Villanova forward Dante Cunningham was selected to the All-Big East second team in a vote of the league's coaches. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players. Guard Scottie Reynolds was named honorable mention.

The Big East changed its format this season, returning to five-member teams instead of the 10-member teams of the past three seasons.

The league will announce its player of the year, coach of the year, rookie of the year and scholar-athlete on Tuesday. Other awards will be announced Monday.

Six players were named to the All-Big East first team, with the player of the year coming from that list.

ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, C, Jr., 7-3, 263, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Terrence Williams, Louisville, F, Sr., 6-6, 210, Seattle, Wash.
Jerel McNeal, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-3, 200 Chicago, Ill.
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, Jr., 6-8, 251, Schererville, Ind.
DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, C, So., 6-7, 265, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Sam Young, Pittsburgh, F, Sr., 6-6, 215, Clinton, Md.

ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
A.J. Price, Connecticut, G, Sr., 6-2, 181, Amityville, N.Y.
Wesley Matthews, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-5, 215, Madison, Wis.
Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, G, So., 6-0, 185, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
Dante Cunningham, Villanova, F, Sr., 6-8, 230, Silver Spring, Md.
Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia, F, Jr., 6-7, 225, Newark, N.J.

ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, Jr., 6-1, 195, Indianapolis, Ind.
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, Sr., 6-7, 243, Brookline, Mass.
Earl Clark, Louisville, G/F, Jr., 6-8, 220, Rahway, N.J.
Levance Fields, Pittsburgh, G, Sr., 5-10, 190, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, So., 6-5, 185, Bronx, N.Y.

BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTION
Weyinmi Efejuku, Providence, G, Sr., 6-5, 210, Fresh Meadows, N.Y.
Dominique Jones, USF, G, So., 6-4, 205, Lake Wales, Fla.
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.
Alex Ruoff, West Virginia, G, Sr., 6-6, 220, Spring Hill, Fla.

BIG EAST ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Yancy Gates, Cincinnati, F, Fr., 6-9, 255, Cincinnati, Ohio
Kemba Walker, Connecticut, G, Fr., 6-0, 175, Bronx, N.Y.
Greg Monroe, Georgetown, C, Fr., 6-10, 240, Gretna, La.
Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F, Fr., 6-8, 240, Trelawny, Jamaica
Mike Rosario, Rutgers, G, Fr., 6-3, 180, Jersey City, N.J.
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F, Fr., 6-9, 205, Long Island City, N.Y.

This has been a very long season, not because of our up and down play, but with the emotional peaks and valleys. We knew coming in that we would be without a true home court, but the extraordinary efforts of the Penn athletic administration and basketball staff made us feel like Dorothy in the “Wizard of Oz” – that there is no place like home. The true spirit of the Big 5 prevailed.

On the floor it is now time to put up or collect the uniforms. Our struggles continue to be at the offensive end. Nothing comes easy for us. I feel that I must accept responsibility for our weaknesses.

To all of the teams in Philadelphia may your March bring much madness. To the fans, hopefully your brackets (for amusement only) will be full of winners.

To the Philly basketball community, think about joining the coaches in our fight versus cancer – next Monday (March 16) at The Palestra for the March Madness Tipoff Breakfast and April 18 for our annual black-tie gala.

I am not a big “Senior Night” guy, but if ever five young men deserved to be honored, these five – Dionte Christmas, Semaj Inge, Sergio Olmos and team managers Tyler Deane and Raheem Mapp – clearly do.

Senior Night is a hard night for coaches, the players being honored, as well as their families. With that being said, it is one of those things that all teams must do. So tonight we take this moment to honor those people who have dedicated their lives to our basketball program and to Temple University. Categorically, I am proud of all three senior players as well as the two senior managers. All five of them have done so much for Temple basketball over the past 4 years. It is a great honor for them and we are happy to provide it. It is just a difficult night due to all of the emotions that go along with the event.

So please join us to help honor these fine young men, and to take part in an exciting Atlantic 10/Big 5 rivalry Thursday when we take on Saint Joseph’s.

Go Owls.

So, how about Jay Wright for Big East Coach of the Year?

Just thought it needed to be tossed out there.

I don’t know who’s going to get it. Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun and Pittsburgh’s Jamie Dixon have obviously had their teams jockeying for the No. 1 spot in the nation. UConn was supposed to be that good. The Panthers were picked to finish third in the preseason poll, just behind Louisville, which is currently ranked sixth. So maybe they’ve actually done a little more than people anticipated, but it’s not like where they are is shocking.

The hardest thing to do sometimes in sports is reach the expectations. In many respects, Villanova has exceeded them. Sure, the Wildcats had everything back from a team that reached the Sweet 16 a year ago. But that team also barely made it into the NCAA Tournament, in case you forgot. Yes, they were older, but question marks still remained.

If you had told most of Nova Nation way back when that this team would be 24-6, 12-5 in the conference, they would have taken it without hesitation. Heck, maybe Wright would have, too. That’s how tough the Big East is, especially this season. And the reality is, after losing two of their first five conference games, even nine or 10 victories wasn’t looking too bad. Seriously.

But this team apparently wasn’t thinking that way. And while Wright always credits his players, particularly the four seniors, it all starts with him.

You don’t have to Dick Vitale to realize that, on paper, Villanova is not playing with quite the same deck as UConn, Pitt or Louisville. Perhaps it’s not even close. Those teams have pros. Make that multiple pros. Dante Cunningham might have a future at the next level, but right now that’s about it. Yet the Wildcats should have beaten Louisville, nearly won at UConn and beat Pitt. Not too shabby.

What the Wildcats lack in sheer talent, they make up for with belief. The belief that somehow, someway, somebody will figure out a way to make it happen. And more often than not, it has worked.

Someone is responsible for that. The guy who brought them to the Main Line in the first place.

Sometimes you look a a box score and can’t understand how the Wildcats won. The biggest thing is, they define the team concept. Cunningham and Reynolds are the rocks. But when they’ve struggled, Corey Fisher has become a catalyst off the bench. Or Dwayne Anderson hits threes. Ditto Corey Stokes. Or Shane Clark/Reggie Redding come up with a big defensive play. It’s often about the intangibles. Again, it’s been ingrained in them from the top. And it shows.

As a group, they’re better than the individual parts. I remember getting e-mails last season suggesting that perhaps Wright wasn’t doing a good job. At the time, maybe he wasn’t. But I wasn’t getting those e-mails 2 months later. Funny how that works.

I don’t know how far this team is going to hang around in March. At some point, it’s all about matchups. The Wildcats could run into a Davidson in the second round, and all of a sudden a good season is over before it was supposed to be. I think they create some unique matchup problems, which makes them a tough out. Yet all it takes is one off-game. Whatever transpires in the next few weeks, Wright should at least get consideration for the award. Especially if his guys finish 13-5 and wind up getting the fourth seed in the Big East tourney. He’s earned as much.
 

Saint Joseph’s senior guard Tasheed Carr won’t play in tonight's game against Atlantic 10 leader Xavier at the Palestra. Carr, averaging 13.0 points and shooting a team-best 40.2 percent from the arc, suffered what the school is terming a ``mild concussion’’ at practice on Tuesday.

The team doctor examined Carr this morning when the decision was made to keep him out the game. He will be re-evaluated to determine his status for Sunday’s final home game against St. Bonaventure. That is senior day when the Hawks seniors, Carr and Ahmad Nivins, will be honored.

Not having Carr tonight shortens an already very short bench. Hawks coach Phil Martelli said sophomore Charoy Bentley, who has played just 35 minutes and scored two points in the calendar year, will start in Carr’s place. The only regular bench players, guard Chris Prescott and forward Bryant Irwin, figure to get much more time than their typical 10 minutes or so per game.

I thought I would take this opportunity to bring to light all the hard work and dedication that our staff puts into the success of the Temple basketball program.

The head coach is the one who gets most of the attention as we go about our seasons and our careers. The reality is that, like most things in life, you need great help that includes efficient and effective preparation. The assistant coaches do so many things in so many different areas that people may not recognize. For example, they very closely monitor our student athletes academically. They also plan the practices and prepare for the upcoming opponents.

This week we are playing La Salle for the second time this season. Dave Duke will serve as the scout coach for that game. He will do the requisite work that we need in terms of preparing our team offensively and defensively to make sure we are ready for the Explorers. Matt Langel and Shawn Trice do the same when it is their scout. All of the film work is put together by Dwayne Killings. Jeff Wilson then takes the administrative work out of the hands of the head coach. They do so much of the work and get such little recognition.

I just wanted to take the time publically, to say thanks to them, and to all of those assistant coaches in all of the basketball programs around the country who do not get the recognition they deserve.

Go Owls!

...I am probably in the minority on this, but I really liked Villanova’s win at DePaul last night. Look, they have the Internet on campus. The Wildcat players knew DePaul had lost 14 straight. Did not seem to be much atmosphere in the arena. After all the games in front of giant crowds with big meaning, this was a human nature game. Villanova trailed by 10 early in the second half and then turned it on.

Once the Cats got a double-digit lead, I figured it was over. It wasn’t. The Wildcats had to make all the right plays in the final minute. And they did.

I am sure Jay Wright is not pleased with his team’s recent defense, but this team has become really difficult to guard. Get these players with all their big-game experience in a tournament setting and I think they are really dangerous.

It was a great night to have a clicker and, if you are thinking big picture, a really good night for Villanova.

I hated to see Marquette’s Dominic James go down with that broken bone in his left foot. His college career is over. Marquette still managed to hang with Connecticut until the end without James. Still, over time, that can’t be helpful for their chances at a Big East Tournament bye.

If Villanova can win out, it will have a big chance at one of those four byes as it is just a game behind Pittsburgh and Marquette, both of which have some very difficult games left in the regular season.

How tough is the Big East? At one point last night, Pittsburgh was No. 1 in the country and fourth in the Big East standings.

At this point, I would guess the selection committee would have Villanova behind Duke and North Carolina and ahead of Wake Forest and Clemson in NCAA seeding order. If `Nova holds that, it is going to open at the Wachovia Center. Duke and UNC would be in Greensboro while Villanova and UConn would be in South Philly. Clemson losing at home last night to Virginia Tech was good news for Villanova.

Big night for Temple. If Saint Joseph’s can beat Xavier at the Palestra and Temple beats La Salle at the Liacouras Center, the Owls will be the only three-loss team in the A-10 standings.

The Hawks need a win to get back in play for one of those four A-10 byes, critical for a team with a short bench that can’t be expected to win four games in four days in Atlantic City.

A bit like last season, the top of the lead is starting to implode with much more movement likely. Just about anything is still possible as the regular season hits the homestretch.
 

We’re in the homestretch with only two games remaining on our schedule. On Wednesday, Northeastern comes to the DAC in a real pivotal game for both teams. Northeastern has had a real good year and are a game in front of us, tied for second in the CAA. It should be a tough battle, just like it was in Boston a few weeks ago when we came from behind to beat the Huskies.

This will be an emotional game as well since it is senior night. It will be the last time our fans get to see Scott Rodgers, Tramayne Hawthorne, Bobby Jordan and Chris Mohl play in the DAC. Those guys have done a great job this season of staying focused and playing hard every day in practice.

One thing about Senior Night is that you remember how fast time goes by. You remember their first days as freshman and how far they have come. Scott has been one of the most improved players in the CAA and is a legitimate candidate for All-Conference honors. Tra has had some big games this year and will finish his career among Drexel’s all-time leaders in both steals and three-pointers. Bobby and Chris have both played a big role as practice players for us.

I’m proud of the way these guys have worked all season. All will graduate and all have been great people as well as players. We hope to finish strong and make it memorable for our seniors.

We just finished what I feel was our poorest week of the season. Explanations are very difficult and theories are too numerous to go in to. It is especially disappointing because our fan support was great Sunday.

I know we can and will play better. For some strange reason we play better away from our homecourt.

The cliché's about sport being a microcosm of life are true. We must overcome disappointment and work to do better. Our minimal goal this year is to produce a winning season. That is critically important to us.

We will learn from each game and each season to keep La Salle Basketball moving forward.

Our practices this week will be especially competitive for this time of year.