Hello once again, Mike T with the Big East digest. The 2nd round is now over, and (shockingly) it will be the top 8 seeds playing. Explain again why we needed to invite everyone? Oh well. Here are some thoughts on day 2 before the picks- where I cleaned house and went 4-0 (talk about on fire):
- DePaul played their heart out against Providence, even holding a lead over halfway through the 2nd half. Dar Tucker and Will Walker combined for 61 points, unfortunately the rest of their team scored 13. Still, nice showing though for the Blue Demons.
- So I give St Johns some love last night, and thought they could keep the game with Marquette close, and then they score 10 points in the first half. Jeez.
- The Syracuse- Seton Hall game had alot of chippiness in it, thanks to Arinze Onuaku and John Garcia. The score was 46-44 Syracuse when the fighting started. The final score? 89-74 Syracuse. And the final score doesnt show how badly the Orange blew out Seton Hall in the final 15 minutes. Guess the fighting woke up Syracuse.
Alright onto the picks:
Noon- (8) Providence vs. (1) Louisville
- This game is interesting because the Friars actually had a lead down in Louisville earlier in the year. However, Rick Pitino's Cardinals are playing at a totally different level. A win by Providence will certainly seal their ticket for the NCAA Tournament. I just dont see it happening, not with Earl Clark and Terrence Williams playing at such a high level. Louisville will win a surprisingly entertaining game and move on to face either Villanova or Marquette.
2pm- (5) Marquette vs. (4) Villanova
- Marquette finally got a win without Dominic James, and their big 3 combined for 48 points. If I were a Marquette fan I would have to be pleasantly surprised with how well the team played considering Jerel McNeil had only 11 points. Villanova is a team that is maybe not the most talented in the Big East, and the fact that they are ranked #13 is a testament to Jay Wright as a coach. He will get his players ready to play for this one, and I think they will outplay Marquette in what should be a great game. According to me, Villanova will move on to face Louisville in the semifinals.
7pm- (7) West Virginia vs. (2) Pittsburgh
- West Virginia blew the doors off Notre Dame in the 2nd round, and Alex Ruoff had a huge game after going scoreless in his final home game, a loss to Louisville. Already in the tourney, both teams can play the game without worrying about the effects of its outcome. Pitt is playing real well right now, and I think they will win a hard fought battle with their rivals from Morgantown. Pitt will move on to face either Syracuse or UConn.
9pm- (6) Syracuse vs. (3) UConn
- 2 hated rivals, in the primetime spot in the Worlds Mosr Famous Arena. It has all the makings of a good one. Add in the fact that Syracuse has won 6 out of 7, and you basically cant go wrong. UConn has struggled with Pitt, who gave the Huskies 2 of their 3 losses. However the last time the 2 teams played, UConn had Jerome Dyson, now they dont. They are clearly a different team without him, and Hasheem Thabeet is completely different when you put a big body on him (see: DeJuan Blair). In the first upset of the tourney, Syracuse will defeat UConn. According to me, the Orange will move on to face Pitt in the semis.
So after 2 days of alright basketball, the games- and the atmosphere- will pick up. I will be back tomorrow night with the recap. Until then, enjoy it everyone.
record: 11-1
- Mike T
- DePaul played their heart out against Providence, even holding a lead over halfway through the 2nd half. Dar Tucker and Will Walker combined for 61 points, unfortunately the rest of their team scored 13. Still, nice showing though for the Blue Demons.
- So I give St Johns some love last night, and thought they could keep the game with Marquette close, and then they score 10 points in the first half. Jeez.
- The Syracuse- Seton Hall game had alot of chippiness in it, thanks to Arinze Onuaku and John Garcia. The score was 46-44 Syracuse when the fighting started. The final score? 89-74 Syracuse. And the final score doesnt show how badly the Orange blew out Seton Hall in the final 15 minutes. Guess the fighting woke up Syracuse.
Alright onto the picks:
Noon- (8) Providence vs. (1) Louisville
- This game is interesting because the Friars actually had a lead down in Louisville earlier in the year. However, Rick Pitino's Cardinals are playing at a totally different level. A win by Providence will certainly seal their ticket for the NCAA Tournament. I just dont see it happening, not with Earl Clark and Terrence Williams playing at such a high level. Louisville will win a surprisingly entertaining game and move on to face either Villanova or Marquette.
2pm- (5) Marquette vs. (4) Villanova
- Marquette finally got a win without Dominic James, and their big 3 combined for 48 points. If I were a Marquette fan I would have to be pleasantly surprised with how well the team played considering Jerel McNeil had only 11 points. Villanova is a team that is maybe not the most talented in the Big East, and the fact that they are ranked #13 is a testament to Jay Wright as a coach. He will get his players ready to play for this one, and I think they will outplay Marquette in what should be a great game. According to me, Villanova will move on to face Louisville in the semifinals.
7pm- (7) West Virginia vs. (2) Pittsburgh
- West Virginia blew the doors off Notre Dame in the 2nd round, and Alex Ruoff had a huge game after going scoreless in his final home game, a loss to Louisville. Already in the tourney, both teams can play the game without worrying about the effects of its outcome. Pitt is playing real well right now, and I think they will win a hard fought battle with their rivals from Morgantown. Pitt will move on to face either Syracuse or UConn.
9pm- (6) Syracuse vs. (3) UConn
- 2 hated rivals, in the primetime spot in the Worlds Mosr Famous Arena. It has all the makings of a good one. Add in the fact that Syracuse has won 6 out of 7, and you basically cant go wrong. UConn has struggled with Pitt, who gave the Huskies 2 of their 3 losses. However the last time the 2 teams played, UConn had Jerome Dyson, now they dont. They are clearly a different team without him, and Hasheem Thabeet is completely different when you put a big body on him (see: DeJuan Blair). In the first upset of the tourney, Syracuse will defeat UConn. According to me, the Orange will move on to face Pitt in the semis.
So after 2 days of alright basketball, the games- and the atmosphere- will pick up. I will be back tomorrow night with the recap. Until then, enjoy it everyone.
record: 11-1
- Mike T
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