Tuesday’s Arizin: Gillespie, Robinson-Earl among Wooden Award top 20 list (Feb. 2)

Happy Tuesday!

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Collin Gillespie are still in the running for the Wooden Award, an accolade given to the most outstanding player in college basketball.

They are two of the Big East’s three representatives — along with UConn’s James Bouknight — in the trimmed down top 20 list.

The “news”:

2021 Wooden Award top 20 watch list
The complete list of 20 remaining candidates.

Kevin Willard, Jay Wright share bond as old school leaders in the new Big East | NJ.com
They’ve been pivotal coaches behind the scenes for the conference since realignment.

Abandoning the Big East has become a disaster for one-time powerhouses | New York Post
Villanova has become a college hoops superpower. Xavier, Creighton, and Butler benefitted from joining the Big East. Meanwhile, Pitt, Syracuse, and Notre Dame haven’t been the same since leaving.

Big East coaches dealing with all the scheduling changes | The Day
When Villanova head coach Jay Wright’s phone starts ringing, his heart starts pounding.

‘Everybody’s just trying to do their best’: Coaches around the country dealing with COVID-19 stoppages | The Michigan Daily
With the Wolverines on a 14-day pause, here's how other college basketball teams around the country have fared after returning from COVID-19 stoppages.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni uses Villanova, Kobe basketball imagery at introductory news conference | delcotimes.com
Nick Sirianni showed up prepared for his first presser with the Eagles Friday. And he's going to expect the same from his players.

Villanova’s Jay Wright shares memories of John Chaney | KYW
Many Big Five coaches who matched wits against Chaney have shared their stories about the man who became a Philadelphia icon. Villanova head coach Jay Wright has his own memories to share. Read more here.

(Subscription required) What John Chaney meant to his former Temple players – The Athletic
For 24 years at Temple, John Chaney planted the seeds of character in young men such as Aaron McKie, Mike Vreeswyk and Mark Macon.

(Subscription Required) Saddiq Bey's rise from Villanova to the Detroit Pistons – The Athletic
The future is bright for Saddiq Bey, who joined Villanova with little fanfare in 2018 before rocketing to Pistons first-round draft pick.