2011 Big East Basketball: Big East Basketball Weekly Recap

Scores

Monday, January 30

Pittsburgh 72 West Virginia 66

Tuesday, January 31

Marquette 66 Seton Hall 59

Wednesday, February 1

Georgetown 58 Connecticut 44

Providence 78 Rutgers 67

St. John's 87 DePaul 81

Saturday, February 4

Syracuse 95 St. John's 70

Notre Dame 76 Marquette 59

Connecticut 69 Seton Hall 46

Georgetown 75 South Florida 45

Louisville 78 Rutgers 66

Cincinnati 74 DePaul 66

Sunday, February 5

West Virginia 87 Providence 84 (OT)

Pittsburgh 79 Villanova 7

In the Big East Conference this past week, Syracuse remained in control. Connecticut floundered at Georgetown before rescuing its fading season with a big effort against Seton Hall minus the presence of ailing coach Jim Calhoun. Louisville continued to mend its ways and improve its performance. Pittsburgh continued to show signs of life as well. However, the biggest story of the past week emerged in South Bend, Indiana.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish continue to show promise for the future as their strong young talent defeated another top twenty-five team, the Marquette Golden Eagles, 76-59.

This game started out with a very physical and aggressive style, with the officials in normal Big East fashion: "let the boys play hard." Both teams were getting to the rim on offense by passing and running the lanes and getting into the paint, fighting past tough defense to get good shots. As the first half progressed Marquette started to increase the tempo by getting out in transition for easy buckets. This was at first to their advantage, but then in a surprise in terms of style, Notre Dame responded in kind. While the Irish's best big man, starter Jack Cooley, began the game strong by getting five points in less than five minutes, he also got in to early foul trouble. However, teammate Pat Connaughton stepped up his game scoring 23 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, handing out three assists, and adding two blocked shots to make sure the team itself didn't miss a beat.

The first half closed much as it started with both teams swinging and neither showing signs of backing down due to fading energy levels. The Golden Eagles' Jae Crowder even tried but missed the always exciting last second three point attempt. It would have brought Marquette within one point of the Irish, but instead it was 30 to 26 for the home team at halftime.

The second half began much as the first with both teams being physical around the rim while displaying just as much energy and intensity at the defensive end of the floor. As they neared the mid-way mark of the second half Notre Dame really showed what home court advantage is; it began to pull away strongly by making three point baskets, unleashing a flurry that helped the Irish to go 11 for 23 for the game with Connaughton and Eric Atkins leading the way, far out-doing Marquette's 2 for 13 performance. While the Fighting Irish continued to out-rebound the Golden Eagles, they also blocked more shots and shot a higher field goal percentage while also getting more trips to the line for free throws.