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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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Articles, Big East

It’s official.

Big East Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco today announced that after several weeks of cordial and professional discussions, a definitive agreement has been reached that will enable a mutually-beneficial separation of some of the league’s current members and allow an orderly formation of a new conference by the seven basketball schools.  The separation will become effective on July 1, 2013 and the new league will retain the rights to the Big East name.

The agreement, which remains subject to formal Board approval, contemplates continued cooperation and playing opportunities between the conferences.

“I am pleased that this agreement has been reached,” said Aresco.  “With the long-term well-being of our outstanding institutions and their student-athletes of paramount importance, each group worked through a number of complex issues in an orderly, comprehensive and amicable manner marked by mutual respect.  We part ways as friends and colleagues and look forward to the success of both conferences.”

Andrew Wiggins, Articles, North Carolina

North Carolina will host some pretty heavy hitters beginning today (Friday) when Andrew Wiggins and Rashad Vaughn arrive for Saturday’s nationally televised game with arch-rival Duke.

“I’m definitely looking forward to visiting that weekend,” the 6-foot-8 Wiggins told SNY.tv exclusively recently. “It’s a great rivalry and two great schools.”

This will be the last official visit for Wiggins, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2013 and projected No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

He and his parents, former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins and former Canadian Olympic track star Marita Payne-Wiggins, have already taken officials to Florida State, Kentucky and Kansas, and is expected to decide at some point after the Carolina visit.

Articles

By SEVE COUSINS

Special to ZAGSBLOG

NEW YORK — Josh James may go down as one of the most decorated basketball players in the history of White Plains (N.Y.) Archbishop Stepinac High School.

On Thursday night, the Monmouth-bound James poured in 34 points but his season came to an end when Stepinac lost to Bishop Loughlin 78-56,  in the CHSAA AA semifinals at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gym.

The Loughlin junior trio of Michael Williams (17 points),  Javian De La Cruz (15) and Khadeen Carrington (15) was simply too much and Loughlin (20-6) will move on to face Christ the King (24-3) for a fourth time this season in Sunday’s championship at 3 p.m. Christ the King has won all three previous meetings.

After the game, James was named to the All-CHSAA first team to add to his list of accomplishments. He made quite an impression on Loughlin assistant Bob Leckie, the program’s former head coach and the former coach at St. Peter’s College.

Knicks

http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=25683735

NEW YORK –– On a night when they had no Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks lived by J.R. Smith for nearly four quarters.

And then they ultimately died with him, too.

Trailing Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder 95-94, Smith had not one, but two chances to be the hero in the final seconds before a raucous crowd at Madison Square Garden.

But he misfired on a 3-point attempt with 32 seconds left and then missed a 2-point turnaround over Russell Westbrook as time expired.

Smith finished with a season-high 36 points, including 6-of-13 from the arc, but conceded he probably should’ve attacked the basket instead of settling for a turnaround on the last attempt. He could have spun right and driven uncontested through the lane because the other Thunder defenders were all occupied.

Articles, Rutgers, Seton Hall

It somehow seems appropriate that Rutgers and Seton Hall will open play Tuesday night in the last real Big East Tournament ever against soon-to-be-foreign foes.

In the first game of the opening doubleheader at 7 p.m., No. 12 Seton Hall, soon to be part of the new Big East, will take on No. 13 USF, soon to be a part of the America 12.

At 9 o’clock, No. 11 Rutgers, soon to be a part of the America 12 for a one-year pitt stop before heading to the Big Ten, will face No. 14 DePaul, which will join the Catholic 7 in the new Big East.

As @dan_carey put it on Twitter, you might call the opening night the first annual Big East/America 12 Challenge.

Articles, St. John's

http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=25675403

In this interview with SNY’s Gary Apple and Tarik Turner, St. John’s coach Steve Lavin talked about his difficult last month.

From the death of his father, Cap, to the suspension of D’Angelo Harrison, to the fight with Notre Dame, it has been a trying month for Lavin.

“From the time my father passed Feb. 10 it’s been very difficult,” Lavin said.

“You just move forward as best you can.”

On the court, the Johnnies have lost six of seven to fall out of NCAA Tournament contention.

Articles, Georgetown, Villanova

Georgetown dropped from a 1 seed to a 2 seed on Joe Lunardi’s NCAA Tournament bracket after the No. 5 Hoyas lost to Villanova, 67-57, Wednesday night.

The Hoyas are now tied with Marquette and Louisville at 13-4 atop the Big East, and close things out with Syracuse at home on Saturday.

Lunardi also moved Villanova — which got 20 points from Brooklyn’s JayVaughn Pinkston — up to the “Last Four Byes” group along with Colorado, Virginia and Iowa State.

Jay Wright’s Wildcats are 4-2 against Top 25 teams this year, but because all four wins came in the Philadelphia area, Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com isn’t convinced they should be in.

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