Bobby Gonzalez knows it. Herb Pope gives him a chance.

Last season, in his third year as Seton Hall head coach, Gonzalez’s Pirates were routinely beaten up beneath the boards. By season’s end, the Pirates finished dead last in rebounding margin in the Big East.

But at the time, Gonzalez didn’t see the answer to his rebounding troubles coming by way of a Blue Chip recruit or thanks to a major change in philosophy. The solution was sitting at the end of his bench, dressed in street clothes.

‘Herb Pope has been monumental for us because in the three years that I’ve been here, we haven’t had a guy like him, a legitimate power forward who can help us on the glass,’ Gonzalez said. ‘He finishes strong around the basket. He can run the floor. He’s versatile, and the biggest thing that he brings to the table is his rebounding ability.’

Pope, a 6-foot-8 sophomore forward from Aliquippa, Pa., has quickly adjusted to the Big East after sitting out a year following a transfer from New Mexico State. In just his first season in the conference, he’s averaging a double-double (12.4 points, 11.4 rebounds) and finally gives Gonzalez something the Pirates had been lacking in recent memory – a formidable presence in the post.

Pope, though, is just one of a number of transfers who have shined this season in the Big East. In a year where experts across the country predicted the quality of the Big East’s play to take a hit, the conference has remained strong. Currently, six Big East teams reside in the Top 25, and a major reason for the conference’s continued success is the influx of top-notch transfers. Pope is near the top of the list.

‘I knew he was going to be a big factor for us, but I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t think he would get these kind of numbers this quickly,’ Gonzalez said. ‘I thought it would take half a season for him to get double-doubles, and I was like, ‘Wow, he’s going to be pretty good.’ I think he’s going to get better and better, and (he) has a chance to be one of the best forwards in this conference.’

Like Pope, Notre Dame guard Ben Hansbrough is making a name for himself as a transfer in the Big East this season. Hansbrough opted to leave Mississippi State to join the Irish for the final two years of his eligibility. Hansbrough, the brother of Tyler Hansbrough of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, played regularly for Mississippi State for two seasons, averaging roughly 28 minutes per game his sophomore year. Hansbrough credits Notre Dame’s overall philosophy and style of play as reasons to why he ultimately made the move.

‘I just wanted to transfer because I felt that Mississippi State wasn’t the place for me at that time,’ Hansbrough said. ‘I just wanted to be on a different team, and Notre Dame had what I was looking for. We have a lot of unselfish, good guys.’

Hansbrough has thrived in his short tenure with the Fighting Irish, averaging 11.5 points and 5.1 assists. He has played in all 19 games this season and admits that playing in the Big East is definitely a new experience for him.

‘I’ve played in the SEC, and the Big East is the best conference,’ Hansbrough said. ‘I just think players come here because it’s all-around intense, which made it a good fit for me, as well as it has with the other transfers.’

At Villanova, sophomore forward Taylor King has had a less-noticeable entrance into the Big East, but his play has been solid nonetheless. King, who transferred from Duke, is averaging 10.5 points in addition to 6.5 boards. King gives the Wildcats some extra size, a bonus for a team that usually relies on stellar guard-play.

Syracuse forward Wes Johnson has also played a major role as a transfer in the Big East this season. He currently leads the Orange in scoring (17.1) and rebounding (8.7) and is even receiving attention as a candidate for national player of the year honors.

And in a year where the conference seems to be as strong as ever, the transfers are playing a major role.

Luckily for Gonzalez, that’s the case at Seton Hall with Pope. He’s just happy to have one of those stud transfers all to himself, even if it means the conference will continue to be arguably the best in the country.

‘I think it’s the reputation of the Big East being the best conference in the country, and I think it’s the exposure,’ Gonzalez said of the Big East’s transfers. ‘Guys hear about how many players are going to the NBA every season, how many are getting drafted in the first round and how many teams are going to the NCAA Tournament. I think kids know that, and that’s the big appeal.’

Player to Watch

Scottie Reynolds

Senior guard Scottie Reynolds had another explosive week as the No. 4 Wildcats defeated Big East foes Louisville and No. 12 Georgetown. Trailing Louisville by 17 on Jan. 11, Reynolds was dominant as he scored 30 points in the second half, finishing with 36 on the evening. Six days later, Reynolds again willed his team to victory as he delivered 27 points in a win against the Hoyas. Reynolds is averaging 19.3 points per game and has scored at least 20 points in eight of his last 10 contests.

Game to Watch:

No. 12 Georgetown vs. No. 5 Syracuse

Monday, Jan. 25, 7:00 p.m., ESPN

The rivalry between these two Big East powers is as hot as ever, and both are off to fast starts as they rank in the top 15 in the nation. Syracuse (18-1, 5-1), led by junior transfer and player of the year candidate Wes Johnson, is coming off of a tremendous road stretch in which the Orange defeated Rutgers, West Virginia and Notre Dame in succession. Georgetown fell to No. 4 Villanova on Jan. 17 but has a trio of stars in sophomore center Greg Monroe, junior guard Chris Wright and junior guard Austin Freeman. Georgetown and Syracuse split the season series last year, with SU falling to Georgetown at the Verizon Center on Jan. 14 and then beating the Hoyas at the Carrier Dome a month later.

[email protected]

Published on January 20, 2010 at 12:00 pm