{"id":2054,"date":"2020-02-09T18:03:28","date_gmt":"2020-02-09T23:03:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/?p=2054"},"modified":"2020-02-10T15:35:49","modified_gmt":"2020-02-10T20:35:49","slug":"veteran-leadership-and-its-success-in-the-big-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/sportsreporting\/2020\/02\/09\/veteran-leadership-and-its-success-in-the-big-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Veteran Leadership and its Success in the Big East"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a college basketball landscape that features prolific one-and-done freshman stars year in and year out, the Big East continues to thrive on player development and veteran success. The last one-and-done to attend a Big East School was Henry Ellenson of Marquette in 2015-16. Ellenson was drafted 18th<\/sup> overall in the 2016 NBA Draft to the Detroit Pistons. He is the only player to truly be one-and-done in the Big East since the conference\u2019s realignment in 2014-15.<\/p>\n

Chris Mack, the former Xavier Head Coach, who currently coaches the Louisville Cardinals of the ACC, once told the Washington Post<\/em>, \u201cPlayer development has certainly been a hallmark of this conference\u2026Just being able to make a guy better, own his skills and still think team-first, I think, has been a trademark of our league and something that, at least in our program, we\u2019re really proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n

In regard to the Big East\u2019s ability to develop players, it should be recognized that many of these players who stayed until their Junior or Senior years have thus become household names in the NBA. Josh Hart, a Villanova alum, currently averages 10.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the New Orleans Pelicans. Doug McDermott, a Creighton alum, is in his 8th<\/sup> NBA season and is averaging 10.4 points per game for the Indiana Pacers. Also, another Villanova alum, Eric Paschall, is playing exceptionally well in his rookie season, averaging 13.5 points per game for the injury-stricken Golden State Warriors. Who will be the next?<\/p>\n

This brings us to the current 2019-20 College Basketball season. You do not have to be a die-hard fan to have heard about the shocking parity that has taken over the college basketball season. Five teams who have been ranked number one in the AP Poll this season have lost, most of them suffering surprising losses against teams they were expected to beat. The Baylor Bears of the Big 12 are currently the number one team in the country and hold a record of 20-1.<\/p>\n

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Despite the parity, there is one common theme with many of the successful teams thus far. That theme is veteran leadership and the need for experience in difficult games and situations. Just take a look here at what well-known college basketball analyst, Jon Rothstein said:<\/p>\n

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Nine of the 25 starting spots from the top five teams in this week's AP Poll are occupied with transfers.<\/p>\n

Getting old has become a way of life in college basketball.<\/p>\n

This sport is rarely suited for the young to excel.<\/p>\n

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 4, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n