The all-Big-East Team USA squad for the Pan Am games kicked off practice today in Providence. There's really just a ton of good content in terms of photos and video out there, but I'll throw a few select things up to kick it off. Catch-all thread for the summer tournament.

It will be a great experience for the selected players and coaches. What a great recognition for the conference.

Love the experience they are getting!

Puerto Rico should be a tough game

well, that was a thud...

(08-03-2019 10:53 PM)stever20 Wrote:  well, that was a thud...

If they win the bronze-medal game it'll be par for the course versus the pro teams the USA has been bringing to the Pan-Am games. The last time the USA did better than bronze was in the 90s, and didn't medal at all in 03 or 07.

Big East takes the bronze. Glad the guys get some hardware to take home. Equals the US's best finish since the 90s.

(08-03-2019 10:53 PM)stever20 Wrote:  well, that was a thud...

So now, after winning the bronze against pros... not so much a thud. Pretty great that USA basketball had the Big East represent the country versus any other conference wouldn't you say?

(08-05-2019 07:24 AM)novachap Wrote:  

(08-03-2019 10:53 PM)stever20 Wrote:  well, that was a thud...

So now, after winning the bronze against pros... not so much a thud. Pretty great that USA basketball had the Big East represent the country versus any other conference wouldn't you say?

Anybody but stever would agree, but super-AAAAAACCCC fan stever hates everything BigEast.

(08-04-2019 01:08 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(08-03-2019 10:53 PM)stever20 Wrote:  well, that was a thud...

If they win the bronze-medal game it'll be par for the course versus the pro teams the USA has been bringing to the Pan-Am games. The last time the USA did better than bronze was in the 90s, and didn't medal at all in 03 or 07.

It was the biggest loss ever by the US in a Pan American Games game.

Really think they might need to look into sending G-League players or something like that.

(08-05-2019 08:39 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

(08-04-2019 01:08 PM)Bogg Wrote:  

(08-03-2019 10:53 PM)stever20 Wrote:  well, that was a thud...

If they win the bronze-medal game it'll be par for the course versus the pro teams the USA has been bringing to the Pan-Am games. The last time the USA did better than bronze was in the 90s, and didn't medal at all in 03 or 07.

It was the biggest loss ever by the US in a Pan American Games game.

Really think they might need to look into sending G-League players or something like that.

That's what they've done for decades. The previous four results were (going forward) no medal, no medal, bronze, bronze. Keep pushing your agenda though.

Congratulations to the team, coaches and players for their participation and Bronze finish. It was a great honor and opportunity for the league to represent Team USA. It also continued the message that our conference is once again united together. Awesome to see Cooley and Willard coaching together.

https://www.app.com/story/sports/college...875614001/

"FIVE TAKEAWAYS:

1. This is an impressive accomplishment. There were ups and downs, but it means something to win a medal for your country. That was the goal going in, and this group achieved it going against pros and hostile crowds, with some questionable officiating thrown in. Throughout the tournament, they represented America well. Take a bow, Big East.

2. Credit to Ed Cooley (and right-hand man Kevin Willard) for getting these guys to turn the page after a gut-wrenching loss to Puerto Rico and a spanking by Argentina. Setting aside the runaway opener against a non-competitive Virgin Island squad, the second half against the DR was their best half of basketball, especially on the defensive end.

3. The starters came through with a medal on the line. Gillespie and Samuels showed you why Villanova has so much potential this year. Powell made the most of his opportunities and was unselfish to the core. Diallo continued to impressive with his versatility. Groselle was the most pleasant surprise this week; he held down the post like seasoned pro, with little relief.

4. This experience will be something these guys can draw on later. The bonds formed, the ability to adapt on the fly, the grit developed going against grown men, and the feeling of representing your country are intangibles of incalculable value -- Cooley appropriately called it a "life opportunity." The camaraderie was clear. It will be interesting to see these guys interact on the court this winter as opponents.

5. For college hoops junkies, this was fun. We'd love to see it again in four years, either with the Big East, or perhaps the Big Ten or ACC. "

(08-05-2019 10:18 AM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  https://www.app.com/story/sports/college...875614001/

FIVE TAKEAWAYS:

1. This is an impressive accomplishment. There were ups and downs, but it means something to win a medal for your country. That was the goal going in, and this group achieved it going against pros and hostile crowds, with some questionable officiating thrown in. Throughout the tournament, they represented America well. Take a bow, Big East.

2. Credit to Ed Cooley (and right-hand man Kevin Willard) for getting these guys to turn the page after a gut-wrenching loss to Puerto Rico and a spanking by Argentina. Setting aside the runaway opener against a non-competitive Virgin Island squad, the second half against the DR was their best half of basketball, especially on the defensive end.

3. The starters came through with a medal on the line. Gillespie and Samuels showed you why Villanova has so much potential this year. Powell made the most of his opportunities and was unselfish to the core. Diallo continued to impressive with his versatility. Groselle was the most pleasant surprise this week; he held down the post like seasoned pro, with little relief.

4. This experience will be something these guys can draw on later. The bonds formed, the ability to adapt on the fly, the grit developed going against grown men, and the feeling of representing your country are intangibles of incalculable value -- Cooley appropriately called it a "life opportunity." The camaraderie was clear. It will be interesting to see these guys interact on the court this winter as opponents.

5. For college hoops junkies, this was fun. We'd love to see it again in four years, either with the Big East, or perhaps the Big Ten or ACC.

well said....

it really is an interesting concept, having a college conference all star team if you will representing the US. And for Cooley to coach it- I've always said that he's my favorite Big East coach- think he gets the most out of what he has.

Do agree with you GW11 on your #4 point- it will be fascinating to see these guys on the floor this winter going up against each other.

Not my points - they are Jerry Carino's (I just italicized that portion of his article). I'll put quotations in it to be clear.

(08-05-2019 03:36 PM)GoldenWarrior11 Wrote:  Not my points - they are Jerry Carino's (I just italicized that portion of his article). I'll put quotations in it to be clear.

lol. doesn't make it any less valid.

3 months from tomorrow 1st day of college basketball. That countdown that I sometimes looked at is already all the way down to #93. Looks like St John's was ranked #110 at #9 in the league.