Big East Tournament

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It's quarterfinals day in the Big East Tournament today. I'm a little late getting this post put up. Connecticut just upset the top seed Pittsburgh on a Kemba Walker buzzer beater. The final play was defended poorly by Pitt. Kemba Walker inbounded the ball and then got it back and received a screen up top. Pitt switched and had their Center 22 feet away from the basket trying guard Walker with no help. I thought there is no way this can be happening. The shot clock was off and UConn had the ball with 15 seconds left. The entire building knew who was taking that last shot. If I'm the coach I want my quickest Guard out on Walker and my most athletic Forward with good length helping him. The Guard covers him tight and the Forward helps if Walker drives. That's not what Pitt did though and Walker drained the last shot at the buzzer. You have to make someone else take that shot, not one of the best players in the nation.

The Syracuse vs St. Johns game just started. Syracuse always fairs well in this tournament and St. Johns played tight yesterday with the pressure of being the defacto home team. Hopefully they bring their A game today or they will get blown out. I'm rooting for St. Johns, but think Syracuse will win.

The two night games are the Bearcats against Notre Dame and Marquette against Louisville. Marquette had the mini upset over West Virginia last night and pretty much assured the Big East gets 11 teams into the NCAA Tournament. Now I'd say the closest team to the bubble in the conference is Villanova with Georgetown right on their heels. I'm taking Marquette in the late game and obviously the Bearcats. In fact, with Pitt going down if UC pulls off the win over Notre Dame, I like them to win the tournament. Pitt was the only team in the Big East that plays as many guys as the Bearcats do and they're out. If Cincy wins tonight they get the Louisville/Marquette winner. They have beaten both of those teams this year already and neither game even came down to the wire. If they win tonight, I guarantee a finals appearance. With Pitt out I don't think there's a single team UC can't beat.

We should all be Marquette fans if Cincy beats Notre Dame as that would mean Marquette would be playing their fourth game of the tournament. The Bearcats would be playing their third game, but play nine players double digit minutes and only one player played more than 25 minutes last night. The Bearcats would have a distinct advantage because their players would only have played about half the minutes Marquettes have as they don't go very deep into their bench. Louisville doesn't either, but they had the double bye so as far as minutes go it would be close between the two. For now though I'm getting ahead of myself and the Cats need to go out, guard the perimeter, rebound, and beat Notre Dame tonight.