This Week in the BIG EAST - Weekly Overview of NCAA College Basketball's Top Conference

This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests Xavier junior guard Ryan Conwell, UConn junior forward Alex Karaban and Villanova legend Ed Pinckney. The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. The second episode of TWITBE takes a look at the landscape of the BIG EAST as it passes the first quarter mark of league play.  The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Xavier guard Ryan Conwell, fresh off a 28-point second half to lead the Musketeers to a crucial league win over Villanova. A transfer from Indiana State, Conwell has been a big boost for the Xavier offense. The BIG EAST Focus shines on UConn forward Alex Karaban, who opens up about what it is like to to play for Dan Hurley and how Hurley helped pick him and the team up after a loss at Villanova. Rooke and McNamara are then joined by former Villanova legend and member of the 1985 National Championship team, Ed Pinckney. Currently a scout for the Houston Rockets, Pinckney talks about the Wildcats historic NCAA Tournament Run 40 years later, as well as the impacts it has had. The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, rewinding the tape to 1994, when UConn legend Donyell Marshall scored 42 points against St. John’s in an 85-81 win at a sold out put Madison Square Garden. At that point, Marshall’s 42 points set a BIG EAST scoring record, while his 20-for-20 performance at the free-throw line still stands as the best mark in league history. “Who’s Got Next?” takes a look at the upcoming schedule, highlighting the big matchups. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts. This will air Saturday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 963 leading into Creighton @ UConn.

This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, begins its 11th season with guests Marquette senior guard Kam Jones, Creighton head coach Greg McDermott and FOX Sports Analyst Seth Davis. The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. Two weeks into the New Year, the first episode of TWITBE takes a look at the jumpstart of conference play, while taking a look at the landscape of BIG EAST Basketball.. The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Marquette guard Kam Jones, who discusses his approach to basketball, the early success of the Golden Eagles and what it's like playing for head coach Shaka Smart. The BIG EAST Focus shines on Creighton head coach Greg McDermott. FOX Sports Basketball Analyst Seth Davis gives a view on the national perspective, along with his newest project, HoopsHQ.com, to bring fans closer to the sport of basketball. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 10th season with guests Providence junior guard Devin Carter, Creighton’s head coach Greg McDermott and BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. The ninth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST (TWITBE) looks ahead to Saturday’s regular season finale with the final five games determining official seeds and matchups at the 2024 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament Presented by JEEP. The show congratulates UConn following the program’s first outright regular season championship since 1999, and the expectations heading into the tournament for all 11 teams. The BIG EAST Focus shines on Providence junior guard Devin Carter. Carter has helped the Friars push toward a March run despite the loss of Bryce Hopkins to injury earlier this season. He leads the conference in scoring with 21.2 points per game, 1.3 more per game than second place Quincy Olivari in league games. The junior also ranks third in rebounds with 8.7 per contest. Heading into the final weekend of regular season play, Carter has continued to be a gameplan nightmare for opposing coaches. The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Creighton head coach Greg McDermott. McDermott talks about handling expectations at a winning program such as Creighton and what it’s been like to learn from last season’s Elite Eight run. The Bluejays have used the bitter disappointment from the end of last season to fuel another championship drive, and currently rank 10th nationally. Creighton is looking to lock up the No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament on Saturday. BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman gives her take on the state of the conference and what it means to be back at Madison Square Garden for a 42nd consecutive BIG EAST Tournament. In addition to the BIG EAST Women’s Tournament officially underway at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., Ackerman discusses the impact of Saturday’s men’s regular season contests. From a national perspective, Ackerman gives updates on a potential NCAA Tournament expansion, as well as modifications to the transfer portal. The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past.” Turning the clock back to 2011, the show looks back on one of the most remarkable runs ever witnessed in college basketball postseason history. Kemba Walker led the UConn Huskies to five wins in five days at the BIG EAST Tournament to claim the BIG EAST Championship as a No. 9 seed. The Huskies closed out the year on an 11-game winning streak, also sweeping through the NCAA Tournament to win the third title in program history. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts. This will air Saturday, March 9 at Noon ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 964 leading into the UConn women’s basketball broadcast of the BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by JEEP.

This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 10th season with guests UConn graduate guard Cam Spencer, Georgetown’s head coach Ed Cooley and NCAA.com and TNT Basketball Analyst Andy Katz. The eighth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST (TWITBE) takes a look ahead as the league enters the final week of regular season action prior to the 2024 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament Presented by JEEP. UConn heads into the final three games with a two-game lead over Marquette for the top-seed at Madison Square Garden. With a win over the weekend against Seton Hall, Creighton has leap-frogged the Pirates back into third, while Providence and Villanova will play Saturday to break a current tiebreaker for fifth.  The BIG EAST Focus shines on UConn graduate guard Cam Spencer. The Huskies have looked the part of not just a BIG EAST Champion, but a potential back-to-back National Champion this season with only a few minor bumps in the road. Spencer has added important depth and experience to an already loaded UConn roster as they look towards March Madness. Spencer leads the conference and ranks fourth nationally this season in 3-point percentage (0.446). He is also tied for the team-high with 15.2 points per game.  The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley. Georgetown has had a great measure of success as one of the BIG EAST Conference’s founding members, including a National Championship in 1984. Wrapping up his first year as the Hoya lead man, Cooley is looking to restore Georgetown men’s basketball to national prominence but understands there is a long road ahead.  NCAA.com and TNT basketball analyst Andy Katz gives a view on the national perspective. Katz takes the time to discuss which teams across the country he feels could make some real noise at the NCAA Tournament. He also provides an in-depth look at the BIG EAST resumes ahead of the Big Dance. The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past.” Turning the clock back to 2006, the last time UConn clinched at least a share of a BIG EAST regular season title. It was the first week in March, when the Huskies were led by senior Denham Brown who scored 17 points to help secure an 84-80 win over Louisville on senior day. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts. This will air Saturday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m. ET on Sirius 162 XM 201 Online 964 leading into the Creighton men’s basketball broadcast of Marquette @ Creighton.