2007–08 Big East Conference men's basketball season

American college basketball season April 2025 2007–08 Big East Conference Men's Basketball Season #072E67 #EFE3BB NCAA Division I Basketball File:Big East Conference logo.svg 250px November 7, 2007through March 15, 2008 16 ESPN Regular Season Georgetown (15–3) Champion Luke Harangody – Notre Dame Big East Men's Basketball Player of the Year Tournament 2008 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament Pittsburgh Sam Young – Pittsburgh Most Valuable Player Basketball 2006–07 2008–09 The 2007–08 Big East Conference men's basketball season was the 29th in conference history, and involved its 16 full-time member schools. Georgetown was the regular-season champion with a record of 15–3. Pittsburgh won the Big East tournament championship. Season summary & highlights Georgetown was the regular-season champion with a record of 15–3. It was Georgetown's ninth conference championship or co-championship, fourth outright championship, and second consecutive championship. Pittsburgh won its second Big East tournament championship and first since 2003. The Big East regular-season schedule expanded from 16 to 18 games. The Big East introduced its Sixth Man of the Year award, presented at the end of each season to the best reserve player of the year. Head coaches SchoolCoachSeasonNotes Cincinnati Mick Cronin 2nd Connecticut Jim Calhoun 22nd DePaul Jerry Wainwright 3rd Georgetown John Thompson III 4th Louisville Rick Pitino 5th Marquette Tom Crean 6th Resigned April 1, 2008 Notre Dame Mike Brey 8th Big East Coach of the Year (2nd award) Pittsburgh Jamie Dixon 5th Providence Tim Welsh 10th Fired March 15, 2008 Rutgers Fred Hill 2nd St. John's Norm Roberts 4th Seton Hall Bobby Gonzalez 2nd South Florida Stan Heath 1st Syracuse Jim Boeheim 32nd Villanova Jay Wright 7th West Virginia Bob Huggins 1st Rankings Georgetown was ranked in the Associated Press poll Top 25 all season, reaching No. 5 and finishing at No. 8. Marquette spent all but one week in the Top 25 and finished at No. 25. Connecticut, Louisville, Notre Dame, and Pittsburgh also appeared in the Top 25 and finished the season as ranked teams. Syracuse, Villanova, and West Virginia also spent time in the Top 25. + 2007–08 Big East Conference Weekly RankingsKey: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. AP Pollhttps://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/big-east/men/2005.html 2004-05 Men's Big East Conference Season Summary April 21, 2025 sports-reference.com Pre 11/12 11/19 11/26 12/3 12/10 12/17 12/24 12/31 1/7 1/14 1/21 1/28 2/4 2/11 2/18 2/25 3/3 3/10 Final Cincinnati Connecticut 19 17 13 15 13 15 16 DePaul Georgetown 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 8 7 7 5 9 6 6 8 12 11 11 9 8 Louisville 6 6 6 12 14 22 23 18 13 12 13 13 Marquette 11 10 11 13 11 10 10 12 10 15 13 21 17 16 25 21 21 25 25 Notre Dame 22 20 21 17 19 14 15 Pittsburgh 22 19 17 14 12 11 11 6 13 20 15 13 18 21 22 17 Providence Rutgers St. John's Seton Hall South Florida Syracuse 21 Villanova 24 20 25 23 20 18 17 19 25 18 West Virginia 24 23 Regular-season statistical leaders 18em start ScoringNameSchoolPPG Luke Harangody ND 20.4 Brian Laing SHU 18.6 Sam Young Pitt 18.1 Donté Greene Syr 17.7 Draelon Burns DeP 17.6 18em break ReboundingNameSchoolRPG Kentrell Gransberry USF 10.8 Luke Harangody ND 10.6 Jeff Adrien Conn 9.2 DeJuan Blair Pitt 9.1 Mac Koshwal DeP 8.4 18em break AssistsNameSchoolAPG Tory Jackson ND 5.8 A. J. Price Conn 5.8 Jonny Flynn Syr 5.3 Eugene Harvey SHU 4.9 Geoff McDermott Prov 4.9 18em break StealsNameSchoolSPG Jeff Xavier Prov 2.3 Jerel McNeal Mar 2.2 Eugene Harvey SHU 1.9 Corey Chandler RU 1.8 Dominic James Mar 1.8 18em break BlocksNameSchoolBPG Hasheem Thabeet Conn 4.5 Hamady N'Diaye RU 3.0 Roy Hibbert GU 2.2 Earl Clark Lou 1.7 Donté Greene Syr 1.6 18em break Field GoalsNameSchoolFG% Arinze Onuaku Syr .628 Roy Hibbert GU .609 Kentrell Gransberry USF .518 Sam Young Pitt .503 Jeff Adrien Conn .501 18em break 3-Pt Field GoalsNameSchool3FG% Kyle McAlarney ND .441 Alex Ruoff WVU .410 Deonta Vaughn Cin .398 Donté Greene Syr .345 (no other qualifiers) 18em break Free ThrowsNameSchoolFT% Rob Kurz ND .853 Joe Alexander WVU .814 Draelon Burns DeP .810 Brian Laing SHU .803 Wesley Matthews Mar .790 end Postseason Big East tournament 2008 Big East men's basketball tournament Seeding Teams were seeded in the Big East tournament based on conference record and tiebreakers. The No. 5 through No. 12 seeds played in the first round, and the No. 1 through No. 4 seeds received byes into the quarterfinal round. Teams which finished below 12th place in the conference after the application as necessary of tiebreakers did not qualify for the tournament Seeding was (1) Georgetown, (2) Louisville, (3) Notre Dame, (4) Connecticut, (5) West Virginia, (6) Marquette, (7) Pittsburgh, (8) Villanova, (9) Syracuse, (10) Cincinnati, (11) Seton Hall, and (12) Providence. By finishing below 12th place, DePaul, Rutgers, St. John's, and South Florida did not qualify for the tournament. Bracket First roundMarch 12, 2008 QuarterfinalsMarch 13, 2008 SemifinalsMarch 14, 2008 Championship GameMarch 15, 2008 8 Villanova 82 9 Syracuse 63 5 West Virginia 58 12 Providence 53 6 #25 Marquette 67 11 Seton Hall 54 7 Pittsburgh 70 10 Cincinnati 64 1 #9 Georgetown 82 8 Villanova 63 4 #15 Connecticut 72 5 West Virginia 78 3 #14 Notre Dame 79 6 #25 Marquette 89 2 #13 Louisville 69 7 Pittsburgh 76OT 1 #9 Georgetown 72 5 West Virginia 55 6 #25 Marquette 61 7 Pittsburgh 68 1 #9 Georgetown 65 7 Pittsburgh 74 NCAA tournament 2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Eight Big East teams received bids to the NCAA Tournament. Connecticut lost in the first round and Georgetown, Marquette, Notre Dame, and Pittsburgh in the second round. Villanova and West Virginia were defeated in the regional semifinals and Louisville in the regional finals. School Region Seed Round 1 Round 2 Sweet 16 Elite 8 Louisville East 3 14 Boise State, W 79–61 6 Oklahoma, W 78–48 2 Tennessee, W 79–60 1 North Carolina, L 83–73 West Virginia West 7 10 Arizona, W 75–65 2 Duke, W 73–67 3 Xavier, L 79–75(OT) Villanova Midwest 12 5 Clemson, W 75–69 13 Siena, W 84–72 1 Kansas, L 72–57 Georgetown Midwest 2 15 UMBC, W 66–47 10 Davidson, L 74–70 Pittsburgh South 4 13 Oral Roberts, W 82–63 5 Michigan State, L 65–54 Notre Dame East 5 12 George Mason, W 68–50 4 Washington State, L 61–41 Marquette South 6 11 Kentucky, W 74–66 3 Stanford, L 82–81(OT) Connecticut West 4 13 San Diego, L 70–69(OT) National Invitation Tournament 2008 National Invitation Tournament Syracuse received a bid to the National Invitation Tournament. Seeded No. 1 in the in one of the tournament's unnamed brackets, the Orange lost in the quarterfinals. School Seed Round 1 Round 2 Quarterfinals Syracuse 1 8 Robert Morris, W 87–81 5 Maryland, W 88–72 2 UMass, L 81–77 College Basketball Invitational 2008 College Basketball Invitational Cincinnati accepted a bid to the inaugural College Basketball Invitational. The Bearcats lost in the first round. School Region Seed Round 1 Cincinnati Midwest 4 1 Bradley, L 70–67 Awards and honors Big East Conference Player of the Year: Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, C, So. Defensive Player of the Year: Jerel McNeal, Marquette, G, So. Co-Rookies of the Year: DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, F, Fr. Jonny Flynn, Syracuse, G. Fr. Sixth Man of the Year: Patrick Ewing Jr., Georgetown, F, Sr. Most Improved Player: Sam Young, Pittsburgh, F, Jr. Coach of the Year: Mike Brey, Notre Dame (8th season) All-Big East First Team A. J. Price, Connecticut, G, Jr., 6 ft 2 in cm 0, 181 lb 0, Amityville, N.Y. Joe Alexander, West Virginia, G, Jr., 6 ft 8 in cm 0, 230 lb 0, Mount Airy, Md. Kentrell Gransberry, South Florida, C, Sr., 6 ft 9 in cm 0, 270 lb 0, Baton Rouge, La. Brian Laing, Seton Hall, G, Jr., 6 ft 5 in cm 0, 216 lb 0, The Bronx, N.Y. Sam Young, Pittsburgh, F, Jr., 6 ft 6 in cm 0, 220 lb 0, Clinton, Md. Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, F, So., 6 ft 8 in cm 0, 246 lb 0, Schererville, Ind. Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame, G, Jr., 6 ft 1 in cm 0, 195 lb 0, Staten Island, N.Y. David Padgett, Louisville, C, Sr., 6 ft 11 in cm 0, 250 lb 0, Reno, Nev. Roy Hibbert, Georgetown, C, Sr., 7 ft 2 in cm 0, 278 lb 0, Adelphi, Md. Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, F, Jr., 6 ft 7 in cm 0, 243 lb 0, Brookline, Mass. Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, So., 6 ft 1 in cm 0, 190 lb 0, Indianapolis, Ind. All-Big East Second Team: Terrence Williams, Louisville, F, Jr., 6 ft 6 in cm 0, 220 lb 0, Seattle, Wash. Dominic James, Marquette, G, So., 5 ft 11 in cm 0, 185 lb 0, Richmond, Ind. Jerel McNeal, Marquette, G, Jr., 6 ft 3 in cm 0, 200 lb 0, Chicago, Ill. Lazar Hayward, Marquette, F, So., 6 ft 6 in cm 0, 225 lb 0, Buffalo, N.Y. Jonathan Wallace, Georgetown, G, Sr., 6 ft 1 in cm 0, 195 lb 0, Harvest, Ala. Draelon Burns, DePaul, G, Sr., 6 ft 4 in cm 0, 210 lb 0, Milwaukee, Wis. Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, C, So., 7 ft 3 in cm 0, 263 lb 0, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Donté Greene, Connecticut, C, Fr., 6 ft 11 in cm 0, 226 lb 0, Baltimore, Md. Paul Harris, Syracuse, F, So., 6 ft 5 in cm 0, 230 lb 0, Niagara Falls, N.Y. Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, So., 6 ft 2 in cm 0, 195 lb 0, Herndon, Va. Big East All-Rookie Team: Dar Tucker, DePaul, G, Fr., 6 ft 5 in cm 0, 215 lb 0, Saginaw, Mich. Mac Koshwal, DePaul, C, Fr., 6 ft 10 in cm 0, 225 lb 0, Chicago, Ill. Austin Freeman, Georgetown, G, Fr., 6 ft 4 in cm 0, 235 lb 0, Mitchellville, Md. DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh, F, Fr., 6 ft 7 in cm 0, 265 lb 0, Pittsburgh, Pa. Corey Chandler, Rutgers, G, Fr., 6 ft 2 in cm 0, 198 lb 0, Newark, N.J. Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, Fr., 6 ft 5 in cm 0, 188 lb 0, Harlem, N.Y. Dominique Jones, South Florida, G, Fr., 6 ft 4 in cm 0, 205 lb 0, Lake Wales, Fla. Justin Burrell, St. John's, G, Fr., 6 ft 8 in cm 0, 244 lb 0, The Bronx, N.Y. Donté Greene, Connecticut, C, Fr., 6 ft 11 in cm 0, 226 lb 0, Baltimore, Md. Jonny Flynn, St. John's, G, Fr., 6 ft 0 in cm 0, 185 lb 0, Niagara Falls, N.Y. Corey Fisher, Villanova, G, Fr., 6 ft 1 in cm 0, 200 lb 0, The Bronx, N.Y. All-Americans The following players were selected to the 2008 Associated Press All-America teams. 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans Consensus All-America Second Team: Roy Hibbert, Georgetown, Key Stats: 13.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2.2 bpg, 60.9 FG%, 454 points Second Team All-America: Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, Key Stats: 20.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 50.0 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 672 points Roy Hibbert, Georgetown, Key Stats: 13.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2.2 bpg, 60.9 FG%, 454 points AP Honorable Mention Joe Alexander, West Virginia A. J. Price, Connecticut Sam Young, Pittsburgh See also 2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season 2007–08 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team 2007–08 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team 2007–08 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team 2007–08 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team 2007–08 Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball team 2007–08 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team 2007–08 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team 2007–08 Providence Friars men's basketball team 2007–08 St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team 2007–08 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team 2007–08 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team 2007–08 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team References