I love this team of year so for the next two weeks this space will be the place to go for college basketball lovers. This week I will preview the 8 major conference tournaments that lead up to Selection Sunday starting with the Big East.
Bracket:
1.Georgetown Wednesday Games: Tuesdays Games:
2Louisville 8)Cincy vs 9) Providence 11)Seton Hall vs 14)USF
3.Marquette 7)Villanova vs 10) St.Johns 12)Rutgers vs 13 Depaul
4.Pittsburgh 6)Notre Dame vs SH/USF
5.Syracuse 5)Syracuse vs Rutgers/Depaul
6.Notre Dame
The Big East uses this terrible double bye system which leads to upsets and a throw away slate on Tuesday.
Best Wednesday Game: Cincy vs Providence
Defending Tournament champion Cincy always brings it at MSG and their physical style translates well in tournament play, but they limped to the finished line in a horrid shooting slump. Providence under second year coach Ed Cooley overcame injury and suspensions to a great recruiting class to finish strong and were close to the bubble before the OT loss at UCONN. I like the Friars to pull the upset here.
Best Thursday Game: Syracuse vs Pittsburgh
What can I say about Syracuse? It looks like this could be the end for Jim Bohiem, he looks tired and old and his team can't shoot straight. Brandon Triche has fallen off a cliff and early season phenom Micheal Carter-Williams is turning the ball at an alarming rate. Pittsburgh has rebounded nicely from a down season and are always a tough out. The loser of this game seems destined for the dreaded 8/9 game in the NCAA's. After attending this tournament last year I can promise you the massive Syracuse crowd at MSG will carry
them to a much needed win.
Quaterfinal Upset: ND over Marquette Providence over Georgetown
The #1 seed coming off the double bye has lost 4 years in a row so I love the Friars chances to pull the upset and come real close to making the tournament. ND controls the tempo and pulls the mini upset over a Marquette team that has been doing it with smoke and mirrors all season.
Semis: Syracuse over Providence Louisville over Notre Dame
Finals:Louisville over Syracuse
Just like last year Coach Pitino has the Cardinals playing well at the right time. Their size and depth combined with a pretty easy draw will overcome inconsistent guard play to win the league title. They've quietly been humming along since a midseason three game slide and if Peyton Siva and Russ Smith find their shooting touch the Cardinals will make a return trip to the Final Four.
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