February 2012 | Page 13 of 28

It remains unclear when Syracuse will play its last Big East game.

The way things look now, it appears the Orange, along with Pittsburgh, will remain in the league through the 2012-13 basketball season.

Whenever they do leave, Louisville coach Rick Pitino says things will never be the same.

“I don’t think the Big East Tournament will ever be the same without Syracuse because if anybody belongs in the Big East, they have the most fans in the metropolitan area,” Pitino said Thursday.

“It’s never going to quite be the same without Syracuse, but times move on.”

Old Knicks

Report: Knicks Closing In On Signing J.R. Smith

February 16, 2012

author: Adam Zagoria

The Knicks appear ready to give Linsanity yet another weapon.

The Daily News reported Thursday that the Knicks are close to signing former Denver Nuggets and St. Benedict’s Prep shooting guard J.R. Smith, who has spent this past season in China.

The newspaper reported that Leon Rose, the agent for Smith and Carmelo Anthony, met with Knicks owner Jim Dolan Wednesday following the team’s seventh straight win over the Sacramento Kings.

The Knicks have the $2.5 million exception to give to Smith, 25, who recently scored 60 points in a Chinese League game, hitting 14 of 18 3-pointers.

Kentucky, Recruiting

Nerlens Noel Heading to Visit Kentucky Friday

February 16, 2012

author: Adam Zagoria

Nerlens Noel, the top prospect in the Class of 2012, heads on a visit to Kentucky Friday and will watch the No. 1 Wildcats host Ole Miss Saturday, he told SNY.tv by text.

The 6-foot-10 Noel is reclassifying from 2013 and will likely be told by head coach John Calipari that he could slot in and replace Anthony Davis, the nation’s leading collegiate shot-blocker and presumed No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft.

At this point, Noel, who has been compared to Bill Russell, may very well be a better shot-blocker than Davis, which is saying something.

Old Knicks, Video