Big East men's notes: PC's Cooley can't wait to kick things off at UConn
Oct. 20—NEW YORK — UConn and Providence, two long-time New England rivals, will kick off their Big East seasons on Dec. 18 at the XL Center in Hartford.
PC coach Ed Cooley can't wait to make the trip.
"It's going to be hell for the Friars when we go in there," Cooley said during Big East media day at Madison Square Garden. "Connecticut has one of the best fan bases in America. They have one of the best college brands in all of America. It will be great for college basketball.
"Danny has done a great job. ... I think it will be electric there."
Cooley also is looking forward to seeing good friend Geno Auriemma.
"We're really close," Cooley said. "I love him. I'm glad he's in the Big East. I wish I had a couple of his players."
The two teams play twice, with UConn visiting Providence on Saturday, Jan. 15.
Providence was selected seventh in the league coaches' preseason poll and center Nate Watson made the All-Big East preseason first team.
Three Huskies on All-Big East teams
Graduate guard R.J. Cole and senior swingman Tyrese Martin were selected to the All-Big East preseason second team while sophomore Adama Sanogo was an honorable mention pick.
"Very deserving," Whaley said of the trio's selection. "I feel like Adama could have been on one of those teams. That's probably going to be another chip on his shoulder. He's going to just probably put a mental note up, knowing him.
But it's really good seeing them being recognized because they're great talents. Now it's up to us to live up to it and play like it."
Whaley also took notice that he didn't receive an All-Big East preseason honor. He was the league's Defensive Player of the Year last season.
"I always have a chip on my shoulder," Whaley said. "I was glad that I was left off. I took a mental note of that, too."
An adjustment without Bouknight
Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard says he's a huge fan of having UConn back in the Big East. The Huskies returned last season.
"The way Danny coaches fits this league," Willard said. "They're tough, they rebound. It fits really well. ... They have really, really good veterans that understand their roles. That's important. They didn't add anybody that's going to mess with what they have.
"The consistency that they played with last year, I expect them to have a really good year."
Willard added that the Huskies will miss James Bouknight, who was a lottery pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Bouknight led the Huskies in scoring and making game-changing plays.
"If you're good enough to play in that league up top, your coach is going to miss you," Willard said. "It's going to be an adjustment period. Again, they have so many returning players, I think they will be more balanced. But I'm sure Danny would like to have (Bouknight) around shooting jumpers right about now."
News and notes
All-Big East first team selections included: Providence's Nate Watson, St. John's Julian Champagnie, Seton Hall's Jared Rhoden, Xavier's Paul Scruggs and Zach Freemantle. ... Georgetown guard Aminu Mohammed was named the preseason freshman of the year. ... Big East commissioner Val Ackerman doesn't anticipate there being any capacity limits in Big East venues this season. ... Hurley when asked if Sanogo is being underestimated by some people: "I think so. I think because he fouled everyone that was breathing last year. He was a hack. He's better. We worked really, really hard." ... Cooley on returning to MSG, a special place in the Big East basketball world: "I can't tell you how excited I was to walk into the building today. It was fun walking in here, just the energy, seeing the other coaches. I'm a Big East guy — heart, bones, soul. Born and raised in Providence. To walk into Madison Square Garden and say you're a head coach, are you kidding me? I get to do this for a living?"
