This Week in the BIG EAST - Weekly Overview of NCAA College Basketball's Top Conference
Now in its 10th season, This Week In The BIG EAST, hosted by Kevin McNamara and John Rooke, is the official podcast of BIG EAST basketball. Kevin, radio host, columnist and author, and John, a longtime play-by-play broadcaster, have combined to cover BIG EAST basketball for over 60 years. The show is a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America, welcoming guests from around the league. #TWITBE also brings sounds of the games – past and present – through @BIGEASTmbb game audio highlights from Butler, UConn, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier. Each episode, John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) recap the latest news in the BIG EAST and preview what’s to come. Tweet questions to John and Kevin while tagging #TWITBE.
This Week in the BIG EAST - Weekly Overview of NCAA College Basketball's Top Conference
#TWITBE Ep. 10.9 - Guests Devin Carter, Greg McDermott and Val Ackerman
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.
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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.