December 3, 2024
BIG EAST notebook: Feast Week takeaways
By Tee Baker
Azzi Fudd returns for the Huskies, Villanova looks for scorers
Last week, seven BIG EAST teams participated in Feast Week tournaments. Competing against nonconference opponents on neutral sites provides players and coaches with some important insights into where their program measures up at this early stage of the season. Let’s check in with each team that participated in a Feast Week showcase (in reverse alphabetic order), identifying key takeaways from these early-season tests.
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Villanova
Event: Battle 4 Atlantis (Nassau, Bahamas)
Results: Beat Texas A&M, 65-57 | Lost to UNC, 53-36 | Lost to Baylor, 73-62
Since the 2020-21 season, the Wildcats’ leading scorer — Maddy Siegrist, from 2020-2023, and Lucy Olsen last season — has accounted for 37.1% of the team’s scoring. Now, with neither player on the roster and with a team comprised largely of newcomers, the Wildcats are struggling to make up for that lost production.
At various points in its Battle 4 Atlantis matchups, Villanova went through crushing offensive lulls. In the first quarters against A&M and UNC, the Wildcats shot a combined 5-for-30 (16.6%). They went without a single field goal for the entirety of the third quarter against the Tar Heels, and went on a nearly 10-minute scoring drought between the second and third quarters against Baylor.
As the season progresses, the Wildcats will need to identify who among their starters can be relied upon for consistent offense. Canadian guard and BIG EAST Freshman of the Week Jasmine Bascoe (15.4 ppg) and sophomore Maddie Webber (12.5 ppg) have been bright spots for Denise Dillon’s squad early on, but the Wildcats will need to find ways to shorten their shooting droughts and reliably produce on offense.
UConn
Event: Baha Mar Women’s Tournament (Nassau, Bahamas)
Results: Beat Oregon State, 71-52 | Beat Mississippi, 73-60
While Azzi Fudd returned to the court for the first time in over a year on Nov. 20 in Storrs, she appeared to arrive during UConn’s victory over nationally-ranked Mississippi in the Bahamas. The graduate guard contributed 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting, forming a formidable backcourt offense alongside Paige Bueckers.
“When you consider how hard she has worked, and how much time she has put in, this is probably the best version of herself physically that there has been since junior year in high school,” UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said.
“I was just happy to see her out there doing what she loves to do,” Auriemma added. “And she made Azzi Fudd plays. People know she’s a great shooter, but I don’t think they realize what a terrific basketball player she is, and how many different things she can do.”
Providence
Event: Cancun Challenge (Cancun, Mexico)
Results: Lost to VCU, 57-51 | Lost to Wisconsin, 66-57 | Beat San Diego State, 55-54
The Friars have been competing hard all season, staying in close games that go down to the wire. Through nine games played for Providence, eight have been decided by single digits, a trend that continued in Mexico with a six-point loss to VCU, a nine-point loss to Wisconsin and a one-point victory over previously unbeaten San Diego State.
One challenge for the Friars — one identified as a growth area preseason by head coach Erin Batth — is turnovers. So far this season, Providence averages 16.0 turnovers per game with a 20.6% turnover rate and 0.63 assist to turnover ratio. The Friars need to learn to take better care of the basketball, especially down the stretch in tight games.
Reducing turnovers starts with point guard Kylee Sheppard, who returned this season after missing most of last season with an injury. Unfortunately for Providence, Sheppard left the court with an apparent left leg injury at around the three minute mark in the first quarter of the SDSU contest, returning to the sideline later in a wheelchair. If Sheppard is out for an extended period of time, the pressure to run the offense likely lies with freshman guard Orlagh Gormley, who will need to step into a leadership role perhaps earlier than anticipated as BIG EAST conference play approaches.
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Georgetown
Event: Atlantic Slam W (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada)
Results: Lost to Cincinnati, 59-57 | Lost to Florida Gulf Coast, 66-57
In his first official season as head coach of the Hoyas, Darnell Haney has used the nonconference schedule to test his team for conference play. While Georgetown dropped both contests in Canada, Haney sees that as part of the journey.
“This is what nonconference is, it’s preparation for BIG EAST play, and we need to make sure we’re taking care of the little things and the details,” Haney said following the showcase. “Those things are important when we’re going into battle against good teams. Cincinnati and Florida Gulf Coast are good teams that will finish well in their conferences. If we want to be one of the perennial powers in our conference, we have to come with it every single day no matter who is out there.”
The Hoyas begin BIG EAST play with perhaps their toughest conference game of the season: an away game against the Huskies on Dec. 15. As the Hoyas prepare for that game and a competitive BIG EAST schedule, Haney is focused on refining his squad’s strengths and limiting mistakes.
“We’re not going back to the drawing board, we’re going back to being us, but we have to be a better us. That means paying attention to the details, executing on the offensive end and limiting our fouls. If we can do that, we’ll be good to go.”
DePaul
Event: Ball Dawgs Classic (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Results: Lost to Oklahoma, 85-62 | Lost to Kansas State, 92-66
It’s no secret that this season is a bit of a rebuilding year for DePaul. Interim head coach Jill Pizzotti is leading a team comprised of 11 underclassmen, six of whom are freshmen. In this roster’s first eight games together they’ve tested themselves by playing three teams in the Top 15 of the AP poll, including both teams they faced in Vegas: Oklahoma and Kansas State.
One player who has consistently performed for DePaul this season is its most veteran player — graduate student forward Jorie Allen. Allen, a three-time BIG EAST Honor Roll selection this season, is averaging 19.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Against Oklahoma and Kansas State, Allen scored 15 and 17 points, respectively, and shot a perfect 10-10 from the free throw line across both games.
Allen’s hustle and commitment sets an example on a young team seeking an identity. With five seasons of college basketball experience already under her belt, she brings tremendous value to a rebuilding program as a seasoned leader — a role she finds rewarding and exciting.
“I’m in a position now where I’m the oldest one on my team, and all of my younger teammates, they look up to me,” Allen said on BIG EAST media day. ” … It’s fun to be in this position. … I’m really excited to watch everybody develop throughout this next couple months.”
Creighton
Event: Emerald Coast Classic (Destin, Fla.)
Results: Beat Wichita State, 91-63 | Beat Syracuse, 86-59
Still riding the momentum of an 80-74 win at home against interstate rival Nebraska, the Creighton Bluejays boarded a plane to Florida with the goal of extending their win streak to three games. With resounding victories over in the Emerald Coast Classic, the Bluejays accomplished that.
Behind sharpshooting performances from the tournament Most Outstanding Player Lauren Jensen and All-Tournament selection Morgan Maly, Creighton earned the title of tournament champs. In the process, Maly became just the fourth BIG EAST player since 2009-10 to shoot 100% from 3-point land on at least six attempts. Maly also moved into the top 10 in all-time scoring in Creighton women’s basketball history.
Butler
Event: Gulf Coast Showcase (Bonita Springs, Fla.)
Results: Beat Santa Clara, 79-50 | Lost to No. 5 Texas, 94-59 | Beat Boise State, 70-64
Following a 29-point win over Santa Clara and a 35-point loss to Texas in their first two games of the Gulf Coast Showcase, the Butler Bulldogs earned a third-place finish by defeating Boise State 70-64 on Sunday evening.
The victory improved Butler’s record to 7-2 on the season, and showcased the team’s talent combo of veteran guards — Caroline Strande and Kilyn McGuff. The duo combined for 45 of Butler’s 70 points in the third-place game, while McGuff recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
Butler has four nonconference tune-ups to go before tipping off its BIG EAST schedule at DePaul on Dec. 21.
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Written by Tee Baker
Tee has been a contributor to The Next since March Madness 2021 and is currently a contributing editor, BIG EAST beat reporter and curator of historical deep dives.
