:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/14380393/163615539.0.jpg)
News, notes, and links from around the Big East that will be.
Georgetown is bringing in former Northwestern assistant Tavares Hardy - a recruiter with an eye for talent and well-versed in the Princeton offense, and Kevin Sutton, an assistant with deep ties to the hoops-talent-rich DC/ Maryland/ Virginia area. More from Casual Hoya as the Hoyas make a push to remain elite (and actually win an NCAA Tournament game one day).
The Hoyas will also play a marquee game in the Armed Forces Classic against the Oregon Ducks on November 8th. This year, they will be indoors, not on a boat, so the game should be able to be completed (and will count in the standings). That's the same day the Johnnies play the Wisconsin Badgers!
It could be a big day for name recognition for the new Big East.
Life is less sexy for the Seton Hall compatriots. The Pirates lost out on Southern Methodist transfer center Blaise Mbargorba, a 6'11 player from New Jersey. They lost to Boston University. Kevin Willard and crew turn to Swedish forward Billy Magarity. Magarity is also considering Oregon State, USC, Northwestern, and Baylor.
Geez, Seton Hall, that's rough on the ego.
St. John's women's coach Joe Tartamella participated in Columbia University's Center for Coaching Excellence. Tartamella described the two-and-a-half day session as "the best professional development program I have been a part of in my ten years of coaching. This program assures that the leaders in our game have the learning tools to grow as mentors, professionals and people."
Our Xavier friends have started a "Know Your Non-Conference Opponent" series, beginning with the Gardner Webb Bulldogs.
We'll borrow the concept and return it mostly unharmed.
If you missed it, a few weeks ago Brad Stevens went into detail about Butler's place in the new Big East.
I don't want to be different than what we've been with regards to our priorities. Our priorities have been to bring in good kids who are representing Butler well who will graduate and go on to do bigger and better things. As a result, we've had a winning basketball program. I don't think we need to prioritize the wrong things to try to keep up with the Joneses. But I do think we need to make the appropriate strides to make this the very best situation it can be.