2007-2008 Game Previews

PITT AIMS TO TAKE ‘NEXT STEP’ PAST SWEET 16

However, former point guard Sean Miller and Xavier stand in the way

‘The Next Step.’ ‘Winning the Big One.’

In sports, the ‘what have you done lately’ question is often asked. Fans set their expectations for their teams and the bar to achieve those goals is usually a moving target. For the Pittsburgh Panther basketball program, the question keeps arising of when will they take ‘the next step’?

In the last eight seasons, Pitt has reached the Sweet 16 in five of them, a mark only bettered or matched by Kansas and Duke. For a program that went 27 years between 1974 and 2001 between appearances in the Round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament, that is quite an accomplishment of it’s own.

“[The] Sweet 16 is an accomplishment”, Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon reminded media members Wednesday. “If it was wasn’t, teams would have got there more than we have. And there’s only two that have been there more than we have the last eight years, Duke and Kansas.”

“There aren’t any byes into the Sweet 16. I think maybe it’s forgotten.”

Tonight:

East Regional, TD Banknorth Garden (Boston):

#4 Xavier vs. #1 Pittsburgh (-7 1/2), 7:27 PM.
(College basketball betting lines are provided by BetUs.com)

Read Full Xavier-Pitt Preview HERE!!…

HOT TICKET PREVIEW: BIG EAST TOURNAMENT

Every season, the Big East Basketball Tournament in Madison Square Garden is one of the hottest tickets of the year. With the expanded Big East adding more nationally prominent teams to the mix, the Madison Square Garden Event has become a ‘must-see’ and ‘be-seen’ event for the who’s who in the Northeast. On Wednesday at high-noon, the 2008 Big East Conference Tournament kicks off and our ‘Hot Ticket’ feature previews the action below.

In an odd development, each game on Wednesday matched us teams that have already met twice previously in the regular season. So, these teams are all pretty familiar with one another and will get after it on Wednesday.

Check below for our 1st Round Previews and a quick glance at potential Quarterfinal match-ups:

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THURSDAY BIG EAST GAME PREVIEWS

The NBE Blogger was 3-0 in picking games outright last night, but just 1-2 against the posted spreads as only Syracuse’s projected win over Seton Hall found us on the correct side of the posted lines.

Tonight is a double-dip on Thursday night and you can find pre-game story links to the games, as well as our match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger by visiting the team sites below:

Connecticut @ Providence

DePaul @ Cincinnati

WEDNESDAY BIG EAST GAME PREVIEWS

The NBE Blogger was 1-0 outright and against the spread Monday night as West Virginia cruised past Pittsburgh.  Tonight, three games are on the Big East schedule as the regular season winds down.  For links to all the local media game stories and previews, as well as out match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger, view the linked team sites below:

Syracuse @ Seton Hall

South Florida at Villanova

St. John’s @ Notre Dame

BIG MONDAY GAME PREVIEW (3/3/08)

The NBE Blogger had a tough day on Saturday, going 2-3 as Seton Hall, Syracuse and Marquette ALL blew large leads with the NBE Blogger on their side.  Agonizing losses for all three teams.

Tonight, the NBE Blogger has a prediction on the Backyard Brawl as Pittsburgh travels to Morgantown to meet Bob Huggins and West Virginia.  To see all the local media links to the game previews and stories, as well as our match-up analysis and the NBE Blogger’s prediction, you can visit either our Pittsburgh Team Page or our West Virginia Team Page.

SATURDAY BIG EAST GAME PREVIEWS

The NBE Blogger was 1-0 on Thursday picking games outright, but the wacky finish got him against the spread. For the season to day, the NBE Blogger is 76-31 picking winners outright and 56-50-1 against the posted Vegas spread.

Saturday is a busy day in the conference with five Big East contests. In today’s article we take a look at each game and preview the match-up, link a few pregame articles and previews and the NBE Blogger gives his prediction on each outcome.

Enjoy the match-ups…and, welcome to the month of March!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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THURSDAY BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW (2/28/08)

The Thursday Night spotlight game in the Big East could decide the Big East Regular Season Championship as Louisville hosts Notre Dame.

Last night in conference action, the NBE Blogger was 2-1 picking games outright, but just 1-2 against the spread.  The hunch that DePaul would show up was dead wrong…Jerry Wainwright’s team is regressing quickly…

For the links to the many stories and game previews from the local media outlets on tonight’s showdown, as well as our match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger, you can visit either our Notre Dame Team Page or our Louisville Team Page.

More to come soon with our Daily News & Notes from around the Big East…

WEDNESDAY BIG EAST GAME PREVIEWS (2/27/08)

The NBE Blogger split last night going 1-1 picking games outright, but was 2-0 against the spread as he had Seton Hall staying within the spread at South Florida, just didn’t pick them for the outright as USF left points on the line down the stretch and was unable to overtake the Pirates.

Tonight, three Big East games are on the schedule as the stretch run for Big East Tournament seeding and position revs up.  Also, teams prepare to make their final statements to the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee.

Follow the links below to our team pages for the links to the local media pregame stories and previews of the contests, our brief match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger:

Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh
St. John’s @ Georgetown

West Virginia @ DePaul

TUESDAY NIGHT BIG EAST GAME PREVIEWS (2/26/08)

The NBE Blogger was 1-0 outright and against the spread as Marquette ran away from Villanova in the second half last night.  The NBE Blogger is now 72-29 on the season picking games outright and 53-47-1 against the posted spread.

 Tonight, there are two games on tap in the Big East with Seton Hall visiting South Florida and Rutgers hosting UConn, who is expected to hve Jerome Dyson back in the line-up.

For all the links to the local media previews and game stories, as well as our match-up analysis and the prediction on the outcome from the NBE Blogger, follow the links below to the team pages for the Big East Game Previews:

Seton Hall at South Florida

Connecticut @ Rutgers

Thanks for visiting!

BIG MONDAY GAME PREVIEW (2/25/2008)

Sorry for the lack of game previews recently.  We missed the weekend die to travel commitments (same with the previous Saturday), but we are free and clear for the rest of the season.

Lately, the NBE Blogger has been on an impressive run and his season to date record of picking winners outright is not 71-29 (71%) and 52-47-1 against the posted Vegas line.

Tonight, you can see the links to the local media previews and stories, as well as out match-up analysis and the NBE Blogger’s prediction at either our Marquette Team Page or our Villanova Team Page.
 

THURSDAY BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW (2/21/2008)

Last night the NBE Blogger was 3-0 in picking winners outright and 3-0 against the posted Vegas spread.  Can he continue his winning ways in tonight’s lone conference match-up?

For the first time since early January 2006, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame hook up as the Irish put their 34-game home winning streak on the line.

For the links to all the pregame stories and previews from the local media, as well as out match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger, you can visit either our Pittsburgh Team Page or our Notre Dame Team Page.

Thanks for visiting!

WEDNESDAY BIG EAST GAME PREVIEWS (2/20/2008)

The NBE Blogger was 1-0 outright, but missed on the Vegas number as UConn had to rally from as many as 13 down in the second half to edge DePaul.  Tonight, three games on the Big East schedule and you can see the links to the local media previews and game stories, as well as our brief match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger by visiting the team pages linked below:

South Florida at Cincinnati

West Virginia @ Villanova

Marquette @ St. John’s

Thanks for visiting!

Louisville and Georgetown took care of business last night and Connecticut will look to do the same this evening. We have recaps of last night’s action and a preview of tonight’s game in today’s News & Notes around the Big East.

We also link earlier stories on Recruiting Updates and our weekly Power Poll.

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BIG MONDAY GAME PREVIEWS (2/18/08)

On Sunday the NBE Blogger was 2-0 in picking the outright winner, but was 0-2 against the spread as Notre Dame snuck by Rutgers and West Virginia was the latest to blow away Seton Hall.

Tonight, Louisville looks to continue their winning ways while Syracuse tries to get a win away from home that will carry some extra weight come selection Sunday.  As a President’s Day Bonus, the Big East als gives us a late afternoon contest as Georgetown looks to rebound from their loss to Syracuse over the weekend when they travel to meet slumping Providence.

Below we have the links to the local media game previews and stories, our match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger.

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SUNDAY BIG EAST GAME PREVIEWS (2/17/2008)

Through Friday night’s game, the NBE Blogger was having a good week going 7-1 picking games outright and 6-2 against the spread. Looking to continue the hot streak on Saturday, technological issues put a stop to that and no previews were available.

We are back on this Sunday with a pair of match-up analysis, links to the local stories on the games and a prediction from the NBE Blogger for each game below.

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FRIDAY NIGHT BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW (2/15/08)

The NBE Blogger was 1-0 outright and against the spread (barely) last night, increasing this week’s run to 7-1 outright in picking winners in Big East games (62-28 on season) and 6-2 against the spread for the week (46-43-1 on the season).

Tonight, the Big East provides us with some Friday night entertainment to warm us up for the weekend as an entertaining new rivalry is renewed when Pittsburgh travels to Milwaukee to face Marquette. 

For links to the local media game stories and previews, as well as our match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger, please visit either our Pittsburgh Team Page or our Marquette Team Page.

Thanks for visiting! 

THURSDAY BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW (2/14/2008)

The NBE Blogger was 2-1 picking games outright last night and was also 2-1 against the spread.  For the week the record is 6-1 outright and 5-2 against the spread, reversing several weeks of mediocrity.

For the season in Big East contests, the record for picking winners outright is 61-28 (69%) and 45-43-1 against the spread, still not up to par with past performances.

One game on tap this Thursday night as West Virginia looks to get back into the groove when they host Rutgers.  WVU has lost three of four while the Scarlet Knights are once again in a losing rut, losing their last four.

For the links to local media previews and game stories as well as our match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger, please visit either our Rutgers Team Page or our West Virginia Team Page.

Thanks for visiting this morning. We will have our News & Notes from around the Big East later this morning.

WEDNESDAY BIG EAST GAME PREVIEWS (2/13/2008)

The NBE Blogger was 3-0 last night in picking games outright and 2-1 against the posted Vegas line.  After the drama of Monday night, none of the three games were very close at all as Marquette and Louisville ran Seton Hall and DePaul out of their own buildings and Pittsburgh added to the Providence slide with an easy win as well.

Tonight, three home teams look to avenge losses from early January as it is ‘Re-Match’ night in the Big East.  For links to the local media previews and game stories, as well as our match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger, just visit the team pages linked below:

St. John’s @ Cincinnati

Notre Dame @ Connecticut

Syracuse @ South Florida

We will be back a little later with a Full News and Notes post as well as another update from Brian Corwnover on the players he saw at the Primetime Shootout last weekend.

Thanks for visitin!

TUESDAY BIG EAST GAME PREVIEWS (2/12/2008)

The NBE Blogger was 1-0 outright and against the spread as Georgetown edged Villanova in one of the most controversial finishes in Big East play in a long time. Strange thing, it was not even the most controversial ending to a game involving a Big East school last night as the Rutgers’ women were seriously robbed in SEC country…but…that is another topic…

Tonight, three games in the Big East are on tap and we have the links to the local media stories and previews, our match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger. Just follow the links to the team pages below:

Marquette @ Seton Hall

Providence @ Pittsburgh

Louisville @ DePaul

The most interesting stories are out of the PC/Pitt game.  Tim Welsh is under a lot of heat with fans and the media in Rhode Island.  On the other hand, Pitt might have Levance Fields back in uniform tonight.  Seeing him sprint across the floor to mob Ronald Ramon after Ramon’s buzzer-beating three-pointer beat West Virginia last Thursday shows me his return is coming soon!

BIG MONDAY GAME PREVIEW

The NBE Blogger was solid on Saturday, going 5-1 in picking winners outright, although he was just 3-3 against the posted spread.  For the Big East season, the overall record outright is 55-27 (67%) and just 40-41-1 against the spread.

Tonight, Big Monday is upon us once again and Georgetown and Villanova have to turnaround quickly from Saturday evening games and lace them up once again and hit the court.

For links to the local media stories on the game as well as our brief match-up analysis and a prediction from the NBE Blogger, please visit either our Villanova Team Page or our Georgetown Team Page.

We will have a News & Notes article later this morning and our Weekly Big East Bloggers Power Poll and Conference Notebook will be posted this afternoon.

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