• #TWITBE Ep. 11.6 - Guests Patrick McCaffery, Isaiah Coleman, Tim Welsh
    Feb 14 2025

    This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley, NCAA Basketball Analytics Expert Ken Pomeroy and FOX Sports and CBS Sports analyst Bill Raftery.

    The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode.

    The sixth episode of TWITBE takes a look back on another thrilling week of BIG EAST games, with multiple finishes coming down to the wire. Most notably at the top of the league standings, St. John's hit a road bump for the first time in 10 games, coming up short against Villanova. In addition, UConn knocked off second-place Creighton in a nail-biter, the Huskies first win ever in Omaha, Neb.

    The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Butler senior forward Patrick McCaffery, discussing the Bulldogs up and down season, and most recently righting the ship winning four of the last seven conference games. After opening the season 7-1, including a top-25 win against Mississippi State, Butler went on a nine-game skid before getting back on track. Thanks to McCaffery's leadership along with head coach Thad Matta, he discusses the turnaround and expectations heading into the tournament.

    The BIG EAST Focus shines on Seton Hall sophomore guard Isaiah Coleman, who leads the Pirates with 14.9 points per game, a year removed from garnering BIG EAST All-Freshman honors. Coleman takes the time to discuss his sophomore campaign and how the team is aiming to finish the season on the right foot.

    Rooke and McNamara are then joined by former Providence basketball standout Tim Welsh, who now works as a color analyst for NBC and ESPN. Welsh provides an inside look into the BIG EAST's new broadcast partnership with NBC and Peacock, as well as his perspective on how the conference stacks up nationally.

    The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, turning the clock back 35 years to 1990. Seton’s Hall’s Marco Lokar made the move across the Atlantic from Italy the season after the Pirates lost the National Championship game to Michigan. On February 20th, 1990, Lokar went off with 41 points against Pittsburgh, setting a the BIG EAST single-game freshman scoring record, that still stands today.

    To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.

    Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    This will air Saturday, Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 963 leading into DePaul at Xavier.

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    45 min
  • #TWITBE Ep. 11.5 - Guests Ed Cooley, Ken Pomeroy, Bill Raftery
    Feb 7 2025

    This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley, NCAA Basketball Analytics Expert Ken Pomeroy and FOX Sports and CBS Sports analyst Bill Raftery.

    The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode.

    The fifth episode of TWITBE takes a look at the top of the BIG EAST standings, as St. John's (20-3, 11-1 BIG EAST) enters Friday's top-20 match up at UConn (16-6, 8-3) riding a nine-game winning streak. Sitting just a game back in the standings and riding an eight-game winning streak, Creighton (17-6, 10-2) hosts Marquette (18-5, 9-3) on Saturday.

    The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley, to discuss the state of the Hoyas and how the rebuild process has been going. Continuing to improve each week, the Hoyas enter the weekend with more wins in 2024-25 in comparison to the past three seasons combined. In addition, Georgetown remains in the hunt for a top five seed and first round bye in the BIG EAST Tournament.

    The BIG EAST Focus shines on analytics expert Ken Pomeroy, the founder of kenpom.com. Pomeroy's metrics and numerical rankings of every Division I NCAA basketball team are considered invaluable when forecasting the field for March Madness. He takes the time to discuss how the conference stacks up nationally heading into the final stretch.

    Rooke and McNamara are then joined by FOX Sports and CBS Sports Analyst, Bill Raftery. Raftery discusses the BIG EAST from top to bottom and gives his thoughts who could be a dark horse candidate to make a March run. In addition, Raftery gives his thoughts on the Red Storm who are off to its best start in 40 years.

    The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, turning the clock back to Feb. 10, 2018. On this day, St. John’s standout guard, Shamorie Ponds went for 44 points against Marquette. The highest scoring BIG EAST game for a St. John’s player since Marcus Hatten in 2003.

    To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.

    Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    This will air Saturday, Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 963 leading into Marquette at Creighton.

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    45 min
  • #TWITBE Ep. 11.4 - Guests Shaka Smart, Eric Dixon, Donny Marshall
    Jan 31 2025

    This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests Marquette head coach Shaka Smart, Villanova senior forward Eric Dixon and college basketball analyst Donny Marshall.

    The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode.

    The fourth episode of TWITBE takes a look at the top of the BIG EAST standings, as St. John's is in position at the halfway point to make a run at just their second ever BIG EAST regular season title. The Red Storm are tied with Marquette at the top of the standings at 9-1 and the pair of top-15 teams are set to face off on Feb. 4 at Madison Square Garden.

    The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Marquette head coach Shaka Smart, to discuss the state of the Golden Eagles and how the team is prepping ahead of its upcoming schedule that includes a home game against No. 25 UConn on Saturday, before a pair of road games against No. 15 St. John's and Creighton.

    The BIG EAST Focus shines on the nation's leading scorer Eric Dixon, who maintains a 3.0 points per game advantage on second-place. The upperclassmen is averaging 24.6 points per game to lead the Wildcats. Dazzling both in the post and from beyond the arc, Dixon takes the time to talk about how the Wildcats look to finish the second half of the season strong and make a push toward a first round bye in the BIG EAST Tournament.

    Rooke and McNamara are then joined by UConn legend and FOX Sports and Peacock Analyst, Donny Marshall. Two teams in St. John’s and Marquette are trying to separate themselves from the pack just ahead of Creighton and the two-time defending National Champion UConn. Marshall joins the show to discuss the conference standings and where BIG EAST teams stand nationally.

    The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, turning the clock back 37 years to Jan. 25, 1988. Pittsburgh's Jerome Lane dunked the ball with such ferocity in a game against Providence at the old Fitzgerald Field House that the backboard disintegrated into thousands of pieces. Mike Gorman and Bill Raftery were on the television call of the game with Raftery delighting in the dunk exclaiming, “SEND IT IN JEROME!”.

    To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.

    Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    This will air Saturday, Feb. 1 at Noon ET on Sirius 138 XM 201 Online 963 leading into Providence at St. John's.

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    45 min
  • #TWITBE Ep. 11.3 - Guests Kim English, Thomas Sorber, Rick Cordella
    Jan 24 2025

    This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests Providence head coach Kim English, Georgetown freshman forward Thomas Sorber and NBC Sports President Rick Cordella.

    The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode.

    The third episode of TWITBE takes a look at the landscape of the BIG EAST as it nears halfway mark of league play. St. John's has taken over the lead in the league standings at 8-1, followed by Marquette just a half game back and UConn and Creighton only one game back in the loss column.

    The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Providence head coach Kim English, to discuss how his team has battled through injuries and adversity this season. English, in his second year at Providence, has a talented group of young players who are getting valuable playing time due to injuries to star players such as Bryce Hopkins.

    The BIG EAST Focus shines on Georgetown forward Thomas Sorber, who has been spectacular in his first season on the Hilltop. The freshman sensation leads the BIG EAST in rebounds per game (8.7), as well as the team in scoring at 14.2 points per game. Sorber takes the time talking about playing for Ed Cooley, and the expectations he and his teammates have heading into the second half of league competition.

    Rooke and McNamara are then joined by NBC Sports President, Rick Cordella. A member of the Providence Elite Eight team in 1996-97, Cordella most recently helped the BIG EAST partner with NBC Sports and Peacock to bring fans closer to the game. Cordella talks about the new partnership and the landscape of the BIG EAST.

    The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, paying tribute to the life and legacy of Georgetown legend, Dikembe Mutombo. Mutombo was a shot-blocking legend for the Hoyas and then went on to play 18 seasons in the NBA. He is widely regarded as one of the best shot-blockers of all time.

    To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.

    Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    This will air Saturday, Jan. 25 at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 963 leading into Seton Hall @ Creighton.

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    45 min
  • #TWITBE Ep. 11.2 - Guests Ryan Conwell, Alex Karaban, Ed Pinckney
    Jan 17 2025

    This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests Xavier junior guard Ryan Conwell, UConn junior forward Alex Karaban and Villanova legend Ed Pinckney.

    The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode.

    The second episode of TWITBE takes a look at the landscape of the BIG EAST as it passes the first quarter mark of league play.

    The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Xavier guard Ryan Conwell, fresh off a 28-point second half to lead the Musketeers to a crucial league win over Villanova. A transfer from Indiana State, Conwell has been a big boost for the Xavier offense.

    The BIG EAST Focus shines on UConn forward Alex Karaban, who opens up about what it is like to to play for Dan Hurley and how Hurley helped pick him and the team up after a loss at Villanova.

    Rooke and McNamara are then joined by former Villanova legend and member of the 1985 National Championship team, Ed Pinckney. Currently a scout for the Houston Rockets, Pinckney talks about the Wildcats historic NCAA Tournament Run 40 years later, as well as the impacts it has had.

    The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, rewinding the tape to 1994, when UConn legend Donyell Marshall scored 42 points against St. John’s in an 85-81 win at a sold out put Madison Square Garden. At that point, Marshall’s 42 points set a BIG EAST scoring record, while his 20-for-20 performance at the free-throw line still stands as the best mark in league history. “Who’s Got Next?” takes a look at the upcoming schedule, highlighting the big matchups.

    To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.

    Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    This will air Saturday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 963 leading into Creighton @ UConn.

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    45 min
  • #TWITBE Ep. 11.1 - Guests Greg McDermott, Kam Jones, Seth Davis
    Jan 13 2025

    This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, begins its 11th season with guests Marquette senior guard Kam Jones, Creighton head coach Greg McDermott and FOX Sports Analyst Seth Davis.

    The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode.

    Two weeks into the New Year, the first episode of TWITBE takes a look at the jumpstart of conference play, while taking a look at the landscape of BIG EAST Basketball..

    The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Marquette guard Kam Jones, who discusses his approach to basketball, the early success of the Golden Eagles and what it's like playing for head coach Shaka Smart.

    The BIG EAST Focus shines on Creighton head coach Greg McDermott.

    FOX Sports Basketball Analyst Seth Davis gives a view on the national perspective, along with his newest project, HoopsHQ.com, to bring fans closer to the sport of basketball.

    To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.

    Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

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    45 min
  • #TWITBE Ep. 10.9 - Guests Devin Carter, Greg McDermott and Val Ackerman
    Mar 8 2024

    This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 10th season with guests Providence junior guard Devin Carter, Creighton’s head coach Greg McDermott and BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman.

    The ninth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST (TWITBE) looks ahead to Saturday’s regular season finale with the final five games determining official seeds and matchups at the 2024 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament Presented by JEEP. The show congratulates UConn following the program’s first outright regular season championship since 1999, and the expectations heading into the tournament for all 11 teams.

    The BIG EAST Focus shines on Providence junior guard Devin Carter. Carter has helped the Friars push toward a March run despite the loss of Bryce Hopkins to injury earlier this season. He leads the conference in scoring with 21.2 points per game, 1.3 more per game than second place Quincy Olivari in league games. The junior also ranks third in rebounds with 8.7 per contest. Heading into the final weekend of regular season play, Carter has continued to be a gameplan nightmare for opposing coaches.

    The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Creighton head coach Greg McDermott. McDermott talks about handling expectations at a winning program such as Creighton and what it’s been like to learn from last season’s Elite Eight run. The Bluejays have used the bitter disappointment from the end of last season to fuel another championship drive, and currently rank 10th nationally. Creighton is looking to lock up the No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament on Saturday.

    BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman gives her take on the state of the conference and what it means to be back at Madison Square Garden for a 42nd consecutive BIG EAST Tournament. In addition to the BIG EAST Women’s Tournament officially underway at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., Ackerman discusses the impact of Saturday’s men’s regular season contests. From a national perspective, Ackerman gives updates on a potential NCAA Tournament expansion, as well as modifications to the transfer portal.

    The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past.” Turning the clock back to 2011, the show looks back on one of the most remarkable runs ever witnessed in college basketball postseason history. Kemba Walker led the UConn Huskies to five wins in five days at the BIG EAST Tournament to claim the BIG EAST Championship as a No. 9 seed. The Huskies closed out the year on an 11-game winning streak, also sweeping through the NCAA Tournament to win the third title in program history.

    To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.

    Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    This will air Saturday, March 9 at Noon ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 964 leading into the UConn women’s basketball broadcast of the BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by JEEP.

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    45 min
  • #TWITBE Ep. 10.8 - Guests Cam Spencer, Ed Cooley and Andy Katz
    Mar 1 2024

    This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 10th season with guests UConn graduate guard Cam Spencer, Georgetown’s head coach Ed Cooley and NCAA.com and TNT Basketball Analyst Andy Katz.

    The eighth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST (TWITBE) takes a look ahead as the league enters the final week of regular season action prior to the 2024 BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament Presented by JEEP. UConn heads into the final three games with a two-game lead over Marquette for the top-seed at Madison Square Garden. With a win over the weekend against Seton Hall, Creighton has leap-frogged the Pirates back into third, while Providence and Villanova will play Saturday to break a current tiebreaker for fifth.

    The BIG EAST Focus shines on UConn graduate guard Cam Spencer. The Huskies have looked the part of not just a BIG EAST Champion, but a potential back-to-back National Champion this season with only a few minor bumps in the road. Spencer has added important depth and experience to an already loaded UConn roster as they look towards March Madness. Spencer leads the conference and ranks fourth nationally this season in 3-point percentage (0.446). He is also tied for the team-high with 15.2 points per game.

    The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley. Georgetown has had a great measure of success as one of the BIG EAST Conference’s founding members, including a National Championship in 1984. Wrapping up his first year as the Hoya lead man, Cooley is looking to restore Georgetown men’s basketball to national prominence but understands there is a long road ahead.

    NCAA.com and TNT basketball analyst Andy Katz gives a view on the national perspective. Katz takes the time to discuss which teams across the country he feels could make some real noise at the NCAA Tournament. He also provides an in-depth look at the BIG EAST resumes ahead of the Big Dance.

    The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past.” Turning the clock back to 2006, the last time UConn clinched at least a share of a BIG EAST regular season title. It was the first week in March, when the Huskies were led by senior Denham Brown who scored 17 points to help secure an 84-80 win over Louisville on senior day.

    To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.

    Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    This will air Saturday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m. ET on Sirius 162 XM 201 Online 964 leading into the Creighton men’s basketball broadcast of Marquette @ Creighton.

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    45 min