March 2017 | Page 23 of 34

By DENNIS CHAMBERS

NEW YORK — The defending national champions now have the opportunity to enter the NCAA tournament as Big East champions.

Flip-flopping last season’s outcome with Seton Hall Friday night, Villanova advanced to the Big East’s 35th rendition of the Big East Tournament final where they will face Creighton, which beat Xavier 75-72. Villanova and Creighton will tip at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Entering their semifinal matchup with Seton Hall the Wildcats were the No. 2 ranked team in the country and a No. 1 seed in ESPN Joe Lunardi‘s projected NCAA tournament bracket. The Wildcats spent the season dominating their conference, and collecting hardware in the process as Josh Hart was named Big East Player of the Year. With 30 wins on the season up to this point, Villanova has a real chance at repeating as national champions.

Seton Hall

Seton Hall Loses Their Big East Magic, Sets Sights on NCAA Tournament

March 10, 2017

author: Dennis Chambers

By DENNIS CHAMBERS

NEW YORK — Against Villanova this time around, the ball didn’t bounce off the rim the way Seton Hall wanted it to.

Last season with 18 seconds left in Big East Tournament final, Isaiah Whitehead got his shot to tap the back of the rim before going in. His shot tied the game at 67, his following foul shot gave the Pirates a 68-67 lead that they ultimately held on to for the victory.

But this year, down 55-53 with the final possession the rim wasn’t so kind to the Pirates. Angel Delgado had a clear layup opportunity with three seconds remaining that didn’t find its way to the bottom of the net. As a result, Villanova got their revenge victory at Madison Square Garden over Seton Hall Friday night.

“I just missed it,” Delgado said about the blown opportunity. “Can’t really tell you nothing right now, I just missed. Something that never happened in my life. That’s the first time, and I gotta live with it.”

Breaking News, Duke

After Back-to-Back Wins Over Louisville and North Carolina, Duke Now Living Up to All The Hype

March 10, 2017

author: Adam Zagoria

NEW YORK — In the final minutes of the latest chapter of the storied North Carolina-Duke rivalry, Jayson Tatum stood at midcourt of the Barclays Center smiling and clapping his hands over his head.

Why not take a bow in the Big Apple?

The 6-foot-8 freshman forward continued his scintillating week here in Brooklyn with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists as No. 5-seeded Duke outscored No. 1 North Carolina by 17 points in the second half to win their semifinal matchup 93-83. The Blue Devils advanced to the ACC Tournament championship game on Saturday night against No. 3 Notre Dame, a 77-73 winner over No. 2 Florida State.

In three games this week in front of a slew of NBA personnel and amid an electric atmosphere, Tatum went for 20 points, 9 boards and 4 assists against Clemson, 25, 6 and 2 against Louisville and now 24, 7 and 2 against the Heels.

Hudson Catholic, St. Patrick

Hudson Catholic Looking to Spoil The Patrick School’s Run Towards a TOC Title

March 10, 2017

author: Adam Zagoria

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Luther Muhammad and his Hudson Catholic teammates know they can play competitively with The Patrick School, the favorite to win the New Jersey Tournament of Champions title.

After all, Hudson Catholic led The Patrick School during their game in December at the City of Palms Classic in Florida, only to lose in heartbreaking fashion, 65-63.

Now the two Garden State powers will renew acquaintances in the Non-Public B state title game at 5 o’clock on Saturday at the Ritacco Center in Toms River. On a huge night of basketball in the area, the game will tip shortly before the Big East final at Madison Square Garden (5:30) and then the ACC final at Barclays Center (9).

“I’m ready, I’m ready,” Muhammad said Wednesday night after scoring 15 points as the Hawks ended St. Anthony’s season in the North Non-Public B title game in what may have been St. Anthony’s last game ever. “This is over, I’m on to the next. I’m prepared for that now….I’ll probably hit the gym tonight, to be honest.”

Breaking News, NBA Draft

Markelle Fultz Declares for 2017 NBA Draft

March 10, 2017

author: Jacob Polacheck

Markelle Fultz, the 6-foot-4 point guard from

Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Yale

All Four Ivy League Tournament Teams Feature Players from One High School: Northfield Mount Hermon

March 10, 2017

author: Adam Zagoria

No matter which team wins the inaugural Ivy League Tournament at the Palestra this weekend, Northfield (MA) Mount Hermon will be a winner.

The prestigious prep school from the New England Prep School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) has at least one alumnus on each of the four teams in the tournament: Harvard’s Zena Edosomwan (NMH ’13), Yale’s Anthony Dallier (’13), Princeton’s Peter Miller (’13) and the Penn trio of Jackson Donahue (’15), Collin McManus (’15) and AJ Brodeur (’16).

“I think it says a ton about the type of program [NMH coach] John [Carroll] has built and the values he looks for in a player and the type of young men he produces there,” Dallier, a 6-foot-6 senior point guard and the Yale captain, said by phone from his hotel room in Philadelphia. “It’s a program that cares both about academics and athletics and I think it shows with the fact of how many guys we have playing this weekend.”