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BROOKLYN — Brian Bernardi lives on Staten Island and originally committed to a Conference USA school in Dallas.

But two months after pledging to SMU, Bernardi is hoping he ends up playing in the new Big East.

“I was actually on my official visit when I found out [the Big East was interested in adding SMU],” the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Bernardi said Saturday night after scoring 17 points to help New York crush New Jersey, 133-101, in the Sharette Dixon Classic at Bishop Loughlin. “All the players are excited. I’m definitely excited, too, about it.”

Instead of playing at Rice, Marshall and Tulane, the Xaverian star could end up making Big East road trips to Rutgers, Seton Hall and St. John’s.

“[It's a] bigger level of competition,” said Bernardi, who chose Matt Doherty’s team over Fordham and Hofstra in late August. “It will definitely be more fun playing in New York, coming back to New York, so my family could see me more.”

Blaise Mbargorba, a 7-footer from The Peddie School in Highstown, N.J., committed to SMU last week and joined Bernardi on his official visit.

“I know he can run the court,” Bernardi said. “He’s definitely tall. He can block shots.”

Now, the two of them could be suiting up in the Big East within a year or two, depending on how things unfold. The Big East is interested in adding SMU, Houston and Central Florida for all sports.

“I always wanted to play in the Big East,” Bernardi said. “I always wanted to play in the New York region.”


http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/10/24/smu- ... -big-east/