Feast Week was full of excitement, but not for the Big East. In the two weeks of multi-team events (MTEs), the Big East went 7-12. That is abysmal for a conference with high expectations for the season.
Among the worst teams during this time were UConn and Providence. In the Maui Invitational, the Huskies collapsed, losing to Memphis, Colorado and Dayton in three days. The national media criticized coach Dan Hurley’s behavior on the sideline and made fun of the fall of the back-to-back champions. It was the first time the Huskies lost three consecutive games since the dreaded January 2023 stretch. But the national spotlight was on the Huskies as they had the easier side of the bracket on paper (Memphis is going to be excellent this season, however).
Providence has yet to play star forward Bryce Hopkins, who could make the team significantly better. Instead, the Friars went 0-3 in the Battle 4 Atlantis, losing to Oklahoma, Davidson and Indiana.
The last thing I want to note is that legendary St. John’s coach Lou Carnesecca, 99, passed away on Saturday. He was well-liked by most in a league full of fierce rivalries and competitors and was one of the most impactful coaches in his 13 seasons in the Big East. Not only was he the greatest coach in St. John’s men’s basketball history but he was an even better person and mentor to the players coached, the coaches he went up against, the coaches who he shared the bench with and the coaches that came to coach the Red Storm after he retired in 1992, also the year he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. My condolences go out to his family, friends, players and everyone surrounding the St. John’s men’s basketball program.
Best Game: Jeremy Roach hits buzzer-beating 3-pointer as No. 13 Baylor stuns No. 22 St. John’s in double overtime
In the Baha Mar Hoops tournament, St. John’s led by as many as 18 points. They led by five points with 18 seconds left before disaster struck. Utah transfer Deivon Smith made one of two free throws to give the Red Storm a 98-93 lead. Baylor freshman VJ Edgecombe knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to two and then fouled Zuby Ejiofor, who went on to miss both free throws. Even though former Seton Hall guard Kadary Richmond was the hero at the end of regulation for the Johnnies, forcing overtime with a jumper with seven seconds left, former Duke guard Jeremy Roach got the last laugh, drilling a 3-pointer at the end of the second overtime to give the Bears a 99-98 win.
Weekly Awards
Player of Feast Week: Kam Jones, G, Marquette (22.7 ppg, 6.3 apg, 3.7 rpg, 2.3 spg, 69.2 FG%, 52.9 3P%, 71.4 FT%)
Butler forward Jahmyl Telfort was named the MVP of the Arizona Tip-Off, resulting in him receiving Monday’s Big East Player of the Week honor. However, this edition of Big East Baller Update recaps the past two weeks of college basketball. Marquette has not lost this season thanks to him. The senior from Memphis, Tenn. is averaging 19.6 points, 6.3 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He is also shooting 65.3% from the field, 45.5% from deep and 70% from the free throw line. What put Jones over Telfort was his triple-double performance against No. 6 Purdue. He scored 17 points, brought down 13 rebounds and handed out 10 assists in the 76-58 win over the Boilermakers while going 7-12 from the field.
Freshman of Feast Week: Thomas Sorber, F, Georgetown (11.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2 spg, 1.8 bpg, 68.9 FG%, 50 3P%, 57.1 FT% in four games)
There was no question about who deserved to be the Big East Freshman of Feast Week. Sorber was named the Big East Freshman of the Week for the last two weeks and has recorded three double doubles this season. Georgetown is doing well despite their competition, currently on a four-game winning streak. The Trenton, N.J. native’s best performance of the last two weeks came in Saturday’s win over UAlbany, scoring 14 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, dishing out four assists and stealing the ball twice. Sorber is averaging 14.7 points and nine rebounds per game this season and began his college career with two 20+ point outings in wins over Lehigh and Fairfield.
Best games coming up (excluding UConn-Baylor on Wednesday, check out the preview tomorrow!)
No. 5 Marquette at No. 6 Iowa State (Wednesday, 8 p.m., ESPN+)
Wednesday’s college basketball slate is phenomenal, and headlining the night is two of the best-coached teams in the country: Marquette and Iowa State. This may be the toughest test for Kam Jones, as Iowa State’s defense is the best they will face. Marquette also prides itself on their defense, which will make it hard for the star-studded backcourt of Tamin Lipsey and Keshon Gilbert to get going.
No. 1 Kansas at Creighton (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m., FS1)
Creighton was disappointing in the Players Era Festival. However, they are battle-tested because of that MTE and will host top-ranked Kansas on Wednesday night. The best individual matchup of the season is potentially in this game as centers Hunter Dickinson and Ryan Kalkbrenner face off.
No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 5 Marquette (Saturday, 1:30 p.m., FOX)
The Golden Eagles and Badgers have a tie for the nation’s longest active winning streak at eight games (along with Florida, Oregon, UC Irvine and Columbia). Marquette has exceeded expectations without Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro, defeating Maryland and Purdue. The final three games of their nonconference schedule are difficult, continuing with in-state rival Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon. Wisconsin has a top 20 offense and is the best free throw shooting team in the country.