The Vault Report: Big East Team of the Week, November 6th-12th
Here's who made headlines in the Big East this week
Welcome back to The Vault Report!
As part of our ongoing partnership(s) with the Big East Conference and its member institutions, we are proud to introduce readers with a new segment known as The Vault Report’s Team of the Week (TOTW), which will highlight the individuals who had the most memorable performances each week.
Let’s check out our Big East TOTW roster for November 6th-12th:
Head Coach: Dan Hurley, Connecticut
9 of 11 Big East teams remain undefeated through the first week of the season (sorry, Georgetown and DePaul). Of those nine, eight of which went 2-0 this past week (St. John’s being the outlier, as they’ve only played one game up to this point).
So, how does Hurley clear the others? Well really, it comes down to two things: the fact that he coaches the defending National Champions, and that his team was utterly dominant in their two showing this week. Sure, Northern Arizona and Stonehill aren’t the greatest opponents. But any time your team averages 101 points per game (11th in Division I), give up just 59.5 (46th), and shoots 54.7% (14th) from the field, you’re going to earn recognition.
Hurley’s my pick for the Big East Coach of the Week here, bar none.
Guard: Kam Jones, Marquette
Stats from 11/6-11/12 (2 Games): 21.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4 APG, 56% FG% (14/25 FG), 66.7% 3PT% (6/9 3PT)
It’s almost as though people forget how good Kam Jones is. The junior guard was huge for Marquette down the stretch last year, and has picked up right where he left off this season. He had 20 in Marquette’s opener on 6/9 shooting, and dropped 23 along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists in a 30-point win over Rider. Disregard him at your own risk; he’s one of the best players the Big East has to offer.
Guard: Trey Alexander, Creighton
Stats from 11/6-11/12 (2 Games): 20.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.5 APG, 71.4% FG% (15/21 FG), 33.3% FG% (2/6 FG)
I know the honorable mentions for this conference could run on forever. There’s simply too much talent in the Big East to lump into just one Team of the Week. But, before this becomes a matter of who got snubbed, let’s talk about Alexander, who shot 13/15 (86.7%) on two-point tries in Creighton’s two contests this week. Alexander followed up his 20-point, 4 rebound, 5 assist performance on 7/8 shooting in the team’s opener with a 21-point, 7 rebound, 4 assist game against North Dakota State on Saturday, going 8/13 from the field in a 39-point victory for the Blue Jays. Many have wondered how he’d look now that Ryan Nembhard (Gonzaga) and Arthur Kaluma (Kansas State) are elsewhere- the answer is he looks pretty damn good.
Guard: Tristen Newton, Connecticut
Stats from 11/6-11/12 (2 Games): 18 PPG, 7 RPG, 3.5 APG, 61.1% FG% (11/18 FG), 40% 3PT% (4/10 3PT)
When Tristen Newton declared he was utilizing his additional year of eligibility to return to UConn in 2023-24, it meant the Huskies were returning one of the best point guards in the country in an attempt to defend their title. And boy, has that been confirmed by his play thus far. Newton had 14 on 4/7 shooting last Monday along with 7 boards and 3 assists, and followed it up with a world-class caliber performance on Saturday: 22 points on 7/11 shooting (4/7 from three), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals. He’s a versatile two-way guard capable of wreaking havoc on both ends of the floor; you don’t want to mess with him.
Forward: Alex Karaban, Connecticut
Stats from 11/6-11/12 (2 Games): 18.5 PPG, 7 RPG, 0.5 APG, 65% FG% (13/20 FG), 40% 3PT% (4/10 3PT)
Make that two TOTW honorees for the defending champs. Alex Karaban exploded for 22 points and 7 rebounds on 8/12 shooting vs. Northern Arizona on opening night last Monday, and then had another 15 points and 7 boards on 5/8 shooting when Connecticut hosted Stonehill on Saturday. The 6’8”, 220-pound Karaban is a true mismatch for a lot of teams due to his rare combination of size and speed, as well as the ability to score from all three levels of the floor and defend both on the perimeter and in the post. Something tells me that he will be a part of these segments many times this year.
Forward: Joel Soriano: St. John’s
Stats from 11/6-11/12 (1 Game): 22 PPG, 11 RPG, 2 APG, 75% FG% (9/12 FG), 100% 3PT% (2/2 3PT)
What, you didn’t think we’d leave one of Rick Pitino’s boys off the list, would you?
In all seriousness, Soriano is one of the best forwards the Big East has to offer. All you needed was a one game sample size to know he’s still as dominant as ever. In their 90-74 win over Stony Brook last Tuesday, Soriano had a monster double-double, with 22 points and 11 rebounds on 9/12 shooting, while showing some offensive versatility by going 2/2 from three- the first (and second) three-pointers of his illustrious career. While it remains to be seen whether that was a fluke or not, one thing is for certain: this guy is a bruiser near the rim, and he’s going to be a household name in college basketball- if he isn’t already.
Sixth Man (Bench Player): Brendan Hausen, Villanova
Stats from 11/6-11/12 (2 Games): 12 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1 APG, 61.5% FG% (8/13 FG), 61.5% 3PT% (8/13 3PT)
When Brendan Hausen’s on the floor, he’s firing from deep. Talk about a sign of the times- all 13 of Hausen’s field goal attempts this year have come from three-point range. He had just 6 points on 2/5 from three in the season opener again American, but really started cooking in Friday’s game against Le Moyne, in which he had 18 points (the second-most on the team, behind only Justin Moore who had 21) and connected on six of his eight three point tries. Villanova has depth, but the 6’4”, 205-pound guard should have a spot in the rotation so long as he maintains the hot hand from distance.
***Honorable Mentions***
Desmond Claude (Xavier): 2 GP, 18.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2 APG, 50% FG%, 27.3% 3PT%
Devin Carter (Providence): 2 GP, 13 PPG, 6 RPG, 4.5 APG, 50% FG%, 36.4% 3PT%
Daniss Jenkins (St. John’s): 1 GP, 17 PPG, 7 RPG, 8 APG, 53.8% FG%, 50% 3PT%
Chris Ledlum (St. John’s): 1 GP, 16 PPG, 14 RPG, 4 APG, 46.7% FG%, 66.7% 3PT%
Kadary Richmond (Seton Hall): 2 GP, 16 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 4.5 APG, 50% FG%, 0/3 3PT
Let’s hear from you, now- what do you think of our squad? Who would be on your Big East TOTW roster for this week? Be sure to comment below, or let us know on our social media accounts located below:
On Twitter:
@RhodyVault
@BigEastVault
@VaultHighlights
@A10Vault
@THarknessStats
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