Tweet me!The Bearcats have one last shot of making the NCAA tournament albeit a very long shot. Can they run the table and win the Big East Tournament? Go inside the Lair to read our Big East tournament predictions.
Pod 1
#9 USF vs #16 DePaul
The Bulls are once again surging. After losing 4 of 5 their NCAA tournament hopes seemed doomed, but they bounced back to win their final 3 games to get back in the mix for a NCAA bid. These two teams met one week ago with USF winning by 4 in Chicago, so while USF is a prohibitive favorite signs point to this one being fairly close to kick off the week at Madison Square Garden.
The Pick: USF
Bye #8 Georgetown
USF live to fight another day, and now they square off against the team that capped off their run in mid season. The Bulls 72-64 victory in DC was the last in a 4 game Big East win streak that vaulted the Bulls out of the basement and into contention. Georgetown faltered down the stretch and fell from a Top 10 team nationally to the #8 seed in the Big East, but they will no doubt be looking for revenge in this one. Day 2 starts of with the upset.
The Pick: USF
Double Bye #1 Syracuse
The Orange blistered USF in their only meeting of the season 82-65 in the Carrier Dome, and there is no reason to think this one will be any different. The Bulls didn't have big man Gus Gilchrist in that game, but he isn't enough alone to solve the 2-3 zone and stellar play of Wesley Johnson and Andy Rautins. The Cuse is headed to the Semis.
The Pick: Syracuse
Pod 2
#12 UConn vs #13 St Johns
No team in the country has been more Jekyll and Hyde than the Huskies. After a home loss to UC seemingly ended their season they went on a 3 game win streak that included victories @ Villanova and WVU at home to put them right back in the mix. They followed that up with a 3 game losing streak to end the regular season and move them completely out of the tournament. They beat St Johns 75-59 in the regular season and I expect them to do it again starting another hot streak before heading to the NIT.
The Pick: UConn
Bye #5 Marquette
Once again one of the biggest surprises in the league at the end of the regular season is Marquette finishing near the top of the leage. It's even more of a shock this year after replacing three big time seniors off last year's squad, but SR Lazar Hayward has made big play after big play to put the Golden Eagles on his back over and over again in close games. With 4 of the last 5 games going to OT for Marquette you can expect this to be a close one. I look for Kemba Walker to make enough big plays for the Huskies to advance once again.
The Pick: UConn
Double Bye #4 Villanova
UConn won the last meeting 84-75 at Nova, but I can't see Scottie Reynolds allowing that to happen again. The Wildcats have Final Four experience, and I fully expect them to come on strong at MSG to prepare for another Big Dance run after slumping down the stretch of the regular season. An upset here wouldn't surprise me, but I'm going with the more consistent team.
The Pick: Villanova
Pod 3
#10 Seton Hall vs #15 Providence
These two teams can score with anyone in the league, but the difference here is Seton Hall actually plays defense every once in a while. They played on Saturday to close out the regular season with Seton Hall winning 92-80 on the road. I look for more of the same in the rematch.
The Pick: Seton Hall
Bye #7 Notre Dame
A 91-89 loss at Louisville on Feb 17th seemed to end the chances of ND making the Dance, and that was compounded by an injury to Luke Harangody that spelled doom for the Irish. With their first team All Big East performer out for 3 games ND rolled off 3 in a row and made it 4 to close the season as the big man returned. I see the Irish staying hot and avenging their 90-87 loss in Jersey.
The Pick: Notre Dame
Double Bye #2 Pitt
If you picked the Panthers to be the #2 seed in the league after losing Dejuan Blair, Sam Young and Lavance Fields last year, pick up Bix on your way to Vegas for the first weekend of the Big Dance. Pitt got thumped by the Irish 68-53 in their regular season meeting in South Bend, but no team in the league performs quite like the Panthers in MSG. Ashton Gibbs comes up big and the Panthers advance to the semis.
The Pick: Pitt
Pod 4
#11 Cincinnati vs #14 Rutgers
MSG has not been kind to UC as we all know, and Rutgers is a tough opponent now that freshman Dane Miller has hit his stride. He joined Lance Stephenson as the only unanimous selections to the Big East Rookie Team, and the UC star will be looking to improve on his only trip to the Garden this season that ended with the epic collapse against St Johns. Both teams faltered down the stretch, and the team that jumps out early will have a big advantage. This one could go either way, but I'm sticking with the good guys.
The Pick: Cincinnati
Bye #6 Louisville
The Cardinals have been teetering on and off the bubble for most of February, but after knocking off Syracuse for the 2nd time this season their ticket appears punched. The problem for UL though is they continue to follow up big wins with head scratching loses that but them back in jeopardy of playing in the NIT. UL won the first contest 68-60 on their home floor, but the game never seemed that close. My heart wants to pick the Cats, but my head says UL is getting hot at the right time.
The Pick: Louisville
Double Bye #3 WVU
WVU took the first meeting between the two 77-74 in Morgantown, and the 'Eers have been hot as they closed out the regular season with wins over Georgetown and @ Villanova. I think on the neutral floor at MSG the Louisville press will give WVU fits and the Cards keep rolling into the Semis.
The Pick: Louisville
Semi Finals:
#1 Syracuse vs #4 Villanova
The Wildcats got ran out of the Carrier Dome 95-77 a week and a half ago, and a loss like that can stick with you in another huge game as this one will be. The length of the Cuse zone gave the smaller Wildcats fits all night long, and I just can't see that changing here.
The Pick: Syracuse
#2 Pitt vs #6 Louisville
The Panthers have the type of mistake free, deliberate style that gives UL fits and Jamie Dixon always has his team ready to peak at this time of year. Ashton Gibbs can handle the pressure and the Panthers have several guys that can hit from the perimeter to soften up Louisville when they go to the zone.
The Pick: Pitt
Finals:
#1 Syracuse vs #2 Pitt
Well that sure as hell is boring having #1 go against #2 in the finals, but with the way the brackets play out in my head, that's just the way I see it happening. I guess I'll mix it up here and go with the Panthers even though Cuse beat them by 10 in their only regular season meeting. Gibbs stays hot and earns the tournament MVP as Pitt is victorious once again in the Big East Tournament.
Big East Champs #2 Pitt
