BIG EAST To Hold Third Annual Basketball Roundtable Panel With Sports Industry Leaders During Tournament Week In New York
NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Conference will gather industry leaders to discuss current issues in college athletics at the third annual Basketball Roundtable on Friday, March 11 from 1-3:30 p.m., prior to the BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Tournament evening semifinals, Commissioner Val Ackerman announced on Monday, Feb. 29.
The three panel event, to be held at the Madison Square Garden Theater lobby, will focus on key topics relating to men’s college basketball and will include perspectives from BIG EAST school Presidents, officials, former players, television analysts and pro basketball executives. The Roundtable will air live on the BIG EAST Digital Network on FOX Sports Go. Attendance will be open to media, area students studying sports management and/or law, league sponsors, sports industry professionals and invited guests.
The roundtable will commence with the “Presidents’ Outlook,” a conversation with Butler University President
James Danko and Providence President Fr.
Brian J. Shanley, both of whom are members of the BIG EAST Executive Committee. President Danko also serves on the NCAA Presidential Forum, which is an advisory arm to the NCAA Division I Board of Directors. The pair will speak on topics relating to higher education priorities, the role of intercollegiate athletics and the place of the BIG EAST in the NCAA landscape.
The second panel will focus on officiating, an especially relevant topic this season following numerous rules playing changes in men’s college basketball.
JD Collins, NCAA National Coordinator of Officials, together with
John Cahill, BIG EAST Supervisor of Officials and
Joe Borgia, NBA Senior Vice President, Replay and Referee Operations, will discuss various issues pertaining to basketball officiating at all levels, including rules interpretations, the use of instant replay, the growth of college conference consortiums, the difference between NBA and NCAA rules, and the prospect of global rules standardization.
The third discussion will center around the state of player development. Participants will include AAU Basketball’s
Boo Williams, former Villanova standout and NBA player
Kerry Kittles, FOX Sports College Basketball analyst
Steve Lavin, Scout/Analyst for ESPNRNHoops
Adam Finkelstein and NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations
Kiki Vandeweghe. Topics will include skills development, the state of pre-collegiate outlets, the role of coaches, the impact of national recruiting rankings, and the factors that predispose player success at the professional level.
Brad Wolverton, a senior writer covering college athletics for the
Chronicle of Higher Education, and
Duke Castiglione, sports anchor for New York’s local WNYW/FOX 5 affiliate, will serve as moderators.
Stu Jackson, BIG EAST Sr. Associate Commissioner for Men’s Basketball, will serve as Master of Ceremony.
“As a conference with a proud basketball history and continuing national prominence, we are excited to bring together experts from many levels of the game to discuss topics of current interest in men’s basketball and the sport’s future opportunities and challenges,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman.
BIG EAST Men’s Basketball Roundtable
Date: Friday, March 11, 2016
Time: 1-3:30 p.m. in the
Location: Madison Square Garden Theater Lobby
Panel No. 1: President’s Panel
Participants: James Danko (President of Butler University) and Father Brian J. Shanley (President of Providence College)
Panel No. 2: Officiating Panel
Participants: JD Collins (NCAA National Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officials); John Cahill (BIG EAST Supervisor of Officials); Joe Borgia (NBA Senior Vice President, Replay and Referee Operations)
Panel 3: State of the Game and Player Development
Participants: Boo Williams (AAU Basketball); Kerry Kittles (Former Villanova standout, New Jersey Nets and LA Clippers); Steve Lavin (FOX Sports College Basketball analyst); Adam Finkelstein (Scout/Analyst for ESPNRNHoops); Kiki Vandeweghe (NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations)
Moderators: Brad Wolverton (a senior writer covering college athletics for the Chronicle of Higher Education) and Duke Castiglione (sports anchor for New York’s local WNYW/FOX 5)
Audience: BIG EAST business partners, media, students, those interested in the game of basketball
Media inquiries about the round table can be made through John Paquette: jpaquette@bigeast.com.