Big East Basketball

Another week, and another No. 1 team has gone down.

No. 18 Villanova became the latest college basketball team to pull off the upset, earning a 56-55 win Saturday over No. 1 Kansas. Just seven weeks into the 2019-20 season, five different top-ranked teams have lost games.

Another No. 1 goes down as No. 18 Villanova tops Kansas 56-55.

It's already the fifth time this year an AP No. 1 has lost, the most before January in AP Poll history.

Jermaine Samuels: 15 points, including go-ahead three-pointer with 20 seconds left. pic.twitter.com/CCV9w0tgO7

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 21, 2019

Jermaine Samuels hit the go-ahead shot for the Wildcats with 24 seconds remaining after his squad trailed by four points late.

JERMAINE. SAMUELS.@J_Swizz23 hits the CLUTCH three to put @NovaMBB on top 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/S8eKVaFiWe

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) December 21, 2019

Devon Dotson then had several chances to give Kansas the lead, but he missed a key free throw and then a layup in the closing seconds. The guard scored 15 for Kansas (9-2), which suffered its first loss since opening night against Duke. 

Samuels was the key factor for Villanova (9-2), scoring 12 of his 15 points in the second half in front of the home crowd at the Wells Fargo Center.

      

Notable Stats

• Devon Dotson, G, Kansas: 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists
• Udoka Azubuike, C, Kansas: 12 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks
• Saddiq Bey, G, Villanova: Seven points, seven rebounds, five assists
• Jermaine Samuels, G, Villanova: 15 points, five rebounds

      

Balanced Attack Helps Villanova Survive Win

It was an ugly shooting game from both sides early on, and the score sat at 23-23 at halftime. 

All tied at the half. Like the first half never happened which, considering the shooting 🤢, I'd be OK with.

— Dana O'Neil (@DanaONeilWriter) December 21, 2019

However, Villanova stayed in front after getting production from a variety of sources.

🔥🔥 @JCREarl with the clutch three-pointer to give @NovaMBB their biggest lead of the game pic.twitter.com/unHl2LhWV3

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) December 21, 2019

https://twitter.com/CBBonFOX/status/1208459206506033152

The outside shooting was miserable, but six different players hit threes, and they all seemed to come at important times.

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Samuels had big stretches during the second half, while Collin Gillespie helped despite shooting only 2-of-10 from three-point range.

😮 @Colling1021 picked his pocket on this one

He comes up with the clutch steal and brings @NovaMBB within two pic.twitter.com/MoDgXZ3RZ9

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) December 21, 2019

Saddiq Bey was also all over the court without getting his usual scoring numbers.

I haven’t watched a lot of Villanova this year, but why is Saddiq Bey not considered an automatic first-round pick? Dude is 6-8 and long with guard skills, court vision and he’s shooting 54.1-44.4-84.4 splits.

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 21, 2019

Even in a game where the shot isn’t falling, I really love what Saddiq Bey is doing on the floor. Five assists, bunch of rebounds, smart defense. He’s gone way underrated this year

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) December 21, 2019

That was tremendous defense by Saddiq Bey on that last possession.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) December 21, 2019

It was enough to pull out a hard-fought win against one of the best teams in the nation.

              

Offense Can't Match Defense for Kansas

As has often been the case this year, Kansas' defense fueled it against Villanova.

The Wildcats entered the day No. 3 in the country in offensive efficiency, per KenPom, but the Jayhawks held them to 34.9 percent shooting overall and 24.4 percent (10-of-41) from three-point range.

Defense ➡️ Offense @KUHoops is starting to heat up in the first half! 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/gPlj3Pf1YW

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) December 21, 2019

Udoka Azubuike with the BLOCK to keep things tied headed into halftime for @KUHoops 🖐😤 pic.twitter.com/TWUKRpIi7n

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) December 21, 2019

However, they couldn't muster enough offense to stay in front of the Wildcats.

Junior guard Marcus Garrett suffered a leg injury in the first half and was ruled out by halftime, per Andy Katz of Turner Sports.

While he averages fewer than 10 points per game, this was a significant loss for the Jayhawks:

.@KUHoops has a lot of firepower but Marcus Garrett is the most underrated third best player on a team in the country. Hope this is not a serious injury.

— Fran Fraschilla (@franfraschilla) December 21, 2019

KU is 31.8 points per 100 possessions better with Marcus Garrett on the floor coming into today, per hooplens. That's tied for the best on the team with Udoka. Does so many things to make KU better. https://t.co/fAySgiI3SC

— CJ Moore (@CJMooreHoops) December 21, 2019

Kansas missed his shooting and finished 3-of-13 from three-point range.

In Garrett's absence, depth became a glaring problem for the Jayhawks.

Dotson and Udoka Azubuike had strong performances with a combined 27 points, and Ochai Agbaji added 11, but the team scored its final point with 1:49 remaining.

Combined with its 4-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line, Kansas left town with a missed opportunity.

       

What's Next?

Villanova will get more than a week off before beginning conference play with a home game against Xavier on Dec. 30. Kansas will go on the other side of the country for a tough road game against Stanford on Dec. 29.

Marquette guard Markus Howard went off for 51 points in a 101-79 win over the USC Trojans in the Orlando Invitational semifinal on Friday:

Markus Howard goes for 5️⃣1️⃣‼️

The @MarquetteMBB star is the first player in @BIGEASTMBB history with back-to-back 40pt games! 😱pic.twitter.com/Pz28rmJIHs

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) November 30, 2019

Howard, who is averaging a Division I-leading 29.3 points per game, shot 14-of-24 from the field. He made nine of 17 three-pointers and 14 of 17 free throws.

As the NCAA March Madness Twitter account noted, he's the first player in Big East men's hoops history to score 40 or more points in back-to-back games. Howard dropped 40 against Davidson in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Howard isn't a stranger to setting Big East scoring records. His 53 points against Creighton last year broke a single-game conference scoring mark of 52 points set by himself and ex-Friar guard MarShon Brooks.

The senior could have broken his own single-game mark once again, but head coach Steve Wojciechowski took Howard out with 5:35 remaining. The matchup was in hand at that point, with a Howard and-one layup giving Marquette a 92-62 edge before the substitution.

Howard will attempt to continue his scorching-hot stretch against No. 5 Maryland in the Orlando Invitational final on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. ESPN will televise the game.  

Oregon Ducks freshman Lok Wur issued a public apology after tripping Seton Hall Pirates star Myles Powell from the bench during Wednesday night's game. 

"I want to apologize to Myles Powell and the Seton Hall team for my actions on the bench Wednesday night," Wur said in a statement Thursday, per ESPN.com. "I acted in an unsportsmanlike manner. I am truly sorry for that and regret my actions."

Late in the first half, Powell was tripped up after knocking down a three-pointer near the Ducks bench:

https://twitter.com/Kyle__Boone/status/1199891877539000321

Powell managed to stay on his feet, but it was clear the Seton Hall star felt the act was intentional. No foul was assessed on the play.

Powell had 10 points in the first half as the Pirates took a 34-30 lead into the break. The senior guard finished the game with 32 points, though it was not enough as the Ducks rallied late for a 71-69 victory. 

He also had to be helped from the court following the game, but Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard said after the game that Powell was dealing with cramps rather than an injury suffered as a result of the trip.

Wur did not play in the contest, nor has he made an appearance through any of Oregon's first six outings.

With Seton Hall Pirates star Myles Powell feeling it during Wednesday night's game, one Oregon Ducks player appeared to go to extraordinary lengths to slow down the 2018 Big East Most Improved Player of the Year.

After Powell knocked down a three-pointer in the corner late in the first half, a player on the Ducks bench appeared to trip the Pirates guard:

https://twitter.com/Kyle__Boone/status/1199891877539000321

No foul of any type was called on the play.

Powell scored 10 points in the first half while helping Seton Hall take a 34-30 lead into the break. He came out of the locker room ready to play, draining four triples in the first four minutes of the second half, including three in a 60-second span.  

Seton Hall men's basketball program has been hit with sanctions by the NCAA stemming from a tampering case that began in 2016.

Per Tom Canavan of the Associated Press, Seton Hall received three years of probation, lost one scholarship for the 2020-21 academic year and will have limited recruiting over the next two seasons. 

As part of the sanctions, Seton Hall received a fine of $5,000 fine plus one percent of the annual men's basketball budget. Head coach Kevin Willard is required to attend an NCAA rules seminar next year.

Per Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press, the sanctions stem from former Pirates associate head coach Shaheen Holloway tampering with Taurean Thompson's transfer from Syracuse to Seton Hall in 2017. 

Holloway, who was hired as head coach at St. Peter's in April 2018, was suspended for four games, including the first three of the 2019-20 regular season. 

Seton Hall announced on Oct. 29 it suspended Willard two games, including the season opener against Wagner on Nov. 5. 

The Pirates began this season ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press Top 25. They won their first two games before dropping a close 76-73 matchup against No. 3 Michigan State on Thursday. 

Seton Hall has suspended men's basketball coach Kevin Willard for his team's exhibition matchup against Misericordia and the Pirates' regular-season opener against Wagner for alleged transfer tampering, per Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press and Zach Braziller of the New York Post. 

"The university-issued suspension is in response to an NCAA investigation into allegations of transfer tampering, sources confirmed," Braziller wrote. "Sources told The Post the player in question is current junior forward Taurean Thompson, who transferred from Syracuse two years ago."

Seton Hall issued a statement, per Carino:

“Seton Hall University has been working collaboratively with the NCAA enforcement staff to address an infraction within our men’s basketball program."

"Our department has been proactive in our review and has been fully cooperating with the NCAA enforcement staff. As head coach, Coach Willard assumes responsibility for the program, including this underlying violation, and has agreed to sit out the October 29 exhibition contest and the November 5 game.  This matter is still in review, and as a result, we will refrain from commenting any further until it is resolved. Seton Hall is and always will be committed to a culture of compliance, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure it."

Carino also wrote that the NCAA is expected to rule on whether the two-game suspension will suffice "in the near future."

Thompson, the player in question, transferred from Syracuse to Seton Hall in 2017 after playing one season for the Orange. He sat out the 2017-18 campaign and averaged 4.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game last year. The 6'10" forward has two years of eligibility remaining.

Willard, 44, is entering his ninth season at Seton Hall's head coach after leading Iona for three years. He's guided the Pirates to four straight NCAA tournament appearances from 2016-19 and a Big East title in 2016.

Seton Hall enters the 2019-20 season with the highest expectations ever in the Willard era. The Pirates sit 12th in the preseason Associated Press poll, and Big East coaches picked them to win the conference.

They return their top three scorers from last year, including Myles Powell, who led the Big East with 23.1 points per contest.

Grant Billmeier will coach in Willard's place, although the Pirates' leader will still be allowed to run practices. 

Billmeier, who played for Seton Hall from 2003-2007, has been on Willard's staff for all but one season in his Pirates tenure.

He took the reins for the Pirates' game against Misericordia on Tuesday and will do the same against Wagner on Tues., Nov. 5 at home. Willard is eligible to return for his team's Sat., Nov. 9 game against Stony Brook.

The Big East Conference announced Thursday the University of Connecticut will return as the conference's 11th member after leaving for the American Athletic Conference in 2013.

UConn's official date of reentry wasn't immediately confirmed.

Big East commissioner Val Ackerman released a statement about the return of the Huskies:

"On the 40th anniversary of our founding in 1979, we're very excited to welcome back the University of Connecticut, a Big East charter member. As a group of schools rooted in basketball pre-eminence, we can think of no better partner than UConn to join us in perpetuating the rivalries, traditions and successes that have made the Big East unlike any other conference in college basketball. We know that our competitions and the experiences of our student-athletes, coaches and supporters across all of our sports will be greatly enriched by UConn's return."

Connecticut will compete in 20 of the conference's 22 sports, but it's unclear where the school's football program is going to land after competing in the AAC for 2019.

Jeff Borzello of ESPN.com reported it's "unlikely" the Huskies would remain in the AAC for just football, making it possible they go independent if another conference isn't found.

The Big East currently doesn't feature FBS football.

UConn president Susan Herbst also provided a statement in the official announcement, which came after a week of speculation about the expected move:

"The Big East is an incredibly special and enduring part of our heritage. We were a founding member 40 years ago. Our programs grew and thrived in this conference over decades. The intensity of the competition, the passion of our rivalries, and all of our most triumphant wins and toughest losses helped to make us who we are. Coming back here means UConn is coming home. We are excited about the future."

Men's and women's basketball in the Big East figure to see the biggest boost courtesy of UConn's return.

The Big East has officially extended an invitation for UConn to rejoin the conference after presidents from each of the league's schools voted in favor of the move Monday, according to Jeff Borzello of ESPN. 

Connecticut is expected to accept the offer at a Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

The school could then announce the move, which would affect every sport but football, on Thursday.

Mike Anthony and Dan Brechlin of the Hartford Courant first reported the likely move, noting the athletic department suffered a $41 million loss across all sports in 2018.

UConn was a founding member of the Big East conference in 1979 but joined the American Athletic Conference during its creation in 2013. However, the move back could lead to an ugly divorce that includes a $10 million exit fee.

"I'd be surprised if this ends pretty," a source told Matt Norlander of CBS Sports. "... [The Huskies] never fully embraced the American."

The league's bylaws require 27 months notice before leaving, but the school is expected to be a full part of the Big East by 2020-21.

The men's basketball team will be the 11th member of the conference, reuniting with rivals such as Georgetown, Villanova and St. John's. The women's basketball team will also benefit from the change, and head coach Geno Auriemma reportedly pushed for the move.

On the other hand, there is a significant question mark about the football team going forward. The Big East doesn't carry the sport, and the AAC likely won't allow the team to remain in the conference.

The Connecticut Huskies could return to the Big East in 2020 and leave the American Athletic Conference.

According to Stadium's Brett McMurphy, the fate of Connecticut's football team is unclear since the Big East doesn't extend to the sport.

As Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel wrote, aligning with the Big East makes sense for UConn from a basketball perspective:

"The Huskies lost their geographic relevance in basketball by leaving the Big East, as organic rivals like Providence, St. John’s and Syracuse were replaced by strangers like Tulane, East Carolina and Memphis. Passion has been replaced by apathy, as once-teeming arenas became filled with empty seats and a once-rabid fan base has turned ambivalent."

The Huskies' men's team was the national champion in 2014, its first year in the AAC. Since then, UConn has one NCAA tournament appearance. Fans were voting with their feet as the basketball team saw a drop in attendance toward the end of the Kevin Ollie era, which ended in 2018 after six seasons.

The impact is evident for the women's team as well. Despite a 31-2 regular season, the Huskies were a No. 2 seed in the 2019 tournament in large part because they faced so little competition in the AAC.

Some also noted how the AAC's new television deal with ESPN left UConn as a clear loser as it made Huskies games harder to watch for fans, which limits the exposure to potential recruits as well.

Of course, the Huskies football team remains a big question mark. McMurphy reported they could move into another conference or become independent. Thamel added going the independent route "would likely end up as UConn's best option."

According to the Hartford Courant's Mike Anthony, scrapping football altogether is a nonstarter at the moment.

However, this could increase calls for Connecticut to seriously consider the future of its football team, or at the very least ponder a drop down to the FCS level. The athletic department had a roughly $40.5 million deficit in 2018, with football losing $8.7 million.

University president Thomas Katsouleas told reporters in February that he is in favor of keeping football around.

"Yes, I'm committed to football," he said. "I think it's part of the identity of who we are as a major, broad-context university and I don't think the savings from cutting it are as great as people think. In fact, it has ancillary value for the other sports and for fundraising overall."

Shifting to the Big East, however, would signal Connecticut is prioritizing success on the hardwood over growth on the gridiron.

The Hauser brothers have officially split up.

Sam Hauser announced his intention to transfer to Virginia and his brother Joey confirmed his transfer commitment to Michigan State on Tuesday.

"I'd like to thank Coach Bennett and his staff for this unbelievable opportunity," Sam Hauser tweeted. "Excited to announce that I have committed to the University of Virginia! Again, thank you to Marquette University for helping me represent them in a positive way the past 3 years. I can't wait to finish my college career in Charlottesville!"

"Proud to announce that I have committed to Michigan State University!" Joey Hauser tweeted. "Thank you to Coach Izzo and his staff for this opportunity. Once again, thank you Marquette University for allowing me to represent them this past season. I can't wait to take this next step in my college career!"

Both brothers will have to sit out the 2019-20 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Sam will have one season of eligibility remaining, while Joey will have two.

Their decision to transfer came as a major surprise in April, given that both were expected to play major roles for Marquette next season.

Sam Hauser averaged 14.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists on 45.9 percent shooting and was named a team co-MVP with Markus Howard. He was named to the All-Big East second team.

Joey Hauser averaged 9.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists on 44.7 percent shooting during his redshirt freshman season. Both brothers started nearly every game for Marquette, which was ousted in the first round of the NCAA tournament but looked to be a potential Big East favorite for 2019-2020.

Both brothers have similar games, flashing an ability to stretch the floor from a big spot and some deft passing ability. It's likely they'll step into starting roles for their respective schools for the 2020-21 season.