Anonymous Eagle - 2014-15 Marquette Women's Basketball Season PreviewYour home for coverage of Wisconsin's elite college athletics.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46843/anon-fave.png2014-11-14T15:00:01-06:00http://www.anonymouseagle.com/rss/stream/67964322014-11-14T15:00:01-06:002014-11-14T15:00:01-06:002014-15 WBB Preview: The Freshmen
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<img alt="Kenisha Bell was the best of Marquette's four freshmen in the exhibition loss to Lewis." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/h4Jh5JsTG1E_pG-TEa88AD4yDcc=/0x84:1069x797/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44155144/20141109_WB_012_DJ.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kenisha Bell was the best of Marquette's four freshmen in the exhibition loss to Lewis. | <a href='http://www.marquetteimages.com'>Dan Johnson/MarquetteImages.com</a></figcaption>
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<p>We already talked about the players that Carolyn Kieger is carrying over from last season. Next up, the four freshmen.</p> <p>In a situation that you just don't see all that often in men's basketball, new head coach Carolyn Kieger retained all four recruits that had signed a letter of intent for Terri Mitchell. That's an incredibly good thing, as Marquette lost two guards - Brooklyn Pumroy and Ashley Santos - to transfer in the offseason and three of the incoming freshmen are guards.</p>
<p>We'll give you a bit of background of each of the players, and layer that with some quick impressions from the exhibition loss to Lewis University as well.</p>
<h4 align="center">Kenisha Bell</h4>
<p>Bell was the most dynamic of the four freshman, and one of two to get the start in the game. The Twin Cities native showed lots of energy, but still kept her play under control. She was 8-15 from the field, including 3-4 behind the arc. Bell had five steals against Lewis and two assists against just two turnovers. Kennedy (MN) High School won four straight conference championships with Bell on the roster, culminating with a state championship game appearance in her senior year.</p>
<p>Coach Kieger has spoken about wanting to play a quick, up-tempo style, saying that she wants to see Arlesia Morse turn into a more attacking guard. That style of play was evident in Bell's attitude on the court, and if she can play like this on a regular basis, it will definitely take some of the backcourt scoring pressure off of Morse.</p>
<h4 align="center">Tia Elbert</h4>
<p>While Bell evoked memories of Angel Robinson, Elbert showed that she has a long way to go to become a valuable member of the rotation. Given the starting nod, the Tartan (MN) High School product went 4-21 from the floor, including 2-8 from long range. She did finish the game with an assist to turnover ration of 2.33:1 after recording seven helpers and three turnovers. She was productive on the glass, snaring seven rebounds. Based on the exhibition results, I would wager that Bell will be the starter along side Arlesia Morse, but Elbert definitely showed that she deserves solid minutes as long as she gets the shooting under control. Odds are that she can do that, as she averaged 36.4 points per game her senior year en route to setting the Tartan record for most points ever scored by anyone, male or female, with 3,501 points.</p>
<h4 align="center">Hannah Grim</h4>
<p>Her last name was apt when it came to her shooting performance against Lewis. The 5'8" chemistry major went 2-12, which was somehow actually worse than Elbert's output. She looked like she was giving it her best, but 2-9 from three point land isn't going to get it done when you're in a neck-and-neck game against a Division 2 opponent... or anyone else for that matter. Like Elbert, Grim set her school's all-time scoring record, but it only took 1,793 points to eclipse everyone else who had ever put on a uniform for Rosemount. Grim came off the bench for 25 minutes, but I would have to guess that between the health of Morse and McKayla Yentz and the possible eventual return of JeTaun Rouse, we won't see that kind of run for her the rest of the season.</p>
<h4 align="center">Shantelle Valentine</h4>
<p>Valentine didn't show much against Lewis, other than a proclivity for fouls. She racked up four in just 17 minutes, and that's actually a problem. While Apiew Ojulu, Chelsie Butler, and Lauren Tibbs provide a solid front court, they can't play every minute of every game. Valentine, who stands at an athletic looking 6'3", could easily find minutes for the Golden Eagles if any of those three women find themselves in foul trouble. With that said, if she sees a decent amount of action to protect Butler or Tibbs, Valentine can't be giving up fouls herself. She did find time to snare five rebounds, and she ended up missing the one shot that she actually attempted. Valentine was team MVP all four years at St. Roch Catholic Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, but she'll get a chance to work her way into the lineup on a regular basis as the season goes on.</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2014/11/14/7219271/2014-15-marquette-womens-basketball-preview-freshmen-bell-elbert-grim-valentineBrewtown Andy2014-11-13T13:00:02-06:002014-11-13T13:00:02-06:00MU Women's Hoops Preview: The Returning Players
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<img alt="MU will need big performances from all four seniors this season, including #35 Cristina Bigica." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7twagb8llth2K9svnZxqhADdN8s=/210x0:3860x2433/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44099150/20131124_jla_bl1_316.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>MU will need big performances from all four seniors this season, including #35 Cristina Bigica. | Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The first part of our preview of the women's basketball season, where we look at what Marquette returns to the floor this season.</p> <p>Marquette embarks on their first season in over two decades without Terri Mitchell on the bench in one role or another this Saturday when they take on UW-Green Bay at the McGuire Center. To get you ready for the first season with Carolyn Kieger at the rudder, we'll take a look at Marquette's returning players today, and then get you introduced to the newcomers tomorrow.</p>
<p>As is the case with the men's Player Previews, we'll take these in the order of average minutes played during the 2013-14 season.</p>
<h4 align="center">Apiew Ojulu</h4>
<p>The senior forward from Lakeville, Minnesota is the closest thing that Marquette has to a returning starter. No player on last year's roster started all 33 games, but Ojulu got the nod in 32 of them.</p>
<p>For the past three seasons, Ojulu's been riding shotgun along side Katherine Plouffe in the front court. This has led to less than exciting statistics, as she's never averaged more than 8.3 points per game, which she managed in her freshman campaign, and never more than five rebounds per game, which she contributed last year. This season, Ojulu's going to be called on to carry a significant chunk of the load for the Golden Eagles. She's one of the two most experienced players on the roster, and with a very young backcourt, Marquette will need all the performance Ojulu can muster night in and night out.</p>
<h4 align="center">Arlesia Morse</h4>
<p>After two seasons of starting every game and averaging more than 11 points per game, Arlesia Morse was relegated to a bench role last season by head coach Terri Mitchell. While her minutes were down, her scoring wasn't (11.5 points per game) and neither was her shooting. After never cracking 37% from the floor, Morse connected on 43% of her shots last season, including a career high 35.8% behind the three point arc.</p>
<p>Morse enters 2014-15 as Marquette only tested scoring option. She briefly flirted with the idea of leaving Marquette when Mitchell was relieved of duties, but she has renewed enthusiasm under new head coach Carolyn Kieger. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mlive.com/sports/flint/index.ssf/2014/05/marquette_guard_arlesia_morse.html">As she told MLive.com's Eric Woodyard this summer,</a> Kieger expects Morse to thrive in her system, but Morse will have to attack the rim more, instead of firing from distance as she usually had in the past for Marquette.</p>
<h4 align="center">Cristina Bigica</h4>
<p>The third of four returning seniors on the squad, Bigica's role in the past has been as the Swiss Army Knife. The 5'10" Romanian does a little bit of everything for Marquette, but has never really excelled in any one department. As her minutes have increased each season, so have her stats, up to five points, three rebounds, and two assists as a junior. At times, Bigica looks like the most fundamentally sound Golden Eagle, yet at other times, she's the player most prone to let her enthusiastic instincts take over and make a bad decision. Nowhere was this more obvious than in the team's exhibition game, where Bigica fouled out trying to draw a charge 60 feet from the basket with the score tied at 69 with 96 seconds left. Not only was it a goofball play, it actually caused assistant coach Scott Merritt to headbutt his clipboard in frustration.</p>
<h4 align="center">Chelsie Butler and Lauren Tibbs</h4>
<p>I'm pairing these two together because they're so similar as players. Their career stats are essentially the same, with the exception being that Tibbs is a redshirt junior after missing her first year on campus due to injury. They both show flashes of brilliance in the post, with Butler clearing 6'5" on the tape measure and Tibbs just an inch behind her.</p>
<p>Yet something seems to be missing from both of their games. It's not effort, to be certain, as they always look to be working on the court. They both struggle with ball possession at times (officially they were both under a turnover a game last season), and both would benefit from being able to find about four inches of vertical leap ability. Combined, they provide a unique size aspect for the Golden Eagles, as they're almost interchangeable on the floor and Marquette wouldn't lose any height or size when one leaves for the other. By default, they're amongst the most experienced players on the team, as the roster can be divided between "players that saw the floor last year" and "players that didn't," but both women will have to do their part to help lift MU this season.</p>
<h4 align="center">McKayla Yentz</h4>
<p>Moment of honesty here: because she played so infrequently last season (11 appearances, less than four minutes per game), I didn't realize that McKayla Yentz stands 6'1" tall. That's uniquely tall for a women's basketball player that's listed as a guard, but she never got a chance to get on the floor for Terri Mitchell.</p>
<p>Yentz was a three year captain at Sun Prairie (WI), where she led the team to the regional finals in the spring of 2013. She averaged 20 points and 8.7 rebounds during her senior season and was a candidate for Miss Basketball, as well as Big 8 Conference Player of the Year. Can she bounce back from a non-existent freshman campaign and star for Carolyn Kieger? That remains to be seen, as Yentz was held out of the exhibition loss to Lewis for rest purposes.</p>
<h4 align="center">JeTaun Rouse</h4>
<p>While Yentz dressed and never played, JeTaun Rouse had an even worse first year at Marquette. She suffered a season ending leg injury in pre-season practice and as of right now, is still not cleared to return to action.</p>
<p>Rouse scored over 2,000 points in her prep career at Marist (IL), and was a nominee for the girls' McDonald's All-American game. She was a four year letter winner at Marist, leading them to three regional titles and a sectional title in her time there. Can she get healthy and get back to that form after a year off the court? We shall have to wait and see.</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2014/11/13/7214635/2014-15-marquette-womens-basketball-returning-players-ojulu-morse-bigica-butler-tibbsBrewtown Andy2014-11-10T10:00:03-06:002014-11-10T10:00:03-06:00WBB Falls To Nationally Ranked Lewis In Exhibition
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<img alt="Senior Apiew Ojulu recorded 13 points and 12 rebounds in the exhibition loss." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yptELfqjIfLHYNChqVwnW3sykIA=/127x33:798x480/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/43803164/20131218_WB_762_MB.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Senior Apiew Ojulu recorded 13 points and 12 rebounds in the exhibition loss. | <a href='http://www.marquetteimages.com'>MarquetteImages.com</a></figcaption>
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<p>So, yeah, not the best start to the Carolyn Kieger era, perhaps.</p> <p>Hard truths time: Marquette's women's hoops team lost their exhibition game against Division 2 Lewis University, 75-72.</p>
<p>Mitigating factors time: Marquette was without the services of Arlesia Morse, their preseason all-Big East guard, as well as returning sophomore McKayla Yentz and redshirt freshman JeTaun Rouse. Rouse isn't cleared to play after a season ending knee injury a year ago, and it's hard to say what Yentz would have contributed, as she didn't see much action last season. But Morse is a significant loss, and without her or Yentz in the lineup that left Marquette to rely on the services of three freshmen in the backcourt.</p>
<p>More mitigating factors: Lewis is pretty good. This was their third exhibition game against a Division 1 foe, and it was their third win. The other two were at Loyola Chicago (83-61) and Saturday afternoon against Northern Illinois (60-49). On top of that, the Flyers are ranked #9 in the country in the USA Today Division 2 coaches' poll.</p>
<p>So, shorthanded and inexperienced against a high quality D2 team with absolutely no fear, as everyone gets used to everyone else in head coach Carolyn Kieger's first outing on the Marquette sideline, and it turns into a three point loss. No one's going to confuse this for a good thing, but on the other side, maybe we can just chalk the whole thing up to a learning experience.</p>
<p>Things that could be learned in particular: Tia Elbert and Hannah Grim, both freshmen guards, can't shoot a combined 6-33 for Marquette to have a chance to win ball games. On the other hand, I'll sign up for 8-15 including 3-4 behind the arc from Kenisha Bell, the third freshman guard. Apiew Ojulu, Lauren Tibbs, and Chelsie Butler did what they could to clean up the misses from the freshman trio in the backcourt, combining for 20 of MU's 32 offensive rebounds in the game, but ultimately, it was just too many misses and too many turnovers (20 all told) for Marquette to pull out a win.</p>
<p>The games start counting on Saturday afternoon when Marquette plays host to UW-Green Bay. The Phoenix are the preseason favorites in the Horizon League for the sixth consecutive season after winning their 16th consecutive regular season championship last spring. It's going to take a much better effort to keep that game competitive.</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2014/11/10/7184633/marquette-womens-basketball-falls-to-division-2-lewis-in-exhibitionBrewtown Andy2014-11-06T12:00:03-06:002014-11-06T12:00:03-06:00Coach Kieger Has Two Game Day Requests
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<img alt="Head coach Carolyn Kieger's preparation for her first season includes planning the game day experience." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dj6qE0NZRaGYc69Xs337xQCd5C4=/0x75:1111x816/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/43557004/20141010_MU_0543_MB.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Head coach Carolyn Kieger's preparation for her first season includes planning the game day experience. | <a href='http://www.marquetteimages.com'>Maggie Bean/MarquetteImages.com</a></figcaption>
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<p>Both of them seem like fun, and one of them is a very shrewd move.</p> <p>I received my Marquette women's basketball season tickets in the mail yesterday (aside: did you know you get 1 men's basketball priority point for every consecutive year you have two women's tickets? <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gomarquette.com/bluegold-fund/bgf-priority-point-system.html">It's true!</a> It's the value of a $250 donation for <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gomarquette.com/tickets/w-baskbl-season-tickets.html">as little as $80</a>!), and the envelope contained the standard stuff: the cards that the McGuire Center staff scans at entry, two wallet schedules, a note about last night's event at Saz's, and a letter from head coach Carolyn Kieger.</p>
<p>Most of the letter from Coach Kieger is standard rah-rah stuff. Thanks for purchasing, heart and soul of the program, can't wait for the season to start, etc., etc. But the fourth paragraph has two requests from Kieger for things she wants to have happen as part of the game day experience. We'll deal with the second one first because it's simple and straightforward. In Coach Kieger's words:</p>
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<p>Another tradition I loved when I played and I'd like to bring back is after a player hits a three-pointer, the PA will announce "(Player's name) for..." and the arena will reply "THREE!"</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Well, that's pretty simple. Admittedly, I did not get a chance to see Kieger play while she was at Marquette, so I don't remember this occuring after made triples. But it's a simple thing to do, it gets the crowd involved and more active, and it helps create a more stifling atmosphere for the visiting team.</p>
<p>The first request that Coach Kieger made is incredibly shrewd.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If you were at Madness this year, you may have seen this first one. After starting lineups are announced, the students/band will chant "WE ARE!" with the rest of the arena responding "MARQUETTE!" three times.</p>
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<p>As I mentioned, I haven't been the most dedicated fan of Marquette women's hoops, but I do go way, WAY back with the squad. Introductions ultimately finish with the head coach, who, for the past 16 seasons, was Terri Mitchell. That led to a clap-along and sing-song chant from the students (and those of us who know the deal) of "We love Terri Mitchell," to the standard issue conga line rhythm. Obviously, that's gone by the wayside now, and it's quite adept of Coach Kieger to step in and intentionally introduce something different to avoid any kind of weird awkwardness in her first season replacing Coach Mitchell.</p>
<p>Marquette gets their season started with an exhibition against Lewis at the McGuire Center on Sunday afternoon at 2pm, with the official start of the season coming on November 15th against UW-Green Bay.</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2014/11/6/7167529/marquette-womens-basketball-carolyn-kieger-al-mcguire-centerBrewtown Andy2014-10-22T13:02:30-05:002014-10-22T13:02:30-05:00Morse Named To Preseason All-Big East WBB Team
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<img alt="Arlesia Morse will be counted on to score for MU during her senior season." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_qCppTgsNJWLJqsZBI6FPHqTt04=/62x160:470x432/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42472264/20121219_WB_363_MC.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Arlesia Morse will be counted on to score for MU during her senior season. | <a href='http://www.marquetteimages.com'>MarquetteImages.com</a></figcaption>
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<p>As was the case with the men's team, new head coach Carolyn Kieger has a bit of a hill to climb in her first season at the helm.</p> <p>Marquette guard Arlesia Morse was included in the 10 player preseason all-conference team selected by the Big East women's basketball head coaches.</p>
<p>The senior from Flint, Michigan averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season, and will be a major focus for the Golden Eagles offense this year.</p>
<p>As far as the other player voting goes, Creighton's Marissa Janning was named the preseason Player of the Year. This is of no surprise to anyone, as the junior was named the postseason Player of the Year last season. Georgetown's Dorothy Adomako was named the Preseason Freshman of the Year.</p>
<p>As far as the other spots in the all-conference team go...</p>
<p><b>Preseason All-BIG EAST Team</b><br> Caroline Coyer, Villanova, Jr., G<br> Danaejah Grant, St. John's, Jr., G<br> Aliyyah Handford, St. John's, Jr.*<br> Alexis Harris, Providence, Sr., F<br> Brittany Hrynko, DePaul, Sr., G*<br> Arlesia Morse, Marquette, Sr., G<br> Tabatha Richardson-Smith, Seton Hall, Jr., F <br> Megan Rogowski, DePaul, Sr., G* <br> Ka-Deidre Simmons, Seton Hall, RS-Sr., G* <br> Faith Woodard, Georgetown, So., F</p>
<p><b>Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention</b><br> Sarah Beal, Providence, So., G <br> Amber Thompson, St. John's, Sr., F</p>
<p>Hey, wait a minute. Marissa Janning's not on the all-conference team. How is that possible? Was she automatically lifted from the team because she was voted player of the year? That has to be it, because there are four players who were unanimous choices for the all-Big East team, and you'd figure someone named the best player in the whole league would have to beat out those four choices for the top spot.</p>
<p>Anyway.</p>
<p>I hit on four of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.anonymouseagle.com/2014/10/21/7017771/unscientific-predictions-2014-15-big-east-womens-basketball-preseason-awards-janning">my six predictions</a> for the all-Big East women's team. I missed on Janning for whatever reason that she's not in the squad, and I missed on Natalie Butler. That one's on me, because I neglected to double check Georgetown's roster. As it turns out, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/052114aaa.html">Butler has transferred to Connecticut</a>, so I'm going to give myself partial credit.</p>
<p>The Golden Eagles were <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigeast.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/102214aab.html">picked to finish seventh</a> in the preseason balloting of the Big East's head coaches. The Golden Eagles picked up 34 points, finishing two behind sixth place Providence and eight in front of eighth place Georgetown.</p>
<p>DePaul was picked to repeat as regular season champions, earning all nine votes that they could get, as head coach Doug Bruno was not allowed to vote for his squad. His vote went to second place St. John's. Here's the full rundown:</p>
<ol>
<li>DePaul, 81 points</li>
<li>St. John's, 73</li>
<li>Villanova, 60</li>
<li>Creighton, 55</li>
<li>Seton Hall, 51</li>
<li>Providence, 36</li>
<li>Marquette, 34</li>
<li>Georgetown, 26</li>
<li>Xavier, 24</li>
<li>Butler, 10</li>
</ol>
<p>The Blue Demons and Red Storm appear to be the clear cut 1-2 punch of the league, with Villanova, Creighton, and Seton Hall jockeying back and forth for the next three slots. The heavy drop off to Providence proves that there's a divide in the expectations for the top and bottom halves of the league this season, especially when you get down to Butler. The Bulldogs managed just 10 points, meaning only one coach has them finishing out of the basement, and even that coach only has them in ninth place.</p>
<p>The top two are exactly the top two I had in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.anonymouseagle.com/2014/10/21/7017771/unscientific-predictions-2014-15-big-east-womens-basketball-preseason-awards-janning">my predictions</a>, as are the next three. I had the order flipped around a bit (Creighton 3, Seton Hall 4, Villanova 5), but who's counting minor discrepancies at a time like this? The important thing is getting all five teams correct.</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2014/10/22/7039979/marquette-womens-basketball-arlesia-morse-big-east-preseason-all-conference-teamBrewtown Andy2014-10-22T08:57:17-05:002014-10-22T08:57:17-05:00Your 2014 Big East Hoops Media Day Open Thread
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GPMFNy7tY-v9CH1qFQcc7ygO4lo=/43x45:447x314/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42443338/20120226_kkt_sh5_115.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Keep your eyes tuned to this page all day for everything coming out of MSG today.</p> <p>At 9:30 am Central, Tim Brando will be hosting <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigeast.com/collegesportslive/?media=465144">the men's basketball show</a> streaming on Big East.com. That will be followed up by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigeast.com/collegesportslive/?media=465151">the women's basketball show</a> at 1pm hosted by LaChina Robinson. Both hosts will be joined by Pat O'Keefe as a reporter doing interviews and getting the latest happenings. According to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigeast.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/102114aaa.html">this press release</a> from the Big East, these streaming shows will provide us with "enhanced coverage" of Media Day, including "inside access to in-depth interviews with coaches and players," so I expect a pretty similar event to last year's Media Day.</p>
<p>There's also going to be some kind of social media hub through BigEast.com, but there's not links to anything on the site as of yet, so I can't exactly say how they're combining Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, other than running tweets on a ticker on the streaming broadcast.</p>
<p>Of course, we'll be getting the preseason all-conference teams and players of the year along the way, as well as the preseason polling of the coaches to predict the order of finish on both sides of the aisle.</p>
<p>We'll be updating this page as the day goes on, so keep hitting refresh for all the latest news!</p>
<p><b>8:57am -</b> Hey, things are already breaking loose!</p>
<p>1) <span>D`Vauntes Smith-Rivera</span> from Georgetown has been named the preseason Player of the Year.</p>
<p>2) Villanova is the unanimous choice to win the Big East.</p>
<p><b>9:00am -</b> Here's the full rundown of the predicted order of finish, according to the coaches voting.</p>
<ol>
<li>Villanova</li>
<li>Georgetown</li>
<li>St. John's</li>
<li>Xavier</li>
<li>Providence</li>
<li>Seton Hall</li>
<li>Butler</li>
<li>Marquette</li>
<li>Creighton</li>
<li>DePaul</li>
</ol>
<p>Butler and Marquette are actually tied for seventh place at 28 points. There's a clear grouping in the points allocated by the voting. As the unanimous pick to win, Nova is the runaway leader. Georgetown, who got Jay Wright's vote to win the league, and St. John's are neck and neck. Then there's a bit of a drop down to Xavier, Providence and Seton Hall. That's followed by a HUGE drop down to Butler, Marquette, and Creighton, and one final drop down to DePaul. With the Blue Demons getting 12 points, they were not a unanimous pick to finish last.</p>
<p><b>9:05am -</b> Oh, go figure, this is the year the Big East moves to a five man preseason all-conference team. Here it is, and there's a shocker involved.</p>
<p><b>2014-15 BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team</b><br> <span>Kellen Dunham</span>, Butler, G, Jr.<br> D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown, G, Jr.<br> D'Angelo Harrison, St. John's, G, Sr.<br> <span>JayVaughn Pinkston</span>, Villanova, F, Sr.<br> <span>Matt Stainbrook</span>, Xavier, C, Sr.</p>
<p>No <span>Darrun Hilliard</span>, my pick as Player of the Year and the pick of the SB Nation Big East blog poll, too. He shows up in the second team, though.</p>
<p><b>2014-15 BIG EAST Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team</b><br> Billy Garrett, Jr., DePaul, G, So.<br> <span>LaDontae Henton</span>, Providence, F, Sr.,<br> <span>Rysheed Jordan</span>, St. John's, G, So.<br> <span>Ryan Arcidiacono</span>, Villanova, G, Jr.<br> Darrun Hilliard, Villanova, G, Sr.</p>
<p><b>2014-15 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention</b><br> <span>Roosevelt Jones</span>, Butler, G, Jr.<br> <span>Chris Obekpa</span>, St. John's, C, Jr.<br> <span>Sterling Gibbs</span>, Seton Hall, G, Jr.</p>
<p><b>9:13am -</b></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Big East MBB coaches with Val Ackerman. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bemediaday?src=hash">#bemediaday</a> <a href="http://t.co/hb5NdPAv27">pic.twitter.com/hb5NdPAv27</a></p>
— Rob Anderson (@_robanderson) <a href="https://twitter.com/_robanderson/status/524924747063513088">October 22, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Hey, thanks for dressing up, Lav.</p>
<p><b>9:31am -</b></p>
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<p>DePaul PG Billy Garrett Jr: I expect us to finish in the first half of the Big East.</p>
— Carmine Carcieri (@CESPN1) <a href="https://twitter.com/CESPN1/status/524930251898376192">October 22, 2014</a>
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<p>Well, it's time to drug test Billy Garrett.</p>
<p><b>9:48am -</b> I've got <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigeast.com/collegesportslive/">the live stream</a> going, and there's a music loop playing CONSTANTLY. Also this, from @MarquetteWBB:</p>
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<p>Api and Arlesia casually hanging out with Paul Pierce before media day <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/muwbb?src=hash">#muwbb</a> <a href="http://t.co/yuUAh6vBja">pic.twitter.com/yuUAh6vBja</a></p>
— Marquette WBB (@MarquetteWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarquetteWBB/status/524934391177682946">October 22, 2014</a>
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<p><b>10:08am -</b> The live stream has jumped to Commissioner Val Ackerman's comments from earlier today, but there's good news. Well, two pieces of good news. First: NO MORE MUSIC LOOP. Second: The commish says that the Big East will adopt any extra benefit measures that the Power Five conference adopt for themselves.</p>
<p>Ackerman mentions that there were "extensive" renovations to the Al McGuire Center. I don't know if redressing the practice gym walls and redoing the men's hoops locker room counts as "extensive," though.</p>
<p><b>10:23 am -</b> Someone's gotta proofread Stu Jackson's notes better, as he said Marquette is playing Arizona this year, not Arizona State, which is actually happening.</p>
<p><b>10:31am -</b> Ok, I understood replaying Val Ackerman & Stu Jackson's statements, as they happened before the live stream went live. But now they're replaying the Jay Wright/JayVaughn Pinkston interview that happened about 45 minutes ago, albeit without the music loop running. At the end of it, Brando throws to Pat O'Keefe for the Chris Holtmann/<span>Kameron Woods</span> interview that we already saw... and it doesn't come up..... and there it is.</p>
<p>What a fantastic "live" stream we have here.</p>
<p><b>10:36 am -</b> And now the livestream is dead.</p>
<p><b>10:39 am -</b> It's back! But I can't hear Tim Brando, Greg McDermott, or <span>Austin Chatman</span>.</p>
<p><b>11:03 am -</b> With no sound, I went to go wash some dishes, since I could see the monitor from the sink. I saw the Villanova interview on screen for a moment, and now it's just sitting on a Big East logo. The music loop came back for a moment, but now that's gone, too. As I type this, the screen was stuck on an image of Tim Brando, Steve Wojciechowski, and <span>Derrick Wilson</span>, but now it's back to the Big East logo. *sigh*</p>
<p><b>11:32 am -</b> I think they're playing the music any time they cut to highlights. This is completely unnecessary. I'm trying to listen to Tim Brando talk to Isaiah Whitehead and Kevin Willard, but they're playing the idiot music loop over footage of Seton Hall practicing.</p>
<p><b>11:49 am -</b> Steve Lavin and D`Angelo Harrison wearing matching track suits as they talk to Tim Brando. Lavin attempted to claim that he just threw the outfit on so he wouldn't wake up his wife this morning. Uh huh.</p>
<p><b>12:09 pm -</b> The Big East has put the women's basketball preseason polling up on their website. DePaul is a unanimous pick to win the conference, earning all nine votes that they could get. Marquette and first year head coach Carolyn Kieger are tabbed to finish seventh.</p>
<p><b>12:20pm -</b> For a while, I thought the livestream had crashed. Turns out it's just done for the day, as the women's hoops programming will take over at 1pm. See, I would have known this if there had been sound during Tim Brando's interview of Commissioner Val Ackerman.</p>
<p><b>12:28pm -</b> Creighton's Marissa Janning has been named the Big East Women's Basketball Player Of The Year. Georgetown's Dorothy Adomako has been named the Preseason Freshman of the Year. Marquette's Arlesia Morse is included in the 10 player all-Big East team.</p>
<p><b>1:37pm -</b> It's amazing how much smoother the women's basketball end of the streaming is going. It's almost as if they have a bunch of pretaped segments and they started a brand new stream and allowed themselves a fresh start after a terrible morning session for the men's side of things...</p>
<p><b>1:41pm - </b></p>
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<p>Api meets with media members at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BEmediaday?src=hash">#BEmediaday</a> <a href="http://t.co/MQrWju1kKl">pic.twitter.com/MQrWju1kKl</a></p>
— Marquette WBB (@MarquetteWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarquetteWBB/status/524991918321573888">October 22, 2014</a>
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<p><b>1:53 pm -</b></p>
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<p>It’s disturbing how much Xavier WBB head coach Brian Neal looks like Chris Mack. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BEMediaDay?src=hash">#BEMediaDay</a> <a href="http://t.co/8YuRT6dIIs">pic.twitter.com/8YuRT6dIIs</a></p>
— Anonymous Eagle (@AnonymousEagle) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnonymousEagle/status/524995388437450752">October 22, 2014</a>
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<p><b>1:58 pm - </b></p>
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<p>Head coach <a href="https://twitter.com/ckieger">@ckieger</a> sits for an interview with Fox at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BEmediaday?src=hash">#BEmediaday</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/muwbb?src=hash">#muwbb</a> <a href="http://t.co/NWfy0sg70T">pic.twitter.com/NWfy0sg70T</a></p>
— Marquette WBB (@MarquetteWBB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarquetteWBB/status/524998154001723392">October 22, 2014</a>
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<p><i>Updates as they happen throughout the day...</i></p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2014/10/22/7038275/2014-2015-big-east-mens-womens-basketball-media-day-live-blog-open-threadBrewtown Andy2014-10-21T12:00:03-05:002014-10-21T12:00:03-05:00Predicting The Big East WBB Preseason Awards
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<img alt="SWEET, I lucked into a picture of Creighton's Marissa Janning." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eGePGn9oROWG14qZn3XSEIcVgXA=/170x630:2680x2303/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/42370820/20140309_pjc_ad4_379.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>SWEET, I lucked into a picture of Creighton's Marissa Janning. | Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Media day for both men's and women's basketball is tomorrow, so let's take a swing at some predictions.</p> <p>We have a highly sophisticated system to determine the award predictions. I'd share it with you, but then I'd have to <strike>kill you</strike> make you watch Wisconsin basketball.</p>
<h4>Preseason Player Of The Year: Marissa Janning, Creighton</h4>
<p>Janning was the 2013-14 Player of the Year, so even though she's only a junior now, it's hard to not hand it over to her. Obviously, DePaul's Brittney Hrynko, last year's preseason POY is a solid challenger for the crown. Janning overtook her by the end of the season, so we'll stick with the Big East's leading scorer from a year ago. Janning averaged 18.3 points per game last season, and boosted that to just barely short of 20 points during conference action. She also dished 3.9 assists and shot over 41% from behind the arc.</p>
<h4>Preseason All-Big East Team</h4>
<p>Marissa Janning, Creighton<br>Brittany Hrynko, DePaul<br>Aliyaah Handford, St. John's<br>Ka-Deidre Simmons, Seton Hall<br>Alexis Harris, Providence<br>Natalie Butler, Georgetown</p>
<p>Janning earns her spot by being Player of the Year, of course. Like I said, Hrynko is a solid candidate for POY, so she has to be on this list, too. Handford and Simmons return this season after being named to the all-Big East First team last season. Providence finished in last place a year ago, but Harris still found a way to be named to the Weekly Honor Roll five times and landed on the all-Big East Second Team. Butler makes it in as the lone underclassman because only she was one of two players (MU's Katherine Plouffe was the other) that averaged a double-double last season, not to mention her Second Team nod in 2013-14.</p>
<h4>Top Five Teams</h4>
<p>1. DePaul<br>2. St. John's<br>3. Creighton<br>4. Seton Hall<br>5. Villanova</p>
<p>With Hrynko and Megan Rogowski back, it's hard to not stick with the defending champions in first place. Handford and Amber Thompson make for a solid pairing for the Red Storm, runners up a year ago. At some point, having the preseason Player of the Year has to mean something, so that gets Creighton to third place. Seton Hall has a great combo of Simmons and junior Tabatha Richardson-Smith, who just barely missed out on a preseason all-conference spot here, plus they have the addition of Daisha Simmons, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2014/10/2/6888367/daisha-simmons-transfer-blocked-alabama-seton-hall-ncaa-womens-basketball">whom you may have heard of recently</a>. Villanova loses Devon Kane after her senior year, but they still have the Coyer sisters.</p>
https://www.anonymouseagle.com/2014/10/21/7017771/unscientific-predictions-2014-15-big-east-womens-basketball-preseason-awards-janningBrewtown Andy