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Big East Tournament Preview

ByVernon McKenzie

Mar 12, 2013

What’s at stake? While many Big East teams already have an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament locked up, the winner of this tournament claims the conference’s automatic bid. For several teams on the tournament bubble a run to the championship would leave them breathing easy on Selection Sunday. Don’t forget Gerry McNamara’s Syracuse team in 2006 that ran the table and went from the outside looking in to an automatic bid. In 2011, Kemba Walker and Connecticut went on a similar run to the Big East Tournament championship and eventually the NCAA title.

NCAA Top Seeds in Play: If the tournament final comes down to top seeds Georgetown and Louisville, the two may very well be playing for the right to a number 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Louisville is third in the country in RPI while Georgetown ranks ninth in RPI and is the top seed in this tournament. Marquette is on the outside of the top seed bubble but could gain a couple big time wins over the course of the tournament

Bubble Watch: In addition to Georgetown, Louisville, and Marquette, it appears that Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Notre Dame all have tournament bids locked up. This leaves Villanova, Cincinnati, and Providence on the bubble and with work to do this week at MSG. Villanova is probably in the best shape with a recent victory over Georgetown under its belt. It opens the tournament against a solid St. Johns team and can get a chance to beat Louisville for the second time this season. Cincinnati and Providence face off on day two in a match that will almost surely eliminate the loser from contention for a bid. The winner then gets an opportunity to gain a huge win against Georgetown, but still may need to make a trip the tournament finals for a serious chance at a bid.

 Players to Watch Big East first teamer and likely Player of the Year, Georgetown’s Otto Porter Jr, leads the hottest team in the field and could be a player to watch in the NCAA tournament and a lottery pick in June’s NBA Draft. Louisville is at its best when guards Russ Smith and Peyton Siva are breaking down defenses and shooting efficiently. If these two have big days, Louisville will be on its way to a number one seed. Syracuse comes in as a darkhorse contender and how far they go could depend largely on the playmaking of Michael Carter-Williams.

Prediction Although this tournament is typically ripe with upsets and low seeds making deep runs, I think this year the cream will rise to the top and pit Louisville vs. Georgetown in the championship game. While Georgetown won the previous matchup between these teams, the veteran leadership and superior guard play will lead Louisville to a Big East Tournament title.

 Story By: Sam Jackson

By Vernon McKenzie

Graduate of New Institute Of Technology with a BA in Communications with a focus on Television Radio. Owner and Executive Producer of PureSportsNY

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