Every week Paint Touches will bring you a roundup from the week that was in the Big East. Week 1 saw 13 of the 15 Big East teams remain undefeated, as well as some big performances from the Connecticut Huskies in Kevin Ollie’s debut as head coach.
Power Rankings
1. Syracuse (1-0): Impressive win over No. 20 in the aircraft carrier game that was actually played.
2. Louisville (1-0): Easy win over Manhattan starts potential journey back to the Final Four.
3. Connecticut (1-0): Most impressive win of the week with a win over No. 12 Michigan State in Kevin Ollie’s head coaching debut.
4. Notre Dame (2-0): Jack Cooley (16 points, 11 rebounds, 6 blocks) gets things going for Fighting Irish in win over Evansville.
5. Cincinnati (1-0): Cashmere Wright and Sean Kilpatrick combine for 30 in win over Tennessee-Martin.
6. Pittsburgh (2-0): New Zealand freshman Steven Adams is the real deal.
7. Villanova (2-0): Freshman Ryan Arcidiacono averaged 18 points and 5 assists in two wins last week. The new Maalik Wayns?
8. Marquette (1-0): Did what they needed to do in easy win over Colgate.
9. Georgetown (1-0): Injury to Otto Porter (eye) meant Hoyas barely squeak by Duquesne at home.
10. Seton Hall (2-0): Small forward Fuquan Edwin remains a major sleeper as Big East Player of the Year.
11. DePaul (1-0): Stellar duo of Brandon Young/Cleveland Melvin combine for 36 points in easy win over UC-Riverside.
12. Providence (2-0): One-point win over NJIT and injury to Vincent Council not the way Friars wanted to start this year.
13. St. John’s (0-0): Steve Lavin returns to the bench tomorrow afternoon.
14. South Florida (0-1): Bulls shoot 36% in 18-point loss to Central Florida.
15. Rutgers (1-1): 4-point loss at home to St. Peter’s the worst loss of the week.
Performance of the week
Shabazz Napier, PG, UConn: Kevin Ollie was a point guard himself, so it’s no surprise that Ollie’s court general put on a show in the head coach’s debut. Napier scored 25 points and didn’t turn the ball over once in the Huskies’ 66-62 win over No. 12 Michigan State in Germany. Napier hit a 3-pointer with 5 minutes to play to give Connecticut a 59-58 lead, and made all four free throws in the final 15 seconds to ice the win.
Game of the week
Connecticut 66, Michigan State 62: Facing an offseason that potentially could have set the program back years, Kevin Ollie made his coaching debut in stunning fashion, upsetting Michigan State. Along with Shabazz Napier’s 25 points, sophomore Ryan Boatwright added 13 points and 5 steals in the win. It came down to the last few minutes, but 3’s from the aforementioned guards down the stretch (and free throw shooting) helped the Huskies, who used just eight players, start the season with a win.
Paint Touches 
I would appreciate an occasional update on how the teams joining the Big East in the near future are doing this season. Great job with this. Thanks