College Basketball
Villanova Wildcats won the Big East Tournament, their third in three years
The Big East Tournament lived up to the hype once more. In a tightly contested final between #1 Villanova Wildcats and #3 Seton Hall Pirates at the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, Villanova emerged victorious to win its third straight Big East Tournament Championship. The game ended 74-72, and Phil Booth was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament.
Although Booth was named the Most Outstanding Player, there were other players who had notable performances throughout the tournament. One of the players who shined the most was Seton Hall guard Myles Powell. Unfortunately, the highest honor for a player cannot go to a player on a losing team. If so, Powell would have been deserving of that honor. He showcased why the NBA may be in his near future.
Myles Powell, Junior, Seton Hall
Powell averaged 26.0 points per game in the Tournament, including dropping a Big East Tournament record 29 points in the first half against Georgetown in the quarterfinals. Not only has he showcased the ability to score from anywhere on the court, but he also proved he’s more than just a scoring guard. In addition to his scoring prowess, he is also capable of driving into the paint and kicking the ball to open shooters. Seton Hall’s grit, combined with Powell’s offensive arsenal, will be a tough matchup for any team in the NCAA Tournament to face.
Zach Hankins and Paul Scruggs, Graduate Student and Sophomore respectively, Xavier
While Powell shined the brightest on the big stage, Xavier’s duo of Zach Hankins and Paul Scruggs performances didn’t go unnoticed. Both players willed Xavier to a semifinal appearance against Villanova. In the quarterfinal matchup against a tough Creighton team, Hankins stepped up and scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Xavier needed every bit of Hankins performance since Scruggs struggled to get going, finishing with nine points on 3-10 shooting. In the following game, Scruggs almost carried the team to a huge upset over Villanova.
Following the 63-61 close call victory against Creighton, Xavier fell to Villanova 71-67. Scruggs made up for his lackluster showing against Creighton by almost notching a triple-double. He finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Hankins also showcased why he deserved a spot on the Big East All-Tournament team. He finished with 18 points and six rebounds.
Markus Howard, Junior, Marquette
Xavier’s duo also shined bright, but Markus Howard made his presence felt for the Marquette Golden Eagles. In their 86-54 demolition of St. John’s, Howard dropped 30 points to go with seven rebounds. Although he failed to duplicate that performance against Seton Hall in the semifinal, 21 points on 1-15 shooting from the field, Howard showcased his prowess for drawing fouls and getting to the line. He attempted 24 free throws and made 18 of them. If Howard could have nailed one more shot, most notably his three-point attempt at the end of the game, he could have prevented Marquette’s 81-79 defeat to Seton Hall.
Shamorie Ponds, Sophomore, St. John’s
Powell, Scruggs, and Howard were all representing for the guards in the Tournament. Another guard who deserved praise for his play Shamorie Ponds. Ponds is the engine that propels the Red Storm. When he plays well, St. John’s are more likely to win. When he doesn’t play well, St. John’s suffers as a result. In the first round against DePaul, Ponds showed why he’s a future NBA point guard. Almost every decision he made was that of a high IQ guard. If DePaul doubled him, he found the open shooter, and he picked his spots well to create his shot.
Ponds finished with 18 points, seven assists, and only one turnover against DePaul.
In the next matchup against Marquette, in the quarterfinals, he struggled. As a result, St. John’s got blown out 86-54. He only finished with 13 points on 4-14 shooting, but his dismal performance showed why he’s vital to the Red Storm’s success. At the moment, St. John’s is on the bubble to make the NCAA Tournament. If the committee grants St. John’s an at large bid, watch out! There’s a possibility that Ponds may lead the Red Storm to a first-round upset.
Big East may be stronger than many people think
The Big East Conference may not be as a strong as years past, but the teams who make the NCAA Tournament from this storied conference will be a hard out. The one thing all Big East teams have in common is the grit and grind mentality. Teams with that mentality are difficult to face, and in a one-off game, anything is possible. Don’t be surprised to see a Big East team, other than Villanova, make a run towards the National Championship.
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Written by Ryan Gayle
