BIG EAST NOTEBOOK

NEW ROLE

Travis Steele took over as the head coach of Xavier when Chris Mack left for Louisville. Steele has spent the past 10 seasons at the school, including the past nine on Mack’s staff. “It makes it easier,” Steele said of familiarity with his team and the school. “I have relationships with the players already and that goes a long way. I know the people on campus and want to keep our culture going that Chris Mack established over the last 10 years. There are still adjustments that have to be made.” Xavier won the Big East regular season title last season and earned the first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in school history. Steele jokingly said the pressure he’s facing after last year’s success was “none at all.” WARM WELCOME

Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing smiled while recalling his reception at MSG last year — his first as a coach — when he received some boos from the crowd. “It was like the old, old days,” said Ewing, laughing. “It’s funny because I played 15 years here and with all the fans they hated me when I played at Georgetown. They loved me when I played for 15 years here (with the Knicks).” REMEMBERING OC

Big East commissioner Val Ackerman announced that the conference is naming the press center at the league’s tournament after longtime Associated Press basketball writer Jim O’Connell, who died in July. O’Connell had attended every Big East tournament since it began in 1980 before missing last year’s games because of health issues.