2008-09 Big East Basketball Preview Now Available

While classes haven't yet started, the Big East basketball office has been busy preparing the 2008-09 preview guide.  Added to the Big East website without fanfare, the guide includes:

• League highlights from last season
• Team rosters and previews
• Team by Team results and league stats from 2007-08
• Capsules on each of the 60 players new to the league this year

The most interesting section is the incoming career leaders in various statistical categories. Two MU players are among the leaders. 

• Dominic James leads total points with 695 and total assists with 245
• Jerel McNeal leads total steals with 99

Neither James nor McNeal lead the per game averages for their categories.  USF's Dominique Jones has the highest returning scoring average with 18.7; Tory Jackson of Notre Dame leads the per-game assist category with 5.9 and Jeff Xavier of PC is the per-game steal leader with 2.7.

Also interesting to note is that every Big East team will appear in some sort of non-conference tournament this year:  

Cincinnati: Las Vegas Invitational Nov. 22-29

Connecticut:   Paradise Jam (Virgin Islands) Nov. 21-24 

DePaul:   Las Vegas Classic Nov. 22-23 

Georgetown:   Old Spice Classic, Orlando Nov. 27-30 

Louisville:   Home Tournament TBA Dec. 6-8 

Marquette:   Chicago Invitational Nov. 17, 28-29 

Notre Dame:   Maui Invitational Nov. 24-26 

Pittsburgh:   Legends Classic Nov. 19-23, 28-29 

Providence:   Anaheim Classic Nov. 27-30 

Rutgers:   Garden City Challenge Nov. 14-23 

St. John’s:   NIT Tipoff Nov. 7-8 

Seton Hall:   O’Reilly Auto Parts Tipoff (P.R.) Nov. 20-23 

USF:   San Juan Shootout Dec. 20-22 

Syracuse:   CBE Classic Nov. 16-18, 24-25 

Villanova:    Philly Classic Nov. 19, 25 

West Virginia:   Las Vegas Invitational Dec. 22-23 

 

Alas, there are no predictions yet--for that we'll need to wait until October 22nd when the Big East hosts the Men's Basketball Media Day--only two months and three days away.

Download the PDF here

Or, if you'd like to purchase, visit the Big East online store.