Big East Basketball: Top 50 players from the legendary 2010-11 season

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 04: The Connecticut Huskies react after defeating the Butler Bulldogs to win the National Championship Game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament by a score of 53-41 at Reliant Stadium on April 4, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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PITTSBURGH, PA – MARCH 17: Dion Waiters /

50. JR Nasir Robinson – Height: 6’5 Weight: 225 – Pittsburgh

2010-11 stats: 9.4 ppg 4.9 rpg 1.3 apg – FG%: 55 3P%: N/A FT%: 53

Season-high points: 21 vs. Syracuse – Best Big East game: 15 points and eight rebounds vs. West Virginia

Starting out the list is an undersized forward who epitomized what the Big East was about. He came off the bench during the non-conference portion of the schedule in favor of freshman Talib Zanna but started once league play began. By no means did he fill the stat sheet, with both of his double-doubles coming against South Florida, but his defense frustrated opposing bigs all year long. It turned out to have been the right decision by Jamie Dixon to start him again.

49. FR Dion Waiters – Height: 6’4: Weight: 215 – Syracuse

2010-11 stats: 6.6 ppg 1.6 rpg 1.5 apg 1.1 ppg – FG%: 41 3P%: 33 FT%: 81

Season-high points: 18 vs. Marquette – Best Big East game: 18 points 8/10 FG vs. Marquette

Before he became a starting shooting guard in the NBA, Waiters was an inconsistent reserve who went three straight league games without scoring. He starting to turn it on late, including an 18-point effort in the NCAA tournament versus Marquette.

48. SR Tyron Nash – Height: 6’8 Weight: 232 – Notre Dame

2010-11 stats: 9.5 ppg 5.9 rpg 2.6 apg – FG%: 49 3P%: N/A FT%: 69

Season-high points: 18 vs. Georgia – Best Big East game: 15 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists vs. Georgetown

While the guards received most of the attention and praise, Nash was one of the most efficient frontcourt players in the league. He was top ten in offensive rating, as well as in terms of getting to the line. The Irish big man even displayed a nice passing touch, dishing out a couple of dimes a night.

47. JR Jason Clark – Height: 6’2 Weight: 180 – Georgetown

2010-11 stats: 12.0 ppg 4.1 rpg 1.8 apg 1.5 spg – FG%: 48 3P%: 35 FT%: 77

Season-high points: 26 vs. Missouri – Best Big East game: 23 points and eight rebounds vs. UConn

The perimeter of Georgetown was one of the better ones in the league, with Clark a good part of it. The problem was there were games where he didn’t show up, including a two-point outing against Louisville. His up and down performances largely determined whether the Hoyas ultimately won or not.

46. SR Justin Brownlee – Height: 6’7 Weight: 225 – St. Johns

2010-11 stats: 12.3 ppg 5.2 rpg 1.9 apg 1.1 spg – FG%: 49 3P%: 34 FT%: 68

Season-high points: 21 vs. Northwestern – Best Big East game: 11 points, eight rebounds, and four assists vs. Villanova

After playing limited minutes as a reserve a year prior, the forward became a full-time starter in his final season. His overall play in the Big East wasn’t memorable, but his 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists were largely responsible for the massive win over No. 3 Duke in Madison Square Garden. It wasn’t a league game, but the Blue Devils victory helped the Johnnies become a No. 11 seed in March Madness.

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