February 2013 | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Friday / December 13.
  • Based on the news that the Catholic 7 will break away and keep the Big East name starting in 2013-14, here’s a quick look at how the New and Old Big Easts will look in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

    Notre Dame is considering going into the New Big East for next season, remaining in the Old Big East or paying to head to the ACC, Irish coach Mike Brey confirmed on his radio show.

    “All options are open,” he told SNY.tv.

    The NCAA finally did the right thing and granted Orlando Sanchez of St. John’s a waiver to play in the 2013-14 season.

    St. John’s announced the news on Twitter after it had submitted new information to the NCAA through its attorney, Robert Orr, on Monday.

    “It’s big news,” Sanchez said. “I can play next year. I’m so happy. I’m going to call my grandma right now and tell her the great news. I’m going to tell them ‘I’m free. I can play.’ I’d like to thank my lawyer Robert Orr, Coach Lavin, the entire staff, to our fans as well, my teammates and everybody; thank you very much.”

    “We are pleased with the NCAA’s decision to grant Orlando Sanchez a year of eligibility,” Johnnies coach Steve Lavin said. “We are grateful that he will be able to contribute on the court next season, as well as pursue his dream of earning his college degree. We are proud of how Orlando demonstrated patience and grace during this process”

    The Catholic 7 is looking to negotiate for the rights to the name of the Big East Conference on its way out the door and there seems to be growing sentiment that it will happen.

    “It almost seems fitting that they should have the name,” said Notre Dame coach Mike Brey, whose team is headed to the ACC in 2014.

    “I almost think maybe it would be fitting for them to have that title given the tradition and history of those Catholic schools in the league.”

    By JOHN F. SILVER & ADAM ZAGORIA

    STORRS, Conn. – Jim Boeheim believes that not only is Otto Porter Jr. the Big East Player of the Year, but the National Player of the Year as well.

    “He’s the best player in college,” Boeheim said Thursday on the Big East conference call. “There’s no question in my mind.”

    As we reported Monday, an informal survey of Big East coaches revealed that Porter Jr. was the unanimous top choice for Big East Player of the Year honors, which will be announced during the Big East Tournament.

    Boeheim said Porter Jr. — who went for 33 points Saturday when Georgetown won it’s last league game at the Carrier Dome,  57-46 — deserves national honors over options like Michigan’s Trey Burke, Indiana’s Victor Oladipo and Creighton’s Doug McDermott, too.

     

    Cordia (Ky.) players Marlon King and Emmanuel Owootaoh responded Wednesday to the racially-motivated attacks on them during this interview with WYKT.com.

    (Here’s the video: http://www.wkyt.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8510325 )

    “I was shocked,” King said, according to WKYT. “It didn’t really affect me in a negative way. I just looked at it and saw it and laughed. I wasn’t used to it because none of that stuff happened in Canada.”

    As we reported here earlier,  the Canadian players of Caribbean descent were reportedly tagged in Twitter and Facebook photos depicting a noose and a flag burning. The boys’ guardians, Eduardo and Jessica Flores, also said the back door of their home was shot at and that he kids have been attacked “repeatedly.”

    NEW YORK — On a night when Steph Curry nearly couldn’t miss, Raymond Felton came up with a block that changed the course of the game.

    With 1:30 remaining and the Knicks tied with the Golden State Warriors at 105, Felton jumped and blocked a Curry 2-point attempt from the right wing that helped the Knicks hold on for a wild 109-105 victory at Madison Square Garden

    “It felt good because it was down the stretch when we really needed it,” Felton said. “He hits that shot and then maybe the game is different.”

    Tyson Chandler took credit for yelling at Felton to anticipate the shot, but Felton said he heard a number of teammates shouting at him.

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