#TWITBE Ep. 8.1 - Welcome to 2022! Guests: Justin Minaya, Dana O'Neil and Travis Steele

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 begins its eighth season with Providence graduate senior forward Justin Minaya, Xavier head coach Travis Steele, The Athletic senior college basketball writer and author Dana O’Neil, as well as a celebration of 40 Years at Madison Square Garden with a “Blast from the Past.”
With the start of a New Year, the first episode of TWITBE takes a look at the start of conference play as well as a recap of an impressive non-conference slate, with BIG EAST teams combining to go 91-27 (.771).

The BIG EAST Spotlight is on Providence forward Justin Minaya, who discusses the role the transfer portal has played in the landscape of college basketball over the past couple seasons. Playing a large role in the Friars’ transformation, Minaya talks about the veteran leadership and experience surrounding Ed Cooley’s team, opening the season with a 13-2 (3-1 BE) mark.

The BIG EAST Focus shines on Xavier head coach Travis Steele. The Musketeers have shown balance, explosiveness, athleticism and experience under Steele’s leadership, opening the year 11-2 (1-1 BE) and ranked No. 22 in the AP Poll.

Athletic senior college basketball writer and author Dana O’Neil gives a view on the national perspective. A senior writer for The Athletic, she has worked for more than 25 years as a sportswriter covering the Final Four, the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, NHL playoffs and the BIG EAST. She has worked previously in Philadelphia and for ESPN, and she is the author of three books, including “The BIG EAST: Inside the Most Entertaining and Influential Conference in College Basketball History”, available now online and in bookstores.

The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, with this week reliving the very first BIG EAST Tournament held in Madison Square Garden featuring Boston College and St. John’s. “Who’s Got Next?” takes a look at the upcoming schedule, highlighting the big matchups.

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.

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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