This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, begins its 10th season with guests Seton Hall senior guard Kadary Richmond, Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune and FOX Sports National NCAA Basketball Color 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.
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, including a look back on UConn’s national championship run in 2023.
The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Seton Hall guard Kadary Richmond, who discusses the role the transfer portal has played in the landscape of college basketball over the past couple seasons. Transferring from Syracuse, Richmond discusses his first year in the BIG EAST and what it’s been like to help lead Seton Hall to a red-hot start. At 4-1 and tied for first in league play, The Hall has defeated a trio of top-25 teams and are riding a three-game winning streak into Saturday’s road contest against Butler. The reigning BIG EAST Player of the Week leads the Pirates in scoring with 15.9 points per game, while also averaging 6.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.
The BIG EAST Focus shines on Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune. Back at the helm for the Wildcats, Neptune has Villanova (10-5, 3-1 BIG EAST) once again in the national spotlight. The Wildcats have shown balance, defensive prowess, athleticism and experience under Neptune’s leadership. Neptune takes the time to discuss the team’s current mindset, as well as the future with the impact the transfer portal has had on recruiting.
FOX Sports Basketball Color Analyst Donny Marshall gives a view on the national perspective. A four-year standout at UConn (1991-95) Marshall touches on the outstanding performances thus far by Seton Hall, St. John’s and Villanova, as well as what he views as the biggest surprises at the start of conference play.
The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, rewinding the tape to 1987, reliving Providence’s Cinderella run to the Final Four under its former head coach and current St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino. “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.
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This will air Saturday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 203 Online 966 leading into the UConn women’s basketball broadcast of No. 13 Connecticut @ St. John’s.