It was a Big Night in the Big East with many storylines unfolding…
**Thanks to a career-high 36 points from A.J. Price and 14 points and 15 rebounds from Hasheem Thabeet, UConn coach Jim Calhoun became just the seventh coach in Division I history to win 800 career games when the Huskies (26-2, 14-2) downed Marquette 93-82 in Milwaukee. Calhoun joined Bob Knight, Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, Jim Phelan, Mike Krzyzewski and Eddie Sutton as the only coaches to win 800.
“My dad always used to tell me…’You’re always going to be judged by the company you keep,'” Calhoun said. “I looked around at that list, and I’m really happy to be in that company.”
MOST CAREER WINS
Bob Knight – 902
Dean Smith – 879
Adolph Rupp – 876
Jim Phelan – 830
Mike Krzyzewski – 826
Eddie Sutton – 804
Jim Calhoun – 800
**Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is not far behind. With Syracuse’s victory Tuesday night over St. John’s, Boeheim became the all-time leader in 20-win seasons with 31. He now has 791 career wins.
**Marquette (23-5, 12-3) suffered a heavy loss when senior guard Dominic James broke a bone in his left foot early in the first half. Golden Eagles coach Buzz Williams announced after the game that James’ college career is over.
“I hugged him before I came in here,” Williams said, his voice cracking.
James played only 4 minutes in the first half, and the school announced after halftime that he broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. James, one of the Golden Eagles’ trio of standout senior guards, has 1,749 career points and is one of the team’s top defensive players.
**Seton Hall (15-12, 6-9) kept its NIT chances alive by downing South Florida 75-60 at The Rock.
Jeremy Hazell scored 20 points, including a circus layup that got him the No. 9 spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays. With his back facing the bucket, Hazell threw up a layup that caromed off the backboard and in.
Robert Mitchell added 17 for the Pirates. Eugene Harvey added 15 after going scoreless for the first time in his career in a loss Sunday to St. John’s.
**Rutgers couldn’t hold on to an 11-point first-half lead and lost to NOtre dame, 70-65, in South Bend, Ind.
Luke Harangody overcame a slow start to finish with 20 points and 15 rebounds and Tory Jackson added 18 points.
Mike Rosario, who led Rutgers with 20 points, missed a pair of free throws with 41 seconds left that would have cut the lead to one.
(AP contributed)
