This Week In The Big East - Weekly Overview Of Ncaa College Basketball's Top Conference

Episode 7 of #TWITBE comes after a Wild Wednesday in the league, as Marquette takes over the top spot in the conference standings. In the Spotlight this week is DePaul Head Coach Dave Leitao. Leitao talks with Kevin and John about the unprecedented parity in the BIG EAST this season. The Blue Demons are in a three-way tie with Providence, DePaul and Creighton at 5-9 with a few games left before the end of the regular season. The BIG EAST Focus narrows in on CBS Sports Network analyst Peter Gillen. Gillen, a former coach at Providence and Xavier, brings his perspective on “crunch time” in college basketball and the ups and downs that come with it. Sticking with the media point of view, the National Perspective comes from FOX Sports basketball analyst Evan Daniels. Daniels gives his take on the talent across the BIG EAST with an eye on next year as this one winds down. Daniels also covers college recruiting for 247Sports and analyzes “the game within the game” discussing the new talent coming into the BIG EAST

The BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament’s Broadway opening night is just four weeks away and like the Phantom of the Opera, the Lion King or even Cats, it looks like Villanova is settling in for another long run in the spotlight.  Threatening to steal a scene or two along the way would be Marquette, as the second place team in the standings, the understudies beat the Wildcats last weekend, giving Villanova its first loss this season after 10 wins to open league play. Tied for third place in the standings sits St. John’s and in the #TWITBE BIG EAST Spotlight this week is head coach Chris Mullin (8:58). Mullin sees the Red Storm moving in the direction he wants, but to be where they expect to be come mid-March, St. John’s needs to rely on some grit to get there. The BIG EAST Focus narrows on Butler guard Kamar Baldwin (23:50). Long gone are the days where Butler can sneak up on the basketball big boys across the country and pull off a surprise. Baldwin and Butler continually work on changing their mindset from

Halfway through BIG EAST play, Villanova and Marquette have established themselves as the teams to beat. The Wildcats are unbeaten at 10-0. The Golden Eagles have suffered only two losses. #TWITBE Episode 5 opens with the BIG EAST Spotlight on Butler head coach LaVall Jordan (6:49). In his second year at the helm of his alma mater, Jordan has Butler poised to make another run at an NCAA Tournament berth. Butler is coming off a 70-68 win over Seton Hall, which was the second ever FOX All-Access men’s basketball game with no commercials and mic’d up coaches. The BIG EAST Focus this week welcomes a senior forward from the Red Storm, Marvin Clark II (25:16). Clark chronicles his journey to St. John’s from his tough upbringing through his transfer from Michigan State. He gives his insight on what it is like to be a transfer student-athlete.

The #TWITBE BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Providence head coach Ed Cooley (4:49) who was recently named coach of the Pan Am Games U.S. National Team, which will consist of all BIG EAST players.  Cooley also breaks down the Friars' standing in the league both in talent and game play. He also gives personal anecdotes of the life of a Division I coach. The Focus narrows on DePaul senior forward Max Stus (21:36) who ranks in the BIG EAST top 10 in both scoring and rebounding.  Strus gives his background, his recruiting and transfer story from a Division II school and how he found his way to DePaul, just 40 minutes away from his hometown of Hickory Hills, Ill. Halfway through league play Villanova and Marquette continue to rise above the mayhem and set the pace at the top of the league standings.  BIG EAST Senior Associate Commissioner Stu Jackson (32:50) joins John and Kevin to break down the BIG EAST and the influx of new talent across all 10.  Giving insight on the renewal and extension of the BIG EAST Tour

Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard is in the #TWITBE BIG EAST Spotlight this week as hosts John Rooke and Kevin McNamara get his take on the difficult task of balancing the development of young players with winning in the BIG EAST. The Pirates have some notable non-conference wins this season over No. 9 Kentucky and on the road at Maryland, while retooling their previously veteran-heavy roster. Guard play is the topic this week for the BIG EAST Focus and National Perspective. The Focus narrows in on Creighton sophomore guard Ty-Shon Alexander and Xavier radio analyst Byron Larkin, the Musketeers’ all-time leading scorer, gives the National Perspective. Alexander, one of the top young guards in the league, talks about his transition from high school to college and the adjustment from freshman to sophomore year. Larkin, who compares himself to Butler’s Kamar Baldwin, breaks down the play of the dominant young backcourt players around the league and also gives his birds eye view of the conference overall.

John Rooke and Kevin McNamara shine this week’s #TWITBE BIG EAST Spotlight on Xavier first-year head coach Travis Steele as he continues the momentum of the Musketeer program. At 36 and a 10-year former XU assistant, he is very familiar with the winning culture at Xavier. Coming into the BIG EAST Focus this week is the familiar voice of FOX Sports college basketball analyst Tarik Turner. Turner, a former St. John’s men’s basketball captain and NCAA tournament competitor, he brings knowledge on the league from player, coach and in-studio insight. NCAA Vice President of Men’s Basketball Dan Gavitt brings the national perspective this week as he helps break down the new NCAA Evaluation Tool, or NET, and what it means for teams and fans. Come March, the NET will become very top of mind. With 25 BIG EAST games in the books, John and Kevin will wrap up the week that was in the league and what is coming up.

Season five of #TWITBE starts off in a BIG WAY as hosts John Rooke and Kevin McNamara welcome, Villanova head coach Jay Wright, Marquette star Markus Howard and national basketball analyst Andy Katz as guests for the first episode. After a 76-71 win over St. John’s on Tuesday, Villanova improved to 3-0 in league play, coming off a difficult non-conference schedule. Wright and the Wildcats were picked to win the regular season league title after winning their second National Championship title in three years. Marquette’s leading scorer Howard broke the single-game scoring record with 53 points in a 106-104 OT victory at Creighton on Wednesday. Katz brings the national perspective as an analyst for both NCAA.com and FOX Sports. Katz talks about balance in the league this season and what teams have the potential to dethrone defending national champs ‘Nova

Hosts John Rooke and Kevin McNamara meet this week’s guests on the floor of Madison Square Garden, the home of the 2018 BIG EAST Tournament presented by Jeep. The tournament and March Madness are in full swing and the BIG EAST is right in the middle of it all. The BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Mack, head coach of the No. 1 seed in the tournament and 2018 BIG EAST Coach of the Year. Mack discusses the run his Xavier team has made the season en route to winning the regular season BIG EAST Championship. The BIG EAST Focus narrows on junior guard Brunson, Villanova’s leading scorer and the 2018 BIG EAST Player of the Year. The National Perspective comes from the Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Juliano. Juliano gives his thoughts on how the BIG EAST stacks up among other power basketball conferences and how Villanova has the ability to make a deep run in March.. Like what you are hearing? Rate and Review us on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher! Five star reviews for a five star Conference. Tweet your questions to Jo

The #MarchToMSG is nearly complete as #BIGEASThoops season comes to a close on Saturday. No tournament seeds are set going into the regular-season finale, but one thing is known, Xavier has clinched at least a share of the title. #TWITBE John Rooke and Kevin McNamara whip around the league and discuss where the standings are with one game left for all on Saturday. For the last episode before the tournament begins, John and Kevin bring in BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman for the BIG EAST Focus. Ackerman gives her insight on the excitement of the regular season and if that will carry over to next week’s tournament at Madison Square Garden. The BIG EAST Spotlight shines on St. John’s head coach Chris Mullin who talks about the Red Storm’s resurgence in February after a slow start in conference play, The National Perspective comes from Xavier’s all-time scorer and radio analyst Byron Larkin. Larkin gives an update on the current first-place Musketeers as they look to secure a No. 1 seed in the tournament with a

Just over one week remains in the #MarchToMSG. The BIG EAST Spotlight this week shines on Georgetown junior center Jesse Govan, who discusses Georgetown’s non-conference schedule and how it helped them prepare for being a threat in conference games so far this season. The BIG EAST Focus features ESPN College Basketball Analyst Jeff Goodman who discusses where the #BIGEASThoops fits in the national landscape and what teams from the league still have work left to get in the NCAA field of 68. FOX  Sports College Basketball Analyst Tarik Turner gives the national perspective from the point of view of a former St. John’s player. Turner talks about the resurgence of his alma mater, the Red Storm. Like what you are hearing? Rate and Review us on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher! Tweet your questions to John Rooke @JRbroadcaster and Kevin McNamara  @KevinMcNamara33 and use the hashtag #TWITBE. Follow @BIGEASTmbb #BIGEASThoops #MarchToMSG.

The #MarchToMSG gets closer as BIG EAST play winds down to just three weeks left. Hosts John Rooke and Kevin McNamara analyze the dog days of college basketball in February with this week’s guests Creighton head coach Greg McDermott, St. John’s sophomore guard Justin Simon and FOX Sports College Basketball Analyst Len Elmore. The BIG EAST Spotlight this week highlights Creighton head coach McDermott whose team is on the verge of another 20-win season. The BIG EAST focus sharpens on Simon, the Red Storm guard who has averaged 16.0 points over the last three games for streaking St. John’s. Simon talks about the Red Storm’s winning formula that has propelled them to consecutive wins over Duke, Villanova, Marquette and DePaul. The National Perspective this week comes from Elmore, as he gives his take on where the BIG EAST stands nationally and the number of potential bids the league could get this March. Like what you are hearing? Rate and Review us on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher! Tweet your questions to Joh

With less than a month to go in the @BIGEASTmbb season, the only known is – this league is strong and unpredictable. #TWITBE hosts John and Kevin have the inside scoop from around the conference. This week’s BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Seton Hall head coach Kevin Willard. Willard and the Pirates are hoping for a second-half surge during BIG EAST play as they sit in the middle of the standings at 6-5 but are receiving votes in both polls. “It’s brutal,” says Willard of the league’s toughness. The last shall be first – St. John’s defeated the No. 4 and No. 1 teams in the country in the last five days with Duke and Villanova. In this week’s BIG EAST Focus is former Wildcat head coach and current CBS Sports Network analyst Steve Lappas. Lappas was on the call as St. John’s upset Villanova in Philadelphia on Wednesday. The national perspective comes from Jon Rothstein. Rothstein gives his impressions of the parity of play in the BIG EAST as the perceived “underdogs” in the conference continue to improve and act a

BIG EAST play has officially surpassed the halfway mark of the season. This week’s #TWITBE guests have a lot to say to John and Kevin about potential NCAA contention for this March and what to look for in the next month leading up to conference tournament at Madison Square Garden. This week’s BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Providence head coach Ed Cooley. The Friars are off to a 14-8 start overall and 5-4 in league play at midway point. Cooley discusses his team goals and what he has in mind for the back half of league play. Cooley looks back on being one of the two coaches mic’d up for FOX’s All-Access game a few weeks ago.   The BIG EAST Focus this week features BIG EAST Senior Associate Commissioner Stu Jackson. Jackson gives his predictions on how many bids the BIG EAST could potentially receive in this season’s NCAA Tournament. Seton Hall  play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen joins #TWITBE with the national perspective. Cohen was on the call when Seton Hall big man Angel Delgado broke the BIG EAST all-time re

#TWITBE Episode 4 brings a pair of BIG EAST player standouts to the show with John and Kevin. This week’s BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Villanova junior guard Jalen Brunson, a standout on the floor for the No.1 Wildcats since he arrived in 2015. He has been named to the mid-season Oscar Robertson Trophy watch list, awarded to the nation’s best player. Butler senior forward Kelan Martin is in the BIG EAST Focus this week. Martin, who is fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring with a 19.7 average, is the driving force behind the Bulldogs. FOX Sports senior college basketball insider and recruiting analyst Evan Daniels has the national perspective this week, bringing attention to the parity in college basketball and how competitive the recruiting field has become for BIG EAST schools. Like what you are hearing? Rate and Review us on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher! Tweet your questions to John @JRbroadcaster and Kevin @KevinMcNamara33 and use the hashtag #TWITBE. Follow @BIGEASTmbb #BIGEASThoops #MarchToMSG.

This week’s BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Marquette head coach Steve Wojciechowski who discusses his team’s performance this season including stellar play of sharp shooters Markus Howard, Andrew Rowsey and Sam Hauser. The BIG EAST Focus lens zeroes in on former BIG EAST Commissioner Mike Tranghese, who helped BIG EAST  founder Dave Gavitt start the league. Tranghese shares his views on the current state of BIG EAST basketball and the evolution of the league.   “Onions!” The National Perspective comes from FOX Sports College Basketball Analyst Bill Raftery. Raftery summarizes league play thus far in 2018. With No. 1 Villanova back at the top of the BIG EAST standings, are the Wildcats a national championship contender?

On Friday, Jan. 12, the BIG EAST and FOX bring the first all-access mic’d up game to men’s college basketball when Providence travels to DePaul in an 8:30 p.m. tip on FS1. #TWITBE guests this week have all aspects of the game as John and Kevin interview DePaul head coach Dave Leitao, Providence guard Alpha Diallo and the man in the truck calling the game, FOX Sports Senior College Basketball Coordinating Producer Steve Scheer. Leitao will discuss his team’s performance this season as well as the opening of the Blue Demons’ brand new arena. Diallo, who has taken a prominent role for the Friars, discusses the potential of Providence, the team that upset then-No. 5 Xavier at home last week. Scheer, who has been the BIG EAST Tournament producer for the last four years, discusses the innovative new way FOX will be covering BIG EAST basketball this season.

BIG EAST play tipped off Dec. 27 and a #BOMBCYCLONE did not stop hosts John and Kevin from recording in their Foxborough, Mass. studio for the season four premier of #TWITBE. For the first episode of 2018, #TWITBE brings  the BIG EAST Spotlight on guest LaVall Jordan, the new head coach of the Bulldogs who has already made his mark with an upset over national then-No. 1 Villanova.  The BIG EAST focus zooms in on BIG EAST First Team honoree Creighton guard Marcus Foster, a Senior CLASS Award candidate averaging 19.4 points per game this season. The Athletic’s Senior National College Basketball Writer Dana O’Neil joins John and Kevin to discuss the national landscape of college basketball and the conference as a whole.

Coming to you courtside at Madison Square Garden for the BIG EAST Tournament presented by Jeep with head coach Chris Holtmann, Villanova guard Josh Hart and national college basketball writer for the Associated Press Jim O’Connell.  

The BIG EAST men’s basketball tournament is five days away! This is the final show before going courtside from Madison Square Garden. Guests for this week include BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman; one of the league’s top freshmen, St. John’s guard Shamorie Ponds and current college basketball analyst and former Seton Hall Pirates head coach Bill Raftery “Onions.”

This week’s radio show mixes past and present as the BIG EAST is nearly a week away from celebrating its 35th tournament at Madison Square Garden. Creighton head coach Greg McDermott joins Rooke and McNamara to talk about his present injury situation and how he has re-tooled his line up. Former Syracuse guard Eric Devendorf and ESPN Analyst, former UConn head coach Jim Calhoun join the show to talk about the infamous six-overtime tournament game between the Orange and Huskies in 2009.