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Top Five Performances from the Big East Tournament

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

New York, NY – Over the past week at the World’s Most Famous Arena, the Big East Tournament once again delivered high-level basketball and memorable individual performances. With the stakes at their highest and a championship on the line, several players stepped up in a major way, putting together standout showings that helped propel their teams through the bracket. From dominant performances in the paint to clutch scoring and defensive playmaking, a number of players left a strong impression throughout the tournament.

Here are my top 5 performers from this year’s Big East Tournament:

Zuby Ejiofor (St. John’s): The Big East Player of the Year showed exactly why he earned that honor, delivering a dominant performance throughout the week. The big man averaged 19.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 5.3 stocks per game, impacting the game in nearly every facet. He was an overwhelming presence on both ends of the floor and consistently proved to be too much for opposing teams to handle. After leading St. John’s to a Big East Tournament title, he will now look to carry that momentum into the NCAA Tournament and help push the Johnnies to the second weekend following last year’s heartbreaking loss to Arkansas.

Stefan Vaaks (Providence): The freshman guard from Estonia elevated his play when the lights were brightest for the Friars. Vaaks averaged 25.5 points while knocking down a remarkable 13 three-pointers at a 59% clip from beyond the arc. Despite Providence’s quarterfinal exit against St. John’s, he proved to be a constant threat, especially in catch-and-shoot situations, showing the confidence to rise up from well beyond the line. His signature moment of the tournament came on an incredible 33-foot and-one that brought Madison Square Garden to life. With Providence parting ways with head coach Kim English following the tournament, Vaaks’ future with the program is now uncertain. Should he enter the transfer portal, he would likely be one of the most sought-after scorers available.

Tarris Reed (UConn): The anchor of the Big East’s 2-seeded team made his presence felt all week, impacting the game far beyond just scoring. Reed averaged 13.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 blocks over 3 games, showcasing his all-around ability for the Huskies. Even under heavy pressure in the post, he consistently found ways to score and remain effective. In the one game where his scoring output dipped, he still made a major impact in other areas. Against Georgetown, Reed recorded 8 assists, recognizing the defensive attention he was drawing in the post and doing an excellent job finding open teammates when double teams collapsed. His ability to read the floor and make the right play adds another dimension to his game, and he will be a key factor in UConn’s postseason run this March.

Jacob Dar (Seton Hall): Heading into halftime of the quarterfinal matchup against Creighton, senior forward Jacob Dar had yet to see the floor. That quickly changed in the second half, when Seton Hall found itself in a scoring drought and in need of a spark. Dar checked in and delivered exactly that, erupting for 16 points in just 15 minutes while also making his presence felt on the defensive end, helping lead the Pirates to an 11-point victory. Over the course of the week, Dar totaled 29 points in 35 minutes, averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2 stocks. His breakout performance may have solidified a role for him moving forward, as there’s a strong case that he played his way into Shaheen Holloway’s plans for next season with one year of eligibility still remaining.

Bryce Hopkins (St. John’s): Hopkins played a key X-factor role for the Johnnies on their way to a Big East Tournament championship. He provided the perfect complementary presence alongside Ejiofor in the paint, consistently taking advantage of matchups with his polished footwork and ability to finish through contact. In addition to his interior scoring, Hopkins also showed the ability to stretch the floor, knocking down perimeter shots and keeping defenses honest. He finished the tournament averaging 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting an extremely efficient 69.5% from the field. His versatility and efficiency made him a difficult cover throughout the week, and his all-around impact was a major reason why St. John’s was able to dominate its way to the title.

This article was written by William Murphy, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

UConn and St. John’s Advance to Big East Tournament Final

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

New York, NY – Friday’s semifinals of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden featured two teams that firmly controlled their matchups from start to finish. Although the final score may suggest a closer game, St. John’s largely dominated from the opening tip, rarely taking its foot off the gas on the way to a 78–68 victory over the Seton Hall Pirates.The second semifinal followed a similar script, as UConn never surrendered the lead against Georgetown, cruising to a 67–51 win to punch its ticket to the championship game.

St. John’s entered their game with a clear plan: attack the paint. Early and often in the first half, the Johnnies fed Zuby Ejiofor and Dillon Mitchell on the block, where both were able to finish with ease. When the initial shot didn’t fall, they frequently drew contact and earned trips to the free-throw line. Ejiofor (20 points), Mitchell (13 points), and Bryce Hopkins (13 points) combined for 46 of St. John’s 78 points, consistently applying pressure on Seton Hall’s interior defense.

For Seton Hall, much like in the quarterfinal round, the Pirates were led by Budd Clark and Jacob Dar. Clark finished with 17 points and showcased strong playmaking ability, adding 11 assists. Dar continued his impressive run in the Big East Tournament as well, finishing with 13 points and 4 rebounds while making multiple hustle plays that helped keep the Pirates competitive.

UConn was led by projected lottery pick and freshman Braylon Mullins. Mullins finished with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field and 2-pf-9 from beyond the arc. Despite the modest numbers from long distance, he showed that his game is far from dependent on his perimeter shooting. Mullins flashed some surprising back-to-the-basket ability and was particularly impressive with several difficult, off-balance midrange shots that he knocked down with ease.

For Georgetown, Vince Iwuchukwu led the way with 11 points and 5 rebounds. Iwuchukwu displayed impressive athleticism throughout the game, elevating through contact and converting several tough finishes over UConn big men Eric Reibe and Tarris Reed.

With the semifinal round complete, the stage is now set for the Big East Tournament championship at Madison Square Garden. St. John’s and UConn will meet tonight with the conference title on the line, setting up a highly anticipated matchup between two teams that looked dominant in their semifinal victories. With momentum on both sides, the championship game promises to bring the intensity and high-level play that has defined the tournament all week.

This article was written by William Murphy, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

Big East Tournament Day 2 Recap

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

New York, NY – Thursday at Madison Square Garden once again delivered an exciting day of Big East Tournament basketball. The action began with St. John’s continuing its hot streak, defeating the Providence Friars in convincing fashion. In the next matchup, the Seton Hall Pirates knocked off the Creighton Blue Jays behind an outstanding performance from an unlikely contributor.

The second session brought more drama, starting with the UConn Huskies, who had little trouble handling Richard Pitino’s Xavier squad. The night then concluded with the biggest surprise of the tournament so far, as the 11-seeded Georgetown Hoyas pulled off the upset over the 3-seeded Villanova Wildcats.

Zuby Ejiofor was a man among boys as he helped St. John’s to the 85-72 win over the Friars, establishing his presence in the paint early and maintaining that dominance throughout the game. He filled up the stat sheet with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks, impacting the game on both ends of the floor.

Despite the loss, Providence saw another impressive performance from freshman guard Stefan Vaaks. The sharpshooter finished with a game-high 23 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field and 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. With the Friars officially announcing they have parted ways with head coach Kim English, it will be worth monitoring where this high-volume scorer ends up next season.

Heading into the 2:30 matchup, the Seton Hall Pirates understood they were fighting to keep even the slightest hopes of an NCAA Tournament bid alive, and they responded with an impressive performance led by Budd Clark and an unlikely hero in Jacob Dar which led to the 72-61 win. Clark finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, getting to his bread-and-butter midrange game and knocking down several tough shots while efficiently orchestrating the offense over 35 minutes.

Despite Clark’s strong outing, the player of the game was senior Jacob Dar. After not playing a single minute in the first half, Dar entered in the second half and immediately made an impact. He finished with 16 points on an efficient 5-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, while also contributing 5 rebounds and a steal in only 15 minutes.

For Creighton, Josh Dix led the way with a game-high 22 points, along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Dix consistently knocked down difficult shots and showed the versatility in his offensive game, proving he is more than just a perimeter shooter. He created opportunities off the dribble, scoring in the midrange and finishing at the rim through contact.

UConn continued its dominance against Xavier by the final score of 93-68, as the Musketeers never held a lead at any point during the game. Tarris Reed and the UConn staff took full advantage of Xavier’s lack of size in the frontcourt, with the senior big man finishing with 17 points and 14 rebounds while controlling the paint. Solo Ball added 19 points, knocking down 4-of-10 from beyond the arc, while senior Alex Karaban contributed another 15 points to help pace the Huskies offensively.

For Xavier, Filip Borovicanin led the way with 22 points. The Musketeers relied heavily on their perimeter shooting and were never able to establish an inside presence throughout the game, which ultimately proved costly. UConn dominated the paint, outscoring Xavier 42–16 in that category.

The nightcap featured the Villanova Wildcats and the Georgetown Hoyas, with Georgetown pulling off the upset over the 3-seeded Wildcats by a score of 78–64. Entering the season, there were questions about Villanova’s consistency, particularly the idea that the team would go as far as its perimeter shooting could take it. That concern showed up in this matchup, as the Wildcats struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 24%. Villanova also had major issues on the glass, getting outrebounded by 21, which allowed Georgetown to control the flow of the game.

The Hoyas were led by sophomore big man Julius Halaifonua, who finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Halaifonua displayed impressive back-to-the-basket skills and footwork, consistently creating quality looks and ultimately having his way against Villanova big man Duke Brennan.

With the quarterfinals now complete, the stage is set for an exciting semifinal round at Madison Square Garden. St. John’s will face Seton Hall in a highly anticipated matchup after both teams delivered impressive performances on Thursday, while UConn will take on Georgetown following the Hoyas’ upset victory over Villanova. With a spot in the Big East Tournament championship on the line, both games promise to bring the same intensity, physicality, and high-level play that has defined the tournament so far.

This article was written by William Murphy, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.

Underdogs Win at Big East Tournament’s First Day

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

New York, NY – Three games tipped off the Big East Tournament on Wednesday, and they did not disappoint. The day featured plenty of drama, highlighted by the Providence Friars rallying from a 16-point deficit to secure a 10-point victory. The Xavier Musketeers also advanced in thrilling fashion, pulling out a win in a game that came down to the final seconds. Meanwhile, the Georgetown Hoyas emerged victorious in a physical battle against the DePaul Blue Demons, marking the program’s first Big East Tournament win under head coach Ed Cooley.

In the first matchup of the day, the Friars came away with a 91–81 victory over the Butler Bulldogs in a high-scoring contest. Providence leaned on a three-headed offensive attack, as Jaylin Sellers (23 points), Ryan Mela (23 points), and Stefan Vaaks (28 points) combined for 74 of the team’s 91 points. Vaaks was particularly impressive from beyond the arc, knocking down 8-of-13 three-point attempts, tying the Big East Tournament record for most threes made in a game.

For Butler, senior forward Michael Ajayi once again delivered a strong performance, recording another double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. The Bulldogs frequently used off-ball screens to free Ajayi, recognizing that Providence was switching nearly every action. Once Butler successfully forced a switch and got a guard matched up with him, they consistently fed Ajayi in the post, where he went to work. However, his aggressive style ultimately played a role in Butler’s downfall. Ajayi found himself in foul trouble for much of the second half, and his limited availability significantly altered the Bulldogs’ rhythm and overall approach down the stretch.

In Richard Pitino’s first Big East Tournament game leading Xavier, he guided the Musketeers to a thrilling 89–87 victory that was decided in the final seconds. All-Big East 1st Team selection Tre Carroll showed exactly why he earned that honor, finishing with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists while impacting the game in multiple ways. Xavier also received a huge performance from big man Jovan Milicevic, who poured in 21 points. Milicevic was especially impressive from beyond the arc, knocking down 4-of-7 three-point attempts, including several difficult, contested looks off the dribble.

For the Golden Eagles, Nigel James Jr.—who announced before the game that he will return to Milwaukee for his sophomore season—tallied 18 points and 7 assists. Sophomore Royce Parham also delivered a strong performance, adding 22 points and 9 rebounds. With James Jr. and Parham in the fold, Shaka Smart has a strong foundation to build around heading into next season. However, it will be interesting to see how active the program becomes in the transfer portal, as Smart has historically been reluctant to use it at all.

The final game of the night was the definition of a Big East Tournament battle. The Georgetown Hoyas defeated the DePaul Blue Demons 63–56 in a highly physical matchup. Leading the way for Georgetown was big man Vince Iwuchukwu, who provided a huge spark off the bench. The senior finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds in an efficient 23 minutes of action. Points in the paint proved to be the difference, as the Hoyas dominated that category 36–20. Georgetown’s physicality inside was simply too much for DePaul’s frontcourt to handle throughout the game.

For the Blue Demons, Layden Blocker turned in a strong performance with 16 points and 7 assists. He did an excellent job creating his own offense off the dribble and knocked down several tough shots. Blocker also shot an impressive 4/6 from beyond the arc. Despite the loss, Chris Holtmann appears to be building a solid foundation in Chicago, and the DePaul program is trending in the right direction.

With the opening round complete, attention now turns to Thursday’s quarterfinal match-ups at Madison Square Garden. Providence will tip things off at 12:00 PM against St. John’s in what should be an up-tempo battle, while Xavier faces a major test against UConn at 7:00 PM. The nightcap will feature Georgetown taking on Villanova at 9:30 PM, as the Hoyas look to carry their physical momentum into another tough matchup. With three teams advancing out of Wednesday’s action and the stakes continuing to rise, the Big East Tournament is setting up for another exciting day of basketball.

This article was written by William Murphy, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.