Blue and Grey guards get All-BIG EAST nod
March 10, 2014 - Throughout the year Georgetown's backcourt has been the driving force behind the team. As first broken on our Premium Court message board yesterday, the BIG EAST Conference recognized it, tabbing both senior Markel Starks and sophomore D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera to all-league teams.
Starks, averaging 17.1 points and 4.1 assists per contest was selected first team All-Big East. He's currently fourth in league scoring, fifth in free throw percentage and ranked seventh amongst assisters.
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Smith-Rivera made the league's second team, slotting fifth in scoring, notching six games of 20 point plus scoring and eighth regarding three point shooting.
Underscoring their importance to G'Town: The tandem has accounted for 47.9% of the Hoyas' scoring. They average collectively 33.9 points, 6.9 boards, 6.8 helpers and 2.1 swipes each time out.
This is the second consecutive year in which Smith-Rivera and Starks were recognized by the BIG EAST, as last season the former was an all-rookie guy, while the latter made third team all-league.
The 2013-2014 season is the third time in four years a Hoya guard has earned first team All-BIG East status. Starks joins Jason Clark and Austin Freeman in that regard.
Following is a complete list of this year's selections, per BIGEAST.com:
ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Markel Starks, Georgetown, G, Sr., 6-2, 175, Accokeek, Md.
Doug McDermott, Creighton, F, Sr., 6-8, 225, Ames, Iowa
Bryce Cotton, Providence, G, Sr., 6-1, 165, Tucson, Ariz.
D'Angelo Harrison, St. John's, G, Jr., 6-4, 204, Missouri City, Texas
James Bell, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-6, 220, Orlando, Fla.
Semaj Christon, Xavier, G, So., 6-3, 190, Cincinnati, Ohio
ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Georgetown, G, So., 6-3, 218, Indianapolis, Ind.
Kellen Dunham, Butler, G, So., 6-6, 185, Pendleton, Ind.
Davante Gardner, Marquette, F, Sr., 6-8, 290, Suffolk, Va.
Kadeem Batts, Providence, F, Sr., 6-9, 245, Boston, Mass.
Fuquan Edwin, Seton Hall, F/G, Sr., 6-6, 215, Paterson, N.J.
JayVaughn Pinkston, Villanova, F, Jr., 6-7, 240, Brooklyn, N.Y.
BIG EAST HONORABLE MENTION
Ethan Wragge, Creighton, F, Sr., 6-7, 225, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova, G, So., 6-3, 195, Langhorne, Pa.
Darrun Hilliard, Villanova, G, Jr., 6-6, 215, Bethlehem, Pa.
Matt Stainbrook, Xavier, C, Jr., 6-10, 263, Bay Village, Ohio
BIG EAST ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Andrew Chrabascz, Butler, F, Fr., 6-7, 225, Portsmouth, R.I.
Billy Garrett, Jr., DePaul, G, Fr., 6-5, 194, Chicago, Ill.
Tommy Hamilton IV, DePaul, F, Fr., 6-10, 284, Chicago, Ill.
Deonte Burton, Marquette, F, Fr., 6-4, 230, Milwaukee, Wis.
Rysheed Jordan, St. John's G, Fr., 6-4, 185, Philadelphia, Pa.
Jaren Sina, Seton Hall, G, Fr., 6-2, 180, Lake Hopatcong, N.J.
Josh Hart, Villanova, G, Fr., 6-5, 202, Silver Springs, Md.