By: David Kay
I love Big East basketball so much that when the time comes that I am lucky enough to find a wonderful woman to marry; my bachelor party will be held in New York City the weekend of the Big East Tournament. While my friends are out stealing a famous person’s tiger, eloping with strippers, and trying to pull their teeth out with a wrench; I will contently sit at Madison Square Garden watching 15 college basketball games in five days. That is the Big East Tournament.
Last year’s tourney treated us to one of the best college basketball games of all time. While it will be nearly impossible for a repeat performance, the 2010 version is shaping up to be just as entertaining and have major implications on the NCAA Tournament seeds. Here are my predictions for how the Big East Tournament will play out.
FIRST ROUND
#9 South Florida over #16 DePaul (Tuesday 11:00 am, ESPN2)
Remember, the Blue Demons beat Cincinnati as the 16-seed a year ago. It’s not going to happen this time around though.
#12 UConn over #13 St. John’s (Tuesday 1:30 pm, ESPN2)
The talent is there for the Huskies, but they just haven’t been able to put it all together. Still, this is the 12-seed I was afraid Marquette would draw in the second round.
#10 Seton Hall over #15 Providence (Tuesday 6:00 pm, ESPNU)
Expect a lot of offense and very little defense in this one.
#11 Cincinnati over #14 Rutgers (Tuesday 8:30 pm, ESPNU)
Cincy has lost five of their last six but freshman stud Lance Stephenson has come on as of late and will lead the Bearcats to victory.
SECOND ROUND
#8 Georgetown over #9 South Florida (Wednesday 11:00 am, ESPN)
The Hoyas avenge an earlier season home loss to the Bulls behind the sharp shooting of Austin Freeman.
#5 Marquette over #12 UConn (Wednesday 1:30 pm, ESPN)
The Golden Eagles will need to stick to their fundamentals; play hard on defense and take care of the ball, but should knock off the Huskies officially ending their tourney hopes.
#10 Seton Hall over #7 Notre Dame (Wednesday 6:00 pm, ESPN)
Jeremy Hazell goes off for thirty-plus points and cools off a scorching hot Irish team that should have a healthy Luke Harangody. This win could get the Pirates in the dance.
#6 Louisville over #11 Cincinnati (Wednesday 8:30 pm, ESPN)
Which Cardinals team shows up? The one that got blown out by Marquette or that one that beat Syracuse for the second time this season. I say the good L-Ville.
QUARTERFINALS
#1 Syracuse over #8 Georgetown (Thursday 11:00 am, ESPN)
The Hoyas are not a very deep team and get into early foul trouble and run out of gas against a physical, active Orange team.
#5 Marquette over #4 Villanova (Thursday 1:30 pm, ESPN)
A homer pick? Maybe. But remember that Marquette lost a pair of games to ‘Nova by a combined four points when the ‘Cats were peaking. Now ‘Nova is struggling down the stretch while the Golden Eagles have been able to pull out their close contests more times than not as of late.
#2 Pitt over #10 Seton Hall (Thursday 6:00 pm, ESPN)
Playing a third game in three days, the task is too tough for the Pirates to knock off a fresh Pitt team.
#3 West Virginia over #6 Louisville (Thursday 8:30 pm, ESPN)
The Mountaineers’ length will be too much for the Cardinal guards to handle.
SEMIFINALS
#1 Syracuse over #5 Marquette (Friday 6:00, ESPN)
The Orange is just too big and physical for MU. They exploited the Golden Eagles’ lack of size in the second half of their first meeting and won’t forget about it from the opening tip of this one.
#3 West Virginia over #2 Pitt (Friday 8:30, ESPN)
Pitt knocked off West Virginia in a triple-overtime thriller during the season. This one rivals last year’s Syracuse-UConn six-overtime classic going to four-overtimes with West Virginia advancing and securing a #2 seed in the tourney thanks to a Da’Sean Butler buzzer beater.
CHAMPIONSHIP
#1 Syracuse over #3 West Virginia (Satuday 8:00, ESPN)
The ‘Cuse won at Morgantown by one during conference play but take care of business and hoist the trophy.
