2010 Big East Tournament: Day 2 ups and downs

BY MIKE VORKUNOV

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT

NEW YORK — Mike Brey so clearly enjoyed holding court late Wednesday night, keeping reporters' pens moving and their notebooks overflowing, that you would think he was here to talk and not to coach. But it's because he has been so good at the latter that people will listen to him do the former as long as he is willing.

Just three weeks ago, Notre Dame was a team in need of saving. Their All-American star was injured for who knows how long. Their bubble hopes were closer to bursting than blowing up. And in the middle of it all, Brey decided his team needed an identity change. In the middle of February. Add superlatives, expletives and punctuation marks where you please.

But that was ages ago. Now they are self-proclaimed to be "one of the best stories in college basketball," — Brey's words — and the sneakiest bracket buster in the country.

When Luke Harangody went down February 11 in Newark, taking his nightly 20-and-10 to the bench with him, the Fighting Irish followed with two heartbreaking losses that left them at 6-8 in the conference.

So it was time for philosophical change. Gone was the high speed, low patience offense. In was what Brey called "Burn."

Milk the shot clock into single digits and then run one of two plays: either a feed into the post or a ball screen. So devious in its simplicity.

Hey it worked. They have won five in a row, including a 68-56 win last night over Seton Hall. After Brey set a penalty for even talking bracketology, every player's dreaded anathema - running, their NCAA tournament fate is now seemingly decided with a bid definitely expected.

He said that never in his 15 years as a head coach has he changed the tempo and flow of his team so drastically, especially midseason.

"It was seomthing that we had to do to try to survive," said Brey. "Our backs were against the wall."

Now Brey says his team is like an act on Broadway. It's next performance: Thursday night at 7 p.m.

"I thought he was crazy at first," said senior point guard Tory Jackson.

Now that Harangody is back, and after dropping — Yup- 20-and-10 against the Pirates, this team is dangerous to whomever is on the wrong side of the bracket.

"I feel right now that I started to get a little bit of swagger I had before the injury, a little more of the confidence," said Harangody. "I feel great with the guys out there."

While he was gone, his replacements, role players like Carlton Scott and Tyrone Nash took a step forward that now makes the Irish deeper and gives the needed bulk for their new system.

Before the change, Notre Dame prided itself on its fun, fast style. But winning supersedes all else and Brey knows it.

"Those days are over."

Day to Remember

Luke Harangody: In his second game back from a right knee injury the first team All-Big East forward scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a win over Seton Hall. He pounded the Pirates inside and was the difference maker in the first half. It's new and more efficient 'Gody and he's here to stay.
Lance Stephenson: The Brooklyn, N.Y., native who had so much success in the Garden, leading Lincoln High School to four New York City championships on that same floor, provided some late game help again. He hit two free throws with 29 seconds remaining that proved to be the winning points in Cincinnati's triumph over Louisville. He finished with 12 points, four rebounds and another day in his hometown.
The Fans: OK, this is sort of a cop out because no one else really deserved this one but just think about it. The fat of the Big East has been cut and the Big Boys come into town Thursday. And hopefully the fun will as well. One of the top four seeds will go down. Something crazy will happen. Remember, the unforgettable 6-OT game happened on a Thursday last year. And a Friday.

Day to Forget

Jordan Theodore: The Seton Hall point guard put his team's loss on his shoulders. Not that it was his fault, but he manned up. But he wasn't exactly a saving grace either. Theodore scored just five points on 1-of-9 shooting from the floor. His only field goal was a meaningless layup right at the final buzzer. Cheap points in a loss that may have knocked the Pirates out of the NCAA Tournament.
Norm Roberts: St. John's took another one on the chin yesterday, losing 57-55 to Marquette. It was rugged but fruitless effort that summarized the season for the Red Storm. It also summed up Roberts' career in Queens. Speculation over his job security loomed coming into the game and now the voices only grow louder.
Preston Knowles: Did he have a bad day or what. Knowles shot just 1-of-12 from the field and scored only three points in 35 minutes. Louisville also lost to Cincinnati in a tight three-point game. Knowles missed but one of his six tries from beyond the arc.

Swag

Win or lose, who cares as long as you get free stuff. With some tournaments trying to save money by skimping on conference tournament gifts for players (and media), the Big East is not one of them. Every player received a Nintendo Wii. So even if your team does not make the Big Dance, you can play your way to a title. Oh, and go Wii bowling.

Game of the Day

Another day, another string of uninspiring games for the most part. The nightcap proved to be the most intriguing one. Louisville coach Rick Pitino always draws a buzz, Cincinnati's Lance Stephenson is the hometown phenom and even better, it was a pretty good game. Nursing a 65-63 lead Stephenson went to the line to create some breathing room and did so. Then with 18.4 seconds he was sent to the line again. This time he bricked both and Reginald Delk followed with a three to cut the Bearcat lead to 67-66. Deonta Vaughn provided the insurance points by hitting two free throws with 5.9 seconds remaining and Edgar Sosa could not get a game-tying three off before the buzzer so Cincinnati could pull out a 69-66 win. Phew.

Day 2

Seton Hall sits on NCAA bubble after loss to Notre Dame

Big East Tournament: Marquette over St. John's in a nail-biter

Georgetown's Austin Freeman facing life with diabetes

Big East Tournament: Georgetown sends South Florida packing

Day 1

Cincinnati's Lance Stephenson ends Rutgers' season

2010 Big East Tournament: Day 1 ups and downs

Seton Hall survives furious Providence comeback

Wesley Johnson, Lance Stephenson and Jim Boeheim honored by Big East Conference

Jim Calhoun questioned about future after Connecticut's early exit from Big East Tournament

South Florida keeps NCAA Tournament hopes alive with victory over DePaul