March 2012 | Page 19 of 28 | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Saturday / April 18.
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    • Articles, Louisville, St. Benedict's

    NEW YORK — It hasn’t been easy for Chris Smith growing up in the shadows of his older brother.

    J.R. Smith was a McDonald’s All-American, a preps-to-pros wunderkind out of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark and is now a shooting guard with the Knicks.

    But on this special night, J.R. was the fan and Chris was a star when he scored 15 points to help Louisville win its second Big East tournament title in four years, 50-44, over Cincinnati at Madison Square Garden.

    “To be in the Garden, a historic building, and my brother plays here, it’s the Big East championship,” Chris, a native of Millstone, N.J., said before embracing his brother on the court. “You know, for us to do this, it’s amazing.”

    St. John's

    St. John’s freshman forward Moe Harkless is expected to decide within the next few weeks whether he will leave early for the NBA or return to campus for his sophomore season.

    “We have had a number of productive conversations over the past four days,” St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin told SNY.tv. “Naturally, the discussions covered the pros and cons of leaving St. John’s to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA.

    Articles, Big East, Louisville

    NEW YORK — Rick Pitino has been a forceful critic of schools exiting the Big East ever since the realignment tidal wave crashed upon the league last fall.

    In September, he told SNY.tv that the idea of UConn potentially leaving the Big East for the ACC was “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of.”

    And late Friday night, after Louisville beat Notre Dame, 64-50, to advance to the Big East championship game against fellow former Conference USA member Cincinnati, Pitino had a few more parting shots for Syracuse.

    “The interesting thing is how many people they’ll bring to Tobacco Road,” Pitino said of the top-seeded Orange, who were bounced by the Bearcats, 71-68. “That will be interesting. There’s not many Syracuse alums on Tobacco Road.”

    Articles, Louisville

    NEW YORK — J.R. Smith texted his younger brother late Friday night shortly after Louisville advanced to the Big East championship game against Cincinnati.

    “I heard you boys won,” J.R. told Chris, a senior shooting guard at Louisville. “Thanks for holding on for me.”

    While the Knicks are mired in a four-game losing streak following their loss in Milwaukee Friday in which J.R. got his first start and scored just three points, Chris and the Cardinals are riding high under former Knicks coach Rick Pitino.

    Their 64-50 semifinal win over No. 2 Notre Dame was their third straight here at the Garden and allows J.R. — who played this season in China until last month — to watch his younger brother for the first time all season.

    Articles, Syracuse

    NEW YORK — Madison Square Garden was rocking Friday night with a mostly orange-clad crowd cheering on Syracuse in a virtual home game in the Big East Tournament semifinals.

    The Orange have been synonymous with Big East basketball and Madison Square Garden since Dave Gavitt formed the league in 1979, but Syracuse is leaving the Big East for the ACC in 2013 and they aren’t coming back.

    “I love Madison Square Garden,” former Syracuse star Derrick Coleman told SNY.tv after his beloved Orange were upset by Cincinnati, 71-68. “I love coming to watch these kids play, man. It’s just going to be a sad time for us.”

    Syracuse

    NEW YORK — Now that Syracuse has been ousted from the Big East Tournament, the Orange are hoping history is on their side.

    Some history, anyway.

    “Most national championships — not all, but a lot of them have been won by teams that lose in their conference tournament, including us,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said following his team’s 71-68 loss to Cincinnati in the Big East semifinals.

    “So as much as we want to win this tournament, the tournament that starts next week is the only one that matters.”

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