#TWITBE Ep. 10.5 - Guests Tyler Kolek, Daniss Jenkins and Joe Lunardi

This Week in the BIG EAST - Weekly Overview of NCAA College Basketball's Top Conference

This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 10th season with guests Marquette senior guard Tyler Kolek, St. John’s graduate student guard Daniss Jenkins and ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi.

The fifth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST (TWITBE) takes a look at the league as a whole. Past the midway point of the BIG EAST season, UConn (20-2, 11-1 BIG EAST) holds a steady lead in the conference standings and maintains the pole position in the national landscape. No. 7 Marquette sits closely behind at 8-3 in conference play, while Seton Hall is in third at 8-4. Overall, nine BIG EAST teams remain in the top-66 of the NET, including six in the top-50.

The BIG EAST Focus shines on St. John’s guard Daniss Jenkins. A graduate transfer who played under head coach Rick Pitino at Iona a season ago, Jenkins made the move this summer to spearhead Pitino’s St. John’s team that looks to build toward the BIG EAST and NCAA Tournaments. Averaging 15.5 points and 4.8 assists per league contest, Jenkins has the Johnnies tied for sixth in the BIG EAST at 6-6, just one game back from Creighton and Xavier for fourth.

The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Marquette senior guard Tyler Kolek. The reigning BIG EAST Player of the Year and Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 BIG EAST Tournament is heating up and has led the Golden Eagles on a six-game winning streak. Over the last six contests, the senior guard has averaged 18.5 points and 9.5 assists per game. Overall, he is totaling 15.1 points and a BIG EAST leading 7.2 assists per contest. As a team, Marquette enters the weekend at 17-5 overall and holds its highest position in both national polls since Jan. 1.

ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi gives a view on the national perspective. As the person who helped put the madness in March, “Joey Brackets” is entering the busiest and most chaotic time of year. Lunardi breaks down where the BIG EAST stands nationally and gives his viewpoints on how many BIG EAST teams could enter the NCAA Tournament.

The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past.” Turning the clock back 34 years to 1990, when the Pittsburgh Panthers set the single-game scoring record in the league by racking up 117 points in a 117-102 win over Providence. Brian Shorter led the way for Pitt with 34 points in the outing.

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, Feb. 10 at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sirius 138 XM 201 Online 964 leading into the Creighton men’s basketball broadcast of No. 19 Creighton @ Xavier.