The Big East basketball preview you've been waiting for.
Your 2011-12 Big East All Name Team:
STARTING FIVE
G Kiwi Gardner, Freshman, Providence
--The lesser-known AAU teammate of Jabari Brown, Nick Johnson & Kyle Wiltjer; he's 5'7", can dunk and has a little brother named Peewee; love me some Kiwi
G Achraf Yacoubou, Freshman, Villanova
via api.ning.com
--Your guess is as good as mine; highlights here
F Sir'Dominic Pointer, Freshman, St. John's
via johnnyjungle.com
--The first knighted player in NCAA basketball history; figures to play a bigger role than anticipated on a Johnnies team decimated by the NCAA Clearinghouse
F Otto Porter, Freshman, Georgetown
--His parents were pissed he didn't commit to Syracuse; Otto Porter alley oop
C God's Gift Achiuwa, Junior (transfer), St. John's
--Goes by "Gift"; I've been told he's the most humble guy named God's Gift you'll ever meet
BENCH
F/C Wally Judge, Junior, Rutgers
--If you don't like the name Wally, GTFO; seriously; this is me waiting
F/C Yancy Gates, Senior, Cincinnati
--Yancy is never not cool for a first name but we've been making "Oh, you Yancy huh?" jokes for more than a year now so that's why he's on the bench; like every other year in his career at UC, if Yancy puts everything together, he will finish his senior year on the All Big East First Team (talent division)
G Shabazz Napier, Sophomore, UConn
--He's not the highest profile guy in basketball named Shabazz any more, but the name is still worthy of honor here; Napier has become UConn's leader on and off the court and could play the most important role in the Huskies' title defense at the point
G Worrel Clahar, Junior (transfer), DePaul
--Excuse my soft spot for the name Worrel; the junior college transfer may be asked to contribute immediately on a thin Blue Demons roster that keeps getting thinner; in related news, DePaul season tickets are only $99
Complimentary Yum! Ratings by GoCardsAttitude to follow shortly.