NCAA Tournament

BREAKING DOWN BIG EAST DANCE OPPONENTS: ROBERT MORRIS

by RAY MERNAGH

#15 vs. #2 Villanova, 12:30 PM (Providence)

Robert Morris tries to shock the world early Thursday in a 2 vs 15 pairing with Villanova.

RMU has tough kids, led by frosh guard Karon Abraham who puts up 13 points a game. They also have veteran bigs in Dallas Green (6′8″, 210) and Rob Robinson (6′8″, 215) — both are seniors that can run the floor and make shots (particularly Green who’s made arguably the biggest BASKETS in Colonials history both this March and last) and they both shoot over 50%. Velton Jones and Mezie Nwigwe round out the starting lineup. RMU’s coach Mike Rice will go eight deep with guys that get 13 minutes a game or more.

This team is littered with kids from the Philly area who will be AMPED up to face Villanova. As a team the Colonials average 68 points and give up 65. They turn the ball over though so that could be their main undoing against Nova. If they do lose I’d be shocked if Rice isn’t announced at another school within a short period of time. He’s put in his time at the NEC school and can leave with his head held high knowing the foundation and successor are firmly in place. With the Seton Hall opening, among others, we’re wondering if Rice will bypass the A-10 level and go straight to a Big Six-type job. Word on the street is that Fordham is his if he wants it at somewhere between 400-500 K a year, but Rice, who’s been incredible both winning games and bringing in talent via his recruiting connections, could have much bigger options at this point. It says here that the AD that hires him will be making an intelligent call because the fiery Rice has what it takes to be a big-time coach.

Tickets to Providence pod for games involving ‘Nova and Bobby Mo, among others…

– Dunkin Donuts Center (Providence, RI)

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Session 1 March 18 2010

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Session 2 March 18 2010

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Session 3 (Second Round) March 20 2010

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Strip (Inlucdes all Three Sessions) March 18 2010

2010 NCAA TOURNAMENT PRIMER: THURSDAY

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Let the Madness begin! The 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament tips off today at 12:20 PM with Florida and Duke in Oklahoma City.

On this opening day of the tournament four of the eight Big East teams will be in action with Villanova and Notre Dame in action this afternoon while Georgetown and Marquette begin their tournament experiences this evening.

Below is today’s primer on the Big East-related match-ups and resources for fans to purchase tickets to any of these games this first weekend. For the opportunity to purchase tickets for any other location or round of the tournament, please visit our 2010 NCAA Basketball Tournament information and ticket page HERE!

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BIG EAST PATH TO 2010 NCAA FINAL FOUR: GEORGETOWN

The lone Big East representative in the Midwest Region of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is the Georgetown Hoyas coached by John Thompson III.

Fresh off a run to the 2010 Big East Tournamanet championship game the Hoyas grab the No. 3 seed in the Midwest and will take on the MAC conference tournament champion Ohio Bobcats Thursday night in the Dunkin’ Donuts center in Providence (RI).

It was an up and down regular season for Georgetown as they finished 10-8 in the Big East. In recent years Providence (2009) and Syracuse (2007) won 10 Big East conference games and did not make the NCAA Tournament while the Hoyas not only made it but received a No. 3 seed. It gives a glimpse of the Hoyas’ potential as they have knocked off two No. 1 seeds this season (SU and Duke) as well as Pitt (No. 3) on the road, Bulter (No. 5) on a neutral floor and Villanova (No. 2) as some of their biggest wins. On the downside the Hoyas lost at home to South Florida and on the road to Rutgers demonstrating some of the highs and lows of the season.

“I told the players I think Georgetown is capable of beating anybody any night,” Jim Boeheim said after the Hoyas’ upset No. 1 seeded SU in the Big East Tournament last week.

The Hoyas were the final victim of the Da’Sean Butler rampage in the Big East Tournament as the WVU senior scored in the waning seconds to beat Georgetown Saturday night. The Big East Tournament run for the Hoyas saw them reach a four-game winning streak which came on the heels of four losses in their previous five games as the plummetted in the national rankings. Now they must be re-motivated and shrug off the disappointment coming up short in New York City and prepare for the Big Dance.

“No it’s March. And there’ no time to take a breath and pat yourself on the back in March,” said JT III last week. “Your next opponent is very good. Your next opponent is very well coached. Your next opponent is trying to kick your behind. So no, we weren’t satisfied at all.”

That newx opponents is the Ohio Bobcats, the No. 13 seed in the Midwest bracket coming off a MAC Conference Tournament championship. John Groce’s club is a bit of a Cinderella story as they were just 7-9 in conference play this year before running off four consecituve wins in Cleveland last week to take the MAC crown. Former Indiana guard Armon Bassett scored 25 points and freshman DJ Cooper scored 23 in the overtime win against Akron, 81-75.

The Bobcats have not had much high-major experience on the season, losing 74-49 at Pittsburgh in December, so facing the Hoyas is a tall order. Ohio has just one player taller than 6-foot-8 on their roster and the Hoyas will start a pair with Julian Vaughn and their versatile big man Greg Monroe.

“He’s the best inside passer in college basketball easily,” said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim after Monroe scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had 7 assists in a 91-84 upset of the Orange in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals last week. “And he can score in there [too].”

The Hoyas are not very deep, but increased production from freshman Hollis Thompson off the bench and a more consistent level of production from Jason Clark on the perimeter was a big factor in the conference tournament run. While foul trouble and/or bad games from any two of the Hoyas’ big guns such as Monroe, Chris Wright and Austin Freeman could put them in deep trouble, it might not be nearly as severe as it was a month ago with others coming of age. So despite their rough stretch towards the end of the regular season the mindset of the Hoyas has their coach pleased.

“I don’t think this group has ever lost confidence in what we’re doing [or] lost confidence in each other,” said John Thompson III. “And that’s still true right now. I like where we are going into the NCAA Tournament.”

if the Hoyas avoid a first round upset Thursday night in Providence (RI) they will face the winner of the nightcap in the evening session between No. 6 Tennessee and the 11th seeded Aztecs of San Diego State. The Vols had their five-game winning streak snapped in a blowout loss in the SEC semifinals to Kentucky, the same team they started their winning streak with a 74-65 win over in Knoxville on February 27th. SDSU was a surprise winner of the Mountain West Tournament upsetting New Mexico and UNLV, both received at-large invitations, to earn the conference’s automatic bid.

Getting past the first weekend in Providence would send Georgetown to St. Louis for the Midwest Regionals and a possible date with Ohio State. The two programs are no stranger in March Madness with the Hoyas winning a second round contest in 2006 in Dayton (OH) while the Buckeyes exacted some revenge with a Final Four vctory led by Greg Oden the following year in Atlanta (GA). Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech are the 7/10 match-up that will hope to advance past Thad Matta’s club into the Sweet 16.

The other half of the Midwest bracket is headed by overall No. 1 seed Kansas. The Jayhawks will face Lehigh in the opening round and then the 8/9 winner between UNLV and Northern Iowa in the second round. If they can escape unscathed in their opening pair of games KU will have a huge following in St. Louis for the Midwest Regionals. Other top seeds in the Midwest aiming for the Jayhawks prior to the Elite 8 include Maryland (4) and Michigan State (5).

The Hoyas will also have an early round advantage with a familiarity with the first two rounds’ site as they defeated Providence College in a Big East regular season match-up, 79-70, back on February 9th. Below Georgetown fans can find the links to purchase tickets to follow their team every step of the way during the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament:

– Dunkin Donuts Center (Providence, RI)

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Session 1 March 18 2010

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Session 2 March 18 2010

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Session 3 (Second Round) March 20 2010

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Strip (Inlucdes all Three Sessions) March 18 2010
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March 26th and 28th:

– Midwest Region: Edward Jones Dome (St. Louis)

NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Tickets – Session 1 (Semifinals) March 26 2010

NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Tickets – Session 2 (Final) March 28 2010

NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Tickets – Strip (Includes both Semifinals and the Finals) March 26 2010
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NCAA Tournament Final Four:

April 3rd & April 5th

– Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis, IN)

2010 Final Four Tickets – Session 1 (Semifinals) April 3 2010

2010 Final Four Tickets – Session 2 (Championship) April 5 2010

2010 Final Four Tickets – Strip (Includes both Semifinals and the Championship) April 3 2010

BREAKING DOWN BIG EAST DANCE OPPONENTS: OLD DOMINION

by RAY MERNAGH

#11 vs. #6 Notre Dame, (New Orleans, LA), 12:25 PM.

The Monarchs, an #11 seed with a 26-8 record, are very good.

Notre Dame is no doubt concerned because of all the matchups they could’ve gotten, ODU is quite possibly the worst for the Irish’s new ball control style in the entire tournament. ODU averages 67.5 points a game and holds opponents to 57.1. The CAA is a league that rivals the A-10 a lot of years. So Notre Dame’s style is kind of ODU’s style, except ODU has been doing it a lot longer

I can feel your skepticism — “who have they beaten Ray?”

How about Georgetown at McDonough Arena, the Hoyas 2,400 capacity bandbox that they never lose in. In fact you know how many schools have one in McDonough since 1982?

One.

Got your attention yet? Good. ODU had an 18-point lead in the second half of that game and were able to withstand the expected G-Town run, leading wire-to-wire in a 61-57 win.

The Monarchs are a team full of experienced vets. Leading the way is Gerald Lee, 6′10″ Finnish import who put up 14.6 points a game. Lee grabs a modest 4.9 rebounds a game but is a terrific marksman. He shoots 54% from the field and 76% from the line, and while he doesn’t take a lot of three-pointers he makes the ones he does take (7-11 on the year). Lee is All CAA first team.

Frank Hassell is a 6′8″, 245 pound RS Junior. Hassell shoots it a tad better than Lee (54.7%) and collects about 7 boards a game while scoring right around 9 points. Hassell was very big in the win over Georgetown (10points, 7 boards, 3 steals and a block).

Ben Finney is a 6′5″, 220 pound Junior guard/forward that scores 8.8 and boards at a rate of just about 6 a game. Finney is a good distributor and fills up a lot of different categories statistically. The Portsmouth, Virginia product is relentless on the offensive glass and will hurt you if you don’t get a body on him.

Kent Bazemore is a 6′5″ RS Sophomore out of North Carolina. Bazemore is a lockdown defender who also gives you 8.4 points and 4.2 boards from the guard/small forward spot whoile shooting 48%. Bazemore is a good facilitator (113 assists on the yr vs 67 turnovers.

Blaine Taylor’s club has won five straight games heading into this first round game vs the Fighting Irish. The Monarchs play about 9-10 guys and switch up defenses on you while rebounding the snot out of the ball 39.2 boards a game(+9 on the year).

The Irish may have their work cut out for them.

Tickets to the New Orleand pod involving the Irish and Monarchs:

March 18th and 20th:

– New Orleans Arena (New Orleans, LA)

NCAA Tournament New Orleans Tickets – Session 1 March 18 2010

NCAA Tournament New Orleans Tickets – Session 2 March 18 2010

NCAA Tournament New Orleans Tickets – Session 3 (Second Round) March 20 2010

NCAA Tournament New Orleans Tickets – Strip (Includes all Three Sessions) March 18 2010

BIG EAST PATH TO 2010 FINAL FOUR: PITTSBURGH

At the beginning of the season if someone said that one of the three No. 1 seeds out of the Big East from 2009 would not make the Big Dance in 2010 the guess would have probably been unanimous that Pittsburgh would be on the outside looking in come Selection Sunday. The guess probably would have remaining the same right into early January…but, it would have been wrong.

Jamie Dixon and the Panthers completed the regular season as the No. 2 seed in the Big East Tournament in the strength of a 13-5 conference mark and their 24-8 record was good enough to earn a No. 3 seed in the West Region of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The 2009 Elite Eight participant will begin their quest to reach their elusive Final Four on Friday afternoon in Milwaukee (WI) when they take on the No. 14 seed in the West, Oakland.

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BREAKING DOWN BIG EAST DANCE OPPONENTS: OHIO UNIVERSITY

by RAY MERNAGH

#14 Ohio vs #3 Georgetown (Providence, RI), 7:25 PM.

The Bobcats have been playing very strong when it counts. I called John Groce’s hiring a home run when it happened and he’s proven it a year earlier than most expected. With Ohio you have to start in the back court because that’s where they can kill you. Armon Bassett, yes the one-time Indiana guard who had a brief stopover at UAB, can put up major points in a hurry. Bassett was one of those high risk/high reward additions for Groce (who’s known the kid since he was very young). The reward has paid huge dividends. Bassett is a big talent, has breakneck speed plus a handle and can bury shots from deep as well as get to the rim and finish. He also can find open shooters like Tommy Freeman (Freeman has 15 games with three treys or more and shoots it at a remarkable 47%). Freeman will also find people in open space with the pass and sacrifice his body to take open-court charges, which he did a number of times in the MAC tournament to players not paying attention and running with their heads down. DJ Cooper is Ohio’s point guard and is the MAC’s freshmen of the year. Cooper is a long-armed baby-faced kid with moxie and game. He gets to the rim, a streaky three shooter (30%) and finds people after the bounce breakdown. The 5′11″ Chicago native puts up 13 points, 6 dimes and collects almost 6 boards a game. He and Bassett are a high-major backcourt that will be at the top of the Georgetown scouting report.

The X factor for Ohio on the player side — if they are to have a chance at a remarkable upset — will be their bigs. DeVaughn Washington is a 6′8″ junior who brings a high level of athleticism to the table. Washington will have to provide some resistance defensively without getting into foul trouble and score a bit. Kenneth Van Kampen is a Dutch kid with size, 6′10″ 250, who has turned into a decent 12-15 foot shooter. The Bobcats can also throw two young bigs into the mix in Ivo Baltic and Reggie Keely who both go 6′8″. Keely had a stretch when Washington was out for five games when he came alive a bit. Asown Sayles is a junior with a Big East body, 6′6″ 228, who could really help matching up with the Hoyas bigger wings.

Groce will have a very good gameplan but the problem will be implementing it against Georgetown’s size and skill. If Monroe and either Freeman or Wright have poor games or foul trouble, Ohio has a slim chance, with their talent and coaching, to shock the world.

Tickets to the Providence pod involving the Hoyas and Bobcats:

– Dunkin Donuts Center (Providence, RI)

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Session 1 March 18 2010

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Session 2 March 18 2010

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Session 3 (Second Round) March 20 2010

NCAA Tournament Providence Tickets – Strip (Inlucdes all Three Sessions) March 18 2010

BIG EAST PATH TO 2010 FINAL FOUR: SYRACUSE

In 2009 the Big East conference set a NCAA Tournament record with three No. 1 seeds as Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Louisville garnered top seeds in last year’s March Madness brackets. While only one Big East team was honred with a No. 1 seed in 2010 the conference is still expected to play a major role in determining this year’s national champion as the conference has a total of five teams seeded as a No. 3 or better.

The leader of the bunch is Syracuse, the No. 1 seed in the West. The Orange were the 2009-2010 Big East regular season champions, finishing with a conference record of 15-3 and an overall mark of 28-4. The Orange hope their 2010 postseason goes at least as far as one of the 2009 No. 1 seeds out of the Big East that they have a lot of similarities to on paper as we countdown to tip-off of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

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NCAA TOURNAMENT AT A GLANCE FOR BIG EAST

NCAA Tournament pairings information and ticket resources for Big East teams

The tournament selection committee has set the field of 65 and now the action of March Madness truly gets underway beginning on Tuesday with the play-in game and Thursday and Friday with the first round of the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Once again the Big East led all conferences with eight teams selected including the No. 1 seed in the West Region, Syracuse. The Orange open their quest for Jim Boeheim’s fourth Final Four appearance in Buffalo on Friday against 16th seed Vermont. Of course there is some NCAA Tournament history between the two schools as the Catamounts upset the No. 4 seed Orange in an opening round game in overtime back in 2005.

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2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE & TICKETS

Madison Square Garden in New York City is the place to be beginning next Tuesday

After 18, hard fought regular season contests all 16 teams head to New York City and Madison Square Garden for the 2010 Big East Tournament as this year’s ‘Garden Party’ tips off at high noon, Tuesday, March 9th.

There is a lot at stake once again in MSG as teams fight for NCAA Tournament seeding and a few fight for their postseason lives. This year’s conference tournament promises to be as wide open as any in recent memory. Below we map out the week’s schedule and offer fans links to buy tickets through StubHub.com and your tickets are guaranteed to be in your hand prior to the games with StubHub’s guarantees.

Enjoy the week…March Madness is here!

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BIG EAST TEAMS JOCKEYING FOR NCAA TOURNAMENT SEEDING & BIDS DOWN THE STRETCH

Many key games will highlight the last eight days of the Big East regular season with NCAA implications

Earlier today we took a look at how the 2010 Big East Tournament Seeding is shaping out and how the last three games for each team in the regular season can still determine quite a bit of the match-ups for Madison Square Garden beginning March 9th.

Now, we take a look at the bigger picture and how the last week will impact the Big East and the NCAA Tournament. At this point, everyone is pretty much agreed that five teams are locks from the Big East to earn NCAA bids: Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia, Georgetown and Pittsburgh.

Over the course of the next eight days, beginning tomorrow, six other Big East teams will have the opportunity to play themselves into (or out of) the NCAA Tournament or onto (or off of) the infamous tournanent bubble. An argument could be made that a seventh team could make a case for themselves if they run the table this last week as well. Below we will go over some of the key scenarios yet to play out in the final days of the Big East regular season before all 16 teams hit NYC for one last shot and the 2010 Big East Tournament.

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2010 BIG EAST TOURNAMENT SEEDING AT A GLANCE

Plenty left to play for in the Big East over the final eight days of the regular season beginning tomorrow

A rare two-day break from conference action allows us to go in-depth and analyze where everyone stands with three regular season games left before the postseason gets underway. We go through the scenarios and break down the seed possibilities for the 2010 Big East Tournament, which promises to be as exciting and as wide-open as a game of online roulette. This year’s ‘Garden Party’ tips off at high noon, March 9th, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Between tomorrow (2/27) and next Saturday (3/6), everyone in the Big East will close their regular season with three conference games. Everyone is jockeying for position with conference tournament seeding up for grabs, NCAA Tournament bids and NCAA Tournament seeding riding on the outcomes of the games.

Below, we break down the scenarios and lay out the postseason landscape in the Big East. Also, we provide links for fans to secure tickets to all the action, closing the regular season and opportunities to buy 2010 Big East Tournament Tickets. Later today we will do the same with the NCAA Tournament and how the Big East teams are shaping up for their shot at making, or earning a top seed, in the Big Dance.

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NCAA TOURNAMENT SITES RELEASED FOR 2011, 2012 & 2013

Big East region represented very well by NCAA tournament committee for future venues

The NCAA Tournament will celebrate its 75th anniversary with the 2013 event and earlier today the tournament committee announced the host cities for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 tournament games. Thirty-six cities will serve as tournament hosts over the three-year period, including several that Big East fans will find easy access to.

“Having recently completed the Final Four site selection process, the committee knew this would be a challenge,” said UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, who is currently serving as basketball committee chair, in a statement released by the NCAA. “We received some 70 bids and each city could, justifiably, provide quality championship experience for the student-athletes. Interest remains incredibly high in hosting the championship.”

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FINAL FOUR GAME PREVIEWS

The Big East conference made up one half of the elite 8 and on Saturday, they will make up one half of the Final Four as Connecticut and Villanova continue their quests for the 2009 NCAA Tournament national championship.

Below is Saturday’s schedule at Ford Field in Detroit. Click on either Big East school’s link to see our game preview and prediction. Enjoy the action…

Connecticut (-4) vs. Michigan State, 6:07 PM.

Villanova vs. North Carolina (-7), 8:47 PM.

(college basketball betting odds courtesy of bet USA.com)

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (4/1/2009)

With the coaching carousel in college basketball in full swing, beware of the April Fool’s jokes. Last year it was no joking manner, but Tom Crean shocked the Marquette faithful when he left for Indiana on April 1st. Will a big coaching domino fall today. One thing is certain, John Calipari’s move from Memphis to Kentucky will cause some recruiting waves.

Elsewhere in college basketball, two Big East teams are gearing up for the Final Four as UConn and Villanova continue preparations to do battle. The Wildcats hope their previous Ford Field basketball experience is of help while the Huskies should get an emotional lift on their bench and in pre-game warmups.

Louisville is preparing for next season and Pittsburgh will be adding a big man to the line-up already possessing the Pitt will to improve. The NBA early entry decisions have begun to trickle in, and one Big East player is off to the NBA and not looking back.

Lance Stephenson is back in a holding pattern. Jeremy Tyler could be the next Stephenson as a documentary film star. Tyler, in the class of 2010, is already committed to a Big East school.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (3/30/2009)

The 2009 NCAA Tournament Final Four is set and the Big East is well represented with half the field remaining. Villanova, on the strength of their thrilling last second win over Pittsburgh in the Elite 8, and Connecticut, who brushed distractions aside in their run through the West, will represent the conference.

To this point, the Big East is 17-5 in the NCAA Tournament, 16-4 against non-Big East schools.

We run through the news and notes around the Big East as the spring recruiting period will heat up very quickly. Also, the coaching carousel will begin to spin, for head coaches and assistants, players will decide to stay or go, either in regards to the NBA Draft or the transfer route and some are looking towards to next year following the end of this season.

Also, the spring AAU travel season kicked off last weekend and Matt Whitfield has the report on Saturday at the Playaz Spring Fling (Phase I) event as many top Big East targets of the future were in action.

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SCOTTIE REYNOLDS FOR THE WIN…

‘Nova junior guard scores with 0:00.5 left to lift VU into Final Four

Gone in five seconds. That was Pitt’s season.

After Pittsburgh senior point guard Levance Fields tied the game at 76-all with 5.5 seconds remaining, Scottie Reynolds took a pass from Dante Cunningham, outraced Jermaine Dixon, side-stepped DeJuan Blair and finished a contested 5-footer over Gilbert Brown to win the game for Villanova.

“It went from having a chance to get into overtime and possibly winning the game,” a stunned Fields said following the game, “to our season being over.”

That’s the NCAA Tournament. That is March Madness, that often times becomes March Sadness when a season or a career ends suddenly.

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UCONN EMERGES FROM WEST, AGAIN

Huskies Avoid Adversity, Head To Final Four For First Time Since 2004

By Zach Smart

Kemba Walker glided to the basket at will.

He left defenders sucking back wind, permeated the teeth of the defense and kicked it to the open man. He reeled of head-spinning moves that resulted in buckets.

The result?

Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun, dogged by a detailed Yahoo! Sports report that he violated NCAA recruiting violations, pumped his fist emphatically, and UConn released a sigh of relief.

The Huskies squandered an early 11-point edge, but showed poise and perseverance down the stretch, gutting out an 82-75 victory over an up-tempo Missouri team in Glendale, Ariz.

Walker, the fearless freshman from New York City powerhouse Rice High School, never wilted under the knife-cutting, cut-throat pressure.

Read Rest of Story HERE!…

KEYSTONE STATE BATTLE FOR FINAL FOUR

Pitt, Villanova square off for Final Four berth out of the East

When Villanova got past Pittsburgh 67-57 back on January 28th, ‘Nova coach Jay Wright thought he had seen the last of the Panthers for the year.

“I said to our staff after the game, I said, Thank God we played them in here on this night and we don’t have to see them again,” Wright said. “I really didn’t think we were going to see them. But here they are. And they are good.”

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Your seat for the game:

BUY NCAA Tournament East Final (Pitt vs Villanova) March 28, 2009
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For our preview of the West Region Final between UConn and Missouri, please click HERE!

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LOUISVILLE, ‘CUSE LOOK TO MOVE ON TONIGHT

The Big East is certainly representing itself quite well in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. After Pittsburgh, Connecticut and Villanova advanced last night from the Sweet 16 into the Elite 8, the Big East conference record stands at 14-2 in the Big Dance this year.

Tonight, Louisville and Syracuse look to join the Big East party in the Elite 8 and continue the conference’s unprecedented run in the ‘Big Dance.’

Below, you can click on the Big East school’s link and see our game preview and prediction on the second round match-up. Enjoy the action…

Syracuse vs. Oklahoma (-1 1/2), 7:27 PM in Memphis.

Louisville (-9 1/2) vs. Arizona, 7:07 PM in Indianapolis.

(college basketball lines are provided by BetUS.com)

BELLY OF THE BE-AST: IT REALLY IS!

by Ray Mernagh

Look, there’s been a lot of talk about the Big East not being the best conference in college basketball.

Some people actually argued that either the ACC or Big Ten was better, that only the size of the Big East made it seem like the best. Every one from the venerable Coach K at Duke, to Big Ten honks like this loser in Michigan, have all smirked that the “hype” was exactly that — hype — when it came to the Big East being the best basketball conference. The backlash was understandable, given the fact that you had some unlikeable analysts constantly carping about the league’s strength via the Disney channel. And that’s a shame, because in covering the league this year I can say that I saw the best college basketball anywhere.

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