Okay, the preseason is over, and it’s time to separate the men from the boys. The Big East is the first of the 5x conferences, and if you’re not ready now, then you might as well starting preparing for 2013. The Big East, as a conference, was, as usual, vastly, vastly overrated. Yes, Syracuse is elite, and I really like this Marquette team. I also think Georgetown is pretty decent, but are either of those teams really contenders? Other than the ‘Cuse, I’m not sure I would confidently say that ANY Big East team is a safe bet to even make the Sweet 16. And, yes, I’m going to get my shots in this year because it looks like Temple might be in the Big East next year, so I’ll have to start defending this overrated crap. But, this overrated crap is amazing at this time of the year because they have three straight quadruple-headers…in Madison Square Garden…amazing!
Championship Picks
12 for #1 Syracuse
4 for #2 Marquette (Doogan, Gross, RSmith, Teddy)
1 for #3 Notre Dame (KA)
0 for #4 Cincinnati
2 for #5 Georgetown (J, Lynch)
Biggest Upsets
R1 – #16 DePaul (Bry)
R2 – #14 Villanova (Primm)
QF – #8 West Virginia (Gross)
SF – #7 Louisville (Primm)
Previous CTC Champions
2011 – Scoot
2010 – Teddy
2009 – Doogan
2008 – Doogan
#9 Connecticut vs. #16 DePaul
Anyone who even pretends to be a college hoops fans probably has an amateur psychologist explanation of what happened to the Huskies this year. I will save my opinions about “needing a leader” or “operating without their coach,” but let me just say that Kemba Walker did more for that team than score. As for DePaul, this perennial 16-seed in the Big East tournament actually looked decent for much of the season and is not quite the walkover than they normally are in this position, so UConn better watch out. #8 West Virginia awaits the winner of this game in tomorrow’s Second Round. Only Bry was dumb enough (again…) to pick DePaul here. Dave, Gersh, KA, Primm, Rikey, RDoc, RSmith, and Waters all have UConn winning again tomorrow.
#12 St. John’s vs. #13 Pittsburgh
Trivia question – who is the youngest team in all of college hoops. Kentucky with all their freshmen? Some small conference team that isn’t very good? No and no. The answer is Steve Lavin’s Red Storm. St. John’s is the youngest team in America and they have even more elite talent coming in next year. Lavin is about to completely turn this program around, but he’s still a year away – at least. Now, these kids get to take on one of the more disappointing teams in the country in Pitt. The Panthers – maybe because of the loss of Tra Wooddall for much of the season – have been a debacle. But, everyone gets new life, and they are usually very, very good in the Big East tournament. The winner of this game will take on #5 Georgetown in the Second Round. Most of the field actually took Pitt in the minor upset. Only 7 people took the Red Storm (Alexi, Gersh, Mac, Primm, RSmith, Teddy, Waters). Waters has St. John’s beating G’town in the second round. Bry and Gross are the two biggest Pitt believers, as they have them going to the quarters.
#11 Rutgers vs. #14 Villanova
See what I mean about the Big East being vastly overrated? We’ve only recapped two games so far and we mentioned, possibly, the two biggest disappoinments in the nation. Well, let me add a third to that list in this third game. Villanova has been a train wreck all year. As for Rutgers, they were actually in the at-large discussion for a while, but have pretty much ended that. Now, they get a shot here, with the winner to take on #6 South Florida. The field is basically split on this one, as 9 people took the upset of ‘Nova here (Alexi, Bry, Doogan, Gross, J, Lohse, Lynch, Primm, RSmith). Primm is the biggest ‘Nova supporter, as he has them in the quarters. KA, RDoc, Scoot, Teddy, and Waters all have RU winning again tomorrow.
#10 Seton Hall vs. #15 Providence
In a two-on-two tournament, Seton Hall might be a Final Four contender. But, unfortunately for the Pirates, Mr. Naismith decided that the game should have 5 players on a team, so Seton Hall is squarely on the bubble instead. Providence usually shows up at the Garden, but they don’t have all that much talent this year. Rick Pitino’s 7th-seeded Louisville Cardinals awaits the winner of this one. Bry, Doogan, and Teddy are the only three to bite on the Providence upset of the Hall in the nighcap tonight, though none of them have PC beating Lousiville tomorrow. J, Lohse, Lynch, and RDoc all have Seton Hall upsetting the Cardinals, though.
OK, Seton Hall is up by 24 and there was just a Shaheen Holloway mention. Think it’s about time to change the channel.