BIG EAST ROUNDUP: Seton Hall, Rutgers Fall on Opening Night; Nova, Syracuse, UConn Roll; Hoyas Win a Nail-Biter | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Sunday / December 22.
  • BIG EAST ROUNDUP: Seton Hall, Rutgers Fall on Opening Night; Nova, Syracuse, UConn Roll; Hoyas Win a Nail-Biter

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    PHILADELPHIA – The first game of the Kevin Willard Era at Seton Hall didn’t turn out the way the coach, the players or the anxious fan base wanted.

    Not at all.

    In Willard’s first official game since taking over for Bobby Gonzalez, the Pirates fell to No. 22 Temple, 62-56, at the Liacouras Center.

    “I’m still getting used to these guys a little bit, and opening up here is probably not where you want to get used to them,” Willard said.

    **Click here to read the full story at SNY.

    **Rutgers coach Mike Rice also lost in his debut, falling to New Jersey rival Princeton, 78-73, in a spirited OT affair. Read Jerry Carino’s account here.

    ELSEWHERE IN THE BIG EAST…

    **Corey Fisher dropped 24 points and Maalik Wayns 15 as Villanova beat down Jay Wright’s alma mater, Bucknell, 68-52. Read it here.

    **Alex Orakhi made SportsCenter with a nice swat and UConn downed Stony Brook, 79-52. Read the SNY story here.

    **Jim Boeheim won his 830th career game — tying him for 5th all-time in Division 1 with Jim Phelan. Read it here.

    **How do you know Georgetown is going to be guard-oriented? Chris Wright (19), Jason Clark (18), Austin Freeman (17) combined for 54 points as Georgetown fended off ODU, 62-59. Read it here.

    **John Flowers poured in a career-high 16 points for West Virginia in a 95-71 rout of Oakland

    **Ben Hansbrough scored 16 of his 20 in the first half in Notre Dame’s 98-61 rout of Georgia Southern

    (Photo courtesy AP)

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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