Weekly Recap in the Big East

That’s a Good Win:

Notre Dame over Louisville in an overtime thriller

The Irish entered this game still in search of their first ‘good’ Big East win of the year. And while it was looking bleak with one minute left in the game, Jerian Grant put the team on his back. Five overtimes later, they prevailed.

Pittsburgh wins at Cincinnati

Pitt has been playing some strong basketball as of late and starting to gain some national recognition. So it was good to see them go on the road and get a win against a ranked opponent.

Providence topples Cincinnati at home

Watch out for Providence these days. The Friars haven’t played a bad game since a home loss to DePaul back on January 5^th. Cincinnati is their best win of the season and this team is finally starting to click now that they are healthy.

Syracuse ends skid and tops Notre Dame at home

The Orange were coming off of back-to-back losses (both on the road), so it was reassuring to see them get back to their winning ways and doing that through the strength of their defense.

Villanova wins at DePaul

Beating DePaul shouldn’t be that noteworthy, but when your only win on the road in conference is South Florida, it is good to see. And given that the Wildcats were coming off back-to-back poor shooting performances (both losses to Notre Dame and Providence), it was reassuring to see them fill the bucket (scored 94 points). These are the type of games bubble teams need to win, and Villanova, seen now as a bubble team, got it done.

Now that was a bad loss:

Cincinnati losing at Providence

I wrote above how this was a good win for Providence and that the Friars are a better team these days, but if Cincinnati wants to be recognized as a good team, which they were given their #17 rank at the time, they need to win road games against conference foes that are in the bottom half of the standings. It seems that the Bearcats have been figured out – shut down their guards (Sean Kilpatrick, Cashmere Wright and JaQuon Parker) and you shut down the team. Pittsburgh did a great job of this on Saturday. Kilpatrick got his points, but the Panthers shut him down at the end of the game when they needed him most.

Way to take care of business:

Georgetown wins at Rutgers

I wrote in the section above that if teams want to be considered contenders that they need to win notable road games; Georgetown did what Cincinnati failed to do. It was a close game throughout, but Otto Porter willed the Hoyas to victory with 10 straight points over the final six minutes of the game.

Syracuse beats St. John’s at home

I acknowledge that this was a game that the Orange were expected to win with relative ease, but it was still encouraging to see this offense clicking better now that they got James Southerland back. They looked a little off in their previous six games, and I suspected that was due to the absence of Southerland. The Orange looked just fine on Sunday, making 10 of 22 3-point attempts, with Southerland making three of his seven attempts. I believe this team has Final Four potential once again.

Twitter:  @soupTOOnuts

Villanova's Magical Two Game Giant Killer Winning Streak Comes to an End

The Villanova Wildcats were unable to stretch their winning streak to three after coming off their improbable week of knocking off #5 Louisville and #3 Syracuse.  

If you would have asked any college basketball fan back on November 25^th what they thought of Villanova they would have likely been confused as to why you were even mentioning Villanova.  At the time they were coming off losses to Columbia and La Salle.  Villanova was supposed to struggle this year, but not have a hard time with Ivy League schools type of struggles.  So it goes without saying that if you were to tell that same person that this team would beat the #5 and #3 team in the same week in mid-January that they would have assumed that the end of the Mayan calendar and whatever repercussions were to come with that came to fruition.  

I considered writing a blog post earlier in the week discussing how far they have come from that mid-November fiasco, but I wanted to watch one more game -- this time a road game; which also happened to be against a good opponent. 

Notre Dame is no Louisville or Syracuse, but they are a good team and especially good at home.  And while the game did come down to the final moments to be decided, I still came away not knowing how I felt about Nova.   

On one hand I was encouraged.  Villanova led for a large portion of the game, and when they did get down they continued to battle back just as it looked the Irish were going to go on a big run to put it out of reach.  It took a barrage of three pointers from Jerian Grant and Cameron Biedscheid in the second half to grab and maintain a small lead.  Their resolve was good to see.  I was also surprised with how well Mouphtaou Yarou and Daniel Ochefu played in the low post with Jack Cooley and Tom Knight all over them.  That’s what kept the Wildcats in the game because…

I was discouraged with how difficult it was for Villanova to get open shots. Part of this has to do with the play of Ryan Arcidiacono.  He had a rough game.  He took many forced and awkward shots and was nonexistent running the point often.  His play aside, there still wasn’t much happening along and just inside the perimeter from the rest.  JayVaughn Pinkston, James Bell and Darrun Hilliard hit their shots here and there, but nothing came easy for them.  Notre Dame is one of the worst defensive teams in the conference, so this should not have been the case.  

Jay Wright made comments and hints in the preseason that this year’s team was young and was bound to struggle.  Youth and inexperience doesn’t tend to prevail in the Big East, especially when it loses to an Ivy League school in its first few games.  However, Wright made a few comments recently stating that his team is beginning to click and has become much improved.  Clearly that’s easy to say when you beat the likes of Louisville and Syracuse in the same week.  But Villanova does look better – you could see it in the last few minutes of the Syracuse game when they were playing with swagger and confidence.  But there is a lot more improvement to undergo, as Wednesday night’s game showed. 

Their next three games are winnable, and for a team that just crept into the bubble discussion they are ‘must win’ games – vs. Providence, at DePaul and vs. South Florida.  Villanova has improved seemingly every game since November, and they must not become complacent with their recent success.  I still feel that the jury is still out on the Wildcats, but we’ll find out soon enough if their big wins were a fluke or a sign of better days. 

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Previewing the Big East/SEC Challenge

By:  Shane McCarthy

Last year was the first season that the Big East/SEC Challenge went to the 12 per conference team format.  Previously it was four teams from each, and it was played as doubleheaders on back-to-back days on a neutral court.  The new format spans over three days (this Thursday to Saturday) and each game is played on the  home court of one of the two competing teams.

The Big East won the challenge 8-4 last year.   

This year's challenge will be headlined by #8 Kentucky at Notre Dame on Thursday night, because, well it's Kentucky.  This game features a senior-laden team playing at home in front of a raucous crowd versus a prominently all freshman squad on the road that has struggled a bit in the early going.  The Irish looked very good on Monday night home against Chicago St., which may not mean much, but if they can continue their hot shooting (especially from 3) and play with that same intensity on Thursday night, a victory seems more than possible.  The Wildcats have the edge in the front court, but the Irish have the edge in the back court.  Combine that with their experience, depth and home court, and it should be a good one.

Also on Thursday night, Marquette will head down to Florida to take on the #7 Gators.  This is a rematch of a Sweet 16 game from a year ago in which Florida got the best of the Golden Eagles.  Like that game, expect the floor to be spread and shots raining down from all over.  Like most years it seems, Marquette is flying under the radar early, but that is do to their lack of chemistry, and nothing to do with their athleticism.  This team will only get better, and Buzz Williams would like it to start against the Gators on Thursday.

On Friday both #6 Syracuse vs Arkansas and Tennessee vs #20 Georgetown are intriguing games.  The Hoyas have shown early on that they can hang with the best, but they can't get too casual with Tennessee, who is likely a borderline tournament team.  And anytime the Orange leave Central New York before Christmas it makes headlines.  Syracuse is a force and very difficult to match-up with, especially for a team that never sees them.  Good luck Razorbacks.  You're going to need it. 

And if Kentucky vs. Notre Dame does not end up being the best game of the slate, Alabama vs #17 Cincinnati on Saturday very well could be.  The Bearcats have looked very good in the early going, scoring in droves and pounding the glass.  But they've yet to really be tested (no disrespect to Oregon, but let's see a few more games first).  And the Crimson Tide are a fringe Top-25 team, who, like Cincinnati, is undefeated.  Expect this one to come down to the wire and even to OT.

The rest of the schedule is below.

And I like the Big East to emerge victorious (whatever that means - respect I guess? bragging rights?) by taking one more than half and going 7-5.

Louisville, Pittsburgh and UConn are the Big East teams that are not participating in the challenge.

Thursday, November 29

#8 Kentucky @ Notre Dame

South Carolina @ St. John's

Marquette @ #7 Florida

Seton Hall @ LSU

Friday, November 30

Tennessee @ #20 Georgetown

Georgia @ South Florida

#6 Syracuse @ Arkansas

DePaul @ Auburn

Saturday, December 1

Alabama @ #17 Cincinnati

Villanova @ Vanderbilt

Mississippi State @ Providence

Rutgers @ Mississippi

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East Preview: #4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Previewing all 15 teams from #15 to #1 

By:  Shane McCarthy

A first round exit in the NCAA Tournament was not the plan after such a successful season in the Big East last year.  This year, expectations are running high as the Irish return all five starters.  Taking the next step is not only possible, but expected.   

Who’s Back:

Eric Atkins –G– Junior – 37.9 Min, 12.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.1 apg

Jerian Grant –G– Junior – 36.2 Min, 12.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.0 apg

Scott Martin –G– Senior – 34.7 Min, 9.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.7 apg 

Jack Cooley –F– Senior – 28.7 Min, 12.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 0.8 apg

Pat Connaughton –G/F– Soph – 24.1 Min, 7.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 0.9 apg

Tom Knight –F– Senior – 8.9 Min, 2.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.5 apg

Mike Broghammer –F– Senior – 5.3 Min, 1.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 0.3 apg 

Incoming Recruits:

Cameron Biedscheid – [Small Forward] – 6 foot 7, 174

ESPN’s 64^th ranked player and 15^th ranked Small Forward

Rivals.com’s 28^th ranked player and 8^th ranked Small Forward

Zach Auguste – [Power Forward] – 6 foot 10, 220

ESPN’s 25^th ranked Power Forward

Rivals.com’s 97^th ranked player and 23^rd ranked Power Forward

Austin Burgett – [Power Forward] – 6 foot 9, 220

ESPN’s 41^st ranked Power Forward 

Who’s Out:  Tim Abromaitis, Alex Dragicevich

Overview: 

The outlook is simple for Notre Dame as they enter the 2012-13 season: they return all five starters from a team that went 13-5 in conference last year; so naturally, expectations are high.  Coach Brey knows this team has the make-up to contend for the Big East regular season title, the Big East Tournament championship, and make a deep run in March.  That doesn’t mean anything short of this success is a failure, it’s just that the potential is there for such lofty expectations.

Notre Dame not only has one of the best back courts in the Big East, but they have one of the best back courts in the country with Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant.  Both are juniors, who not only bring veteran leadership and experience to this team, but a drive to be two of the best guards in the country.  It really is a scary thought to think these two will be even better than last year, but that is their goal.  You can’t ask for better leadership than what these two bring to the table.

It’s also a scary thought to think that Jack Cooley did not take the game of basketball seriously until last year.  He received Most Improved Player of the Year accolades in the Big East and quickly became one of the most dominant big men in the league.  Anything less than last year’s performance would be a disappointment, but there is reason to believe that he could be even better.

Pat Connaughton returns to resume his guard/forward role and all-around contributor, but he specializes in dropping treys.

Scott Martin also returns after being granted a sixth year of eligibility.  His numbers don’t jump out at you, but he is the type of player that coaches say his intangibles are needed for the team to succeed.

The Irish also welcome two highly touted recruits, Cameron Biedscheid and Zach Auguste, to provide valuable depth in the back court and front court respectively.  We know what the Irish were last year. And it’s perfectly reasonable to expect improvements given the consistency of the roster.  But if there is an even more bullish spin to put on this year’s squad, it is due to the addition of the two mentioned freshmen.

In college basketball, it goes without saying that talent is important, but consistency and depth are invaluable.  Notre Dame returns all five starters and bring in fresh talent to push the vets and provide a relentless attack night after night.  It has been since 2003 since the Irish have made it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament and they have never won the Big East regular season or tournament.  Louisville was chosen unanimously for first place in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll, but Rick Pitino’s vote (which couldn’t be for his own team) went to Notre Dame.  Needless to say, expectations are high for the Irish this year, and everything seems to be in place for a big season. 

Twitter:  @shane_t_mac

Big East Preseason Player of the Year Candidates

By:  Shane McCarthy

Before the conference preseason awards are dished out at Big East Media Day this Wednesday (October 17), I thought it would be useful to look at the likely candidates and pick a winner.

Last year’s Big East Preseason Player of the Year was awarded to Pittsburgh guard Ashton Gibbs.  The season for Gibbs and the Panthers did not go anywhere close to planned.  Pittsburgh finished in the bottom quarter of the league and Gibbs ended up on the Big East Honorable Mention Team come season’s end. 

Those will not be the expectations for the group of candidates below.  The players are listed in alphabetical order. 

Jack Cooley – [Notre Dame] Senior, Forward

Cooley averaged 12.5 PPG and 8.9 RPG last season, earning him Big East Most Improved Player and All-Big East Second Team honors.  Expectations are high for the Irish this season and much of their success will depend on Cooley’s high-motor work ethic in the paint. 

Vincent Council – [Providence] Senior, Guard

Council has morphed into an elite guard in the Big East and his coach, Ed Cooley, went as far this summer to proclaim him THE best guard in the conference.  That's high praise and not at all biased.  But Vincent does deserve a look as he was on the court for almost every minute of the Friars’ games last year (averaging 38.7 per) and averaged 15.9 PPG and 7.5 APG – earning him All-Big East Third Team honors for a team that won only four games in the conference.  Many think of Providence as a cellar dweller in the Big East, but there is potential to surprise this year, and if they do – Vincent will be at the center of that movement.

Gorgui Dieng – [Louisville] Junior, Center

Louisville’s defensive dominance that came to form as the season progressed had a lot to do with the up-tempo press attack they took on, but it also had a lot to do with the development of Dieng.  Gorgui was a raw player on both ends of the floor last year, but another year under the tutelage of Coach Pitino should mold him into an elite big-man.   Expect him to average a double-double and be at the top of the nation in blocks.  If he is not the Big East Player of the Year, expect him to at least be the Defensive Player of the Year in the conference. 

Otto Porter – [Georgetown] Sophomore, Forward

Georgetown, seemingly an elite program year after year, was actually picked to finish in the bottom half of the Big East last year.  The Hoyas ended up surprising the preseason coaches’ picks and finished 12-6; good for 4^th in the conference.  A lot of that success had to do with the instant impact of Porter.  Not only is he a skilled big man on both ends of the floor, he also possesses excellent range.  Porter could very well be the best all-around player in the conference. 

Peyton Siva – [Louisville] Senior, Guard

If Louisville is to get back to the Final Four, a lot of their success will depend on Siva.  The Cardinals are loaded with talent all over the court, but it’s the play and leadership of their true point guard that is necessary to make a deep run.  Siva’s play doesn’t fill up the stat sheet, but it is the type of play that wins games. 

The Pick:  Peyton Siva

He is likely the most important player on a team with national championship aspirations.  He should be the favorite – at least for the preseason pick.       

Honorable Mentions:

Anthony Collins – [South Florida] – Sophomore, Guard

D’Angelo Harrison – [St. John’s] – Sophomore, Guard

Sean Kilpatrick – [Cincinnati] – Junior, Guard

Cleveland Melvin – [DePaul] – Junior, Forward

Brandon Triche – [Syracuse] – Senior, Guard

Tomorrow I will take a look at the candidates for Preseason Rookie of the Year. 

Twitter: @shane_t_mac

Big East Offseason Topics

By:  Shane McCarthy

I am bringing the blog back this year, this time for the entire season (as I started more than halfway through last season), with a new look and with a lot more effort hopefully.

Before Big East Media Day this upcoming week and the quickly approaching games (November 9), let’s take a look at the off-season story lines heading into the upcoming campaign. 

Jim Calhoun Announces his Retirement

After 873 wins (625 with UConn), four Final Four appearances and three national championships – Coach Calhoun has decided to hang it up.  He has been dealing with health issues of late and will hand the reigns off to Assistant Coach and former UConn player Kevin Ollie.  Over the course of his 26 year tenure as head coach at UConn, Calhoun built the Huskies from an irrelevance to a national power-house.  Now the team will embark on its next chapter with the same expectations that Calhoun assembled at the university. 

UConn Ineligible for Postseason Play

Not only will Kevin Ollie have the difficult task of replicating the success of Coach Calhoun, but he’ll have to begin his journey with a season in which his team is not eligible to play in the Big East Tournament or the NCAA Tournament.  The postseason ineligibility is due to the NCAA’s retroactive application of the Academic Progress Rate (APR).  Ollie will also have to deal with a flood of talent that left the program.  Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond were lottery picks in the NBA draft, and Alex Oriakhi and Roscoe Smith transferred.  The Huskies still have a talented backcourt (Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright, and Omar Calhoun), but there are question marks elsewhere.  And how motivated will this team be knowing their season is already over once conference play comes to an end?

Farewell Tour for Syracuse and Pittsburgh

Syracuse was a founding member of the Big East Conference in 1979 and Pittsburgh joined quickly after in 1982.  The two schools combined for seven Big East Tournament championships (Syracuse 5, Pittsburgh 2).  Now both teams will play their final season as members of the Big East before they jet for the ACC next year.

Three Big East Teams to Play on a Ship on Opening Day

On Friday, November 9^th, three Big East schools will play on the deck of an aircraft carrier:

Georgetown vs. Florida – off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida

Marquette vs. Ohio St. – off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina

Syracuse vs. San Diego State – off the coast of San Diego, California

Notre Dame Announces Their Move to the ACC

Like Syracuse and Pittsburgh, Notre Dame has also announced their intentions to head for the ACC.  But unlike the Orange and Panthers, this is not expected to be their last year in the Big East.  Anything can happen, but the general consensus is that the Irish will spend two more seasons in the Big East. 

Jim Boeheim is set to Enter the 900 Club

Coach Boeheim will be entering his 37^th season as the head coach of the Syracuse Orange.  Over the course of his career he has racked up 890 wins and owns a 74.5% winning percentage.  In mid-December he is expected to do what only two other coaches have done – eclipse 900 wins.  Those two other coaches are Bob Knight (902 wins) and Mike Krzyzewski (927 wins).  Expect to see the Dome flooded with ‘900’ signs in December to celebrate this astonishing feat.   

National Championship Expectations for Louisville

The Cardinals return their full arsenal save Kyle Kuric and Chris Smith from last year’s Final Four team.  They were nice pieces and provided necessary leadership, but were not at the talent level of the rest of the team.  In the middle of the season it seemed safe to say that Louisville was far from a Final Four caliber team – I mean they did lose by 31 to Providence – but they were injured and lacked an identity at the time.  As the season progressed they became a defensive powerhouse, but remained extremely erratic on the offensive end (in both the scoring and turnover department).  If the defensive intensity and intelligence remains (as it should) and they improve on the offensive end (which should be expected of Chane Behanan, Wayne Blackshear and Gorgui Dieng), then a trip to the Final Four is not only possible, but will be expected.  

Twitter: @shane_t_mac

Big East Teams' NCAA Tournament Preview

Has Fab Melo cost the Orange a trip to the Final Four?

By Shane McCarthy on March 13, 2012

South Florida Bulls – 12 seed and playing in the first four game

Ceiling:  Win 2 games (1 being the play-in game) – Given how the Bulls like to muck up the flow of the game by playing slow and heavy, they can cause any opponent to get frustrated and unable to find a rhythm.    Both Cal and Temple depend on solid outside shooting to win games, so they may not be particularly fond of South Florida’s style of play.

Floor:  Lose first game – There is no question that the Bulls are physical and play solid defense, but they have had trouble scoring all year.  Cal underachieved most of the season, but they seem to be figuring it out lately and possibly making it difficult for South Florida to keep up on the scoreboard. 

West Virginia Mountaineers – 10 seed

Ceiling:  Elite 8 – Kevin Jones is one of the best players in the country, averaging a double-double, and will be a match-up problem for everyone they play.  If Deniz Kilicli and Truck Bryant can play at a high level there is no reason why they can’t make a run to the Elite 8.  I actually think they match-up well with Ohio St. and can upset them.  Also, their first round game is being played less than two hours from campus, making it a virtual home game for them while Gonzaga has to travel all the way across the country.

Floor:  Lose first game – Besides from Kevin Jones, Gonzaga is a more talented team than the Mountaineers.  West Virginia is solid on the offensive boards, but they play suspect defense and they have had trouble closing games in the last month or two.   

Connecticut Huskies – 9 seed

Ceiling:  Win 1 game – Royce White of Iowa St. is a tough match-up for any team in the country, given his size and versatility.  But beyond him, UConn is the much more talented team with loads of experience on the court.  It’s unfortunate that the Huskies drew the 8/9 game in Kentucky’s region, because I think they could have held their own against any other team in the tournament.  Could they beat Kentucky?  For sure, but they have lacked any leadership or enthusiasm all season and I don’t think they’ll suddenly discover it against the best team in the country.  If it was against anyone else, I would have given them a shot to make a deep run.

Floor:  Lose first game – The Huskies have been so volatile (they lost to Providence two weeks ago) that no one would be surprised if they got absolutely smoked by Iowa St. 

Notre Dame Fighting Irish – 7 seed

Ceiling:  Win 1 game - The Irish play sound fundamental basketball and when they are hitting their shots they are difficult to beat.  But the problem is – they have not been making shots for about a month now, while Xavier has been playing well.  If Notre Dame finds their touch, they will beat Xavier, but they won’t be able to keep up with Duke in the game thereafter. 

Floor:  Lose first game – As was just stated, given their slow pace of play and lack of inside presence, it is a necessity for them to shoot well.  Xavier has struggled to play up to their talent level since the brawl they were in back in November, but they have been playing better and are the more talented team compared to the Irish.

Cincinnati Bearcats – 6 seed

Ceiling:  Final Four – The Bearcats have looked very good in the last month, even though they laid a dud in the Big East Championship game.  As long as they run their offense through Yancy Gates in the low post, they will be a tough out.  By focusing on Gates, it enables the rest of the team to get open shots and lanes to the basket.  This team just beat Syracuse, the #1 seed in their region, so I think they can handle other obstacles.

Floor:  Win 1 game – I believe Cincinnati will make quick work of Texas in the first round as the Longhorns are an average team across the board.  But a possible second round match-up with Florida St. could prove troublesome.  Not only are the Seminoles an excellent defensive team, but they are shooting the ball extremely well as of late, as displayed last week in which they beat both Duke and North Carolina.   

Louisville Cardinals – 4 seed

Ceiling:  Sweet Sixteen – Louisville has the coach (Rick Pitino) and the point guard (Peyton Siva) that is needed to enjoy success this time of the year; which was on display last week on their run to a Big East Championship.  The Cardinals will be looking to ride that momentum for a few more weeks.

Floor:  Lose first game – Louisville has struggled shooting the ball all year, and besides Marquette in the Big East Tournament, the Cardinals have not had a notable win in about two months.  Davidson is not flashy, but they were good enough to beat Kansas this year.  And let’s not forget Louisville’s early round struggles in recent years. 

Georgetown Hoyas – 3 seed

Ceiling:  Elite Eight – It is no secret that Belmont over Georgetown in the first round has become a pretty popular upset pick.  It’s surely possible, but I have been of the belief that Georgetown will significantly benefit by getting out of the Big East.  Their only non-conference loss was to Kansas, and their defense has vastly improved over the course of the season.  They will no doubt be tested as they are in a tough region, but a meeting with North Carolina would not surprise me. 

Floor:  Lose first game – Not only can Belmont score, but they may have the ideal style of play to handle Georgetown’s effective defense.  They will look to speed up the Hoyas and make them uncomfortable. 

Marquette Golden Eagles – 3 seed

Ceiling:  Final Four – Marquette plays extremely hard on both ends of the court and thrive in transition.  As long as Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom stay out of foul trouble, this team can keep up with anyone.  They have lost two of three, but I believe their first two match-ups are favorable draws before they will have a layoff to prepare for Missouri.  Marquette vs. Missouri would be one of the most entertaining games of the tournament, and I like the fact that the Golden Eagles would be the more physical team. 

Floor:  Sweet Sixteen – I don’t believe there is a match-up that Marquette can’t adjust to, but Missouri’s four guard system may prove to be too much to handle for the Golden Eagles, especially if Mizzou is hitting their 3’s. 

Syracuse Orange – 1 seed

Ceiling:  Final Four – First off, if you are an Orange fan, you have to be absolutely livid at Fab Melo for acting so selfishly throughout the course of the season.  As a student/athlete, it is your responsibility to attend class and complete whatever work/tests that are asked of you.  I was never a D-1 athlete during my tenure in college, but it is my understanding that it is not very hard to attend class/study sessions a few times a month and maintain a gaudy 1.8 GPA.  I understand that he has NBA aspirations, but show your respect/loyalty/commitment to the team you’re currently on.

 Secondly, this team is still talented enough and is in a favorable region to make a Final Four run.  Dion Waiters and Kris Joseph will probably be the best two players on the floor in their first three games.  And speaking of Waiters, it seems obvious that he will be leaving college early to head to the NBA after this year.  If that is the case, I can see him blowing up and singlehandedly taking the Orange to New Orleans for the benefit of his draft position. 

Floor:  Win 1 game – A #16 seed has never beaten a #1 seed and it is not going to happen in this game.  However, if Syracuse lacks the motivation and plays flat against Kansas St. in the second round, they could be beat.  Syracuse struggles in the rebounding department, while Kansas St. excels in it.  Even though Syracuse’s talent should prevail, it could be an ugly game that the Wildcats sneak away with.  

Twitter --> @shane_t_mac

Third Round Games In Two Sentences Each

By Shane McCarthy on March 8, 2012

#9 Connecticut vs. #1 Syracuse

This was the third time these two teams played this season and it was the third time UConn looked as good as Syracuse for long periods of the game.  Powered by Dion Waiters and James Southerland with some supporting help from Shabazz Napier, the Orange were able to grind out the victory.

Final Score:  Syracuse 58 Connecticut 55

#5 Georgetown vs. #4 Cincinnati

For two teams that were very similar on many metrics entering the game, it was only fitting that it took double overtime to decide it.  Yancy Gates went off for 23 points and powered the Bearcats past the Hoyas.

Final Score:  Cincinnati 72 Georgetown 70 2OT

#7 Louisville vs. #2 Marquette

It was the defensive performance by the Louisville Cardinals that paved the way for their relatively easy victory over Marquette.  Marquette, who did not shoot well all night, was never able to get it going and did not have an answer for Peyton Siva at all.

Final Score:  Louisville 84 Marquette 71

#6 South Florida vs. #3 Notre Dame

South Florida played their style of basketball to perfection, slow and ugly, and they had the game in hand until they choked it away in the final moments.  Bad fouls, poor turnovers, missed foul shots and shot clock violations all contributed to their demise, and now they’ll be sweating it out till Sunday.    

Final Score:  Notre Dame 57 South Florida 53 OT

Twitter --> @shane_t_mac

Previewing the Big East Tournament

By Shane McCarthy on March 5, 2012

In prime position to benefit the most:  South Florida

Neither Rutgers nor Villanova will be an easy out for USF, but if they can get by that second round game, they will get a Notre Dame team that has been a bit off lately.  When looking at possible 'good' wins that would boost their at-large hopes for the NCAA Tournament, Notre Dame seems the most feasible right now. 

Opportunity to prove their worth:  UConn, Seton Hall

Will UConn play like a rat trapped in a corner or will they quit the first time they find themselves down four at halftime?  UConn and West Virginia might already be safe for an at-large bid, but when they meet in the second round - both should play that game like they are far from it.  And if UConn does make it to the quarters, will they be able to take down Syracuse?  In each of their meetings this year the games were very close or tied with a few minutes left, but UConn could not find a way to prevail in either.  You would think that would build confidence and enthusiasm, but this team has not shown either all season long.  However, I want to remain optimistic and believe talent can prevail.  Maybe Coach Calhoun can be the leader they need from the bench, since no one in uniform has yet to step up. 

Seton Hall let a very good season turn into a train wreck with losses to Rutgers and DePaul to finish the season resulting in a missed opportunity for a first round bye.  This leads me to believe that Providence will be no cake-walk for them.  But if they can get out of the opening round, they will get a Louisville team that has been shooting the ball very poorly. 

Toughest draw with most to lose:  Cincinnati

Cincinnati finished strong by beating Marquette and Villanova, but their overall resume is very odd to say the least.  They lack a number of 'good' wins to offset their 'terrible' losses to Presbyterian and Marshall at home in the beginning of the year, but they have played well enough in the BE to earn a double bye.  The Bearcats will most likely see Georgetown in the quarterfinals, a tough matchup for sure. 

Easiest draw:  Marquette

Led by Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette has emerged as one of the best teams in the country.  Is there a team that can stop them from getting to the championship game?  Seems doubtful.  

Teams with nothing to lose and capable of playing spoiler:  Villanova, St. John's, Providence, Pittsburgh

Villanova – Maalik Wayns and the Wildcats are more than capable of getting hot and winning multiple games, and they are in the bracket to make it happen.

St. John’s – The fact that the BE Tournament is a home game for the Red Storm is enough to give them some sort of advantage.  Combine that with the talent of this team and the fact that they don’t know any better, and you have a team that could make a run.

Providence – The Friars were good enough to beat UConn last week and there is no reason why they can’t totally destroy Seton Hall’s season in the first round. 

Pittsburgh – Tray Woodall and Ashton Gibbs are good enough on their own to win a few games for the Panthers.  At the very least, their first round game with St. John’s should be entertaining. 

Favorites:  Syracuse, Marquette

The regular season conference champions, Syracuse Orange, lost one game all year and that was without Fab Melo, Defensive Player of the Year in the conference.  This team just ‘knows’ how to win, making them one of the best teams in the country.

Marquette’s relentless attack makes them a threat to anyone, and this team has gotten a lot better since they saw Syracuse two months ago. 

Championship game to most look forward to:  Syracuse vs. Marquette, Syracuse vs. Notre Dame

Syracuse vs. Marquette would be the most exciting for sure.  But, watching Notre Dame prove that their win over the Orange was no fluke, would be equally entertaining.  

Twitter -->  @shane_t_mac

Power Rankings / A Look Back & Ahead 3-4-12

By Shane McCarthy on March 5, 2012

1]  #2 Syracuse Orange (17-1/30-1)

Last week:  WON 58-49 vs Louisville

This week:  #1 seed in Big East Tournament and double bye

Impressive victory over Louisville on Saturday afternoon to close out the regular season.  Something tells me the Orange would like to see Notre Dame in the Big East Tournament to avenge their only loss on the season. 

2]  #9 Marquette Golden Eagles (14-4/25-6)

Last week:  LOST 72-61 @ Cincinnati, WON 83-69 vs Georgetown

This week:  #2 seed in Big East Tournament and double bye

The Golden Eagles had a bit of a slip-up at a desperate Cincinnati team in the middle of the week, but rebounded nicely with a decisive win at home over Georgetown.  Marquette will be looking to keep the momentum rolling into the NCAA Tournament and a showdown with Syracuse would be very entertaining in the BE Tournament.

3]  #14 Georgetown Hoyas (12-6/22-7)

Last week:  WON 59-41 vs Notre Dame, LOST 83-69 @ Marquette

This week:  #5 seed in Big East Tournament and single bye

No shame in losing on Senior night at a really good Marquette team for the Hoyas.  They are better than the #5 seed they got and a team that is more than capable of winning the BE Tournament. 

Yancy Gates and Jaquon Parker

4]  Cincinnati Bearcats (12-6/22-9)

Last week:  WON 72-61 vs Marquette, WON 72-68 @ Villanova

This week:  #4 seed in Big East Tournament and double bye

Excellent week for the Bearcats as they beat a #7 Marquette team and Villanova to creep up to the #4 seed and double bye in the BE Tournament.  Cincinnati is playing much better as of late, and the momentum seems to be building at the right time in the season.  

5]  Louisville Cardinals (10-8/22-9)

Last week:  LOST 58-51 vs South Florida, LOST 58-49 vs Syracuse

This week:  #7 seed in Big East Tournament and single bye

It was a tough week for the Cardinals, as they lost to both South Florida and Syracuse to conclude the regular season.  They have earned a single bye in the BE Tournament and hopefully use that extra day off to get back on track as they have lost four of their last six. 

6]  #23 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-5/21-10)

Last week:  LOST 59-41 @ Georgetown, WON 75-69 vs Providence

This week:  #3 seed in Big East Tournament and double bye

The Irish have been struggling a bit as of late, but their win over Providence could help carry some ‘mental’ momentum into the BE Tournament. 

7]  West Virginia Mountaineers (9-9/19-12)

Last week:  WON 92-75 vs DePaul, WON 50-44 @ South Florida

This week:  #8 seed in Big East Tournament and single bye

After going through a rough stretch, the Mountaineers took care of business last week by beating DePaul and South Florida.  Not necessarily impressive wins, but when a team is on the bubble it is important to beat fellow bubble teams (South Florida).  It will be important for Kevin Jones, and the magnificent season he just had, to lead and keep the Mountaineers motivated.    

8]  Connecticut Huskies (8-10/18-12)

Last week:  LOST 72-70 @ Providence, WON 74-65 vs Pittsburgh

This week:  #9 seed in Big East Tournament

With the Huskies loss at Providence during the week, their roller coaster of a season continues.  They probably need to win at least two games in the BE Tournament to feel safe as an at-large candidate.  This #9 seed is a talented bunch, and we all remember what happened last year as a #9 seed.  There is no reason why they can’t do it again. 

9]  South Florida Bulls (12-6/19-12)

Last week:  WON 58-51 @ Louisville, LOST 50-44 vs West Virginia

This week:  #6 seed in Big East Tournament and single bye

Great win for the Bulls’ at-large hopes at Louisville, and even though they earned a first round bye in the BE, they probably need to win at least one game in the tournament to help their case.  Still, they are a fun story to follow.

10]  Pittsburgh Panthers (5-13/16-15)

Last week:  WON 89-69 vs St. John’s, LOST 74-65 @ Connecticut

This week:  #13 seed in Big East Tournament

It has been a disappointing season for the Panthers to say the least.   The potential was there at the beginning of the season, but they have struggled mightily in conference play.  They will have to run the table in the BE Tournament to get into the NCAAs. 

11]  Seton Hall Pirates (8-10/19-11)

Last week:  LOST 86-58 @ DePaul

This week:  #10 seed in Big East Tournament

The last two games for the Pirates have been absolutely horrendous.  After beating Georgetown, the hopes of an at-large bid for Seton Hall skyrocketed.  But two bad losses to finish the season probably mean that the Pirates need to win at least two games in the BE Tournament.   

12]  Villanova Wildcats (5-13/12-18)

Last week:  WON 77-71 @ Rutgers, LOST 72-68 vs Cincinnati

This week:  #14 seed in Big East Tournament

You know it has been a tough season for the Wildcats when their best win in conference is against Seton Hall.  Seton Hall is a quality team this year, but ‘Nova is used to competing for regular season conference championship honors. 

13]  Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-12/14-17)

Last week:  LOST 77-71 vs Villanova, WON 61-58 vs St. John’s

This week:  #11 seed in Big East Tournament

The Scarlet Knights have proven that they are a tough out at home, but they just are not the same team on the road.  They will be looking to play spoiler in the BE Tournament.

14]  St. John’s Red Storm (6-12/13-18)

Last week:  LOST 89-69 @ Pittsburgh, LOST 61-58 @ Rutgers

This week:  #12 seed in Big East Tournament

The Red Storm have had a tough season as they have not been able to click, but that is expected of a team that is as young as this one.  This team is filled with talent and they are playing as if they have nothing to lose.  Combine that with the fact that the BE Tournament is a home game for them, and you have a team that can play a serious spoiler role. 

15]  Providence Friars (4-14/15-16)

Last week:  WON 72-70 vs Connecticut, LOST 75-69 @ Notre Dame

This week:  #15 seed in Big East Tournament

The Friars stunned UConn last week and they will be looking to spoil Seton Hall’s hopes on Tuesday.

16]  DePaul Blue Demons (3-15/12-18)

Last week:  LOST 92-75 @ West Virginia, WON 86-58 vs Seton Hall

This week:  #16 seed in Big East Tournament

The Blue Demons may have already ruined Seton Hall’s NCAA hopes, now they’ll have the chance to do the same to UConn in the first round of the BE Tournament. 

@shane_t_mac if you are into the Twitter thing

The Big East This Week

Jae Crowder has Marquette playing at a high level right now

It was a week in which the top teams beat up on the bottom dwellers

By Shane McCarthy on February 20, 2012 

Notable games this week:

Syracuse @ UConn on Saturday – UConn will need this win as they haven’t done much in the Big East.

Marquette @ West Virginia on Saturday – West Virginia is looking for another notable victory.

Georgetown @ Seton Hall on Tuesday – Seton Hall is floating on the bubble.

Providence @ Depaul on Saturday – Neither team wants to finish at the bottom of the conference.

#2 Syracuse Orange (14-1 / 27-1)

Last week:  WON 52-51 @ #18 Louisville, WON 74-64 @ Rutgers

This week:  Wed, Feb 22 vs South Florida; Sat, Feb 25 @ Connecticut

It has been a while since Syracuse has blown an opponent out, but they continue to win both at home and on the road.  The Orange also ended their seven game skid to the Louisville Cardinals.  The goal now is to fine-tune some aspects of their game and maintain a #1 seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

#10 Marquette Golden Eagles (11-3 / 22-5)

Last week:  WON 79-64 @ Connecticut  

This week:  Wed, Feb 22 vs Rutgers; Fri, Feb 24 @ West Virginia

Marquette has shown time and time again that they are one of the hardest working teams in the country and they showed that again at Connecticut this past week.  They’ll get another decent test this week on the road at a desperate West Virginia team. 

#18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-3 / 19-8)

Last week:  WON 71-53 vs Rutgers, WON 74-70 OT @ Villanova

This week:  Wed, Feb 22 vs West Virginia; Sat, Feb 27 @ St. John’s

The Fighting Irish have not lost since they knocked off the then #1 Orange on January 21^st – reeling off eight straight wins.  For a team that struggled in non-conference play, they couldn’t have picked a better time to get hot.

#8 Georgetown Hoyas (10-4 / 20-5)

Last week:  WON 63-53 @ Providence,  

This week:  Tue, Feb 21 @ Seton Hall; Sat, Feb 25 vs Villanova

It seems like Georgetown has not gotten that much publicity this year, but they keep chugging along.  They’ll be traveling to a desperate Seton Hall team on Tuesday who is seriously flirting with the bubble. 

South Florida Bulls (10-4 / 17-10)

Last week:  WON 65-51 vs Villanova, WON 56-47 @ Pittsburgh

This week:  Wed, Feb 22 @ Syracuse; Sun, Feb 26 vs Cincinnati

A win at Syracuse on Wednesday could almost but cement South Florida in the NCAA Tournament.  Otherwise they will probably need a notable win or two in the Big East Tournament. 

#17 Louisville Cardinals (9-5 / 21-6)

Last week:  LOSS 52-51 vs Syracuse, WON 90-82 OT @ DePaul

This week:  Thu, Feb 23 @ Cincinnati; Sun Feb 26 vs Pittsburgh

Louisville didn’t play to the best of their ability against Syracuse this past week and still should have won the game.  Nonetheless, this team can hang with the top dogs and will benefit getting out of conference play for the NCAA’s. 

Cincinnati Bearcats (9-5 / 19-8)

Last week:  WON 81-66 vs Providence, WON 62-57 vs Seton Hall

This week:  Thu, Feb 23 vs Louisville; Sun, Feb 26 @ South Florida

When flirting with the bubble it is important that you beat other bubble teams when the opportunity arises and that is just what Cincinnati did this past week against Seton Hall.  The Bearcats probably need to do a bit more work, and they will get that chance this week versus Louisville.

West Virginia Mountaineers (7-7 / 17-10)

Last week:  WON 66-48 @ Pittsburgh

This week:  Wed, Feb 22 @ Notre Dame; Fri, Feb 24 vs Marquette

Kevin Jones could potentially be the Big East Player of the Year, but if he wants to get back to the NCAA Tournament he is going to need to lead his team to victory over either Notre Dame or Marquette this week, preferably both.

Seton Hall Pirates (7-8 / 18-9)

Last week:  WON 94-64 vs St. John’s, LOSS 62-57 @ Cincinnati

This week:  Tue, Feb 21 vs Georgetown; Sat, Feb 25 vs Rutgers

Tough loss at Cincinnati this past week, but the Pirates get two home games this week to make up for it and more importantly, remain in the at-large talk.

Connecticut Huskies (6-8 / 16-10)

Last week:  WON 80-54 vs DePaul, LOSS 79-64 vs Marquette

This week:  Mon, Feb 20 @ Villanova; Sat, Feb 25 vs Syracuse

It looked like UConn was just about to turn the corner and start moving in the right direction when Ryan Boatright took that unnecessary technical foul.  The Huskies are still loaded with talent, and if they can start bringing some heart to the arena like Shabazz Napier has requested, they can pull this thing together. 

Pittsburgh Panthers (4-10 / 15-12)

Last week:  LOSS 66-48 vs West Virginia, LOSS 56-47 vs South Florida  

This week:  Sun, Feb 26 @ Louisville

It was just a few weeks ago when many thought that the Panthers would finish the season strong, make a push in the Big East Tournament, and get into the NCAA Tournament.  That all but came to an end last night with South Florida putting a fork in them.  It will now take a deep run in the Big East Tournament and more likely winning it to get an automatic bid. 

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (4-10 / 12-15)

Last week:  LOSS 71-53 @ Notre Dame, LOSS 74-64 vs Syracuse

This week:  Wed, Feb 22 @ Marquette; Sat, Feb 25 @ Seton Hall

The Scarlet Knights have been a tough out at home all season, as they displayed again yesterday against ‘Cuse. 

Villanova Wildcats (4-10 / 11-15)

Last week:  LOSS 65-51 @ South Florida, LOSS 74-70 OT vs Notre Dame

This week:  Mon, Feb 20 vs Connecticut; Sat, Feb 25 @ Georgetown

The tough season for the Wildcats continues after losing in overtime to Notre Dame on Saturday night at home.  They will be looking to finish off an erratic UConn team on Monday night. 

St. John’s Red Storm (4-10 / 11-16)

Last week:  LOSS 94-64 @ Seton Hall, WON 66-63 vs UCLA

This week:  Mon, Feb 20 vs DePaul; Sat, Feb 25 vs Notre Dame

St. John’s got a nice win on national television at home versus UCLA on Saturday afternoon.  They are a young team and will be looking to feed off that to finish the season strong.

DePaul Blue Demons (2-12 / 11-15)

Last week:  LOSS 80-54 @ Connecticut, LOSS 90-82 OT vs Louisville

This week:  Mon, Feb 20 @ St. John’s; Sat, Feb 25 vs Providence

This team isn’t giving up just yet, as their fight was on display Saturday afternoon when they took Louisville to overtime.

Providence Friars (2-13 / 13-15)

Last week:  LOSS 81-66 @ Cincinnati, LOSS 63-53 vs Georgetown  

This week:  Sat, Feb 25 @ DePaul

Losing nine of their last 10, the Friars will be looking to finish their season on any sort of positive.  

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