News from the Big East, a big name, and a big decision

You wake up. It’s Wednesday. You roll out of bed, the birds are chirping. You make some coffee. You crack a window and the cool September breeze pours in. It hits you as you ready yourself for the rest of your usual Wednesday duties.

It’s back.

After weeks without it, one of your biggest joys as a sports fan returns this week. It’s been so long that you can barely remember what it feels like. But you’re ready. You’re a good person, a hard worker, you deserve this. And your only plan for the rest of the week is to soak it all in.

The NFL Greg Waddell’s edition of The Field of 68 Daily is back.

STARTING FIVE

1. Shaka Smart adds a top-100 guard

Yesterday, 4-star guard Tre Norman committed to Marquette. Norman chose the Golden Eagles over Rutgers, Harvard and Brown, citing his relationship with all of Shaka Smart’s staff as the most significant driver. There was no comment from Norman on if Marquette’s baby blue uniforms being 100 times cooler than Rutgers, Harvard and Brown’s uniforms impacted his decision.

Norman is the 83rd-ranked player in the 247 Composite rankings. The athletic combo guard excels at getting downhill and plays hard on both ends. His outside shot isn’t a strength, but he’s capable of pulling up off the dribble from the midrange.

Norman was the second-leading scorer in the EYBL this year, but his offer list outside of Marquette wouldn’t show it. Sounds like a perfect marriage with Shaka Smart.

2. Ed Cooley is going nowhere

Elsewhere in the Big East, the coach of the luckiest team in 2021-22 signed a multi-year contract extension.

Ed Cooley, who by all accounts has always been one of the best persons in college basketball, is capitalizing on his all-time high approval rating. He was the Naismith Coach of the Year after leading Providence to a 27-6 season in 2022, capped off by his first Sweet 16 appearance in 11 years at the school.

Only three years into a “lifetime” contract, this announcement is less of a statement on Cooley changing his long-term intentions and more about resources and support for him and his staff.

Providence lost four starters, so to replicate last year’s success, Cooley added five transfers to pair with returner — and crunch-time bucket connoisseur — Jared Bynum. If you really want the skinny on Providence’s 2022-23 outlook, we’ve got you covered.

3. Anthony Grant’s new assistant

Dayton coach Anthony Grant hired former Cincinnati head coach John Brannen as “Program Analyst and Senior Special Assistant,” which will be an extremely hard job title to fit on a business card.

This is Brannen’s first coaching gig since he was fired at Cincinnati amid some drama. The termination letter stated that Brannen “failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance … with respect to rules, regulations and policies and have further jeopardized and/or disregarded the well-being, health and safety of student-athletes.”

Brannen and Grant have worked together before — both at VCU and Alabama. Brannen boasts an impressive career 114-73 record as a head coach in stops at Northern Kentucky and Cincy. He joins the staff of a Dayton team that many believe is ready to compete nationally next season.

4. Buckeye Bronny?

Chris Holtmann and Ohio State officially offered Bronny James a scholarship. The eldest James son has held a “longstanding offer,” but it was reaffirmed as a committable offer in August and made public knowledge on Tuesday.

Bronny’s recruitment has been a curious one. His talents certainly merit high-major attention even without being the heir to the James throne. But at times it has been hard to decipher what schools are really recruiting him versus what offers are all for show.

Bronny and LeBron visited Ohio State unofficially for the Notre Dame game over the weekend, and seemed to enjoy themselves at the school LeBron would have attended. It’s hard not to get excited as a college basketball fan at the possibility of seeing JAMES on the back of a jersey at a big-time program.

And you have to admit, this just looks right (the always essential #NOTCOMMITTED caveat applies):

5. Which school will have the Power?

Speaking of names that will look incredible on the back of a college basketball jersey, consensus top-25 forward and summer circuit darling TJ Power will make his college decision Wednesday at 5 pm ET.

Power’s final five consists of two blue bloods (Duke and North Carolina), a program built on defense (Virginia), a program built on no defense (Iowa) and Boston College (insert witty remark here). I recently had the chance to discuss Power’s final 5 with Power himself, along with 30-year-old F68 Daily writer turned Almanac-contributor Riley Davis.

If I were a betting man (which I very obviously am), I’d put my money on Virginia or Iowa*. Power referenced his longtime relationship with Fran McCaffery and the development of Big Ten POY winners Luka Garza and Keegan Murray as intriguing models for where he could fit in with the Hawkeyes. Then again, his eyes lit up when talking about Tony Bennett and Virginia too — even referencing how he got his middle school team to play a pack line defense after watching the Hoos’ success.

Of course, recruiting experts think Power’s headed to Duke. But that’s not nearly as fun to think about.

*I am absolutely not a recruiting analyst, so take this prediction with a grain of salt. Unless of course, it hits, then you can tweet praise to me at @gwizzy12

THE FIELD OF 12

It’s complicated

You remember that time in high school when the girl you were dating suddenly stopped responding to your texts and deleted every picture with you from her Facebook and changed her relationship status to “it’s complicated”?

No? That was just me?

Well, projected NFL first-round pick LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte deleted every trace of “LSU” from his Instagram following a disappointing two-reception performance in LSU’s heartbreaking last-second loss to Florida State. Uh, what?

College basketball season is still more than two months away, so if you need a college football fix to tide you over, subscribe to The Field of 12.

THE FAST BREAK

Links to peruse as you prep for your last-minute 12-team, half-point PPR, 2 QB, super flex auction draft:

• Hawaii coach Eran Ganot signed with Klutch Sports. He’s one of the first college coaches to do so.

• Did you know SEC commissioner Greg Sankey played college basketball?

• 2023 four-star forward Brandon Williams has a decision date

• No seriously, buy The Almanac

• When Coach O was told he was let go, but he would still get paid, he replied “what time do you want me to leave?” (Which is what I say to Rob Dauster daily.)

• BONUS: It’s my mother’s 60th birthday today! She reads these RELIGIOUSLY so I know she’ll see this. Mom, I love you.

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