. Its student athletes own significantly high graduation rates and their record of scholastic achievement notably show a balance between intercollegiate athletics and academics. Any successful organization has had the good fortune to have outstanding leadership. The BIG EAST primarily was the brainchild of Dave Gavitt, who was the conference’s first Commissioner. Michael Tranghese, the league’s first full-time employee, and for 11 years the associate to Gavitt, became Commissioner in 1990. In his first year, he administered the formation of The BIG EAST Football Conference. In 2009-10, the BIG EAST had one significant change. Tranghese stepped down from his position on June 30, 2009. John Marinatto, who had served as senior associate commissioner, moved into the Commissioner’s chair and continued to steer the conference on its path of success.

The league has long been considered a leader in innovative concepts in promotion and publicity, particularly regarding television. Those efforts have resulted in unparalleled visibility for BIG EAST student athletes. The conference has enjoyed long-standing relationships with CBS, ESPN, Inc. and ABC. BIG EAST men’s basketball games are regular sellouts at campus and major public arenas, including the annual men’s BIG EAST Championship in Madison Square Garden. The women’s basketball championship has led all conferences in attendance for the past seven years. Attendance figures also are significant in soccer and baseball. More than 575 BIG EAST student-athletes have earned all America recognition and dozens have won individual NCAA national championships. The BIG EAST has been well represented in U.S. or foreign national and Olympic teams. Several athletes earned gold medals. The BIG EAST has its headquarters in Providence where the conference administers to more than 5,500 student-athletes.

A System Of Success - A Look At BIG EAST Achievements Since 1979-80 • Twenty-eight national team champions and 128 NCAA individual champions. • Sixteen Final Four appearances in men’s basketball, including NCAA titles by Connecticut in 1999 and 2004, Syracuse in 2003, Villanova in 1985 and Georgetown in 1984. • NCAA women’s basketball titles by Connecticut in 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009 and 2010 and Notre Dame in 2001. • Sixteen Final Four appearances in women’s basketball (Connecticut 1991, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010; Notre Dame 1997, 2001; Rutgers 2000, 2007; Louisville 2009). • National championships in football by Miami in 1991 and 2001. • Eight NCAA women’s cross country titles for Villanova, including the 2009 championship, and an NCAA-record six straight from 198994. • NCAA men’s soccer titles by St. John’s in 1996 and Connecticut in 2000. • NCAA women’s soccer titles by Notre Dame in 1995 and 2004. • NCAA women’s cross country title by Providence in 1995. • Appearances in the NCAA Men’s College World Series by Notre Dame in 2002 and Louisville in 2007. • NCAA Women’s College World Series appearances by Connecticut in 1993 and DePaul in 2007. • Two NCAA Woman of the Year award winners (Nnenna Lynch, Villanova, 1993; Rebecca Lobo, Connecticut, 1995). • Five Honda-Broderick Cup winners recognizing collegiate athletic achievement among women (Vicki Huber, Villanova, 1988-89; Rebecca Lobo, Connecticut, 1994-95; Jennifer Rizzotti, Connecticut, 1995-96; Cindy Daws, Notre Dame, 1996-97; Maya Moore, Connecticut, 2009-10). • The 1992 Heisman Trophy Winner (Gino Torretta, Miami). • Seven women’s basketball Wade Trophy winners (Shelly Pennefather, Villanova, 1987; Rebecca Lobo, Connecticut, 1995; Jennifer Rizzotti, Connecticut, 1996; Sue Bird, Connecticut, 2002, Diana Taurasi, 2003; Maya Moore, Connecticut, 2009 and 2010). • Two consensus National Players of the Year in men’s basketball (Walter Berry, St. John’s, 1986; Patrick Ewing, Georgetown, 1985). • Four Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy winners as the national men’s soccer player of the year (Chris Gbandi, Connecticut, 2000; Chris Wingert, St. John’s, 2003; Joseph Lapira, Notre Dame, 2006; O’Brian White, Connecticut, 2007). • Four Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy winners as the national women’s soccer player of the year (Cindy Daws, Notre Dame, 1996; Anne Makinen, Notre Dame, 2000; Kerri Hanks, Notre Dame, 2006

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

and 2008) and two NSCAA Division I Players of the Year (Jennifer Renola, Notre Dame, 1996; Sarah Whalen, Connecticut, 1997). The 2002 National Player of the Year (Erin Elbe, Georgetown) in women’s lacrosse. Two members of the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame (Dr. Leigh Curl, Connecticut ’85; Rebecca Lobo, Connecticut ‘95). Thirty-one WBCA First Team AllAmericans in women’s basketball. Twenty-four consensus all-America first team selections in men’s basketball. Thirty-nine consensus all-America selections in football. 2006 Winter Olympian in the bobsled. 2004 Olympians (U.S. and others) in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s swimming & diving and men’s and women’s track & field. 2000 Olympians (U.S. and others) in baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s diving, men’s and women’s track & field, women’s soccer and men’s and women’s swimming. 1996 Olympians (U.S. and others) in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s track & field, field hockey, men’s pentathlon, women’s soccer and women’s swimming. 1992 Olympians (U.S. and others) in men’s basketball, men’s track and field and women’s swimming. 1988 Olympians (U.S. and others) in baseball, men’s basketball and men’s and women’s track and field. 1984 Olympians in men’s track and field, women’s swimming and men’s basketball. Forty-two top five NCAA team finishes in men’s and women’s track and field. Fifty-nine NCAA individual event champions and 10 relay event champions in women’s track and field. Thirty-two NCAA individual event champions and 10 relay champions in men’s track and field. Thirty-one top-10 NCAA team finishes and 21 top-10 individual finishes in men’s cross country. Fifty-seven top-10 NCAA team finishes and 46 top-10 individual finishes in women’s cross country. Eight NCAA individual champions in women’s cross country and one NCAA individual champion in men’s cross country. Twenty-three NCAA individual event champions in men’s and women’s swimming & diving. National Academic All-American of the Year in softball (3), women’s basketball (3), women’s soccer (2), men’s basketball (2) men’s soccer (1) and women’s cross country and track (1).

2010-11 BIG EAST Media Guide—5

BIG EAST Conference BIG EAST Basketball Scholar-Athletes

BIG EAST Scholar-Athletes of the Year

2010 2009 2008 2007 2006

- Tim Abromaitis (Notre Dame) Maya Moore (Connecticut) - Alex Ruoff (West Virginia) Jill Stephens (Cincinnati) - Ted Talkington (West Virginia) Allie Quigley (DePaul) - Aaron Gray (Pittsburgh) Jenna Rubino (DePaul) - Johannes Herber (West Virginia) Megan Duffy (Notre Dame) 2005 - Craig Forth (Syracuse) Ashley Bush (Seton Hall) 2004 - Emeka Okafor (Connecticut) Courtney Mix (Villanova) 2003 - Emeka Okafor (Connecticut) Alicia Ratay (Notre Dame) 2002 - Carlton Carter (Virginia Tech) Nicole Conway (Boston College) 2001 - Ruben Boumtje Boumtje (Georgetown) Ruth Riley (Notre Dame) 2000 - Lavor Postell (St. John=s) Cal Bouchard (Boston College) 1999 - Rob Hodgson (Rutgers) Rebecca Burbridge (West Virginia) 1998 - Pat Garrity (Notre Dame) Raquel Nurse (Syracuse) 1997 - Ya Ya Dia (Georgetown) Kristyn Cook (Syracuse) 1996 - Adrian Griffin (Seton Hall) Jennifer Rizzotti (Connecticut) 1995 - Marc Molinsky (Boston College) Rebecca Lobo (Connecticut) 1994 - Arturas Karnishovas (Seton Hall) Rebecca Lobo (Connecticut) 1993 - Arturas Karnishovas (Seton Hall) Erin Kenneally (Syracuse) 1992 - Darren Morningstar (Pittsburgh) Wendy Davis (Connecticut) 1991 - Greg Woodard (Villanova) Carla Wenger (Boston College) 1990 - Stephen Thompson (Syracuse) Angela Alston (Syracuse) 1989 - Ramon Ramos (Seton Hall) Geraldine Saintilus (Seton Hall) 1988 - Mark Plansky (Villanova) Vera Jones (Syracuse) 1987 - Harold Jensen (Villanova) Kathy Sweet (Boston College) 1986 - Ron Rowan (St. John’s) Joannie Powers (Providence) 1985 - Michael Moses (St. John’s) Leigh Curl (Connecticut)

2010 2009 2008

- Francisco Aristeguieta, USF (Soccer) Meagan Dooley, Pittsburgh (Volleyball) - Zak Boggs, USF (Soccer) Jennifer Kleinhans, Connecticut (Field Hockey) - Jeremy Stultz, Pittsburgh (Swimming & Diving) Jillian Drouin, Syracuse (Track & Field) 2007 - Drew Eckman, Villanova (Track & Field) Jessica Javelet, Louisville (Field Hockey) 2006 - Trevor O’Grady, Rutgers (Track & Field) Kelly Harrigan, Rutgers (Swimming & Diving) 2005 - Guy Melamed, Boston College (Soccer) Nicole Lee, Georgetown (Cross Country/Track & Field) 2004 - Chris Wingert, St. John’s (Soccer) Vanessa Pruzinsky, Notre Dame (Soccer) 2003 - Casey Schmidt, Boston College (Soccer) Erin McIntyre, Rutgers (Swimming) 2002 - Gregory Strohmann, Seton Hall (Soccer) Jarrah Myers, Notre Dame (Softball) 2001 - Chris Hamblin, Boston College (Soccer) Ruth Riley, Notre Dame (Basketball) 2000 - Scott VanEpps, Pittsburgh (Swimming) Jenny Streiffer, Notre Dame (Soccer) 1999 - Angelo Ciminiello, Providence (Baseball) Gladys Ganiel, Providence (Cross Country/Track & Field) 1998 - Errol Williams, Notre Dame (Track & Field) Charity Wachera, West Virginia (Track & Field) 1997 - Christian Fogarazzo, St. John’s (Track & Field) Jen Renola, Notre Dame (Soccer) 1996 - Gil Kovalski, Miami (Tennis) Najuma Fletcher, Pittsburgh (Track & Field

1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985

BIG EAST Football Scholar-Athletes

2009 - Reed Williams (West Virginia) 2008 -- Conor Lee (Pittsburgh) 2007 - Brian Brohm (Louisville) 2006 - Jay Henry (West Virginia) 2005 - Garin Justice (West Virginia) 2004 - Vince Crochunis (Pittsburgh) 2003 - Nate Jones (Rutgers) 2002 - Matt Walters (Miami) 2001 - Kyle Johnson (Syracuse) 2000 - RaMon Johnson (Boston College)

2010-11 BIG EAST Championship Schedule

EVENT Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Men’s Soccer Women’s Soccer Field Hockey Women’s Volleyball Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field Women’s Basketball Men’s Basketball Men’s & Women’s Tennis Men’s & Women’s Golf Women’s Lacrosse Women’s Rowing Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Softball Baseball

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- Kevin Lyles, Seton Hall (Track & Field) Becky Spies, Villanova (Cross Country/Track & Field) - Sebastien Goulet, Syracuse (Swimming) Allison Williams, Pittsburgh (Track & Field) - Nnenna Lynch, Villanova (Track & Field) Hector Zamora, Seton Hall (Soccer) - Steve Holman, Georgetown (Track & Field) Kelly Larkin, Syracuse (Field Hockey) - David Honor, St. John’s (Baseball) Cami White, Providence (Field Hockey) - Siobhan Gallagher, Providence (Track & Field) Pat O’Kelly, Seton Hall (Soccer) - Chris Craft, Villanova (Swimming) Vicki Huber, Villanova (Track & Field) - Noreen Coughlin, Pittsburgh (Volleyball) Dave Echeverria, Villanova (Diving) - Karen Ferreria, Providence (Volleyball) Harold Jensen, Villanova (Basketball) - Joanne Kehs, Villanova (Track & Field) John Prior, Connecticut (Track & Field) - Leigh Curl, Connecticut (Basketball) Joey David, Pittsburgh (Basketball)

SITE Jamesville Beach Par, Jamesville, N.Y. Host: Syracuse Red Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J. Host: The BIG EAST Conference First Round (campus sites): Nov. 3 Quarterfinal (campus sites): Nov. 6 Yurcak Field, Piscataway, N.J. Host: Rutgers First Round (campus sites): Oct. 28 Quarterfinal (campus sites): Oct. 31 George J. Sherman Family-Sports Complex, Storrs, Conn. Host: Connecticut Fitzgerald Field House, Pittsburgh, Pa. Host: Pittsburgh Ralph R. Wright Natatorium, Louisville, Ky. Host: Louisville Stile Athletics Field House, Akron, Ohio Host: The BIG EAST Conference XL Center, Hartford, Conn. Host: The BIG EAST Conference Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y. Host: The BIG EAST Conference Courtney Tennis Center, South Bend, Ind. Leeper Park Tennis Center, South Bend, Ind. Host: Notre Dame Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club, Palm Harbor, Fla. Host: Innisbrook/USF Multi-Sport Facility, Washington, D.C. Host: Georgetown Cooper River Park, Collingswood, N.J. Hosts: The BIG EAST Conference/ECAC Jumbo Elliot Track, Villanova, Pa. Host: Villanova Ulmer Stadium, Louisville, Ky. Host: Louisville Bright House Field, Clearwater, Fla. Host: The BIG EAST Conference

Notre Dame’s Tim Abromaitis accepts the BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year award from Commissioner John Marinatto

DATES October 30 November 12 & 14

November 5 & 7

November 6-7 November 19-21 February 11-13 (diving) February 16-19 (swimming) February 19-20 March 4-8 March 8-12 April 28-May 1 April 16-19 May 5 & 7 April 30 May 6-8 May 12-14 May 25-29

BIG EAST Bits AMERICAN EAGLE NAMED PRESENTING SPONSOR OF BIG EAST HOOPS CHAMPIONSHIPS

American Eagle Outfitters will be the presenting sponsor of The BIG EAST Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships. As the presenting sponsor, American Eagle is designated as the Official Apparel Company of the BIG EAST and will receive prominent exposure inside and outside of the host arenas, Madison Square Garden in New York for the men and the XL Center in Hartford, Conn., for the women.

NBA DRAFT TAKES ELEVEN FROM BIG EAST

Eleven BIG EAST players were selected in the 2010 NBA Draft, matching the conference’s best showing since the draft went to a two-round format in 1988. Syracuse forward Wes Johnson, the BIG EAST Player of the Year, went fourth to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Georgetown center Greg Monroe was next, claimed by the Detroit Pistons with the seventh pick. Two more BIG EAST standouts went in the first round. USF’s Dominique Jones was the 25th pick, going to the Memphis Grizzlies who subsequently traded him to the Dallas Mavericks. With the 30th pick, the Washington Wizards tabbed Marquette’s Lazar Hayward and dealt him to Minnesota. Seven players went in the second round: Syracuse’s Andy Rautins (38th by New York), Cincinnati’s Lance Stephenson (40th by Indiana), West Virginia’s Da’Sean Butler (42nd by Miami) and Devin Ebanks (43rd by the Los Angeles Lakers), Notre Dame’s Luke Harangody (52nd by Boston), Rutgers’ Hamady N’Diaye (56th by Minnesota and traded to Washington), and Connecticut’s Stanley Robinson (59th by Orlando).

USF, PITT, CINCINNATI TOOK SUMMER TRIPS

The USF Bulls were chosen to represent USA Basketball in the Pan American Championships in Salvador, Brazil. The Bulls won the silver medal, falling to host Brazil 69-63. USF played five games in the event that was played under FIBA rules. Pittsburgh went on a six-game tour of Ireland and posted a 6-0 record. The final contest was an 82-69 victory over the English National Team. Cincinnati went to Ottawa, Ontario, and won all three games against Canadian foes McGill, Carleton and host Ottawa.

BIG EAST MAINTAINED ITS ELITE EIGHT STREAK

The BIG EAST is the only conference to place at least one team in every NCAA Elite Eight since 2002. Six different squads -- West Virginia (2010, ‘05), Louisville (‘09, ‘08), Georgetown (‘07, ‘06), Villanova (‘09, ‘06), Connecticut (‘09, ‘04, ‘02), Syracuse (‘03) and Pittsburgh (‘09) -- have accomplished the feat.

BIG EAST LEADS IN SWEET 16 APPEARANCES

With five Sweet 16 teams in 2009, the BIG EAST has had the most teams reach the regional semifinal round over the last seven seasons.

REGIONAL SEMIFINALISTS (2003-10) BIG EAST Big 12 Atlantic Coast

25 18 15

West Virginia won its first BIG EAST title on its way to the NCAA Final Four WEST VIRGINIA WON FIRST BIG EAST TOURNAMENT TITLE

West Virginia captured its first BIG EAST Championship crown on March 13 in New York. The Mountaineers, who were the tourney’s No. 3 seed, edged eighth-seeded Georgetown 60-58. Senior forward Da’Sean Butler was named winner of the Dave Gavitt Trophy as the Most Outstanding Player. Butler hit two game-winning baskets, beating Cincinnati 54-51 in the quarterfinals and the Hoyas in the championship game. In the semifinals, the Mountaineers defeated Notre Dame 53-51. Forward Kevin Jones made the All-Tournament Team.

SYRACUSE WILL PLAY IN THE JIMMY V CLASSIC

The BIG EAST again will be represented in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. On Dec. 7, Syracuse will meet Michigan State in the second game of a doubleheader on ESPN.

THREE FROM BIG EAST MADE ATTENDANCE TOP 10

Syracuse, Louisville and Marquette all finished in the top 10 nationally in attendance average last season. Syracuse was second with an average of 22,152 fans. Louisville was third with an average of 22,152. Marquette was 10th with a 15,617 average. Other BIG EAST schools that averaged more than 10,000 fans were: West Virginia (12,375-27th), Georgetown (12,040-29th), Connecticut (11,685-34th), Villanova (10,936-38th), and Pittsburgh (10,289-42nd). Last year, for the 30th straight season, Syracuse had the largest single-game crowd. The Orange hosted 34,616 fans on Feb. 27 against Villanova.

BIG EAST WELCOMES FOUR NEW COACHES

PITTSBURGH HAS THE LONGEST BIG EAST NCAA STREAK

The longest current streak of NCAA tourney bids among BIG EAST teams belongs to Pittsburgh. The Panthers have been to the last nine NCAA Championships.

Four new head coaches will be patrolling the BIG EAST sidelines in 2010-11. Oliver Purnell was lured to DePaul after serving at Clemson for the past seven seasons. The three New York Metropolitan schools all have new leaders. Steve Lavin, who had coached UCLA for seven seasons (1996-2003), moved from the broadcast booth to St. John’s. Kevin Willard takes over at Seton Hall after three successful years at Iona. Mike Rice begins his tenure at Rutgers after three seasons of success at Robert Morris.

SEC/BIG EAST INVITATIONAL RETURNS IN DECEMBER

WEST VIRGINIA MADE IT TO INDY

The BIG EAST and the Southeastern Conferences will participate in the SEC/ BIG EAST Invitational for the fourth straight year. The format includes two doubleheaders pairing schools from both leagues. ESPN is a partner in the agreement. On Dec. 8 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Seton Hall will meet Arkansas at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Notre Dame vs. Kentucky. On Dec. 11 at the new CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Rutgers will play Auburn followed by Pittsburgh versus Tennessee. Game times for the Pittsburgh site will be announced at a later date.

The West Virginia Mountaineers made it to the NCAA Final Four after winning the East Regional. In the East semifinals, the No. 2 seed Mountaineers toppled No. 11 seed Washington 69-56. In the final, WVU knocked off topseeded Kentucky 73-66. Guard Joe Mazzulla was named the East Regional MVP.

2010-11 BIG EAST Media Guide—7

BIG EAST Bits BIG EAST COACHES ARE HIGH ON THE LISTS

SYRACUSE, WEST VIRGINIA ADVANCED TO NCAA Sweet 16

Syracuse and West Virginia were the BIG EAST squads that advanced to the NCAA Regional Semifinals. Syracuse, the No. 1 seed in the West Regional, lost to No. 5 seed Butler 63-59 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

BIG EAST EARNS RECORD EIGHT NCAA BIDS FOR THIRD TIME IN LAST FIVE YEARS For the third time in the last five seasons, the BIG EAST received a record eight invitations to the NCAA Championship. The league also garnered eight bids in 2008 and 2006. This year, five BIG EAST selections were seeded on the top three lines of the bracket. Syracuse was a No. 1. Villanova and West Virginia were second seeds. Georgetown and Pittsburgh were No. 3 seeds.

AND THE NIT GRABBED FIVE MORE

Many BIG EAST head coaches continue to reside near the top of some of the NCAA’s all-time lists. On the Active Coaches by Victories list, Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim is second with 829 wins. Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun is third at 823. West Virginia’s Bob Huggins is fourth with 670 victories. In winning percentage, three BIG EAST coaches are among the top 10. Pittsburgh’s Jamie Dixon is third (.777), Boeheim is 9th (.739), and Huggins is 10th (.735).

Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun and West Virginia’s Bob Huggins are second, third and fourth, respectively among active NCAA coaches in career wins

BIG EAST AND THE FINAL FOUR

Including West Virginia this year, a BIG EAST team has made the Final Four 16 times in 31 years of competition. A BIG EAST squad has played in the national title game 10 times. The conference’s NCAA champions are: Georgetown (1984), Villanova (‘85), Connecticut (‘99 & ‘04) and Syracuse (‘03). The BIG EAST has won three of the last 12 national championships. In 2009, UConn and Villanova made the Final Four. Georgetown competed in the 2007 Final Four. Recent additional appearances were made by Louisville and Marquette just before both schools began competing in the BIG EAST in 2005-06. Louisville made it in 2005 and Marquette in 2003.

NATIONAL SEMIFINALS STILL SPECIAL FOR BIG EAST

The BIG EAST has an 8-4 record in the Final Four semifinals against non-conference opposition. Syracuse has the best semifinal record with a 3-0 mark. UConn has won twice -- defeating Duke (79-78) in 2004 and Ohio State (64-58) in 1999. Two losses for BIG EAST squads in the Final Four semis came when league teams played each other -- Syracuse beat Providence in ‘87 (77-63) and Georgetown topped St. John’s in ‘85 (77-59).

8—2010-11 BIG EAST Media Guide

Five more BIG EAST teams received bids to the NIT. Cincinnati, Connecticut, St. John’s, Seton Hall and USF accepted invitations which gave the BIG EAST a record 13 teams in the postseason. A BIG EAST team has won the NIT five times. The winners were West Virginia (2007), St. John’s (2003), Villanova (1994), St. John’s (1989) and Connecticut (1988). The BIG EAST placed six teams in the NIT in 2003 and 1997.

Augustus Gilchrist helped USF become one of nine BIG EAST teams to win 20 games in 2009-10

ALL-TIME NCAA RECORDS

Since the league began play in 1979-80, BIG EAST teams own a 263-160 (.622) record. The BIG EAST has had only one season when its teams had a combined losing record in the NCAAs. In 1992-93, the league was 2-3.

BIG EAST FINAL FOUR COACHES CLUB HAS SIX MEMBERS

Last year, West Virginia’s Bob Huggins reached the NCAA Final Four for the second time in his career. In 2009, Villanova’s Jay Wright became the sixth current BIG EAST head coach to participate in a Final Four while Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun was making his third trip at the same time. Calhoun’s previous visits were in 2004 and 1999. Louisville’s Rick Pitino is the only coach in NCAA history to lead three different teams to the Final Four: Providence (1987), Kentucky (1997, ‘96, ‘93) and Louisville (2005). Jim Boeheim has been to the Final Four three times with Syracuse (2003, ‘96, ‘87). Huggins also guided Cincinnati to the 1992 Final Four before the Bearcats were a BIG EAST member.Georgetown’s John Thompson III led the Hoyas to the Final Four in 2007.

BIG EAST Bits SYRACUSE TOOK BIG EAST REGULAR-SEASON TITLE

BIG EAST Returning Career Leaders

BIG EAST WAS 15-13 AGAINST RANKED FOES

Points Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall

1,058

BIG EAST squads compiled a 15-13 record against teams ranked in the top 25 of the two major polls. That was the best record against ranked foes of any conference.

Scoring Average Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall

19.6

FOUR DIFFERENT NO. 1 TEAMS OVER PAST TWO SEASONS

Rebounds D.J. Kennedy, St. John’s

312

The Syracuse Orange were the BIG EAST regular-season champions, compiling a 15-3 league record. It was SU’s first outright league crown since 1990-91.

Over the past two seasons, only the BIG EAST has had four different schools hold the No. 1 position in the national polls. Syracuse did it last year. Connecticut, Louisville and Pittsburgh did it in 2008-09.

TOP TEN REGULARS

The BIG EAST was represented in the weekly national polls all season long. Since the polls on Nov. 23, the BIG EAST has had at least three teams in the top 10. In the polls of March 15, Syracuse was fourth in the Associated Press and the ESPN/USA Today poll. West Virginia was sixth in AP and fifth in ESPN/USA Today. Both polls had Villanova ninth.

20 WINS NOT THE EXCEPTION

The BIG EAST had nine 20-win teams — West Virginia (31), Syracuse (30), Pittsburgh (25), Villanova (25), Georgetown (23), Notre Dame (23), Louisville (20) and USF (20). Cincinnati and Seton Hall finished with 19 victories and Connecticut had 18.

Entering the 2010-11 season, the following players have the highest career totals in their respective categories (conference games only).

Rebound Average Kevin Jones, West Virginia

6.1

3-Point Field Goals Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall

169

3-Point Field Goal % Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh

.432

Field Goal % Austin Freeman, Georgetown

.507

Free Throw % Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame

.870

Assists Brad Wanamaker, Pittsburgh

167

Assist Average Chris Wright, Georgetown

3.9

Blocked Shots Rick Jackson, Syracuse

Blocked Shot Average Terrence Jennings, Louisville

1.9

Steals Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall

Steals Average Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall

1.72

Cincinnati was one of five BIG EAST teams to play in the 2010 NIT.

2010-11 BIG EAST Media Guide—9

2010-11 In-Season Tournaments

Each BIG EAST school will participate in at least one in-season tournament this year. Here is a look at the schedule: Team Event First Game Cincinnati Global Sports Main Event Nov. 15

Other Teams Mount St. Mary’s, Florida A&M, Dayton, Savannah State

Connecticut Maui Invitational Nov. 22

Wichita State, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Virginia, Washington, Chaminade

DePaul 76 Classic Nov. 25

Oklahoma State, CS Northridge, Penn State, Stanford, Tulsa, UNLV, Virginia Tech

Georgetown Charleston Classic Nov. 18

Charlotte, North Carolina State, George Mason, East Carolina, Wofford

Louisville Global Sports Shootout Nov. 20

Marshall, Florida International, Chattanooga, Jackson State

Marquette O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic Nov. 22

Duke, Kansas State, Gonzaga, Princeton, Miami (Ohio), James Madison, Kansas State, Presbyterian, IUPUI, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Bucknell, Green Bay

Notre Dame Old Spice Classic Nov. 25

Georgia, Boston College, California, Manhattan, Temple, Texas A&M, Wisconsin

Pittsburgh 2K Sports Classic Nov. 18

Maryland, Texas, Illinois, Rhode Island, Illinois-Chicago, Navy, Louisiana Tech, Seattle, Charleston, UC Irvine, Toledo

Providence Cancun Challenge Nov. 18

Morgan State, Prairie View, Wyoming, Missouri, La Salle, Western Illinois, North Florida

Rutgers Philly Hoop Classic Nov. 15

Fairfield, Norfolk State, Saint Joseph’s, Wagner

Seton Hall Paradise Jam Nov. 19

Alabama, Iowa, Xavier, Long Beach State, Old Dominion, Saint Peter’s, Clemson

St. John’s Great Alaska Shootout Nov. 24

Ball State, Southern Utah, Drake Houston Baptist, Arizona, Weber State, Alaska Anchorage

Syracuse Legends Classic Nov. 16

Detroit, William & Mary, Michigan UTEP, Bowling Green, Albany, Gardner-Webb, Niagara, Mercer, Western Carolina, Georgia Tech

USF South Padre Island Invitational Nov. 21

Georgia Southern, Liberty, Saint Mary’s, Texas Tech, Brigham Young, Chicago State, Mississippi Valley State

Villanova NIT Season Tip-Off Nov. 16

Marist, George Washington, UCLA, Boston University, Pepperdine, Nevada, Pacific, Wake Forest, Hampton, Winthrop, Virginia Commonwealth, Tennessee, Belmont, Missouri State, Arkansas State

West Virginia Puerto Rico Tip-Off Nov. 18

Davidson, Hofstra, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky

10—2010-11 BIG EAST Media Guide

2010-11 Preseason Predictions Freeman Selected BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Georgetown guard Austin Freeman has been named 2010-11 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year by a vote of the league’s head coaches. It is the sixth time in league history that a Georgetown standout has captured BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year honors. Syracuse freshman Fab Melo was chosen BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players. Freeman, a 6-3½ three-year starter for the Hoyas, was an All-BIG EAST Second Team pick last season while helping the team compile a 23-11 overall record and a 10-8 league mark. The Hoyas also advanced to the title game of The BIG EAST Championship and earned a bid to the NCAA Championship. Freeman averaged 16.5 ppg and led all BIG EAST guards in field goal percentage, connecting on 52.5 percent of his attempts last year. He was fourth in the league in free throw shooting, making 85.6 percent. In conference games, he was even more effective, averaging 19.5 points and leading the league in 3-point shooting, making 51.9 percent. The other Hoyas to earn BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year honors were Roy Hibbert (2007-08), Alonzo Mourning (1991-92) and three-time honoree Patrick Ewing (1982-83, ’83-84 and ’84-85). Melo is a 7-0, 265-pound forward-center from Juiz de Forz, Brazil. In 2009-10, he played at Sagemont H.S. in Sagemont, Fla., where he earned McDonald’s All-American and Parade AllAmerican honors. In addition to Freeman, the Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team includes two members from last year’s All-BIG EAST Second Team and two from the All-BIG EAST Third Team. All five hail from the New York Metropolitan area, including three from the Bronx, N.Y. Pittsburgh’s Ashton Gibbs, a guard from Scotch Plains, N.J., was the BIG EAST Most Improved Player last season and a second-team all-conference selection. The 6-2 junior led the Panthers in scoring with a 15.7 average and was first in the BIG EAST in free throw shooting, making 88.4 percent. In league games, his 3-point shooting mark of 44.4 percent ranked third in the conference. Seton Hall’s Jeremy Hazell is the other second-team pick that is a preseason first team selection in 2010-11. The 6-5 senior is one of the three Bronx natives. Last season, Hazell finished third in the BIG EAST in scoring with a 20.4 average. In league games, he finished second in the conference scoring race, averaging 21.7 ppg. Going into the 2010-11 campaign, Hazell is the league’s active leader in points (1,058), 3-pointers made (169) and steals (93) in BIG EAST play. Connecticut’s Kemba Walker and Villanova’s Corey Fisher made the All-BIG EAST Third Team last season. Walker, a 6-1 junior guard, averaged 14.6 ppg last year. He led the league in steals with a 2.1 average and was second in assists with a 5.1 mark. Fisher averaged 13.3 ppg and a team-leading 3.9 assists. Walker and Fisher both finished second on their respective teams in scoring. Both call the Bronx, N.Y., home. West Virginia’s Kevin Jones helped spark the Mountaineers’ run to the NCAA Final Four last year and the school’s first BIG EAST Championship crown. A 6-8 junior forward from Mount Vernon, N.Y., Jones averaged 13.5 points and 7.2 rebounds. WVU finished the season with a 31-7 record. The Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team includes three seniors and two juniors. The seniors are Georgetown guard Chris Wright, Notre Dame forward Tim Abromaitis and St. John’s guardforward D.J. Kennedy. The juniors are Marquette forward Jimmy Butler and Syracuse forward Kris Joseph, who was the BIG EAST Sixth Man of the Year last season. Abromaitis and Butler earned BIG EAST Honorable Mention recognition. The 2010-11 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention group includes Cincinnati forward Yancy Gates, Marquette guard Darius Johnson-Odom and Syracuse forward Rick Jackson.

2010-11 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year Austin Freeman, Georgetown

2010-11 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year Fab Melo, Syracuse

2010-11 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team

Austin Freeman, Georgetown (Player of the Year), G, Sr., 6-3 ½, 227, Mitchellville, Md. Kemba Walker, Connecticut, G, Jr., 6-1, 172, Bronx, N.Y. Ashton Gibbs, Pittsburgh, G, Jr., 6-2, 190, Scotch Plains, N.J. Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, Sr., 6-5, 188, Bronx, N.Y. Corey Fisher, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-1, 200, Bronx, N.Y. Kevin Jones, West Virginia, F, Jr., 6-8, 255, Mount Vernon, N.Y.

2010-11 Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team

Chris Wright, Georgetown, G, Sr., 6-1, 208, Washington, D.C. Jimmy Butler, Marquette, F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Tomball, Texas Tim Abromaitis, Notre Dame, F, Sr., 6-8, 235, Unionville, Conn. D.J. Kennedy, St. John’s, G/F, Sr., 6-5, 214, Pittsburgh, Pa. Kris Joseph, Syracuse, F, Jr., 6-7, 207, Montreal, Quebec

2010-11 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention

Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, F, Sr., 6-9, 260, Cincinnati, Ohio Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette, G, Jr., 6-2, 215, Raleigh, N.C. Rick Jackson, Syracuse, F, Sr., 6-9, 240, Philadelphia, Pa.

2010-11 BIG EAST Media Guide—11

Previewing The 2010-11 Season Pittsburgh Chosen As BIG EAST Favorite Pittsburgh is the choice to win the 2010-11 BIG EAST regular-season crown in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Panthers, who finished 25-9 overall and tied for second place in the conference at 13-5 last season, collected 12 firstplace votes from the head coaches who did not place their own teams on their ballots. The Panthers return four starters from last year’s squad, including Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Ashton Gibbs. Coach Jamie Dixon’s club sits atop the preseason poll for the first time since 2006-07. Pitt is the only team in the conference to win at least 10 BIG EAST contests in each of the last nine seasons. Villanova follows Pitt in the poll in second place. The Wildcats had 208 points which included one first-place vote. Villanova tied the Panthers for second place in BIG EAST play last year with a 13-5 record and is coming off a 25-8 season. This year, the Wildcats are expected to depend on senior guard Corey Fisher, a Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team member, for production and leadership. Syracuse, last year’s regular-season league champion, was picked third. The Orange corralled a pair of first-place votes and a total of 187 points in the poll. In 2009-10, SU compiled a 15-3 BIG EAST mark after being picked sixth in the preseason poll. Coach Jim Boeheim directed Syracuse to a 30-5 overall record. The coaches placed Georgetown fourth. The Hoyas, who can lean on Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year Austin Freeman and three other returning starters, totaled 173 points in the poll. Georgetown finished 23-11 last year. West Virginia was slotted for fifth place. The Mountaineers won their first BIG EAST Championship last March and advanced to the NCAA Final Four. WVU’s final record was 31-7 overall, including 13-5 in conference play. This season, the Mountaineers can build around junior forward Kevin Jones, a Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team selection. St. John’s received one first-place vote and finished sixth in the poll. The Red Storm have not been picked higher than ninth in the preseason poll since 2002-03. St, John’s has 10 seniors and a new coach, Steve Lavin. The league coaches feel the Red Storm are capable of making a big jump. St. John’s finished 6-12 in league play last year and 17-16 overall. Notre Dame was in seventh place with 123 points. The Fighting Irish were 23-12 last year and 10-8 in the league standings. Louisville and Marquette tied for eighth place in the poll just behind the Irish with 121 points. The Cardinals and Golden Eagles also tied in the standings last year at 11-7. The coaches put Connecticut 10th and Seton Hall 11th. Both teams were NIT participants last season. The Huskies, who finished 18-16, had 113 points, while the Pirates, who were 19-13, garnered 104 points. Cincinnati took 12th place in the poll with 91 points. Last year, the Bearcats tied Connecticut for 11th place in the standings with a 7-11 BIG EAST mark. Cincinnati finished 19-16 overall and made the NIT. The coaches have tabbed Providence for 14th place followed by Rutgers and DePaul.

12—2010-11 BIG EAST Media Guide

2010-11 Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Pittsburgh (12) 2. Villanova (1) 3. Syracuse (2) 4. Georgetown 5. West Virginia 6. St. John’s (1) 7. Notre Dame 8. Louisville Marquette 10. Connecticut 11. Seton Hall 12. Cincinnati 13. USF 14. Providence 15. Rutgers 16. DePaul

Pts. 222 208 187 173 164 145 123 121 121 113 104 91 54 36 32 26

First-place votes in parentheses

All 16 Teams Will Come To New York The BIG EAST will send all 16 of its teams to New York for The BIG EAST Championship for the third straight year in 2011. The dates for the 2011 event at Madison Square Garden in New York are March 8-12. On Tuesday, March 8, seeds nine through 16 will square off in a pair of doubleheaders. The four winners will battle the teams seeded fifth through eighth on Wednesday, March 9. The tournament’s top four seeds await Wednesday’s winners in the quarterfinal round on Thursday. The semifinal round is Friday, March 11. The Saturday night championship game, a fixture on the New York sports calendar, begins at 9 p.m. ET. BIG EAST history says it is important to earn a bye into the quarterfinals. Syracuse and Pittsburgh are the only teams to have won BIG EAST tournament titles by earning four victories. Syracuse did it in 2006, defeating Pittsburgh in the final, while the Panthers won four straight in 2008.

BIG EAST Television BIG EAST’s Unprecedented Television Coverage Continues - More Than Half of Conference Games to be on National Television

More than half of the 144 regular-season BIG EAST Conference men’s basketball games will be seen on national television in the 2010-11 season, giving BIG EAST teams unprecedented exposure on the nation’s leading television outlets.

Some of the highlights of the current agreement: • S eventy-three of the 144 regular-season BIG EAST games will be on national television (either on CBS Sports, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU). • E ach of the BIG EAST’s 16 teams will make at least five national television appearances in conference games alone. • T he 2010-11 season is the fourth straight in which all 144 regular-season league games will be televised. • F orty-five conference games will be carried on ESPN or ESPN2. • C BS Sports will air four conference games and six nonconference games. • E SPNU, which has a reach of more than 73 million homes, will carry 24 conference games. • E SPN Regional will carry at least 13 nonconference games, 65 conference games under the banner of The BIG EAST Network and continue to produce its weekend Game of the Week package, which is available to more than 40 percent of the nation in approximately 47 million households. Most games offered on the BIG EAST Network are also available nationally as part of ESPN Full Court, the pay subscription college basketball outer-market service. • E SPN3.com, the network’s customized broadband service, will carry six league games in 2010-11. • E SPN or ESPN Regional will produce numerous non-conference home games. • T he BIG EAST will continue its regular presence on ESPN’s Big Monday as well as a regular presence on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Some additional television highlights of the 2010-11 schedule include: Big Monday – The eight BIG EAST teams that earned berths in the 2010 NCAA Championship will all make Monday-night appearances on ESPN, beginning with a Dec. 27 matchup between Connecticut and Pittsburgh. ESPN begins its Big Monday package with a Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Day doubleheader of BIG EAST games as Villanova visits Connecticut at 3:30 p.m., followed by Syracuse at Pittsburgh at 7:30. The package also includes a Feb. 14 date between West Virginia – the BIG EAST tournament champion and a Final Four participant in 2010 – and Syracuse, which won last year’s regular-season crown and reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. All games on the Big Monday schedule will be available on ESPN3. com. Wednesdays -- ESPN or ESPN2 will show 10 Wednesday games involving BIG EAST teams during the 10-week conference season. The Wednesday schedule begins Dec. 29 with Georgetown at Notre Dame. Eleven different BIG EAST teams will be featured in Wednesday games on either ESPN or ESPN2. Thursdays -- ESPN or ESPN2 will televise 10 Thursday games that will include 13 BIG EAST squads. The weekly Thursday night package starts with two intriguing nonconference games – Villanova against Temple Dec. 30 and Cincinnati against Xavier Jan. 6. The final Thursday of the season, March 3, has St. John’s at Seton Hall on either ESPN or ESPN2.

The BIG EAST has always been considered a leader in television. BIG EAST teams reside in nine of the top 35 media markets in the country.

Saturdays – ESPN or ESPN2 will telecast 14 BIG EAST games during the conference season. The Saturday schedule includes a doubleheader on the final day of the regular season when Louisville visits West Virginia and Notre Dame is at Connecticut March 5. Also, the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week package continues, mostly at noon ET. There is one Sunday telecast on ESPN, Marquette at Georgetown Feb. 13. CBS Sports -- The 10-game schedule on CBS Sports, which includes four league contests, five nonconference home games and one nonleague road date, will feature nine BIG EAST teams. The CBS Sports slate begins with Louisville hosting Kentucky in the new KFC Yum! Center Dec. 31. St. John’s appears in two nonconference games on CBS Sports – against Duke from Madison Square Garden Jan. 30 and at UCLA Feb. 5. The first league game on CBS Sports will be Feb. 19 with Notre Dame at West Virginia. Pittsburgh hosts Villanova March 5 to finish the regular season. The BIG EAST and CBS Sports have been formal television partners since 1985, the longest relationship of any conference and national broadcast network. ESPN GameDay – ESPN will take its signature College GameDay series to a BIG EAST campus again. Villanova will host Pittsburgh and the College GameDay crew at The Pavilion Feb. 12. ESPN Rivalry Week – No conference will appear more times on Rivalry Week than the BIG EAST. The week begins on Feb. 7 with Pittsburgh at West Virginia in a Big Monday battle. Rivalry Week concludes the following Monday, Feb. 14, with West Virginia at Syracuse. There will be at least one BIG EAST game on ESPN or ESPN2 every day of Rivalry Week except Friday, for a total of nine games. Holiday Week – The BIG EAST league schedule begins in earnest during the holiday week in late December on ESPN2. Connecticut will travel to Pittsburgh for the first conference game of the season Dec. 27. Marquette hosts West Virginia on New Year’s Day. In all, ESPN2 will carry seven games involving BIG EAST teams in the six days leading to the New Year, and CBS will televise Louisville against Kentucky Dec. 31. Jimmy V Classic – The BIG EAST will once again have a participant in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. ESPN will have BIG EAST regular-season champion Syracuse against Michigan State Dec. 7. SEC/BIG EAST Invitational – The fourth annual meeting between the two conferences will be carried by ESPN and ESPN2. On Dec. 8 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Seton Hall battles Arkansas on ESPN2 followed by Notre Dame and Kentucky on ESPN. On Dec. 10 at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh., Rutgers and Auburn square off on ESPN2 before Pittsburgh faces Tennessee on ESPN. Between the Jimmy V Classic and the SEC/BIG EAST Invitational, as well as nonleague games involving Georgetown, Marquette and Notre Dame, eight BIG EAST teams will appear on either ESPN or ESPN2 between Dec. 7-11. NBA All-Star Weekend Game – The BIG EAST again will be featured on ESPN on the Friday night of the NBA All-Star Weekend when Connecticut plays at Louisville Feb. 18.

2010-11 BIG EAST Media Guide—13

BIG EAST Television The BIG EAST on

DECEMBER 31

Fri.

Kentucky at Louisville

Noon

Maryland at Villanova Purdue at West Virginia Tennessee at Connecticut Duke at St. John’s

1:00 4:30 2:00 1:00

St. John’s at UCLA Notre Dame at West Virginia Syracuse at Georgetown Pittsburgh at Louisville

1:00 1:00 Noon 2:00

Villanova at Pittsburgh

4:00

JANUARY 15 16 22 30

Sat. Sun. Sat. Sun.

Jim Nantz

FEBRUARY 5 19 26 27

Sat. Sat. Sat. Sun.

MARCH 5

Sat.

Bill Raftery

Verne Lundquist

14—2010-11 BIG EAST Media Guide

Greg Anthony

Clark Kellogg

BIG EAST Television The BIG EAST on ESPN and ESPN2 NOVEMBER 16 Tue. 18 Thu. 19 Fri. 19 Fri. 21 Sun. 22 Mon. 22 Mon. 23 Tue. 23 Tue. 24 Wed. 24 Wed. 25 Thu. 25 Thu. 26 Fri. 26 Fri. 26 Fri. 28 Sun. .

St. John’s at St. Mary’s Butler at Louisville 2K Sports Classic Pittsburgh vs. Maryland 2K Sports Classic Pittsburgh vs. Illinois/Texas O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off West Virginia vs. Nebraska/Vanderbilt O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off West Virginia vs. TBD Maui Invitational Connecticut vs. Wichita State O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic Marquette vs. Duke O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic Marquette vs. Kansas St./Gonzaga Maui Invitational Connecticut vs. Mich. St./Chaminade NIT Season Tip-Off Villanova vs. TBD Maui Invitational Connecticut vs. TBD 76 Classic DePaul vs. Oklahoma State Old Spice Classic Notre Dame vs. Georgia 76 Classic DePaul vs. Virginia Tech/CS Northridge NIT Season Tip-Off Villanova vs. TBD Old Spice Classic Notre Dame vs. California/Temple 76 Classic DePaul vs. TBD Old Spice Classic Notre Dame vs. TBD

DECEMBER 4 Sat. 7 Tue. 8 Wed. 9 Thu. 11 Sat. 11 Sat. 11 Sat. 23 Thu. 27 Mon. 28 Tue.

N.C. State at Syracuse Jimmy V Classic Syracuse vs. Michigan State SEC/BIG EAST Invitational Seton Hall vs. Arkansas BIG EAST/SEC Invitational Notre Dame vs. Kentucky Georgetown at Temple SEC/BIG EAST Invitational Rutgers vs. Auburn SEC/BIG EAST Invitational Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee Wisconsin at Marquette Gonzaga at Notre Dame Georgetown at Memphis Connecticut at Pittsburgh Rutgers vs. North Carolina

Dick Vitale

2:00 am ESPN 8:00 ESPN 7:00

ESPN2

29 Wed. 30 Tue. 31 Fri.

7:00

ESPN2

JANUARY

TBD

ESPN/ESPN2

TBD

ESPN2

3:00

ESPN2

7:30

ESPN2

10:15 ESPN2 7:00

ESPN/ESPN2

7:00

ESPN2

TBD

ESPN/ESPN2