This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 10th season with guests Villanova senior forward Eric Dixon, Providence’s graduate student forward Josh Oduro and FOX Sports Play-by-Play announcer Jason Benetti.
The sixth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST (TWITBE) takes a look at the league as a whole. Entering the final weeks of the BIG EAST regular season, UConn (22-2, 13-1 BIG EAST) holds a steady lead in the conference standings and maintains the pole position in the national landscape. No. 4 Marquette sits closely behind at 10-3 in conference play, with a top-5 matchup between the two looming on Saturday. Seton Hall and No. 17 Creighton sit in a tie for third at 9-5.
The BIG EAST Focus shines on Providence graduate guard Josh Oduro. Playing all over the front court, Oduro’s versatility allows him to see action at both the center and forward positions. Stepping up in a big way following an early season injury to Bryce Hopkins, Oduro ranks fourth in the league play with 18.4 points per game, in addition to sixth in BIG EAST games with 7.8 rebounds. In his two most recent outings, wins over Creighton and St. John’s, Oduro averaged 30.0 points and 8.0 rebounds. Oduro missed Saturday’s close loss to Butler, as he and his wife welcomed their first child into the Friar family.
The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Villanova senior forward Eric Dixon. Beginning his collegiate career with a redshirt freshman season, Dixon has developed into one of the premier big men in both the BIG EAST and the country. He has greatly improved his outside shot since arriving on the Main Line and credits the “Villanova Way” in contributing to his personal and team success. Dixon leads the Wildcats offense with 15.8 points per game, while also anchoring a defense that ranks second in the conference allowing just 66.5 points per game.
Fox Sports Play-by-Play announcer Jason Benetti gives a view on the national perspective. Benetti provides his insights into BIG EAST play thus far having seen the conference’s best teams in action recently. He also breaks down which teams are built for March, which players are having standout seasons and who from the middle of the pack could make a run in both the BIG EAST and NCAA Tournaments.
The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past.” With the Huskies and Golden Eagles putting their win streaks to the test on Saturday in a top-five showdown, TWITBE turns back the clock to a season ago when Marquette and Connecticut played three bruising contests in a matter of few weeks heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Eagles beat the Huskies by six at home. UConn returned the favor in February, winning by 15 on their home floor. The teams then met for a third time in the quarterfinal matchup of the BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden which was ultimately won by Marquette.
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This will air Saturday, Feb. 17 at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sirius 137 XM 201 Online 964 leading into the Creighton men’s basketball broadcast of No. 17 Creighton @ Butler.
